Christmas Gift Guide 2018 | Vouchers and Gift Boxes

This is the third post of my gift guide series - hopefully you have enjoyed my ideas - and maybe something has caught your eye and made the shopping a little easier this year!  In this post I am sharing ideas for experiences, vouchers and making memories.  Again the suggestions are all from small businesses  Let me know what you think!

Right - how about treating someone you love to a tour of Oxford - this photo was taken inside the grounds at Worcester College.  All details below.  Great for a couples day out or parents /grandparents.

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Beauty Vouchers

Why not buy a voucher for a massage, a facial or a beauty treatment for your mum, best friend, daughter?  Or how about you send this post to your husband with a little hint!?  I love Sunrise Health & Beauty in Marlow (see my review of the COMCIT anti-aging facial here) and you can buy gift vouchers in varying amounts, they come beautifully presented, buy online, call them or pop into their salon in Marlow, they are very helpful and they are selling some excellent Elemis gift boxes leading up to Christmas too.  More info at the Sunrise website here.

​Or maybe you'd prefer a smaller, more intimate salon, Jane who runs Warren Beauty in Maidenhead has a gorgeous little log cabin studio in her garden.  It is so welcoming and warm and she is particularly good if your loved one is not used to going to a salon or would prefer something more discrete.  Jane also sells a beautiful range of gifts from her studio or you can buy online.  This year Jane is offering stunning gift boxes which she can make up with a selection of small gifts, why not add a voucher in too?  Contact Jane via her website Warren Beauty here.

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Style Box

I love this idea from three very talented ladies.  Katie from Spirit & Grace, Karen from Inspire my Soul and Lizzie from Lizzie Parsons Image Consultancy - they have joined forces to offer beautiful style gift boxes.  This is what they say ...

Christmas is a time for giving, but we don't want to give for the sake of it but because the gesture means a lot; its about hand selecting the perfect present for our special someone.  Karen, Katie and Lizzie understand that the search for a beautiful, wanted and practical present can be like trying to find a magical unicorn in the shops or online.  We have come up with six beautiful and stylish gift boxes for you to present on Christmas Day or to pop on your own gift list.

The style gift boxes are organised by personality and are:

• Such a Classic 
• Stylishly Romantic
• Cool Creative 
• Naturally Stylish 
• Dramatic & Gorgeous 
• City Chic

 
What's included in your gift box:

• A Style Gift Voucher from Lizzie Parsons Image Consultancy with the option to upgrade the gift voucher for a different service or a bespoke package.
• A sterling silver or rose gold necklace from Inspire My Soul with the option to have the necklace personalised.  Fee applies for personalisation.
• A Kir Royale or Strawberry Daiquiri scented candle and a beautiful hand selected scarf chosen for each style personality from Spirit and Grace Gifts

 
Please contact Lizzie if you would like to be kept up-to-date with news and details on these gift boxes.  You can find out more details here.

Boudoir Photo Shoot Voucher

I did this about three years ago as a gift for my husband's 50th birthday.  So two suggestions here - have a shoot done and the resulting photo's will make a wonderfully unique gift for yourself, your husband or your partner.  Or send a little hint and add to your own Christmas wish list.  Seriously though I know this will really push you out of your comfort zone but Alex at FYEO is so reassuring and really puts you at your ease, I was so delighted with my photos.  I loved every minute of the photo shoot.  It is very discrete and she knows just how to flatter and get the best out of women.  We are all beautiful and all unique and we should be celebrating our figures whatever shape or size they are!  Alex will advise what props and underwear to bring and she will do your make-up for you.  It really is very good fun!  Get in touch with Alex at FYEO (For Your Eyes Only) via her website here, she has a lovely studio in Lane End near High Wycombe.

Cookery School

I've written a couple of blog posts about Jen at Fearless in the Kitchen.  I have loved the cookery workshops I have done in her beautiful house near Warfield in the Berkshire countryside.  Jen offers a huge choice of healthy eating workshops - baking, main meals or fermenting for example.  And her food is delicious, she is so knowledgeable and you get to share a yummy lunch and take your masterpieces home.  Read my previous blog posts here and here or go to her website for more details.

Weekend away

Why not take your loved one away for a long weekend?  Either in the UK or a European City break?  My UK suggestions would include Dartmouth in Devon (see what we did with 48 hours here), The Dormy House or The Fish Hotel in the Cotswolds or how about going to the seaside and walking along the seafront in Brighton?    Or what about taking the Eurostar to Paris or Bruges or getting a flight to Prague, Florence, Rome or Venice?  I have just booked us a long weekend in Krakow and it was very reasonable - I asked Stevie at Click2Travel to organise it all for me and she gave me an excellent service, even when I was really indecisive about flight times and which hotel to choose!  

Afternoon Tea

After I wrote about tea picking and the tea plantations in Sri Lanka I was contacted by an importer of tea to the UK - Adagio Tea UK - and asked if I would like to try some samples and this struck me as another really lovely gift.  A presentation box of beautiful tea along with a tea pot for brewing loose leaf tea.  Or how about combining this with afternoon tea, I particularly love the Corinthia Hotel in London, my husband organised this as a birthday surprise a few years ago.

Oxford City Walking Tour (or similar)

Of course one of my favourite places to visit is Oxford and can I absolutely recommend purchasing a gift voucher for an Oxford City Tour with Walking Tours of Oxford - take a look at my blog reviews here and here.  Or if Oxford isn't convenient there are many more options around the country so check out your local City and see what is available.  Last year my sister bought myself and my daughter a voucher for a Call the Midwife Tour at Chatham Dockyard from Brit Movie Tours - take a look at what they offer here, there are so many options.

Gifts for Men

How about 'Sit in a Spit' at the Spitfire Hangar at Biggin Hill?  Have lunch first and enjoy the Kent countryside.  If you really want to splash out then you could treat your loved one to a flight in a Spitfire but if the budget won't stretch then how about a voucher for the Spitfire Simulator near Leighton Buzzard.  

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What a fabulous selection from some really inspirational small businesses!  I hope my list helps you find the perfect gift for someone you love.  I am publishing three gift guides in total all in the lead up to Small Business Saturday which takes place on 1st December this year.

Love from
Michelle xx
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Have you seen my other gift guides:

Christmas Gift Guide | Small Gifts for the Girls
Christmas Gift Guide | Stocking Fillers for Teenagers
​Christmas Gift Guide | Vouchers and Gift Boxes

And take a look at this excellent blog post from Jo another local small business who I am working with at the moment - Less is More - makes a lot of sense to me!

​Disclaimer: This is not a sponsored posts, I have worked with some of these businesses in the past but I am including them because I love what they offer.