When I was browsing the internet for gifts, I came across some cute and wonderful secret santa/stocking filler gifts for that special someone in your life. 

So I thought why not share it with you lot?

Mind you, about 99% of what I am about to show you comes from notonthehighstreet.com and etsy.com so have a peak yourself and you are bound to find some wonderful presents.

These two websites are well known for their creativity and personalisation, so where better to go for Christmas shopping?

It also helps to be wrapped up in my duvet whilst I shop.

But whilst you are browsing, don't you need a Christmas mug to go with it?

Of course you do!! On Etsy they have my favourite Christmas movie 'Elf' quotes wrapped in multiple adorable mugs. Buy here.

My personal favourite is "The best way to spread Christmas cheer is singing loud for all to hear". 

It's £8 and perfect for Christmas morning...or the two months leading up to it. It will give you a smile in the morning and a great cup of tea. Or maybe you want to give it to that loved one...you choose!

This gift is perfect for that arrogant, smarty-pants in your life...*ahem* my fiance would probably fit the bill! He is lovely, but he once proclaimed "I know the answer to everything, just try me!" Hmm, okay! 

It is only £1.96 which is a bargain for a funny stocking filler. Find the notepad on Etsy here.

 

Next up on the gift list is that wonderful best friend who is kind, charming, loyal, stylish, witty and has a whole lotta' gumpton! 

I love these pencils as you can stick them on your desk to look adorable or use them one by one to make everyone else jealous! 

These are also on Etsy for £7.83, so grab 'em while you can! Pencils here.

But there are a whole list of different types of pencils you can get for any person in your life, so pop along to the website's ACD shop and have a peak on whats to offer.

For that Gossip Girl fan in your life, there is nothing better than these...

I need these in my life. *clicks buy*

One more from MissPoppyDesign...

Okay okay, lets move on from my stationary obsession. Let's still stay on your best friends presents though.

I bought this for a friend over summer and she just loved it! Buy here.

At £18 it is a gorgeous make-up bag with a daily reminder of how much you love them. I even popped a letter inside with my gift to let her know. It is quite big so can fit everything except the hairdryer in there.

I think every girl needs this make-up bag in their life, just saying!

For that adventurous baker in your life who you can never quite get the right practical gift for. The person who doesn't like frills or cute quotes. This is for you.

Buy here on Notonthehighstreet.com.

This gorgeous Artisan Seed Flowerpot Bread Making Kit is £14.99 and would be a great creative gift to make 4 delicious home baked bread buns. I haven't bought this myself, so please do let me know how it turns out if you do!

Nothing better than the fresh smell of baking in the morning...

Or if its kids who want to start baking, there are always the designasuar and cookie couture baking kits. £6 each.

It is a great way to get kids a creative present which they can then devour too!!

But if your recipient is more of an eater than a baker, you can always spoil them with some mouth watering chocolate and salted caramel marshmallows. 

For £8 you can shower them in divine, gourmet marshmallows. But to be honest, there probably won't want to share.

For the beauty buy, I found personalised monogrammed lip-balm for £4.95. This is a perfect for any girl who loves a good product with a great look about it too. 

You can choose from 5 different colour backgrounds, 3 letters and 9 different flavours (including Earl Grey and Banoffee which I desperately want).

They use all natural ingredients

Or if that beauty-loving friend would like to be a bit more adventurous, you can even get them a 'Make Your Own Lip Balm Kit' for £15.75. 

You can make up to 5 of your own lip balms in 4 different flavours.

And to add the personal touch, you can personalise the label at the front

Of they are a little bit more into skin care, notonthehighstreet also have a 'Make Your Own Face Mask Kit' for £15.95. 

Santa, can I have it now??

Another thing on notonthehighstreet.com is a gorgeous 'Favourite Lyrics Print' for the music lovers out there.

It is £14.99 and an amazing personalised gift in a friendship, relationship, your mother, whatever. Because in the end, we all have that one person who when THAT song comes on, you stop everything and DANCE.

At amazon.co.uk I found this cute Polar Bear Ice Tray, which I know sounds a bit weird.

But don't you grow to love it? It's a cute, funny but actually really practical gift.

I thought mums would love this as you can bring it out when people are over and have a good laugh over it.

Also, I have a little obsession with polar bears.

It is £10 with free delivery, so how could you say no?

 

Finally, you need to wrap the present up and make it look like a proper jolly good Christmas present.

The From Santa stamp or the Merry Christmas stamp on Esty are both perfect to finish off the tag and send it on to your loved one.

You can even personalise the 'Merry Christmas' with an extra charge which helps the speediness of wrapping.

I hope this has helped you get those last minute present ideas or that secret santa present you just can't figure out what to get.

Any more magnificant ideas for stocking fillers/secret santa? Oh please do send them my way!

Merry Christmas everyone!!

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Eat, sleep, study, repeat. Sound like you right now? Yeah me too! 

This is the time of year when students flock to the library and take up the sweet company of gallons of tea and coffee.

This has been my station for 2 weeks now, and will continue to be until I jump on a plane next weekend - how amazing that will be!! 

I sometimes love exam season (well you know, within reason) as everyone turns just that little bit mad. Zumba at 1am on YouTube, pyjama days and lying on the kitchen floor with your flat mates singing Snow Patrol - Chasing Cars *ahem* is part of the many joys that come with procrastination! 

If your like me and hibernating until it's all over, then all the best! And never forget to #treatyoself during this stressful time. 

So wrap up warm, drink lots of water, grab that cup of coffee and plonk yourself down to revise! It's all going to be okay in the end...ahhh...

And if not and your going insane - put your earphones in, turn Taylor Swift on full blast and just SHAKE IT OFF! 

Now get your bum off the computer and into that book...

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Horray! It is the 1st of December! This is my favourite time of the year with lights, food and good cheer for all! 

But most of all, it is a time to remember Jesus, our Saviour, who came into this world to save us. The Christmas story is so amazing! Look up Luke 1 v 26 - 2 v 21 for a glimpse of this amazing story.

"Maybe Christmas doesn't come from a store. Maybe Christmas, perhaps, means a little bit more" 

- The Grinch

So let that Christmas cheer out, grab that first piece from your advent calender and pop that tree up! I have already been carol singing and spent multiple nights at the Christmas market...yeah I'm keen!

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You know one of the times in life you sit down, look around and feel completely blessed. I had one of them. I may just have the most lovely friends in the world, and your about to find out why...

I arrived home late in the afternoon to a note on my bed. Inside started a whole string of amazing surprises. The letter led me into the kitchen were Lois and Lucie sat waiting for me to pop a balloon telling me to get on my heels because we were going out for Lucie and I' engagement.

I sat against the wall saying "Guys, I don't like surprises, whats going on?"...LIES, I love them!

There was a lot of squealing and a few hugs before we dashed off to our rooms, blasted out Taylor Swift (who we are completely obsessed with right now) and grabbed our heels.

The two of us...engaged and smiling from ear to ear! Isn't Lucie adorable? You can follow her here at Juicy Lucie Foods for delicious, nutritious and scrummy meals. I've tried them and I can tell you they are goooood! The pancakes are a personal favourite!

Ring-a-ding-ding!

And, ye-know, a few selfies before I left for dinner...

 

We arrived at Montpeliers in Bruntsfield with its cute fairylights and candlelit tables. I would definitely go here if you are looking for a buzzing restaurant with packed tables and happy customers. It is locally sourced food with artisan flavors throughout. A great place for friends to chatter all night long with smiling staff.

Aren't they adorable??

For my starter I treated myself to a roasted butternut squash, goats cheese and pine nut salad with a mustard dressing. I am a complete cheese lover, I will eat it with pretty much anything and the topping of pine nuts was just divine.

The others had lovely smoked haddock and dill fishcakes with a homemade tarter sauce which had all the girls ooh-ing and ahh-ing over.

Then once I saw 'Orkney beef burger, melted scottish chedder, fries and tomato chutney' on the menu, there was no other choice. Burgers win the battle every single time. If there is meat, I will be there!!

It did not disappoint either. Everyone fell silent as we all treated ourselves to the delicious burger with salty fries and gorgeously tangy chutney. 

I just want one...more...bite...

Lois, Rachel and Jules all drove off saying they would be back to collect us in 10 minutes. We thought this was the end of our night, but the cuteness doubled in a dessert table at home with cake, cake, and some more cake.

Sashes were wrapped around us whilst we smiled over how wonderful our friends are once more.

We enjoyed our desserts over a cup of tea and laughter. I said a little speech and the night ended in praise for these gorgeous girls!!

It is a huge blessing to look around and ladies like this surround me in love for my engagement. They make it all the more exciting when celebrating how crazy and wonderful life can be.

Good food, a shiny ring and faces like this...

Yeah I know, blessed beyond belief!

Thank you for everything you have done for me girls, Lucie and I are in wonder at your grace and love for both of us. Cheers to being engaged, finding the men who we love with our whole heart and good food to celebrate with!

Lots of love, your brides-to-be xx

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