10 Xmas Present Ideas on a budget! {#2

Hello lovelies!

I am in full blown Xmas Spirit mode and thought a would do a quick post on Present ideas on a budget. I'm always trawling around the internet trying to find inspiration without spending alot of money, so I hope this will help if any of you guys are having the same issue!

1)  Photo Collage - if you want to give someone a gift that is more personal, I think this is a really good idea and it is cheap to make. Make copies of some of your favourite photos of you and the other person/group and get a collage frame and stick them in. Amazon do some nice frames very cheaply too. It is a present they will be able to keep forever and is sure to make them smile!

2) Feel Unique - If you're looking for a nice fragrance for someone check out the link! they have some really good deals on gift sets at so much cheaper than standard retail price.

3) Snuggle Blanket - I'm sorry, this just had to be on the list. It is such a simple but clever idea! A blanket that has sleeves so you stay warm from head to toe! I know I would be happy with this as a present! Perfect for those cold winter nights snuggled on the sofa :)

4) Cocktail Maker! - Know someone that loves their cocktails or wants to impress their friends when they come round? Get them a cocktail maker! When I have friends round we always stick to wine purely because none of us have the foggiest idea how to make a cocktail! Might have to add this to my Xmas list! Check out Play.com, this is a bargain at £15.95.

5) Retro Sweet Hamper - Ideal for anyone with a sweet tooth! There's so many different kinds of hampers around but they all include sweets that aren't really seen around much anymore, including things like candy necklaces, sherbert dip and flying saucers. Can be found on alot of online websites such as Amazon and various other sites if you type it in Google search.

6) Cath Kidston Accessories- I am sure I am not alone when I say I LOVE anything Cath Kidston. The floral prints are so cute! Take a look at their website here in the Christmas gifts for under £30 section.

7) Bath Bombs/Soaps - I know this is highly unoriginal and any bathroom gifts are a bit of a copout in my opinion. They are not the most exciting of presents but these just look so lovely they definately had to go on the list! Bath bombs shaped like cupcakes/gingerbread men/sweets/ice cream.Check out Bomb Cosmetics . A pack of these would make a great present.

8) Afternoon Tea - This is one of my favourite things. The scones and clotted cream, the tea, the cakes..and a cheeky glass of champers! Last minute.com have alot of fairly cheap offers and deals at the moment at lovely hotels. Treat yourself and someone special!

9) Magazine Subscription - This may sound naff but if you know someone who buys a particular magazine every week/month without fail, this is a very practical gift! It may not seem like alot paying £.3.50 a month for a mag but it does add up and saves them trotting off to the newsagents!

10) Theatre - I have seen so many deals floating around at the moment for dinner and theatre deals. It always makes a fantastic night out!  

I hope this list has given you some ideas and inspiration. I normally leave my shopping til Christmas Eve! but i'm trying to be organised this year... Have any of you started yours yet?

                                                              
                                                                         Laura xoxo

Barry M Goes Gelly!

After years of having acrylic nails which left my nails as thins as paper, I decided enough is enough. Everyone has been raving on about Gel nails but at around £30 for a Gel Manicure I thought I would just stick to classic DIY nail polish for the time being.

So you can imagine my delight when Barry M announce they are releasing a new nail polish, 'Gelly' which promises to look similar to actual gel nails and last as long.  Hurrah! I thought, and in my eager beaver way, went straight on to Amazon and ordered the 'pomegranate' colour for £4.00 plus £1.00 posting. What a bargain! I thought, only to be informed by a friend that Boots  were doing a 3 for 2 offer so I could have got 3 colours for £8 and instead I paid £5 for one! Gutted. That will teach me to have some patience.

Anyway, as soon as it arrived in the post I wasted no time in putting it to the test. To  be honest I dont think it gives off the look of having proper gel nails but it does have a nice high shine to it and it is very opaque so you would only need two coats maximum, and could definately get away with not using a top coat. It also has a very fast drying time, roughly around 3 minutes which is a massive bonus, as most of my nail polishes are OPI or Jessica, and they need a good 10 minutes at least to dry properly.

I was very impressed how long it lasted as well, with any normal nail polish I usually chip it within the same day or the next day at best! So I was very pleased to see that after 5 days I did not have a single chip! Unfortunately it did slowly start to chip after this time period but it is definately more hard wearing than any other nail polish I own, and I have too many to count!



I will definately be buying more colours of this as it is a good product and at £4 each you cant go wrong!

                                            Laura xoxo