Stressing out because you are still looking for the perfect gift? Have no fear, PhiloSofie’s gift guide is here! I know it’s not always easy to find the best gifts, sometimes you just lack inspiration or didn’t find the time to go present hunting yet. Well this weekend is perfect to do your last- minute shopping:
This year, I chose to buy my Christmas gifts locally. I love to support local businesses because “Every time you buy from a small business, an actual person does a little happy dance.” The gift ideas I put down below are all stocking fillers, smaller gifts which cost maximum €15. If you do have a larger budget, you still have an elaborate choice of other items which you can spot both on the webshops and in the shops. I picked out some of my personal favourites in the region around Sint-Truiden and Hasselt: for lifestyle presents I go to Beauty & Bobs, Naboekov is the place to be if you are looking for books, art and bookish gadgets and for ecological beauty products you have to be at All About Eve Conceptstore. At last, I will mention some other great alternatives for when you are ever in Sint-Truiden.
Lifestyle – Beauty & Bobs
I love buying at Beauty & Bobs: the store owner Rani helps you find everything you need whether it’s a piece of clothing, a Yankee Candle or a lovely home decor item in the collection. The first fun gift to put under the X-mas tree is a quiz, which you can immediately take out and turn the party around! Secondly are these cute snack boxes, which are the perfect present for a cat lover. My last tip is a little gift box full of Yankee Candle tartes, which can make any candle lover happy.
Arts, people & Culture Quiz €14,95
Set of 3 cutie cat snack boxes €8,50
Yankee Candle tart stocking filler gift set €7,95
Books, Art & Gadgets – Naboekov
In Naboekov, you don’t find your most typical books but a whole collection of both Dutch and English literature, bookish gadgets and art. Hoffmann’s The Nutcracker is the perfect book to gift any bookworm around Christmas: it’s a gorgeous hard- cover edition from Rainbow. The book support of Romeo and Juliet is also a wonderful addition to your loved one’s book rack, and if you prefer, other variants are available on the website. Everyone needs an agenda for the year to come, and this one by Anne Taintor is both beautiful and funny. Great for any meme queens in the family.
Hoffmann, E.T.A. – De Notenkraker €14,95
Book Support Romeo and Juliet €10,99
Anne Taintor Journal 2019 (A5) €14,99
Ecological Beauty – All About Eve Conceptstore
At All About Eve, you can not only enjoy a delicious vegan dish, but lots of eco- friendly and zero waste products as well. Here I listed some budget-friendly items to share with your friends and family: First of all an eye mask, to use in the morning after those upcoming parties. Next is a utile toothpaste lolly, which is a zero-waste alternative to almost two tubes of regular toothpaste! Last but not least, I present you with a mineral blush of Lily Lolo in a range of beautiful colours.
Teaology White Tea Miracle Eye Mask €4
Lamazuna Toothpaste Lolly €8,50
Now that you have received some gift ideas, let me also present you with some independent shops to visit whenever you are in the area:
- Jewelry shop: Juwelier Degeneffe
- Accessoires and Clothing: Marie Antoinette Queen of Fashion
- Jewelry shop: Angel juwelery
- Interior: Linea
- Lingerie: Blauw Huis
Hopefully I inspired you with this blogpost, so that you can surprise your loved ones with great and personalised gifts. Let me know if you buy anything listed in this post in the comment section and tell me all about other gifts you purchased!
Love, Sofie
philoSOFIE 