For the slack Christmas shoppers – last minute ideas

I was going to do a long post on Christmas present ideas. Then I started getting them come in thick and fast from my favourite blogs and I decided that:
a) I had left it too late
b) I couldn’t possibly outdo the lists I have already been sent and
c) Why on earth would I rewrite a whole post that I was clearly going to shamelessly copy from other sources anyway (ah, Internet, bless your cotton socks)?

So I thought I would highlight a few fun ideas/gifts and then give you the links to my favourite present lists for you to peruse at your leisure (or not – Christmas is only 12 days away. If you haven’t finished yet you’re absolutely buggered).

Nice traditions for book-loving parents

• See Jacqui’s post on passing down books. What a gorgeous idea.
• Stolen from Babyology – think about starting a tradition where you give each child a special book – like a special hardcover or vintage book. Do books come in vintage? We’ve bought the Mouse a hardcover set of Beatrix Potter. I hope she doesn’t read this and find out. She is 14 weeks and VERY advanced.

Last minute boy toy (Or girl if you are trying to buck gender stereotyping which I am trying desperately to do in my house and failing. How does a 2 year old possibly know that ‘pink is for girls, I’m NOT wearing that top mummy.’?)

• The Tonka Truck. A very good friend of mine is always telling me ‘buy cheap buy twice’. The Bear has a hand-me-down Tonka Truck that was his father’s, and his brother’s before that. They last.

Last minute girl present

• If you want to spend a decent whack, I am in LOVE with this little tutu dress. This could possibly be because I am new to the world of girls. I may well be over it in a few years.

Last minute either gender present

• You know how in shopping centres you see them spruiking those CDs with your child’s name in it? I always pooh-poohed them, thinking they would be crappy nursery rhymes and the name embedded sounding like a computer programme (a la Dexter for our Australian readers). Well, I have been convinced otherwise by Silver Balloon CDs, which have cute fun original songs and the name sounds totally like it is meant to be there. I am hoping to get a good few months out of it before I want to chuck it out the car window. It’s only available in the UK from what I can gather, but there must be good Aussie and US versions out there?

Last minute stocking fillers

• I’m a big fan of the wooden toy. Try Muji in the UK for some awesome little presents like the chicken skittles. Divine.
• In Australia and everywhere else, how about IKEA – cute construction sets, mini cooking utensils and blocks. Also, the amazing value train set (which is also compatible with the Brio train sets – a good starting set before investing the big bucks for a child who may prove more interested in baking).
• Can I also suggest pages of stickers which you can usually find in your supermarket and puzzles from your local toy shop.

Last minute toys for nursery teachers/babysitters etc

• If you have the baking gene, homemade cookies would be a nice present. Well, unless they were expecting cash, then it would just be a really crap present. Nevertheless they need to be wrapped really nicely or you may as well just buy a packet. I don’t have an artistic bone in my body, but am planning on borrowing an idea from the Queen, Martha.

Last minute mother-in-law/friend gift

• If she has taste and will appreciate it, get her a Diptyque candle. If she hasn’t and won’t, get her a cookbook or a manicure voucher.

Last minute father-in-law gift

• Tickets to something.  A magazine subscription. A hat. Sorry, that’s all I’ve got. Kids I have sorted, men I am rubbish.

And if you want to do some serious browsing, see the following….

For kid focused ideas

• Angels & Urchins – very good selection of well chosen gifts, can sort by category.
• Babyology – this is a seriously good kids stuff review site. I have NO idea how they do it, but they post dozens of reviews every week.
• Bambino Goodies – I love Bambino so much, they have such lovely ideas and most of their suggestions can be bought worldwide.
• LNOP – lovely Australian website with lots of design-y gift ideas

For everyone else

• Nest Goodies – the sister to Bambino Goodies, this also have lovely ideas for adults.
• India Knight’s blog – yes, THAT India Knight, The Times journalist. A wonderful list of TOTALLY original presents.
• http://www.wickeduncle.co.uk/ and http://www.giftgen.co.uk/ – these sites both have decent gift chooser tools that might give you some inspiration…

photo credit: mcclave

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