It's All in the Present

Giving gifts can be really hard, especially when you’re buying for someone fussy or someone who doesn’t know what they want. It’s even harder when you’re buying for someone who has everything! You might have already read this guide to buying gifts - but check it out if you’re struggling.

Image by Flickr

However, there’s a few ways you can make even the most mundane gift seem special. Because, let’s face it, we’ve all been there. Sometimes people don’t want fancy gifts like jewellery. Sometimes, they just want practical, useful gifts they can use every day - and you can find some ideas on BuzzFeed. Dads and brothers asking for socks? Mums just wanting a nice new diary? They’re good gifts, and are obviously well appreciated and used. But they just don’t seem that special. So, when you’re faced with a tough gift giving situation, here are some tips you can use to make any present exciting.

Go for the personal touch

You can’t always give someone a really heartfelt, personal gift. If you had the time, talent and money, then you might be able to spend weeks or even months crafting a delightful present. But sadly, there are few of us that can do that. But there’s a way around this. If you’re buying someone something practical or useful, but not necessarily special, why not add some personalisation? It’s a really lovely way to mark something out as especially for that person. It turns a normal, practical present into something more special. And it shows that you’ve spent more time on their special day than simply ordering something online. There’s no limit to what you can personalise - check out sites like Giftsin24 for proof of that!

Choose the premium, high quality option

If the person you’re buying for has told you exactly what they want, then why not step it up a gear? Instead of buying a brand’s standard set of socks, why not look for the premium collection? Don’t just buy a boring diary - buy one with a gorgeous finish, embossed letters and thick paper. Even when you’re buying practical presents, you can still have fun. Shop around and see what gems you can find. It can sometimes be easier to buy gifts when you know exactly what you’re looking for! And buying premium gifts doesn’t always mean spending premium prices. This blog has some nifty hints and tricks to help you save money when buying from expensive, designer brands.

Spend time on gift wrapping and presentation

Image credit: Berries

So, you’ve settled for those bamboo wool socks with the personalised monogram on the side? Perfect. Now, to give it that extra special touch, concentrate on the wrapping. None of us admit it, but part of the fun of both giving and receiving gifts is the moment before you open it. If you’re unwrapping thick gift paper and undoing soft, satin ribbon, you’re going to be even more excited by the time you get to your gift. Plus, it shows that you’ve made an effort through the whole process - from thinking up the idea, to handing the gift over. Not bad for a pair of socks, eh! If you need a helping hand with where to start, read this guide from Happiness is Homemade.

*Collaborative piece

I've Had It, Just Vote!

So.  This is a ranting and yes, most probably patronising and frankly you may think "she is a bitch"post in parts, but honestly, I have fucking had it with some people.  (Yes there will be swearing too).

I have officially had enough with pussyfooting around non voters and the undecided.  It is election day tomorrow.  You have had since the 18th April to look at the information, decide between the parties; if you haven't decided by now, what the fuck have you been playing at?

Photo Credit

I am tired of being people's research assistant in comment sections.  I am frankly pissed off by this point of people saying that they aren't sure and want more information from people.  It is the eve of the election, what have you been doing?  

This is not just about bloody Brexit.  Yes, we are leaving. I voted remain but the two main political parties have agreed to go forward with it so I have to deal with it. This is about so much more than Brexit, if you bothered to look. 

I am sick of people reading things like the Daily Mail and deciding on their vote based on that.

Think I am biased against Daily Mail readers?  Well, yes, I have to admit, I am.  Just read the vitriol in the comments sections.  I am the Guardian reading lefty that they love to hate.  The difference being, I have done my bloody research!  I have read papers from every side of the argument, yes including the Daily Mail.  I have read the manifestos.  I have watched Question Time for months.  I have watched the questions and answers programmes to the leaders (not debates as Theresa May refuses to debate!!!).  I have gotten all the information I could, which has backed up my choice of whom to vote for.

To the people who have decided not to vote: 

Yes your vote will be a difference. 

Yes it does matter who you vote for. 

No they are not the same.

What I share below is unbiased fact of the main policies of the two main parties.  Yes unbiased.

TORY

Goodbye NHS. If the NHS goes private (as the Tories want and have investigated into), you will suffer. Get pregnant? Prepare to pay thousands.  Check out this link for more information. Free at point of access for the working only.  Elevated costs.  

Goodbye winter fuel and the triple lock on pensions. Goodbye free school meals for children which in some cases means they are losing their one hot meal a day.  Nurses are going to food banks.  I will just leave that bit there for you to ponder.

Security of this country is not properly staffed or funded.  The police warned Theresa May two years ago that she was sacrificing the country's security by getting rid of 20,000 police officers.  She called it scaremongering.  We have had three terrorist attacks this year in this country with proof in each that the attackers were reporting many times to security services but lack of resources meant that the reports were not properly looked into,  Theresa May has been Home Secretary/Prime Minister for SEVEN YEARS.

LABOUR

Free education including university tuition meaning more people who want to get a university education but could not afford it, will be able to. 

The NHS  will be properly funded.

More police. 

Big business taxed properly. 

Read the manifestos or if you can't be arsed, listen to the bloody news. 

I have had enough with this "I don't know/don't care" attitude. It fucking matters. People are dying under austerity cuts.  Dying cancer patients are having their benefits removed.  Look at the info, make up your mind, get off your backside and VOTE.

Watch this NHS pediatrician sob at the reality of the NHS and tell me it is not your responsibility to fucking vote. Sod "your country needs you to vote".  YOU need to vote for yourself.

RANT OVER. Now go, vote.

Boost Your Scent

A lot of us spend ages focusing on the way we look. In fact, we try and get the best makeup and hair products to ensure we look fantastic. And we take time working on finding great clothes to help us to look terrific. But there is something less obvious that we need to spend time working on. And it can boost our appearance much more than having luscious locks or beautiful nails. And that surprisingly is our scent. After all, it’s one of the first things people can notice about us when they meet us. And it can instantly make you more attractive. In fact, it can get guys interested if you have a great aroma. Therefore, here are some ways to boost your scent to increase your appeal.

Watch what you're eating  

You might not realise that what you are eating can have an effect on your smell. In fact, you could be walking around with a bad odour down to your food choices. Therefore, it’s worth looking at your diet to ensure you can boost your aroma. For starters, you need to cut down on the amount of red meat and spicy food you are eating. These both can give you a poor odour which will reduce your appeal and confidence. Also, you should avoid choline-rich foods like fish and eggs. After all, these can give off a fishy smell that you will hate. Instead, you should go for plant-like foods like spinach and kale which can boost your smell. And it can give you a naturally great scent. Also, increase the amount of fruit and vegetables in your diet. Not only are they healthy, but they are ideal for cleaning up your smell too!

Pixabay

Goodbye cigarettes

It can be so difficult to give up cigarettes. After all, it’s so easy to get into the habit of using them every single day. And a lot of people smoke them to relax their body. But while it might reduce your stress, there are a lot of downfalls to using cigarettes. For one thing, they can be incredibly pricey. In fact, a lot of people end up wasting a large percentage off their wages on the cigarettes. And it can have an effect on your health if you are a regular smoker. After all, you are at higher risk of lung cancer and heart disease. And it can affect your scent if you do smoke regularly. After all, it can be hard to shift the smell of nicotine from your clothes and body. And it can bring down your appeal if you do have this scent following you around. Therefore, it’s time to say goodbye to the cigarettes to ensure you sustain a better smell to make you more appealing!

Use a good fragrance

While you can work on ways to naturally smell good, you can also find some cheats to get you on the best scent path sooner rather than later. For one thing, you should find a great fragrance to use daily to help you smell fantastic. It will boost your smell and ensure you are appealing to the people around you. There are a lot of different perfumes around which can fit the bill. In fact, you will be spoilt for choice when you go on sites like The Beauty Store, or look in the high-street shops. Therefore, make sure you try different fragrances to see which one suits you. You might want to opt for a couple of different scents; one lighter for the daytime, and something more powerful for night. And with a great perfume, you will soon be raking in the compliments!

flickr

Opt for scented body lotion

It’s also a good idea to get a great body lotion you can use when it’s time for your daily bath or shower. After all, it can boost your smell to ensure you are appealing to others. And it can help you to have a great smell from first thing in the morning! After all, with a lot of body lotions, they can last for hours. Therefore, you can ensure you don’t have to worry about your smell throughout the day. So look at the different options in store for the best one to suit you. And if you would rather not buy one, you can make great body lotions and creams at home using natural ingredients like coconut. And you will soon have a great smell which leads to compliments.

Go for a great shampoo

We tend to pick a shampoo on the basis that it’s the best one to get our hair in a fabulous condition. After all, we want to ensure we have luscious locks for when we leave the house. But while it’s important to get a shampoo which ticks all the right boxes, you need to also go for a shampoo which will leave behind a fantastic smell. After all, you want your hair to smell fantastic to boost your appeal. And if you have great smelling hair, it can boost the whole aroma of your body too. Therefore, hunt down a fantastic shampoo which comes with a great scent. And you could even go for a leave-in conditioner. With one of these, you can ensure the smell remains even after you have finished washing!

   Image from flickr

Wear breathable clothing

A lot of people don’t think twice about how breathable the clothes are before they make a purchase. After all, they just pick the clothes all down to the stunning design. But you need to make sure you opt for breathable clothing if you want to ensure you have a great scent. After all, if you go for something which is tight and fitted, you are bound to get more sweaty during the day. And then you might give off a poor odour which will bring down your appeal. As well as having to deal with sweat marks which are never attractive. Therefore, opt for loose clothing which will ensure your smell stays on point.

And keep on top of shaving if you want to boost your smell. After all, less hair can mean a better smell for your body if it’s a hot day.

*A collaborative post