LIFESTYLE

Us, leave Christmas shopping until the last minute? Never! But, just in case you have been a little pre-occupied and you've realised you haven't got that gift you needed just yet, we're here to help with some last-minute Christmas present ideas from a lovely bunch of local independent businesses. The Self Care Cookbook Whether you follow a plant-based diet or not, Brighton cook Gemma Ogston's new Self Care Cookbook is the perfect gift. It's small in size so really easy to follow when things get messy in the kitchen and there are recipes for every occasion and mood. We've tried and tested the Spicy Bean Stew and it's a winner. It's more than just a cookbook with self-care tips and a general uplifting vibe for anyone that opens it! Gemma also does a Nourish Package that delivers home-cooked plant-based food to your door every day for five weeks. With the next one kicking off in January, this is a great gift idea too. The Self Care Cookbook is available from City Books. You can also order online at Hive for £9.99 Hummingbird Hearts Who wouldn’t feel joy from wearing a handmade red felt heart badge made with pure love? Exactly, almost no-one (we think)! Local registered charity The Hummingbird Project provide aid and solidarity to refugees and unaccompanied minors as they flee from conflict and settle in new countries. They support some incredibly bright and resilient young people through the Global Social Club, a social youth club open to all, as well as the Young Leaders Club where young refugees are trained in public speaking and advocacy. They also offer extra support through a Homework Club to help them catch up on their studies and pass exams so they can seek further education and employment. If you buy yourself a badge for £5, not only will you have the compliments coming (trust us!), but you can wear it with pride knowing that every penny is going towards keeping this amazing work going. The perfect table gift for all the family too! Available from Bird & Blend Tea priced at £5 each or online via Etsy Seven Seventeen Candles We’ve shared our love for scented candle legends Seven Seventeen before, but we thought we’d remind you about their gorgeous collection of waxed lovelies created here in Sussex by two former journalist mates, as we think they are the perfect Christmas gift. Not only do they smell incredible, but for every candle sold they donate £1 to one of their chosen mental health charities, PANDAS Foundation, Calm, and Sane. Check out their gorgeous gift bundles too (pictured above), we've got our eye on their lovely looking Peace set. Now that is a gift worth giving. Some of their products are available from Present in the Laine if you need it before Christmas, otherwise online: seven-seventeen.co.uk A little bit of Brighton Who doesn't love a bit of Brighton in their home? These gorgeous handmade glass coasters from The Little Beach Boutique are the perfect gift for any friend or family member. Their sets of four coasters come in different colours and have been handmade from their unique illustrations, which have been made into a silk-screen and then handprinted onto a colourful sheet of glass and kiln-fired. The iconic Brighton images are great for Brighton dwellers or simply fans of the city. Available in-store from The Little Beach Boutiques, £35. Comedy keyrings (featured image) If the feature image on this article put a smile on your face, then think about the joy you could bring to the rest of your friends and family. These cheeky little keyrings of joy are just one of the gorgeous gifts available at Present in the Laine. Made by British designer Ark Design, we are big fans of a little naughtiness at Christmas. Head to Present in the Laine to grab some stocking fillers Sustainable swimming We're lucky enough to be beside the seaside here in Brighton, so 2020 is all about embracing that. We're going to attempt to keep it up come rain or shine, following in the footsteps of the Salty Seabirds, are you with us? For sea-swimming enthusiasts, Seabirds have an online shop full of kit including core warmers, sports cloaks and their iconic woolly hats, as well as this great dry bag, pictured above. These are the hats and robes they use to identify fellow Seabirds on Brighton beach in the winter if you fancy joining their crew too. Get active with a conscience Set up by Jo Godden, a former swimwear designer for Victoria’s Secret and GapBody, RubyMoon makes stylish and sustainable pieces from a special nylon yarn that’s derived from used fishing nets and other waste materials. Many of the long-lasting vibrant items are designed to take you from swim to gym and back again, cutting down on the need to buy separate pieces. It's a fab gift for anyone that wants to lunge into the new decade in comfort! rubymoon.org.uk Neoma design If you haven't popped into the cute Neoma boutique on Trafalgar Street then you're missing out. Their beautiful made to order leather bags and accessories make the perfect gift for the special person in your life, and that includes yourself. Their products are individually handmade using both traditional and contemporary methods in their Sussex studio. Yes, they do take a little while to handmake (3-5 weeks usually), but they've got some great pieces from wallets to bags ready for a good home in their shop. Neoma Design, 40 Trafalgar Street, Brighton, BN1 4ED The gift of choice Still not sure? If you still can't decide what to get that awkward family member, then gift vouchers are still a great idea in our book, and what better than to have a choice of over 150 local independent businesses. Buy gifting a Goodmoney voucher they can choose a heap of ways to spend it, from a massage, pizza, sewing lessons, beer, wine, climbing or even a Brighton Food Tour of the city. Not bad, ey? Order for the last post on Friday 20th December, or Monday 22nd December for next day delivery from goodmoney.co.uk

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