Holy Heck, Girl! How did we get to December?? Christmas is coming and its time to start to think about what might be on your wish-list, or the wish-list of a very special someone you love.
Now, we all know that Christmas is a very stressful time of year and the biggest thing that we have on our mind is MONEY…However, I’ll park the important issue of budgeting for just a moment. For today, we’re just going to focus on the light and the frivolous - what’s caught my eye and will make your most merry Christmas ever (I am going to write about how to juggle money and Christmas obligations in my next article - because we’re all about balance over here).
Like many of you, I am a creative soul at heart. I’m drawn to anything that has a quirky, hand-drawn spark and lights up my senses, inspiring me to try new things and display household products like art. Now, that doesn’t mean that I’m expecting a Colin MacCahon for Christmas (although yes, I’ll have it please). What it does mean is that anything which shows that personal, curated touch is excellent by me.
I’ve therefore rounded up the best of the best that I think you’ll adore for this Christmas season, both to give and to be gifted.
The Afford-alicious (Gifts between $11-$25)
Yes, I did use ‘licious’ in a title. Apologies. It’s the end of the year. I’m tired. Let’s move on.
I’ve said it once and I’ll say it again. Sometimes the classics are the best when it comes to snapping up an affordable Christmas idea for you and your friends.
Before telling you to open your wallet, I’d like to let you know that I’m a huge fan of surprising someone at Christmas with a painting you’ve painted (if you’re artistically inclined), something you’ve sewn for them (if you can sew), baking, home-made jam or the tried-and-true socks and undies combo. All of these are such a great and thrifty way to enjoy Christmas for a little less. Personally, because we’ve paid for a honeymoon and we’ve got a wedding coming up, Matt and I and his parents have agreed not to gift gifts this year. My brother is making me some art and my parents will be away. So a low-key Christmas is wholly endorsed by me!
However, if you are looking for something to buy as a gorgeous gift, please refer to the rather brilliant suggestions I’ve collated below (will be sure to please)…
BODY TALK
The Body Shop do some great Christmas gifts that are very well priced in today’s beauty marketplace, from pretty lip balms to lush hand creams. Their Plum Lip Balm is to die for, a vanilla hand-cream is perfect for popping your handbag, and their body yoghurt is great if you’ve just jumped out of the shower for Summer ready skin (made with Community Trade almond milk from Spain, they’re *almost* good enough to eat). Christmas packaging packs an extra special creative flair with limited edition illustrations adorning your favs. The Body Shop products start at $15 and Body Yoghurts are only $25. There’s also a great selection of adorable re-usable hemp bags you can pack all your goodies into (you can even use it as a planter).
BOOK BABES
Two reads I’ve been enjoying lately are Ruby Jones’s ‘All of this is for you’ (Penguin) $23.99 and ‘Trick Mirror’ by Jia Tolentino ($23). The former is a beautiful uplifting compendium of illustrations by the Wellington artist that have a poignant message of hope and are guaranteed to open your heart like a flower. This little blue book is a great present for a fan of Ruby’s work or someone who might need a little inspiration and kindness.
The latter, ‘Trick Mirror’, is a collection of essays by the New Yorker journalist on feminism, scams, social media, religion and drugs. Jia writes about the 21st century in a compelling, wry, and sometimes sly manner. Her essays are dark, chic and will keep you turning the page. I think this one would be a great option for beach reading because you can dip in and out. Ideal for a literary bug who loves to know about the next must-read book and is addicted to podcasts like ‘The High Low’.
The Sort-of-Spendy (Gifts between $25-$90)
If you have a bit more to spend, here’s some goodies for the silly season…
Face Time
Each year, Kiehl’s asks an international illustrator to create beautiful limited edition packaging for their Christmas collection. I personally love an illustrators touch and would happily hold out buying my beauty bits until the annual Kiehl’s Christmas Collection.
This year they’ve done us a solid by selecting Helsinki native Janine Rewell. Janine creates fluid, vector illustrations infused with nature, geometric shapes and gleeful characters - a perfect fit for Kiehl’s main man - Mr Bones. The Kiehl’s Christmas Collection 2019 contains classic Kiehl’s products which I (and likely you too) already know and love. They include:
Holiday Limited Edition Crème De Corps Whipped Body Lotion 250ml - $59.00 (the best body lotion ever in my humble opinion)
Holiday Limited Edition Untinted Butterstick - $38.00 (a great lip balm that’s very hydrating on champagne-hangover cracker lips)
Holiday Limited Edition Calendula Herbal-Extract Toner - $59.00 (for when your skin needs a kick up the ass)
Holiday Limited Edition Ultra Facial Cream - $54.00 (the classic can’t-go-wrong moisturiser)
You can pick-and-mix your own preferred combination and Kiehl’s staff will all come package it up in a stunning limited edition box. I remember that I gave Matt Kiehl’s skincare for our first Christmas together and that big, square box really made it feel like a very special present to give him indeed.
Available at Farmers, Mecca and in Auckland at Smith & Caughey.
Clay Maker
If you or your friends enjoy getting a little bit more hands-on with arty activities, why not give them a voucher to a pottery class with Janina from ‘Neens made this’ at Sunday Night Club in Wellington? This is a fun hands-on workshop for beginners, where you will receive guidance from Janina to make a range of ceramics of your choosing. Everything is included! You learn beginners pottery techniques, and be able to make mugs, pinch pots, vases, sculptures – whatever you feel like! Afterwards, Janina fires your creation and she’ll let you know when it’s ready to collect. I’ve done the class twice now and it actually improves on returning because you can practice and improve.
Below are two creations I made myself, a vase and a small bowl for jewellery. I was so impressed with Janina and her amazing teaching - plus the results are seriously great and made me feel like a real sculptor.
The Luxury Gift
The Dream Dryer ($600)
I wanted to briefly include a review here because, yes, I did not buy this for myself (it was a gift) but I know a lot of you really are interested in whether Dyson products are worth it (and already have some of their other items. Shout out to all the vacuum cleaner owners! We are officially middle-aged). If your budget extends to very fancy home electronics, this would be a fantastic gift for Christmas.
Hairdryers haven’t fundamentally changed much since the 1960s…but Dyson has come to market once again to disrupt. This hairdryer is easy and comfortable to use and has a soft, pleasant feel in the hand, unlike heavy plastic hair dryers. It doesn’t overheat and burn your hair, and comes with a range of clip-on diffusers which are very helpful depending on how you want to style your hair (they’re magnetic). I like the wide diffuser because I have a big head of hair. The Dyson is light and compact which makes it perfect for travel. This also means less ache on your arms while you blow your hair straight if you have long hair like me.
So what makes the Dyson different? Well, on the technical side it has a digital motor which is temperature-controlled. There are three heat settings and three airflow power settings to choose from, and they’re all found on the back of the dryer, with temperature settings on the left and fan speed on the right. The Supersonic also has a glass bead thermometer that monitors its temperature 20 times per second and transmits the data back to a microprocessor to make sure the heat remains consistent. I found some of these cooler than I was used to, but the upside of this is that it prevents you from overheating your hairdryer and creating irreversible damage on your hair. I am actively trying to get my hair as healthy as possible before I get married in February, so having a hairdryer designed to lessen my hair burning in the way a normal hairdryer would is a big step forward.
Since using the Dyson, I’ve noticed my hair is less frazzled and fried after drying, and looks smoother and less straw-like. This is exactly the result I was hoping for and as such I must give it my full endorsement. Because of the different attachments, you can be more creative with hair styling at home. Plus, it looks VERY cool.
If you have someone who is mad about good design or is a serious hair and makeup buff, this present is absolutely for you. It is the ultimate power-tool for your noggin and, if you have budgeted for a splurge, it won't disappoint. Again, I’d like to emphasis I was sent this for review, so you should really just work out if this is something you’ll truly get happiness and joy from if you decide to purchase it.
