Vivabox Perfume Selection Box 2014 :)

This time last year I was lucky enough to team up with The Perfume Shop to review a lovely little perfume beauty box called the 'Vivabox'. The box itself was designed to be a miniature set of drawers where the top drawer contained 7 sample perfumes, and in the bottom drawer you received a voucher to claim a full sized bottle of your favourite scent. You can read my full blog post about it here, and it was a lovely idea for a Christmas present! I was delighted when they asked me to work with them again this year. The concept is still the same, although the perfumes are different and the box design has been changed.

Vivabox perfume gift voucher & sample set - £37.99*

I definitely prefer the packaging for the Vivabox 2014 version! How cute is the little pink bow detailing?! You slide off the cardboard packaging and then the box opens in half to reveal the 7 mini perfumes and a little envelope saying 'For her'. The voucher itself is valid until 30th June 2016 so you don't need to worry about it running out anytime soon! I just feel as though the design has been really thought about and is so lovely this year. It is also a lot more environmentally friendly as the drawer idea last year was cool but it used more cardboard than was necessary to create it!

The perfume inside this years box all have a black, white and pink theme to them. I feel like every single piece of the box has been selected to match and it is the perfect gift for any girl. You get plenty of information about each perfume inside the box so I'll just let you know which samples have been included this year - Hugo Boss 'Boss Ma Vie Pour Femme', Carolina Herrera '212 VIP', Jimmy Choo 'Jimmy Choo', Nina Ricci 'Nina', Paco Rabanne 'Black XS', Juicy Couture 'Viva La Juicy' and Kenzo 'Flower By Kenzo' :)

Joe has been a supportive boyfriend in regards to my blog since the very first day, so I was really pleased when Vivabox asked if I'd like to give a men's box to him! It's always lovely when company's take the time to see that you have a boyfriend and offer something for him too, so obviously I snapped up the chance as he deserves a little pampering some days too! :) As you can see below, the box has the exact same design for men as for women, although the colouring is blue instead.

The mens box is just as classy as the women's, with the colour blue reoccurring through-out the box and a lovely little 'For him' envelope including perfume details and the voucher itself. I do think this is such a great gift for men and women alike. If you're not sure what to buy someone for Christmas, you know that everyone likes scents! Then if you don't know exactly which perfume would be their favourite, you're giving them 7 to choose from, and a bunch of minis to use through-out the year too! :)

 

Just like the women's box, you get plenty of information about each perfume inside the box so I'll just let you know which samples have been included in the men's Vivabox this year - Hugo Boss 'Boss Bottled', Paco Rabanne '1 Million', Paco Rabanne 'Invictus', Montblanc 'Montblanc Legend', Carolina Herrera '212 VIP Men', Paco Rabanne 'Black XS' and Issey Miyake 'L'eau D'Issey Pour Homme' :)

Thank you so much again for the early Christmas gift Vivabox and The Perfume Shop, you've made us very happy bunnies! :) How cute do the two boxes look together?!

If you purchase a Vivabox in the next 3 days (before 30th November) they are £37.99, saving you a few pounds and making them the exact same price as last year!

Thank you for reading :)
Would you buy this for a family member or a friend?
Which is your favourite perfume choice?
Love Dani :)

x

Men's gift guide/stocking fillers for Christmas 2014 :)

Eek writing this gift guide has just made me so excited for Christmas! I love giving people presents and seeing their faces as they open them up. I especially love buying for my boyfriend as we usually set quite small budgets and try buy lots of small little goodies for each other. I've made sure that this gift guide has a price range so that it can inspire you for expensive main presents as well as a few stocking fillers or secret Santa ideas! This is the first ever men's gift guide I've written on my blog so hopefully it will help me in years to come when I run out of ideas I can pop back onto this post for inspiration!

Asos Beard Book - £9.99

There's just something about beards. Men love having beards and complimenting others on their beards so I'm guessing that they'd also like reading about beards! This book contains images from World Beard and Moustache Championships so there will definitely be some interesting photographs and reading!

Daniel Wellington Men's Classic Sheffield Rose Gold Watch - £179.00

 So I haven't got off to the cheapest start here, but if you're looking to treat a man in your life to something a little bit more special, I love these Daniel Wellington watches. I featured a female one in a wishlist recently as I love both the men and women versions (hint, hint!) Another place to find some other fab men's watches is Oris Watches - it's not the cheapest but there's some lovely watches!

Bjorn Borg Wild Life Trunks - £25.00
How lovely are these floral print boxer shorts? As you all know I'm a massive fan of floral, and I love the colours on these. I think more men should embrace floral patterns, especially on their underwear! They're not the cheapest pants in the world so hopefully they'll be really good quality also :)

Topman Boxed Reindeer Crossing Christmas Jumper - £30.00
You've gotta love a good old Christmas jumper! I love the colours in this Topman one - burgundy and navy are my favourite colours around Christmas time. The reindeer pattern looks really cute and I love that it's presented in a little box.

Topman Mi-Pac Red Plaid Wash Bag - £15.00

I know men don't have as many toiletries as us ladies, but they do all need somewhere to pop the bits they do use. I think this checkered one from Topman is lovely. The plaid print is very Autumn/Winter and the embroidered logo is really nice. It looks like it can fit quite a few products inside and would be perfect for those weekends away.

 

River Island Heisenberg Ceramic Coffee Cup - £10.00
This one is specifically for all those Breaking Bad fans out there! My favourite bit of all is that the cup lid is Heisenberg's hat! Perfect for your dads or boyfriends on the go, who can make a cup of coffee at home in the morning then take this cup to work with them!

Calvin Klein Eternity Eau De Toilette 30ml Gift Set - £33.00*
This gift set is perfect for a loved one. It comes with a mens scent and body wash in the famous Calvin Klein 'Eternity' scent, which I can confirm is gorgeous! Why not make the men in your life smell absolutely lovely this Christmas?! :)

 Soap and Glory Men's Daily Double Gift Set - £8.00 
I was so excited when I found out that Soap and Glory were now doing products for men. I am a massive fan of Soap and Glory and I have been for years, so I would definitely buy something for my boyfriend. This little gift set won't break the bank and would be perfect as a little stocking filler or Secret Santa pressie!

 Lush Christmas Penguin Bubble Bar - £3.25
I'll let you into a little secret here, my boyfriend loves Lush bath bombs (Sorry Joe!) and I'm sure yours would too! He would never go out of his way to buying one himself I'm sure, but if I've ever picked him one up, he's never complained! This little penguin bubble bar isn't too girly, has a Christmassy theme and is just so cute! :)

Urban Outfitters Game of Thrones 'Crows Before Hoes' Mug - £9.00

Now you'll only understand this mug if you've watched Game of Thrones, and if you haven't watched Game of Thrones then I suggest you do! It's a play on the saying 'bros before hoes' and crow is a nickname for the men of the Night's Watch because they dress entirely in black. This is the perfect stocking filler for any Game of Thrones fans, and I know my boyfriend would love it! :)

 Paperchase Pack of 5 Panda Highlighters - £3.00
These highlighters make me so happy every time I see them! They are the perfect stocking filler for anybody. Whether your man works in an office and would use them daily, or will occasionally use them once every 6 months, they're such a cute little addition to a pencil case or desk. Who could be disappointed by receiving 5 happy little panda pens?!

Asos Christmas Pudding Beanie hat - £10.00
This is slightly more of a joke present, but if your man or dad is happy to wear a Christmas jumper every year, then why not keep his head warm with a Christmas pudding hat? I think it's quite cute really and the cherry pompom on top is hilarious!

The Shawshank Redemption DVD - £3.03

If you don't know what to get someone, get them a timeless DVD. You can't go wrong with popular DVDs and you can get them so cheap online now! The Shawshank Redemption is one of my favourite movies ever and should be in everyone's home! :)

Lindt Milk Chocolate Bear 500g - £15.00

Another thing you can't really go wrong with at Christmas is chocolate! Lindt make absolutely gorgeous chocolate all year round, but at Christmas they have some lovely designs! One of my personal favourites is the chocolate bear, he's a right cutie!

 River Island Dinosaur Ankle Socks Pack - £12.00

The most obvious gift for the man in your life is pants and socks. These ones from River Island aren't too loud or vibrant, they're a mix of nice Autumn/Winter colours with a nice little dinosaur embroidery at the top.

 Jack Daniels Fudge Tin - £7.99

Last but not least is this Jack Daniels tin filled with fudge. I do love a Jack Daniels drinks and I'm sure that the fudge is just as yummy! This is perfect for a Jack Daniels lover and is pretty cheap too :)

Thank you for reading :)
What will you be getting your boyfriend/brother/dad this Christmas?
I hope this gift guide helped you!

Love Dani :)

x

*Sponsored post*

Gift ideas for a girly girl: Sass & Belle!

For a floral and shabby chic lover like myself, Sass and Belle is the perfect store. They sell everything from biscuit cushions to unicorn ring holders, and they're all at reasonable prices so they are the perfect place to look for Christmas gifts and stocking fillers! You can find them online at Sass and Belle, or you can find them in their little shop in London! I was lucky enough to get asked to review a few bits from their shop, and I will definitely be adding their pieces into my future wishlists as there is so many lovely bits I'm lusting over! :)

Sass & Belle 'Enjoy the little things' plaque - £3.45*

I wasn't actually sure what would be sent over to me, so you can really tell that the lovely people over at Sass and Belle took their time to look over my blog and see what I was into as they've managed to find goodies exactly to my taste! I love a good inspirational quote (I'm constantly pinning them over on Pinterest), and I'm currently turning my sisters old bedroom into a studio which will be full of inspirational quotes on the wall, including this cute little sign! :)

Sass & Belle 'Do what you love every day' Tin - £3.25*

 

 Another inspirational quote in the same style as the plaque, but this was in the form of a little trinket box. I was thinking about using it to store all the buttons I seem to have collected over my years at uni, but at the moment it's being used to store my favourite rings! It makes the perfect little addition to my desk and it makes me smile when I see it :)

 

Sass & Belle vintage floral spring notebook - £3.25*

Lastly but definitely not least, is this cute little floral notebook! As a blogger, you are always jotting down blog post ideas, things to buy yourself and the dates of meet ups so this is just perfect! I love the pink colour scheme and the floral print, and at such a cheap price it's the perfect gift for any girl! I've already added it to my handbag so I'm excited to start using it :)

Thank you so much for all my lovely goodies Sass & Belle! I will probably be doing a wishlist post just of items from their shop as there really is so many that I'd like - especially all their Christmas decorations on the site right now!

Thank you for reading :)

Which is your favourite item in this post?
Would you buy your friends Christmas pressies from Sass & Belle?
Love Dani :)

x

Gift ideas: Pearl Divine triple rainbow quartz crystal necklace! :)

 When it comes to jewellery, I love to buy from an independent handmade brand. I am absolutely obsessed with silver jewellery and especially any that have quartz and crystals involved! Pearl Divine is a mix of the two things I have just mentioned above - handmade and crystals galore! When I was given the opportunity to review one of their necklaces, I jumped at the chance... just look how gorgeous this necklace is!

 Pearl Divine Triple Rainbow Quartz Crystal necklace - £12.00*

I just cannot get over how gorgeous the colours are. In different lights, the necklace changes from green and blue, anywhere to purple and copper. I've only worn it a couple of times so far but both times I've received compliments. It's a really statement piece without being too big and bulky, and it really brightens up my mostly monochrome wardrobe! For a bargain price of only £12, it beats most retail store prices, and is so much more unique. You'll definitely be seeing this necklace in an outfit post again soon!

Gemma, a fellow blogger and the owner of Pearl Divine, is a really lovely lady too. She hand packaged my parcel in the prettiest pink paper with heart stickers and included a personal letter she had written for me, you don't get that kinda service on the high street!

Thanks for reading :)
Which is your favourite necklace on the Pearl Divine website?

You can also follow them on Twitter @shoppearldivine :)

Love Dani :)

x

Gift ideas: Vivabox perfume selection box!

I was supposed to write about this box set before Christmas but a slight mix-up in the post means this blog post is a little late, but it is by no means only a Christmas gift idea, it would be the perfect birthday present idea too! Basically the Vivabox is a little set of drawers that you can pick up from The Perfume Shop, and it contains 7 samples of different perfumes so that you can give it as a present and they can make their own decisions on which is their favourite one!

 Vivabox perfume selection box - £32.99*

Now here's where the selection box is special - all of the perfume samples are in the top drawer of the box, and then in the second drawer is another little present... a voucher to be redeemed for a full size bottle of the chosen perfume! It also contains a perfume guide on the size and some more information so that you can make your decision before you go into town and pick it up! I'd say that the box is around the same price as a full sized bottle of most of the perfumes, maybe a tiny bit more but it's more for safety so that you know the person you're buying for will definitely end up with some perfume they love, and it's more fun than a gift voucher! It comes in both a male and female version too so that there's a choice for everyone! :)

The female version that I have contains samples of: Jimmy Choo Flash, Carolina Herrera 212 VIP, Lacoste Touch of Pink, BOSS Orange, Ghost, Paco Rabanne Black XS and Paco Rabanne Lady Million. I've been having a lot of fun trying on a different perfume per day and all the different scents, and I think that my favourite so far is the Paco Rabbane Lady Million, but I'm going to give them each a few gos before I make my final decision!

Thanks for reading :)

Do you like the idea of the Vivabox selection box?
Would you buy a Vivabox for yourself or a friend as a gift idea?
Love Dani :)

x

Christmas gift ideas #2 - Ryan Gosling edition!

Okay so if you know me, you know I'm slightly obsessed with Ryan Gosling. I'm not sure when or how it happened (after the Notebook, before Drive and Place Beyond the Pines) but it happened and he is just gorgeous. His character in Place Beyond the Pines was probably what tipped me over the edge though - Ryan Gosling covered in tattoos and riding a motorbike... perfection!

Anyways, I was recently contacted by a company called Mr Nutcase asking if I would like to review an iPhone case on my blog so I jumped at the chance. I had been meaning to get a new iPhone case for a little while now and I was allowed to put a picture of anything onto it. So guess what I chose, yes a nice big picture of Ryan Gosling so I can look at him whenever I put my phone down.

Mr Nutcase personalised iPhone case - £14.95*

At only £14.95 including postage, I think that for creating your own iPhone case, this is an absolute bargain, and a great Christmas present too! It could literally be the perfect present for anyone - a picture of the family for your mum, a picture of all your best friends as a leaving present for someone at uni, the list goes on! I've had this phone case on my iPhone since the day it arrived, and I've had so many compliments on Ryan's lovely face :)

Secondly, I was contacted by the lovely people at Roo's Beach about reviewing a product from their website. After browsing for a good while, I came across so many cute and reasonably priced goodies! Everything from stocking fillers to clothing and accessories, but I knew that I had to pick a notebook of Ryan haha!

 Roo's Beach Ryan Gosling 'Hey Girl' notebook - £7.00*

This journal makes me laugh every time I look at it! The cute/funny quotes on each page are hilarious and there are even some pages where you can fill in what he's saying yourself. If you know a Ryan Gosling enthusiast like myself, then at only £7.00 this is definitely one for their stocking!

Let's just take this moment to appreciate how good looking Ryan is in The Place Beyond the Pines. And in general. But even more so with tattoos.

Thanks for reading :)

Who would you have put on an iPhone case?

Or would you just have to get Ryan yourself?

Love Dani :)

x

Gorgeous flowers from Bloom and Wild, that fit through your letterbox!

I'm so glad that I have come across Bloom and Wild flowers. They are the perfect gift for Mother's Day, birthdays or just a little thank you. They're not just like any old flower delivery service though, they are packaged up so that they can be sent through your letterbox! At a very reasonable price, and with gorgeous flower designs, I will definitely be keeping them in mind when I want to send my mum a little something!

Bloom and Wild 'Chic & Wild' gift box - £19.95*

"Fresh flowers. Designed with love to fit through your letterbox." 

I was so intrigued to see how on earth you could fit a bouquet of flowers through your letterbox, but I now know! They are individually cut and placed carefully into the box, and then wrapped in the cutest way! The come with a little instructions book, some plant food and it's all wrapped up in a little ribbon!

This is how the flowers first looked when I opened them and I thought they looked so lovely as they were. I wasn't sure if the greenery would open up or if they would stay shut, but I followed the instructions for a few days and they looked gorgeous in my uni room.

After a couple of days, I woke up totally surprised that my bouquet had bloomed with massive pink flowers! I had mentioned that I liked the colour pink but I just assumed that I had been sent purple as it was the closest colour they had! I couldn't believe it, and the bouquet looked even more lovely than it had done before!

How gorgeous do they look in my uni room?! They literally match perfectly! :) It has been two weeks since I have been sent my Bloom and Wild flowers, and they are still sat on my window sill!

Thanks for reading :)
What do you think of these flowers?
Would you use them as a gift delivery for someone special?
Love Dani :)

x

Valentines day gift ideas for you and him :)

Valentine's Day is fast approaching (and it's also my four years with my boyfriend too!) and it dawned on me that I hadn't even started thinking about presents yet, oops! Here I have complied a list of both gifts for him, gifts for yourself... for him, and gifts for the both of you :)

 Soap and Glory 'Flake Away' - £7.00

Words literally cannot describe how soft your legs are after using this product. I cannot believe I used to live without it, it just leaves legs feeling so silky and smooth! Soap and Glory always seem to have the '3 for 2' offer on, so why not treat yourself to a few bits :)

Percy Pig Toy - £6.00

So the Percy Pig sweets from Marks and Spencers now do toys... need I say anymore?!

My Side Your Side Pillows £25.00

I really love these pillows! They're cute, funny and true all at the same time! :)

 

Topshop Cherub Necklace  - £4.50

Unfortunately this is sold out online, but keep your eyes peeled in your local store! It's reduced from £14.00 so it's a total bargain, and I really hope I find it! I love the burgundy and gold together and it would look so cute under a shirt collar :)

Heart Egg Mould - £6.00

Imagine how cute breakfast in bed would be if your fry up had a heart shaped egg on the side!

'Rosie for Autograph' Lingerie Set - £22.50 & £12.50

Rosie Huntington-Whiteley has collaborated with Marks and Spencer to create this gorgeous collection of lingerie. This set is cute yet sexy, and the pattern and lace is adorable! :)
 

Large Yankee Candle in 'True Rose' - £14.99

Yankee Candles smell absolutely gorgeous! Why not use Valentine's Day as an excuse to invest in a new one?!

Scratch Map - £8.92

I have literally wanted one of these maps for so long! You scratch off the places you have been to once you've been there like a scratch card, and then it turns into a colour. It would be so cute to have one of these as a couple and scratch off all the places you've been together :)

Heart Balloons - £2.50

Okay so they're not really necessary but they've very cute! They would be nice if you were surprising someone, or if you haven't seen them in a while! :)

Thanks for reading :)

I hope I've managed to give you a few ideas!

What will you be getting your other half, or treat yourself to this Valentines day? :)

Love Dani

x

Stocking fillers and 'Secret Santa' presents for under £10 :)

I absolutely love Christmas. I love Christmas shopping, I love going home and spending time with my family and friends, I love the food but I hate being skint after it all! It can all be rather expensive, especially being a university student too, so I've put together some gifts all for under £10. I love all of these gifts, a few I do have already, but they are cheap enough for stocking fillers, a 'secret Santa' gift, or just a little extra to a main present :)

Kate Moss Red Lipstick shade 001 -  £5.49

I absolutely love this shade of lipstick. It is a cherry red, dark enough to look good with burgundy and other winter colours, but not too dark to make you look gothic in the pale winter months. You can see me wearing mine in the top picture here. I really love Kate Moss lipsticks, they're cheap and cheerful, yet they're really nice to wear too. They're matte yet don't dry out your lips, I've asked for a light pink one for Christmas :)

Topshop Initial Ring - £5.00

I love piling gold rings up on my finger, and I think this inital one would go perfectly with all my others. I usually dislike dangle rings, but this one is pretty simple and quite short so wouldn't be too annoying.

 Soap and Glory Hand Food Mini - £2.50

I only tried out this product recently as I had to get an extra something in the '3 for 2' offer, but I'm so glad I did, it's actually incredible! If I put it on at night before I go to bed, the next morning my hands feel so soft and lovely! The mini version is the perfect size to keep in your handbag too :)

Elf DVD - £3.64

Elf is my favourite Christmas movie ever, it makes me laugh so much everytime! My sister used to watch it every single day of December when we were younger, and when I used to live with her, I literally heard her laugh everytime too. Everyone should own Elf on DVD, and everyone should watch it every December! :)

Topshop Christmas Socks - £3.50 (Or 3 for £8)

Everyone needs some nice snuggly Christmas socks to wear under their boots and just general wonder around the house in. Topshop have some lovely Santa/ gingerbread man/ fairisle ones this year which are perfect for all :)

Cath Kidston Floral Mug - £5.00

I have two Cath Kidston mugs that my boyfriend treated me to before and I love them. They're bigger than the average mug, so they're perfect for a nice big cuppa tea, and they have such lovely designs and patterns too :)

Vaseline Retro Lips Tin - £6.49

I bought this for myself a while back when it was on offer for about £4, so if you look around you might be able to find it cheaper too! I absolutely love the design of the tin and I'm gonna use it to store all of my lipsticks in! I always have a Vaseline nearby and Winter is the perfect time to get someone some Vaseline with all the cold weather and chapped lips! :(

Soap and Glory Sexy Mother Pucker Lipgloss - £9.00

Every girl loves lipgloss, and every girl loves Soap and Glory. This lipgloss has something in it (I can't find mine right now to read what it actaully is) but it makes your lips tingle and enlarge slightly so you have a nice big Christmas pout! Haha I've explained this terribly, but it's pretty cool :)

Carmex Cherry Lip Balm - £2.69

Just a tiny gift for the Christmas season. I love Carmex lip balm and I always have a pot on the go. It's basically the exact same as Vaseline but it seems to leave your lips all tingly like you can feel it actaully working, and it's in a lovely cherry flavour :)

Yankee Candle Sampler - £1.80

 Now everyone loves the Yankee Candles, but not everyone can afford the price tags. With the smallest usually being about £8, they're not the cheapest presents, but why not get a sampler for £1.80 and then they can decide for themselves if they like it enough to buy the full product! They still burn for up to 15 hours and they can be put into any cute containers to melt :)

Models Own Beetlejuice Nail Polish - £5.00

I'm yet to try out any Models Own nail varnishes, but I've heard nothing but good things about them! At only £5 they don't break the bank, and the beetlejuice collection have some gorgeous shades. They seem to change colour as you move your fingers in the light so you can have a dark green shade with hints of pink in the light :)

Terry' Popping Candy Chocolate Orange - £2.75

As with the other chocolate oranges, you can more than likely find these on offer in places for as low as £1 each, and I can confirm that these are absolutely gorgeous! A mix of the normal Terry's Chocolate Orange with tiny bits of popping candy inside, they are perfect for a stocking filler :)

MUA Nail Constellations - £3.00

These are tiny little balls that stick to your wet nail varnish and look so cute! I previously wrote a whole review on them here if you would like to read the whole thing :)

Paperchase Bear Highlighters - £3.00

I bought these for myself at the start of uni this year, and they actually put me in such a good mood when I have to do boring written work! They're so cute and cheap and would make any student, or anyone who has to do paperwork happy :)

Whittard's Luxury White Hot Chocolate - £5.50

I've only tried this once before when my housemate gave me a cup full, and I've been lusting after it ever since! I love hot chocolate and I love white chocolate, they are just so perfect together and lovely for the cold Winter months :)

Thanks for reading :)

Were any of these already on your Christmas wishlist?

You gonna add any of them to it now?

What is on your wishlist so far?
Love Dani :)

x