Visions of Sugarplums dance in their heads | Gift Guide 2013

Happy Christmas Eve! There are just a few more hours left before the big day, Christmas and everyone is still busy sprucing up, grocery shopping and gift shopping. Fir those of you still at a lost for what you should gift, here’s a round up of my Gift Guide for 2013 along with some last minute suggestions.

For the guys in your life click here to see all the fabulous things you could get them.

If there are a couple ladies on your list, then I would definitely click here.

Then there are those gifts that might not have crossed your mind.

Finally for the crafty or those who try to be, here are 15 DIY gift ideas.

I don’t know if you had noticed but I completely omitted Makeup and beauty items from my ladies’ gift list this year. Truth is, I forgot, and then got just a tad too busy to post it. There were so many beautiful and interesting gift sets from the makeup world this year I can’t wait to see next year’s! I hope to get a head start on posting about them too! It would be a shame to post it know as so many of them are already sold out and since it’s Christmas Eve people are probably going bonkers to find them.

BUT, a great last minute gift idea is to get someone a gift card to one of their favourite stores. I’m sure I’ve mentioned gift cards before on my blog too. I think the least nonchalant way to give a gift card is to put it along with something else, like a stocking stuffer, a smaller gift or a very sincere greeting card. That way it doesn’t scream, “I didn’t know what to get you, so here…”

Also doing the smaller things like getting the person’s favourite movie on DVD, or perhaps buying the lip balm/ deodorant/ lotion they always use or lose or run out of, shows you appreciate the person for the little things. Just replacing batteries on one of their watches is a good way to show you are paying attention and care. Christmas shouldn’t be only about giving the “best gift”, but also about realising the persons who are vital in your life, just as God is. He sent His own son as our gift to be a bigger part of our lives than persons back then even understood. So in celebrating with all of the gifts, food, and parties, let’s not forget the greatest gift that has been given to us, Jesus Christ. I’m not a close to God as I should be, but if it’s one thing, I always remember at Christmas and Easter, there was some one who cared so greatly for us, that He sacrificed his one and only son for me (and you too).

I probably won’t have the time to post tomorrow with all the festivities going, but I want to wish you all a Happy, Safe and Blessed Christmas!

PS: Check back Thursday for another Healthline guest post on Preventing Shingles

7 Cadeaux pour Homme | Gift Guide 2013

Hey all! Everyone’s been busy doing gift guides since November, and I’m yet again late to the game. Anyway, better late than never right?  This year I decided to do the first 2 post titles in French as I miss the language, after studying it for like 5 years. Go figure!

Liquor.

If your dude is a social drinker, you could treat him to a special/ holiday edition of this favourite liquor. Something to keep in the liquor cabinet for when the good friends and relatives are over, or to have a few swigs after a long day. I love how the special edition bottles always have such nice packaging.

Music.

Guys just love their music, so why not get them a nice pair of headphones for when they want to listen to their favourite artist? Also when you’re into music, you want to always be on top of the game, so a gift card for a few downloads, like an iTunes card is always a hit, not to mention it’s budget friendly too! If you’re looking to treat them,  you could get them some really awesome surround sound speakers to go along with the gift card.

Games.

When guys get together one of the first things they talk about is games, so why not get them one of the latest releases for Xbox, Sony PS3/4? Assassin’s Creed, Need for Speed Rivals, Battlefield 4 or Call of Duty?  If you do your research and the game they most want isn’t out as yet, you can always get them a gift card to their favourite gaming store, so they can purchase it on release date! They always seem to get a kick out of that.

Cell Phones.

Since purchasing my phone, I hardly pay attention to mobile phone releases. Ok, maybe I never really was too interested in the latest. I was happy as long as the phone was small, cute, fast and had a good camera for Instagram hahaha. But guys on the other hand are like us gals when it comes to phones and electronics. Every new release piques their interest. So listen closely to find out the one phone they’ve been drooling over and get that one. (Hopefully a newer model won’t come out in the next month that they want to get too!)

Watches.

 

A smart watch always makes for a smart-looking guy, and many of them seem to love the look. You don’t always have to splurge when it comes to watches, a nice sturdy fashion watch could do the trick, especially if it’s for everyday wear. But if you really want to go the extra mile you can get him a Citizen Eco Drive watch which is supposed to last for ever, a TAG Heuer, Rolex, Swatch or any other brand along those lines. You could even go for the more affordable options of Seiko, Casio or Fossil. It all depends on your budget.

BluRay Discs or DVDs.

 

Most guys love TV so you know this one strikes high on their lists, though they won’t tell you that. Get your bro, uncle, nephew, BF, or guy friend one of their favourite series/movies on BluRay or DVD. Downloading it online is one thing, but there is nothing like owning the show you love and having it at your convenience.

Car Accessories.

If you have a guy with a car, you will know they are obsessed with pimping out their vehicle, sometimes putting more into its look than their own person appearance, hahaha. If their mats are lookign a bit wore, or maybe the seats need a bit of an upgrade, you can always purchase them a set of mats or seat covers. Of Maybe to give it a really nice sprucing up, you may want to get them a gift card for a full body service. If you’re really looking to splurge you could get them the rims of their dreams!

Disclaimer: Images are not my own. This is not a sponsored post. 

5 Gifts for Him!

 

Guys are never easy to shop for, trust me I know! They think it’s hard to shop for us girls, but boy are they wrong. This guide should hopefully make it easier for you to get the perfect gift for your guy friend, boyfriend or husband!

 

Sometimes guys feel a little intimidated buying skincare, but they know their acne is flaring up and don’t know what to do otherwise. I remember being in the skincare aisle and this mature man was standing there looking absolutely petrified and telling the sales assistant this is all women stuff, he doesn’t know what to get. Thankfully, she corrected him and told him it’s SKIN stuff, something that more guys should know and pay attention to. It’s not like they are immune from skin problems, we’re not telling you to put on mascara either, but at least take care of your skin, you’ll have it for your whole life.
A number of brands such as Clinique and L’Oreal provide a men’s care line (no cute, girly packaging) that would be a great nudge for the man in your life. You don’t have to buy the whole line either, just one or two products. I suggest an after-shave lotion, acne spot treatment and a moisturiser at least. Of course it depends on what your guy needs. I know the Clinique Scruffing Lotion is very effective at clearing up clogged pores and preventing ingrown hairs. It’s actually sold here in Barbados at Cave Shepherd, so if you think your guy needs it, that’s the quickest way to get it.

A clothing item like a hoodie or a nice sweater that your guy can wear on chilly days always makes a great gift. It’s comfy and versatile and everytime he wears it, he’ll be reminded of you. Forever21 has some really affordable male outwear. You can also find some sweaters at Hollister, which are  a bit pricey, but is probably worth the price. If your boyfriend is a WWE lover like mine is, you could totally get him one of these WWE sweatshirts from his favourite wrestler. (They ship internationally too!)

Guys always seem to wear out wallets soo fast. I guess it’s because they are constantly sitting on the wallet, it bends and eventually zippers are falling off and there are coins spilling everywhere. So you could always get your guy the classic gift of a wallet. As played out as getting a wallet may be, it’s always nice to get a genuine leather one. It may be a bit of a splurge, but the quality is outstanding. Otherwise you could get a wallet with a nice design like a cloth wallet. It may not be a sturdy as a leather wallet but it is nice to look at. You can get male wallets from outlets like Asos where they sell a variety of  more affordable brands, while Nordstrom has a selection of higher-end brands. In Barbados you can also pick up QuikSilver, LAND and other brand of wallets for guys in Cave Shepherd. I like this one from Volcom, the pattern is really captivating.

A Watch. Not like he doesn’t know you’ll usually be running late, but guys who wear a watch always look more put together. I  think the same of women, sadly my watch batteries are always dead, so I never wear one haha. You can get him a really nice watch that is waterproof, sturdy and has a bunch of cool functions, like the Citizen Eco-Drive, which amazingly never dies. There are a range of different modes with varying price points, so it could be either an affordable gift or a nice splurge. I love the one above from Citizen. In Barbados you can also get great watches at just about any jeweller.

 

Now your guy is looking sharp and to top it off, you could get him a cologne, something special. Maybe he’s had a particular cologne and it’s been running out on him. You could do him one bette and get a gift set. Honestly, I don’t go testing out men’s fragrances, so I don’t really have any particular suggestion, but a good-smelling guy is always appreciated. I know I love when my guy wears his signature scent. I like the look of this bottle of Gucci Guilty Intense by Gucci, it’s really sleek and simple.

Hopefully something on this list has got your gears moving and you can figure out just what to get your guy friend. If you have any more suggestions for gifts guys may like, you could leave them in the comments!

Disclaimer: This post was in no way sponsored.