Christmas 2023 – quirky gifts
Christmas 2023 – quirky gifts. I don’t know about you but I find that everyone I know seems to have everything they need these days which makes present-buying really hard. So today’s post is all about little surprises – unusual gifts that go beyond a nice pair of slippers, even though they can be lovely too.
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1. A box of stories
This is such a great idea. It’s founded on the premise that roughly 200,000 new titles are published each year and yet only 17% hit the bestseller list resulting in a total of about 77 million books being pulped. So many miss their chance to be read. This little business uses an algorithm of reviews to rescue them and match them with people who would love them but might never otherwise have discovered them. Each box of stories is curated uniquely for the recipient according to the preferences that are given when the order is placed. If they don’t like their box, you can have a complete refund. As well as saving the books from being destroyed, A Box Of Stories donates a percentage to literacy charities too. A present for someone else or just for you – you decide.
2. Guided art cards
‘Ways of looking at art’ would be a lovely gift. Each card is written by an art education professional, challenging you to look at art forms from a different perspective… painting, tapestry, graffiti, sculpture…a great thing for even an experienced art lover to take to a gallery or exhibition with them.
3. Hair lights
Secret Santa or a little gift for a friend, this is the only thing that makes me wish I had long hair. Just secure the battery pack into the back of your dress or jumper and weave the lights through your hair.
4. Personalised ketchup label
I may have already snapped one of these up for the ketchup freak in my house. A personalised label for a tomato sauce bottle, an easy – and useful – stocking filler.
5. Whole body warmer
Especially good for someone who has discomfort in a particular part of their body, this washable long ‘hottie’ can be wrapped around wherever you need it – or just kept in bed for full body warmth. It has a detachable microwavable insert to heat up whenever you need a little comfort.
6. Sleep capsules
I’m a sceptic about things like this but I trialled this nootropic sleep supplement earlier this year and I do think it helped me to sleep more soundly, stopping my usual 2.10am waking hour. So much so that now there’s 20% off for Black Friday I’m buying them to test again.
7. Clothing for men with a chunky build
If, like me, you have men in your family with rugby player thighs then this company is fantastic. The jeans are a bit pricey but absolutely worth it for the fit and comfort they give. There are chinos too as well as shirts and t-shirts that flatter strong arms and broad shoulders. There are good Black Friday offers on at the moment so I’ve just stocked up.
8. Car fragrance diffuser
A cost effective way of fragrancing your car and much better than a sickly magic tree. Simply saturate the stick with the scented oil of your choice, pop it into the diffuser and clip it onto the heater grill. Don’t forget to buy oil as well as the diffuser (oil collection here).
9. Wind down ritual giftbox
More than just another beauty giftbox, these products have been clinically proven by polysomnography studies and fMRI brain imaging to improve REM sleep. If you know somebody who has trouble sleeping, a little wind down ritual like this could help and there’s currently a Black Friday 25% offer on everything, including giftsets of different sizes.
10. Rainy day uplifter
Good weather for ducks as they say, this is a lovely, quirky and sturdy umbrella that will make the recipient think of you with a smile each time they use it.
11. Star Wars luggage tags
May the force be with you wherever you go – a little stocking filler gift for a Star Wars fan.
12. Self exploration cards
Do you sometimes feel that you’ve bumbled along into becoming the person you are? This is a great way of getting to know yourself – each of these prompt cards gives you something different to ask yourself – a great gift for a thinker or anyone who’s feeling a bit lost.
13. Get the ick game
One for a teen girl to play with her friends and find out what gives them the ‘ick’.
14. Dog cable ties
A great idea if you know somebody who, like me, often finds themselves going to meetings with a bagful of cable spaghetti.
15. Pocket hug
When the youngest was little and sweet he used to hunt for heart shaped pebbles on the beach to give to me. I still keep them in some of my coat pockets now to remind me of those days. This little pocket hug is a great thing to give someone who is facing a difficult time, it reminds them that you’re right behind them, even when you’re not there in person.
Current best Black Friday offers
Here are the best of the Black Friday offers so far, including some new ones that have just gone live today:
NYK1 (the brilliant eyelash serum) – 20% off everything including already discounted bundles here
John Lewis – Black Friday hub here – new offers every day
The White Company – 20% off everything here with code WHITE20
Boden – 20% off everything here and 40% off selected here with code T4R4
Cos – 25% off selected here
Baukjen – 20% off everything full price here PLUS an equivalent item donated to Barnardo’s, Crisis or Cancer Research
Sweaty Betty – 25% off everything here
Whistles – 20% off everything here – now including sale
Mint Velvet – 20% off everything here with code BF20
LK Bennett – 30% off everything here
Anthropologie – 25% off everything here
Ted Baker – 30% off everything here
Hush – 20% off everything here
All Saints – 30% off everything here
Monsoon – 30% off everything here
Massimo Dutti – up to 40% selected here
French Connection – 30% off everything here
Great Plains – 30% off everything here
White Stuff – 25% off everything here
Nobody’s Child – 20% off everything with code BF20
Space NK – up to 25% off selected here
Kiehl’s – 25% off everything and 30% off when you buy two or more products here
Clarins – 20% off everything here
Clinique – 25% off bestsellers + free gifts with purchase here
Victoria Beckham Beauty – 20% off everything here
Pooky – 15% off everything and 20% off spend over £350 here
You can find my complete compendium of Black Friday offers here, I’m updating it daily as new offers come in.
My schedule’s all over the place at the moment so I’m sorry if I’ve confused you and your week feels all mixed up. It’s because I’m in London today, heading straight up to Newcastle for the beginning of our Christmas festivities tonight – I’ll probably dust off my Instagram account and post to Stories if you fancy coming along virtually. Tomorrow we have a drinks party at our favourite gallery followed by Craig Charles DJing at one of the local breweries. On Saturday it’s the ‘Lost In Music’ tour which is something I’ve avoided because even to a disco lover like me, it sounds a bit cheesy – however the decision was taken out of my hands when I was told that tickets had been bought and I was going! It’s either going to be great or awful, I’ll tell you next week but I’m heading in with gusto because at least it gives me another chance to wear my Abba Voyage outfit. And then on Sunday we’re going to see Sophie Ellis-Bextor so I think I’ll be flagging by Monday. It’ll be back to normal with Tuesday and Friday posts next week and the last of my gift edits, then probably a run of ‘midlife latelys’ as we approach Christmas. Time’s ticking on… enjoy the rest of your week and see you next Tuesday.
