Christmas gift guide 2011

Shopping Guides

Product reviews

Published on Thursday, 01 December 2011 16:30

Last Updated on 27 September 2013

Monica Costa

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Look no further for unique Christmas Gifts. This guide is brought to you by London Mums’ panel of testers! There is something for every taste and for every pocket.

GIFTS FOR HER (MUMS, GRANMAS, GIRLFRIENDS)

STRICTLY CHRISTMAS MAKE-UP COLLECTION 2011

Dance fever has taken over the nation again with the ninth series of Strictly Come Dancing. The Strictly Make-up collection designed by Head Make-up Designer and artist to the stars, Lisa Armstrong, has also hit Boots stores nationwide. Check our review at https://londonmumsmagazine.com/2011/strictly-christmas-make-up-collection

Posh Paraphernalia
a new online shop for the woman who has everything! Check it at https://londonmumsmagazine.com/2011/posh-paraphernalia

Aromatherapy Associates and Andrea Garland’s new collections for Christmas 2011: we love the Little Star (£10.00, opposite) for its high quality and great value for money.

SAMSONITE a super light B-Lite Fresh case

This is an ultra light luggage, really suitable for mums travelling with kids, especially if you are flying out on your own. Brilliant! It has a really smart design with double handle for on the side and on the top. The wheels at the bottom roll on their own – we barely lifted this case ever during our trip and even when moving from the luggage collection area to the taxi. This must be the best luggage in the world. I have had Samsonite cases for the past 20 years and I have never been disappointed. www.samsonite.co.uk

Fortnum & Mason Christmas Luxury Deli

These must be London Mums’ favourite Xmas products of all time.
https://londonmumsmagazine.com/2011/luxury-xmas-teas-and-biscuits

Luxury Herbal tea ROSE WISDOM

https://londonmumsmagazine.com/2011/luxury-xmas-teas-and-biscuits

Trolley Dolly Bag, THE BAG THAT’S FOR LIFE, AND PERFECT FOR CHRISTMAS!
Trolley-Dolly is a compact, stylish pouch that contains 18 virtually indestructible bags for life of variety shapes, sizes and purposes.

https://londonmumsmagazine.com/2011/trolley-dolly

Remarkable Longline Hoody (Joe Browns)

Joe Browns has now become one of my favourite fashion brands as it guarantees value for money and has quirky funky and colourful clothes I love and when I don’t want to spend too much money at Desigual or Emilio Pucci. I love this hoodie RRP £34.95 www.joebrowns.co.uk

Grannies Beanies

When was the last time you received a home-knitted winter beanie? It is now possible to rent a granny to knit you a customised one for not too much money. London Mums love this service: https://londonmumsmagazine.com/2011/grannies-beanies

BOOK FOR MUMS

‘I don’t know how she does it’ by Telegraph columnist, Allison Pearson
This book has to be my favourite book of the year. Read my review here https://londonmumsmagazine.com/2011/i-don%E2%80%99t-know-how-she-does-it

“Dangerous Women – The Guide to Modern Life” by Clare Conville, Liz Hoggard & Sarah-Jane Lovett – Published by Weidenfeld & Nicolson on 3 November 2011
RRP £14.99 hardback – £7.99 eBook

https://londonmumsmagazine.com/2011/dangerous-women

GIFTS FOR DADS

‘Steve Jobs: The Exclusive Biography’

An extraordinary book which gives us a unique insight into the life and thinking of the man who has single-handedly transformed the way we live today. Check our review at https://londonmumsmagazine.com/2011/steve-jobs

iPhone Eye Scope

An eye for detail: the Eyescope for iPhone 4 Black. You can get it from the Science Museum, which is a great place to take kids over half term. https://londonmumsmagazine.com/2011/gifts-for-him

One Million Pound Note
You can get it from www.thepresentfinder.co.uk

Men’s Preppy Gloves with Union Jack (Joe Browns)
RRP £5.95 – Amazing stock fillers for all dads. Joe Browns is one of my favourite fashion brands. www.joebrowns.co.uk

Personalise your Phone with Giant Sparrows


You can now make your phone stand out from the crowd and display your loved one on your prized gadget with a bespoke customised phone case from Giant Sparrows. The service features a customisation tool allowing you to place your image exactly as you want it for a one off design.
Currently available for Blackberry Bold, Blackberry Curve, iPhone 3 and 4 and the iPod Touch 4th generation. RRP £19.99 – 0800 6899 446 www.giantsparrows.co.uk

GIFTS FOR GIRLS

DOLLS

Bratz™ Masquerade from MGA
RRP £19.99
http://Bratz.com/masquerade

Annabell® Tween Bling dolls from Zapf Creation

RRP £21.99
www.zapfcreation.com

In the Night Garden Goodnight Friends Upsy Daisy (Hasbro)
This cuddly plush Upsy Daisy need to be tucked in and read a bedtime story by you and your little one! Upsy Daisy comes with her light, a storybook and removable nightdress and slipper accessories. Age: 2 years+

Whiplash for Girls from Street Surfing

RRP: £69.99
www.streetsurfing.co.uk
Info line 01202 650009

“Magic Ballerina – Dress Up and Dance with Darcey Bussell” (RRP ?19.99) comes with everything you need to become a Darcey Bussell protégé. The set includes a leotard, performance skirt, Instructional DVD and a bonus Magic Ballerina paperback book! The DVD is split into ‘Practice’ and ‘Performance’ sections – both of which are led by Darcey Bussell and her Magic Ballerina characters. For stockist information, please call 01702 200660 or visit www.vividimaginations.co.uk for more information.

My Pretty Pink tea party set with recipe book
RRP £12.99 – Available at John Lewis www.johnlewis.com 08456 049 049

GIFTS FOR BOYS

BEN TEN TOYS

Alien Crash Vehicle

RRP £12.99

The Complete Rustbucket III
They can be bought from www.bandai.co.uk
RRP £29.99.

The Big Sticky Pad

Do you find that the sticky notes you leave to remind yourself or others to do something get over-looked or ignored? If your yellow reminders are too small to be noticed, then you need the BIG STICKY PAD! Absolutely brilliant! RRP £6.99 Available from www.thepresentfinder.co.uk

Shocks Odd Socks for Boys

‘Shocks’ are a new and exciting range of completely odd socks designed especially for boys. Any young boy would love to receive these socks as a present or gift rather than the boring black or grey they would usually receive for their birthday or Christmas and just think, no more pairing up on wash day. they are amazing, crazily colourful, just what this new generation of boys like! RRP £9.99 – Available from www.thepresentfinder.co.uk

Pocket-sized Travel Games by The Green Board Game Company

www.greenboardgames.com

Whatever you’ve got planned for the half term school holidays keep the family entertained with Brainbox’s range of fun, educational, eco-friendly and inspired games. RRP £8.00 – www.brainboxgame.com Follow BrainBox Games on: Facebook: BrainBoxGames Twitter: @BrainBoxGames – www.amazon.co.uk

Science Museum 3D Drawing Pad

Does ordinary 2-D drawing just leave you feeling flat? Now you can add an extra dimension to your artwork with this great 3D Drawing Pad and glasses. The 3D sketch pad comes with 50 sheets of special paper and a pair of 3D glasses to view your creations in all their glory. Using a dark pen or pencil, sketch away as normal on the paper then put on the 3D glasses to see your masterpiece appear to jump off the page, the lines you’ve drawn simply floating in space. Cool!

RRP £5.00

Cherish & Cherubs Creative Cardboard Aeroplane

RRP £21.95

www.cherishandcherubs.co.uk

GIFTS FOR BOTH GIRLS AND BOYS

Let’s Rock Elmo (Hasbro)
Dressed in a concert style t-shirt, Elmo takes the stage singing and making music – and preschoolers can too! Elmo comes with his very own microphone and two instruments – a tambourine and a drum set. Preschoolers can choose which Elmo plays, and he magically recognises which one you give him. Age: 18 months +

The Traykit is great for both girls and boys. https://londonmumsmagazine.com/2011/little-travellers

Must-have scooter accessories for children this Christmas
:

Scootrix is an amazing range of fun, functional and collectable accessories that allow kids to firmly stamp their individuality on their scooters, eliminating that sinking feeling when parents realise the only scooter left on the grass is not the one they arrived with, but an identical model. Children simply love personalising their stuff, and with over 2.5 million British children having a scooter, this year’s Christmas craze is bound to be Scootrix. While giving their kids the opportunity to have a blast personalising their set of wheels, parents will also breathe a sigh of relief as their child’s £50 scooter finally becomes distinguishable from the others lined up at the park. Scootrix Plates (RRP £9.99) and Wheel Whizzers (RRP £6.99 per pair). Nationwide retailers include: www.micro-scooters.co.uk and www.handpickedcollection.com

Circa Calendar

RRP £39.99 www.circacalendar.com

GREAT KIDS’ DVDs

Here come the Octonauts! DVD
This probably the most popular Cbeebies series after ‘In the Night Garden’ among our London kids. Really amazing story telling and educational. It’s now so popular that London Mums are organising brithday parties with the Octonauts theme. RRP £13.27 www.theoctonauts.com

https://londonmumsmagazine.com/2011/very-xmassy-movies

The Snowman and Father Christmas DVDs (Classic Gifts)

released in new editions for Christmas – Launch Date: 7th November 2011 Price: £9.99 RRP each. Check our reviews at https://londonmumsmagazine.com/2011/classic-kids-movies

MARLEY & ME: THE PUPPY YEARS DVD:

The most lovable canine is back for an all new adventure. The movie is released on Blu-ray and DVD from 14th November 2011, courtesy of Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment. Check our review at
https://londonmumsmagazine.com/2011/christmas-dvd-review-marley-me-the-puppy-years

Beethoven’s Christmas Adventure DVD is the next uplifting instalment from the well-loved family franchise where the hilarious canine speaks for the first time! Check our review at
https://londonmumsmagazine.com/2011/beethovens-christmas

BARBIE: A PERFECT CHRISTMAS DVD

Have a perfect Christmas this year as the world’s most stylish and iconic doll returns in a full length animated musical feature. Check our review at
https://londonmumsmagazine.com/2011/christmas-dvd-review-barbie-a-perfect-christmas

GREAT KIDS’ BOOKS

This Book is Totally Christmassy (paperback)

Brilliant creative book published by Walker Books and authored by the founders of London Club for mums Maggie & Rose (based in Kensington) with lots of ideas for things to do during Christmas and beyond.
RRP £5.99

www.amazon.co.uk

Head Shoulders Knees and Toes (author: David Ellwand)
Lovely book with a button that the toddler (and maybe even a 7 months old baby could press to unleash the lovely tune. RRP £6.99 Available at John Lewis www.johnlewis.com 08456 049 049

The Jolly Postman (authors: Janet & Allan Ahlberg)

RRP £9.79 – Available at John Lewis www.johnlewis.com 08456 049 049

The LEGO® Ideas Book

A must have book for all Lego fans. Really useful ideas on how to build tracks, airplanes, helicopters, ships, building and even the Union Jack.
DK, £16.99, www.dk.com

GREAT APPS THIS CHRISTMAS

The Picked Onion Gang app

Check what London Mums think about it https://londonmumsmagazine.com/2011/children-to-benefit-from-new-fun-and-educational-app-during-the-summer-holidays
and the story behind the app https://londonmumsmagazine.com/2011/dadpreneur-success-story-paul-and-the-pickled-onion-gang

Look Bunny Find, the only FREE children’s activity finder on the App Store, created by techie star mumpreneur. Check out our review here https://londonmumsmagazine.com/2011/look-bunny-find

GIFTS FOR BABIES & TODDLERS (AND MUM)

NOD POD – the baby blanket with legs

The softest baby blanket London Mums have ever come across with a twist. The blanket does have legs and a hood too so baby is always wrapped properly. One of our favourite gifts for baby and mum. https://londonmumsmagazine.com/2011/nod-pod

MIAMOO ORGANIC COSMETIC RANGE: Amazing organic baby and mum Miamoo product range created by TV star and Apprentice runner up Saira Khan. You can use them for every kind of skin issue and for general TLC: nappy rash, scars, face and body moisturising. All products of this range made ideal gifts for both baby, toddlers and yummy mummies. www.miamoo.co.uk

Childs Farm

A new range of gorgeous toiletry products especially made for children made by Childs Farm, a lovely farm in Hampshire. They have the best smells of all cosmetics we have come across, i.e. bubblegum, lemonade and fanta type of smells. Toddlers and London mums love them. www.childsfarm.com

GLOVE CLIPS
great gift for any baby, toddler and school child too and the solution to NEVER LOSE A PAIR OF GLOVES AGAIN.

https://londonmumsmagazine.com/2011/gloves-clips