Yikes, would you believe it's only 2 weeks till Christmas. This year has just flown by. Considering every day has felt like Groundhog Day, it has gone super quick. I’m sure it's safe to say that we will all be glad to see the back of this year! Christmas seems to be the only thing we have to look forward to before we kick (not a typo. Yes, I do mean kick not kiss) this year goodbye.

Yet, as much as I can’t wait to say ta ta to this beast of a year, I want to share a bit of joy before it's over. So with that said, I bring you my gift guide to help you spread a bit of joy too.

I usually put my gift guide together a bit further ahead, but Christmas has seemed just creep up on us this year. If you too feel that, then fear not as you do still have time with most online stores having a deadline of December 18th to order in time for Christmas, some even as late as the 23rd. But do check each website to be sure.

For the Homebody

There are some people out there whose homes are just lush and when it comes to gifting them something for their home I’d say it’s best to go small rather than extravagant. Cos, let’s face it they probably have everything they already need so you want to gift them something to delicately enhance their well matched decor. One item that I think will subtly enhance the appearance of any home is this gorgeous reusable pot pourri from Boostology. Recently featured in Elle, I can see why this innovative product is becoming so popular. The pot pourri is made from volcanic rock, which soaks up essential oils to give off a gorgeous scent. You could even mix your own essential oils to get the desired effect. Once the smell wears off, just reapply essential oil. It comes in handy for changing seasons as you could put a musky, woody scent on it in Winter and then use a more floral scented oil on in Summer months. I used the Bloom Essential Oil for Summer and switched to the Winter Essential Oil for the festive season

I love the fact that they plant a tree for every purchase and all parcels are delivered in eco friendly packaging. They not only do this chic pot pourri, but also sell tealight holders, skin care products and the ever essential face mask.

If your giftee is a close friend or relative, why not give them a picture of the 2 of you or a family photo mounted in a nice frame to help them feel a bit of togetherness in this time where people feel lonelier than ever.

For the Sweet Tooth

It’s a well known fact that a lot of us Caribbean descendants are partial to the sweeter things in life, maybe this is why along with other physical attributes, we are more prone to diseases such as diabetes and heart disease. Not sure why, but it could be due to the fact that we are renowned for growing some of the best cocoa and sugar cane as well as producing alcoholic drinks such as rums and black wine which have such high sugar contents that we can’t help sampling before they are sent to the masses. As a child I remember drinking the sweet nectar from sugar cane and having homemade cocoa tea (what Grenadians call hot chocolate) made using cocoa balls from Grenada. So I guess it’s safe to say that this sugar apple didn’t fall far from the tree. I always used to spend my pocket money on sweets - not gonna lie, not too much has changed. I’m not as much of a sweet tooth as I used to be, but it’s still in there. Last year I found this amazing fudge company, Fudge Kitchen on Yumbles and ordered some for Christmas. It was absolutely delicious. The brand itself is not 100% vegan but have vegan ranges that you either buy as singles or as boxes of different flavours, which is what I did. I got the Coconut, Vanilla, Belgian Chocolate Swirl and Speculoos which is like a gingerbread tasting one but I believe they change the selections weekly, so check it out and see what they have in store for you this week.

If you want to treat your sweet toothed giftee to something a little healthier why not opt for this Wonderbox from Booja Booja. All of their tasty treats are made from organic ingredients and this particular dark chocolate selection box includes flavours such as Fine de Champagne, Cherry Cognac and Toffee Strudel so will be suited to a more mature palette. And speaking of mature palettes, if your giftee is partial to a little tipple on Christmas, why not check out this vegan, nut free, gluten free alternative to Baileys

This creamy liqueur from Besos is made of tiger nuts, which despite the name isn’t actually a nut. So unlike the Baileys Almande, it is nut free so perfect nut allergy sufferers. I was actually blessed enough to meet the owner and sample this delectable drink at Veg Fest Bristol a few years ago and it really is yummy. I think it’s creamier than the Almande and is thicker, much more like the original Baileys. I do still miss the taste of Baileys but this really is a close second and any vegan or non vegan recipient will be very grateful for this gift

For the Sporty Spice in Your Life

Now, I hate the gym and exercise other than walking and running around after my little lady. But I'm sure I'm not the only person who has a gym bunny or yogi in their life. I’m in love with this eco yoga mat from Palm To Soul

They specialize in eco-friendly antibacterial cork items but this particular one is made from vegan suede with a bio-rubber backing. All mats are supplied in a unique carry bag which makes it easy for getting from A to B (currently for most of us from the bedroom to the living room) Other than mats, they also sell yoga blocks, which because they are made from cork are much stronger and more sturdy than the conventional foam ones

Another thing Sporty Spice types love are a good pair of leggings or joggers so why not gift them a pair of these from Girlfriend Collective. Made from recycled water bottles, they help keep the plastic out of our oceans and away from our marine life.

This plum colour is perfect for this time of year and with a four-way stretch and compressive fabric, and a handy pocket in the waistband big enough for keys and a credit card, they’re not only ideal for long runs, but also means you don’t have to weigh yourself down with a bag to carry your essentials. With them coming in a range of other colours too, you are sure to find a pair to gift someone that’ll compliment their existing wardrobe.

Every Sporty Spice needs a good pair of kicks. But gone are the days of earth wrecking trainers. Even the mainstream sports shoe companies are working on how they can be more eco friendly, with new shoes made from either recycled or other sustainable materials. Brands such as Nike, Adidas and Reebok realised that the world is ready for a new ethical shoe, one that will lower our carbon footprint. If your giftee is eco-conscious then why not gift them a pair of these eco-friendly, water resistant running shoes from UK based eco shoe brand Vivo Barefoot

The Primus Lite II is the perfect running shoe with maximum freedom of movement and full sensory feedback. They are also super lightweight so great for travelling.

For the Little Ones

Earlier this year I was sent a gorgeous little gift box from Born Wild. This Winter Protection Gift Set is perfect for this time of year and includes a child friendly hand gel, sun and wind balm, lip balm and a cute little tube scarf all of which are suitable for toddlers. I keep them all in my baby backpack and are so handy when on the go. She loves to crawl around so if I’m out and about and not able to wash her hands, the hand gel really does come in (ahem) handy. I use it on my own hands too and it doesn’t give that white drying film that other hand gel tend to give. It is super moisturising and smells fresh too. The sun and wind balm is great too as I found that even in summer it was perfect for the beach or when taking her for a walk on a super sunny day. I’ve not had to use the lip balm yet as it hasn’t got that cold but when it starts to get bitterly cold, I will be putting it on her (and probably my own) lips.

Or why not treat them to some comfy pyjamas like these cute ones from Newbie, a Swedish child’s fashion online store where everything is made from organic cotton. You can even buy matching Mama and Baby or Sibling outfits as well. I know what I’m getting myself and little lady for Christmas

For the Green-fingered One

I’m sure everyone has that friend who every plant they touch just seems to grow perfectly. That is both my Mother and Mother-in-Law. They are both amazing gardeners. Actually so is my Dad so not really sure what happened to me. I’m a bit hopeless when it comes to that sort of thing. So if you know someone who would like to become more green-fingered then why not point them in the direction of Patch Plants where you can pick out plants and get instructions on how to care for them. They do gift vouchers so they can pick their own or you can pick one for them and have it delivered to them. Also if you enter their email, they will receive follow up emails on how to care for their new plant. If you however know someone like my parents who know what they are doing in the garden, then why not pick something from Primrose like this gorgeous Sansevieria Cylindrica, or Snake Plant as it is more commonly known

Or how about something a bit more adventurous like this Grow Your Own Cocktail Garden Kit. It comes with full instructions and is completely vegan friendly and plastic free.

They also do other grow kits such as purple veggies, chillies and bonsai trees. These are great for kitchen whizzes and green fingers alike and are a break from the norm so feel a bit more personalised. Plus all of their products are delivered in eco friendly plastic free packaging, making it a win win for all my fellow eco warrioresses out there.

For an eco-friendly wrapping paper, why not opt for the brown paper from your parcels or you could opt for some sheets from Only Eco, a gift wrap company who use water based inks and also sell recyclable paper tape, tags and eco paper bubble wrap, so have you covered when it comes to wrapping your gifts sustainably.

Thanks for reading and happy shopping

But remember not to go overboard and pick responsibly to avoid your pressie ending up in landfill

Please share some of your suggestions in the comments, cos sharing is caring