The Independent Christmas Gift Guide : North Edition

2020. We’re all over it.

Christmas is also going to be really tough for many families and businesses alike. One important thing we can do, where possible, is to buy local presents from local traders and small independents to help secure their future for 2021.

I have used my local traders to come up with a gorgeous gift guide and some will do nationwide delivery. But if you’re not local to the North then I urge you to use these ideas and seek out the independents near you offering the same ideas. I promise there will be loads and it will make Christmas just that little bit more special.

1. Smells Good

Scent can be one of the best things to gift as most people would never treat themselves to a luxury candle or bath salts.

I’m a Little Candle offers a lovely curated collection of candles or Cedar sell candle-making kits for a bit of DIY scent creating.

SW Botanicals have such a gorgeous collection of diffusers and botanical oils all handmade in Yorkshire.

And local Chorlton favourites Buddha Beauty sell gift vouchers so you can treat that special someone to a massage or facial, as well as selling vegan beauty products for the “at home” spa experience.

I’m A Little Candle

SW Botanicals

Buddha Beauty

Cedar

2. Tastes Good

You cannot go wrong with food gifts and there are some crackers here. Perhaps my only non northern supplier but someone I’ve followed for years - Honeywell biscuits send biscuit packages through the letterbox so are ideal to reach out to people you might not get to see this year.

All Day Cake sends cake in the post. Actual Cake. Delivered To Your Door. I don’t really have to say anymore. Apart from they are the most beautiful cakes you’ve ever seen.

The Cheese Hamlet in Didsbury ALWAYS has a queue outside but the gorgeous gift hampers are definitely worth queuing for if you have a lover of cheese in your life.

And for beer delivered to your doorstop within a couple of hours always choose Shindigger. They also do nationwide delivery - although you may have to wait a little longer - and I highly recommend getting a selection box as it makes a fab gift.

Honeywell Biscuits

All Day Cake

The Cheese Hamlet

Shindigger Brewery

3. Wears Well

For the girl who loves getting her nails done - So West Didsbury is my favourite salon and you can buy gift vouchers galore to use anytime we’re allowed back in.

Nordic Muse has really lovely classic jewellery items as well as a perfectly curated interiors collection so you won’t go wrong with something from here.

Tattoo lover in your life? They’ll thank you forever for booking them into the best tattoo studio in the North West. This Mortal Coil is owned by a friend so I might be biased but then also the waiting list speaks for itself.

And a new little find for me this week - Jopp Jewllery has some really fun handmade pieces for all the Fashion Queens.

So West Didsbury Nails : Photo by About Today Photography

Nordic Muse

This Mortal Coil Tattoos

Jopp Jewellery

4.Looks Good

“I hate flowers” - said no-one ever. And they also just aren’t for Christmas but if you can’t reach those people you normally would this year then flowers are the best pick me up. The Flower Lounge do nationwide delivery on dried flowers and also do DIY wreath kits which are great for that someone in your life who likes to be hands on.

Personal prints are also a fail safe present. Lily Curious does fab wedding bouquet and house illustrations which scream newlyweds or the first time home owners you know. Eleck Designs can do any cityscape so why not request a special destination for a loved one?

And for the interior lover - look no further than Rose & Grey but I can’t guarantee you won’t end up buying yourself some bits from there too!

The Flower Lounge

Lily Curious

Rose & Grey

Eleck Designs

5. Writes Well

For the stationary lover in your life. These 4 suppliers won’t disappoint.

Hello Day Planners are amazing for those with busy schedules, it really is the perfect year planner.

We are Fold are launching a new stationary subscription box which makes a gift go on forever and Idaho stocks all kinds of quirky stationary gifts as well as interior and beauty products too.

And finally Fred Aldous has everything for your crafty little mate, mum, brother or child.

We Are Fold

Idaho

Fred Aldous

So that’s my list. It’s by no means exhaustive and there are plenty of other fab independent shops, makers, suppliers, crafters and sellers in the world. I hope you all have a fab Christmas and we get to make it extra special this year, just by appreciating the small things.

33 Things I've learnt in Lockdown

1. I don’t miss the morning commute.

2. I do however miss the takeaway coffees and pastries.

3. Life is simpler at home and I actually like it!

4. I feel better putting makeup on and getting dressed rather than sitting in my pj’s all day.

5. It’s OK just me, the husband and the cat - we get along perfectly.

6. Sending little gifts and presents brings me so much joy.

7. My garden has been my saviour - so grateful for listening to mum about south facing gardens.

8. I have turned into a plant lady and can actually grow things!

9. I still however am terrible at cooking - I made one decent banana bread, everything else turned to rubbish!

10. Waking up at normal time on weekdays keeps me motivated.

11. My husband actually has a very serious job - I, on the other hand, don’t!

12. My cat is way more active and needy during the day.

13. He likes to be fed approximately on the hour every hour.

14. My local parks are actually really really nice and I don’t need to travel miles for a good one!

15. No matter how much time I have - I will never be motivated to sort my dressing room and wardrobe out.

16. I actually do enjoy pottering around the house and I don’t feel guilty about chilling out like I used to.

17. I’ve become way more inventive with things to do at home - dance classes, zoom quizzes, virtual escape rooms…

18. It’s just as hard to organise meeting friends as it was out of lockdown!

19. Strangers are actually really nice.

20. I’ll never take family time for granted again.

21. Sometimes it’s OK to revert back to your teenage food habits - Nutella sandwiches or tuna pasta straight from the bowl anyone?

22. I miss hugs - A LOT.

23. I also miss eating out in my favourite restaurants.

24. I’d be quite happy for a UK based holiday from now on - I don’t miss the flight anxiety! *maybe one flight a year is OK!

25. I don’t need to buy all the stuff all the time to feel happy.

26. I do however still get the “what should I wear” dilemma even when going for a walk in the park where I know no one.

27. I like driving my car with Heart 90’s blasting and the windows down.

28. Birthdays are actually fun when they’re low key.

29. Zoom filters still don’t make me look good.

30. Jigsaws frustrate the hell out of me.

31. I can make a mean Pina Colada but cannot master a good Espresso Martini.

32. I downloaded The Sims and have no regrets.

33. Simple things are the best.

So yeah that’s all the things I’ve learnt in 8 weeks. I encourage you to share yours, write it down on a bit of paper or share it on your social media. It was actually really fun to do!

Baked Eggs With The Campden Cookware Frying Pan

Paid Collaboration with Robert Welch

Baked Eggs in Campden Cookware Frying Pan

How to make a frying pan look sexy - that was the dilemma facing me when Robert Welch got in touch and asked to collaborate. Second problem is I don’t cook very much - I’m lazy. Luckily I have a very talented Fiancé who can whip anything and everything when he puts his mind to it. Teamwork makes the dream work and we came up with using this Shakshuka recipe to create a really vibrant and rustic shot.

Robert Welch is a household name in British design and I was very much aware of their cutlery designs. I didn’t know too much about their cookware before so was very pleasantly surprised with the Campden Non Stick Frying Pan when it arrived.

Robert Welch Campden Cookware Frying Pan

Some geeky technology features of the frying pan include a PFOA free Excalibur non-stick coating. Excalibur is considered to be the toughest, longest-lasting, most durable non-stick coating in the world. Even the name is impressive.

The base of each pan features tri-layering technology, a copper core sandwiched between two layers of stainless steel, which allows for an even heat distribution across the whole base.

Robert Welch Campden Cookware Frying Pan

So cue a miserable Sunday in October where we decided to make the baked eggs and create some shots. I was the photographer, Ben was the cook naturally. We picked fresh Parsley from the herb pot and pretended we were the perfect cooking couple!

Recipe for Baked Eggs

It worked perfectly first time and I love the colours in the shots from the tomatoes and the peppers. I think we made it look pretty sexy!

You can get 20% Robert Welch’s Campden Cookware range until 29th October 2018 by clicking the link here.

BBC Good Food Shakshuka with Campden Cookware Frying Pan

Happy shopping, cooking and eating!