Five Best *Christmas*: Gifts for Foodies

Probably the easiest friend to buy for…the foodie loves, and will eat, everything! Perfect for those who like experience rather than things, and for those who hate clutter in their home.

1. Anthropologie Pretzel Bottle Opener. £8

2. Sizzle Joules Baking Tins. £29.95

3. Sushi Making Class from Yo Sushi!. £30 per person

4. Royal Albert Cheeky Pink Vintage 3-tier Cake Stand. £50

5. Godminster Vintage Cheese Selection (one of THE most delicious cheeses I've ever tasted!). £23.95

Five Best *Christmas*: Gifts for Kids

Kids are easy to buy for, they pretty much love everything they get. If you are out of the loop with the latest crazes, though…the top 5 gifts below might help. You may opt to buy a toy as well as a sentimental gift such as something for their bedroom, or a piece of clothing you would like to see them wear (cool auntie/uncle brownie points right there).

1. Dr Martens Brooklee B Alumix Leather Boots for 3-9 year olds. So, so cool!! £52

2. Daisy & Bump Personalised Nursery Art (Not on the high street have lots of adorable designs). £25

3. Disney Infinity 2.0 Marvel Superheroes Video Game. £45

4. Mattel Disney's Frozen Fashion Doll Assortment. Every little girl will want this, guaranteed! £30

5. 'The Little Boy/Girl Who Lost His/Her Name' Personalised Children's Story Book. £19

Five Best *Christmas*: Gifts for Her

A lot of guys stress about what to get their significant other, and always say that they ‘never seem to get it right’ or that their girl is hard to buy for…I kind of get that, as girls are so picky and specific, but I also think there are certain things you can never go wrong with, that girls love…for example classic simple jewellery, leather goods, classic make up sets or palettes, and ‘experiences’.

Here is my round up of the top 5 gifts for girls this year…I hope some guys find this useful but don’t fret, I’m sure your girl will love whatever you get her (girls love STUFF)!

1. Laura Mercier Smokey Suede Eye Collection Palette. £32.30

2. Nasty Gal Gold Standard Bluetooth Speaker. £31.80

3. Braun Facial Epilator & Cleansing Brush (world's first!). I've tested this little gadget myself and can say it's amazing. Most facial cleansers don't have a mini epilator (weird combo but I LOVE IT!) so this saves a lot of money on waxing for girls. This set comes with a mirror and beauty pouch. £89.99

4. Olive Cooper Kingly Bag from this lovely British brand. I really like the classic but unique style of these bags that you can turn into two or three different types! The leather looks like it is amazing quality too, and this shape is really handy for work. £390

5. Vita Fede Ultra Mini V Pearl & Crystal Ring. £158.57 and Sarah Chloe Gold disc Eva Initial Necklace. £90

Five Best *Christmas*: Gifts for Him

Another difficult one…I find it particularly challenging to buy for guys because a. they usually have everything they need and  b. they usually aren’t bothered about having any more ‘stuff’. A lot of things guys get are chucked in the corner of a bedroom, or get used once, and turn into just novelty items if they genuinely can’t use them all the time.

The obvious things to get are clothes, an iPad, or some sort of exercise gear…but here are a few other ideas from me to help you out.

1. Monster Inspiration Headphones with renowned Pure Monster Sound quality. £219.95

2. Johnstons Lambswool Scarf which you can personalise with initials in Selfridges. £25 (+ £5 per letter)

3. Herschel Little America backpack. £90

4. Larsson and Jennings Silver Saxon Watch. £315

5. Fish (Salmon I think!) Leather Cufflinks (each unique) designed by Icelandic designer Marlin Birna. £59

London: Groupon opens first ever 'shop'

It's beginning to feel a lot like Christmas, isn't it? I've been in this mood since the beginning of November, thanks to the absolute madness and chaos of London's Oxford Street! It's always a little better when I get to really feel the spirit of Christmas (mulled wine and all that) so I've started to go to a few festive events and markets...

One of the events I attended this week was the super cozy Groupon Grotto in Soho...the first ever one off pop up 'shop' that the online marketplace has opened to show customers a little taste of what they offer.

If you don't remember Groupon, it is a great website with lots of discount offers ranging from spa days and holidays, to home appliances and restaurant deals at a high discount rate. I've used the Groupon website several times when it first opened, and then eventually forgot about it as there were so many competitors. This event was a nice little reminder of what I was missing out on!

The grotto was so beautiful, like an enchanted forest! We had delicious mulled wine on arrival, and then tucked into some mini mince pies that were handed out throughout the evening.

We also got to make our own gourmet confit duck filo pastries with  L’Atelier des Chefs and tasted some yummy chocolate churros from The Burrito Cafe.

Other activités on offer were make up master classes from Studio 52, whisky tasting with The Soho Whisky Club, and endless amounts of prosecco (my kinda place!).

Groupon were feeling very generous it seems so they gave everyone a £10 voucher, I spend mine today and can confidently say I was pleasantly surprised at how good the revamped website looks. All the deals look handpicked, and offer trips to Paris and 5 star michelin restaurant deals!

Here are some of their latest Christmas offers to give you a little taste of what you can buy for yourself or as a gift for someone:

Hammam Experience, Massage and Use of Spa Facilities for £89 at 5* Le Kalon Spa (51% Off)

Three-Course Meal With Champagne Cocktail from £24.50 at Shaka Zulu, Camden Lock (Up to 62% Off)

Christmas Special: Preview Tasting Menu and Bellini Cocktail from £29.50pp* at The Crazy Bear (Up to 59% Off)

Paris: 1 to 3 Nights With Eurostar Tickets, Breakfast and Cruise from £135 Per Person*