A Timely Christmas Gift: John Lewis Men’s and Women’s Grooming Kits: Christmas Gift Ideas

The John Lewis Men’s Grooming Kit arrived at just the right time, with a muscle rub that I found helpful for a painful pulled muscle. Could the men’s and women’s kits make ideal Christmas gifts?

Some Christmas gifts are useful, some are a treat, and occasionally one arrives at exactly the right moment. That was certainly my experience with the John Lewis Men’s Grooming Kit.

I have been dealing with a painful pulled muscle in my lower back, so the muscle rub in the kit was especially welcome. I tried it when my back was troubling me and found it helpful. It could hardly have arrived at a better time, and it turned a grooming gift into something I was genuinely pleased to use.

That personal experience got me thinking about the John Lewis Men’s and Women’s Grooming Kits as Christmas presents. They make a thoughtful choice for someone who enjoys looking after themselves, but they also have the practical appeal of products that can be put to use rather than left forgotten in a cupboard.

Grooming gifts can be tricky to choose. People often have their favourite products, and it is easy to worry about picking the wrong fragrance or something they will never use. A kit offers a little variety and a chance to try something different. The muscle rub was a particularly useful surprise for me, and it showed how a well-chosen set can be both a treat and a practical addition to someone’s routine.

The men’s and women’s versions also make the idea easy to adapt to the person you are buying for. They could work as a main present, or as a generous extra alongside another gift. They might suit a partner, relative or friend who appreciates useful self-care products, especially if you are looking for something a little more personal than the usual socks or toiletries.

Of course, everyone’s preferences are different, so it is always worth checking the kit’s contents before buying. But my experience has made me look at grooming sets in a new light. The John Lewis Men’s Grooming Kit arrived just when I needed that muscle rub, and I can see the appeal of the matching women’s kit as a present too.

So I thought: “The John Lewis Men’s and Women’s Grooming Kits will make ideal Christmas gifts this year.” Sometimes the best gift is one that feels like a treat and proves useful at just the right moment.

www.johnlewis.com

Make Christmas Gifts Extra Special with Decoupage

Discover how to use decoupage to make thoughtful, personalised Christmas gifts for family and friends, from decorated boxes to picture frames.

Christmas presents do not have to come straight off a shop shelf. 

With a little imagination, paper, glue and a suitable object, you can create a personal gift that family members and friends will treasure. 

Decoupage is an enjoyable craft that lets you transform everyday items with decorative papers, napkins, fabric or cut-out pictures.

The word comes from the French découper, meaning “to cut out.” 

Designs are arranged on a surface, fixed in place with a special adhesive and sealed with further coats. The result can be as simple or as elaborate as you like, making it a lovely project for beginners as well as experienced crafters.

What can you decorate?

Many clean, smooth surfaces can be used, including wood, glass, ceramic, metal and some fabrics. For a first Christmas project, try a small wooden box, picture frame, trinket dish, plant pot or a plain decoration for the tree. 

These can become thoughtful presents for a friend, a relative, a teacher or someone who enjoys a particular hobby.

Choose papers that suit the person receiving the gift. Floral patterns might be perfect for someone who loves gardening, while maps, music, vintage illustrations or favourite colours can make a present feel especially personal. Christmas napkins and festive papers are another option, but your design does not have to be seasonal: a useful gift can be enjoyed all year round.

Getting started

You will need an item to decorate, paper or other lightweight materials, scissors, a decoupage medium and a soft brush or foam applicator. Specialist kits are available from art and craft shops, as well as online retailers such as Amazon and eBay. Check the kit instructions to make sure the glue and sealant are suitable for the surface you have chosen.

First, clean and dry the object. Cut out your chosen shapes and arrange them before you begin gluing, so you can see how the finished design might look. Brush a thin layer of medium onto the surface, place the paper carefully on top, then smooth it gently to remove wrinkles and trapped air. Work slowly, especially around corners and curves.

Let each coat dry fully before adding the next. Several thin coats usually give a neater finish than one thick one. Follow the product instructions, and add extras such as ribbon or beads only when the sealed design is dry.

Start with a small project and allow yourself time. Little imperfections are part of the handmade charm, and you can often cover a mistake with another piece of paper. Most of all, enjoy the process. A decoupaged gift is more than a decorated object: it is a present made with someone in mind, and a lovely way to add a personal touch to Christmas.

Incidentally the decoupage cat shown was the first item I ever made from a decoupage kit I bought to try my hand at the craft. I think he turned out rather well! 

If you have someone in your life who is interested in crafting you can buy them decoupage kits as Christmas gifts. Maybe next Christmas they'll be presenting you with a decoupaged gift that they made themselves? 

All I want for Christmas is… TRUFFLE!

Forget novelty chocolates. This Christmas, it's all about a little edible luxury, and truffle is having a serious love affair with the foodie crowd.

From truffle fries and decadent pasta to bougie snacks and loaded toasties, the obsession with this luxurious ingredient shows no signs of slowing down.

And the good news? You don't need a Michelin-starred budget to get involved!

Belazu, the cult-favourite ingredient brand loved by Britain's top chefs, has two delicious little truffle treats starting from just £3.60 – perfect for foodie stockings, Secret Santa gifts and festive grazing.

THE ONE FOR TRUFFLE-OBSESSED GIRLIES: TRUFFLE & PECORINO NUT MIX

Belazu Truffle & Pecorino Nut Mix, 120g | £4.45 | Ocado & Waitrose

Move over boring salted nuts. These are the ultimate bougie Christmas snack!

Think buttery cashews, crunchy almonds, pecans and macadamias, roasted in small batches and coated in rich Pecorino Romano and irresistible truffle seasoning.

Perfect for Christmas drinks, grazing boards, foodie stockings or a seriously indulgent night on the sofa.

THE £3.60 TRUFFLE TOASTIE UPGRADE

Belazu Truffle & Artichoke Pesto, 165g | £3.60 | Waitrose & Ocado

For the friend who orders truffle fries EVERY time.

Made with artichokes, black truffles and Parmigiano Reggiano, this deliciously rich pesto is the ultimate shortcut to restaurant-worthy comfort food.

Slather it into a gooey cheese toastie, stir through pasta, swirl into mash or elevate your Boxing Day leftovers.

Two little luxuries, both under a fiver and guaranteed to delight anyone whose love language is truffle.

ALSO...🍀 A LITTLE IRISH MAGIC – BALLYMALOE RELISH

Ireland's cult tomato relish has a fresh new look for British shoppers. Sweet, tangy and gently spiced, it's the £2.20 upgrade your cheese toastie never knew it needed. And did we mention Ballymaloe has teamed up with Graham Norton on a festive cranberry sauce in Ireland? Nice little foodie sticking filler.

210g | £2.20 | Tesco and Sainsbury's

Sussex-based Dapper Souls has the perfect gift for the chaps in your life. Magnetic Socks!

Dapper Souls is a brand new small business based in Hassocks, West Sussex. 

Founder Josh Baxter told That's Christmas 365: "I designed a pair of men's white crew socks with a small magnet in the label tab at each cuff, so the pair clips together for the wash." (EDITOR: Wow! That's a unique idea, right there!)

"I thought they might suit a stocking filler or Secret Santa feature for him. They're UK size 9-11 and sell online only at https://dappersouls.com.

"Prices:

One pair is £7 plus £3 UK postage (£10 delivered).

A Christmas 3-pack is £17 plus £3 UK postage (£20 delivered).

We post across the UK only, with no collection, and delivery usually takes 3 to 4 working days.

There's more on the site here:

https://dappersouls.com/magnetic-socks

https://dappersouls.com/bundles

https://dappersouls.com/stocking-fillers-for-men-under-10

Social:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dappersoulsuk

Pinterest: https://uk.pinterest.com/dappersoulsuk/

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@dappersoulsuk"

Sock Hops & Moon Landings

Sock Hops & Moon Landings by Winnie Hartwell is a large-print trivia book with 600 questions about the 1950s, '60s and '70s. It features hit songs, TV, films, sport, big news moments, ad jingles, food brands and fads. 

Answers and fun facts are included, so it suits family gatherings, care homes and senior activity groups, and it will make a handy Christmas gift for older family members or friends.

Publication details:

- Published October 2026.

- Paperback (6x9, large print), $13.99: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0HPK59X81

- Kindle edition, $3.99: ASIN B0HPGQVVJH

- Also on Amazon UK under the same title at £10.46 

https://link.amazon/B0iUbhyPn using our affiliate link.

This looks to us to be an amazing gift. However, it's a sobering thought to realise that I am now of an age when I'd be considered to be part of the target audience!

Use Cheese for Your Christmas Dinner this Year!

You may recall the other day when I mentioned having cheese as the centrepiece for your Christmas dinner instead of the traditional turkey? And that I'd blog about that idea? 

Well, today's the day!

Roast potatoes, sprouts, gravy and something golden in the middle of the table that everyone wants a slice of. If you fancy a change from turkey this Christmas, bring out a Cheddar and cranberry Wellington and carve it at the table.

Mature Cheddar gives the filling a proper bite, chestnuts and mushrooms make it substantial enough for the main course, and a little cranberry sauce cuts through the richness. Add a few puff pastry holly leaves and you’ve got a Christmas centrepiece worth bringing out whole.

Cheddar, mushroom and cranberry Wellington

Serves 4–6 with trimmings

1 tbsp olive oil

1 onion, finely chopped

400g chestnut mushrooms, finely chopped

2 garlic cloves, crushed

1 tsp thyme leaves

150g cooked, peeled chestnuts, roughly chopped

200g mature Cheddar, coarsely grated

3 tbsp cranberry sauce

1 x 320g sheet of ready-rolled puff pastry

1 egg, beaten

You can also add bacon lardons if you aren't cooking for vegans and add strips of bacon to cover it, too.

How to make it

Heat the oil in a wide frying pan and soften the onion for about five minutes. Add the mushrooms and fry over a medium-high heat, stirring, until the liquid they release has evaporated. Stir in the garlic and thyme for the final minute. Add the chestnuts, season with black pepper and leave the mixture to cool completely.

Heat the oven to 200°C/180°C fan/gas 6. Unroll the pastry onto a baking tray lined with baking parchment. Stir the Cheddar into the cooled filling and shape the mixture into a compact log down the centre of the pastry, leaving room at both ends to seal it. Spoon a thin stripe of cranberry sauce along the top.

Brush the pastry edges with beaten egg. Fold the pastry over the filling, pinch the seam and ends shut, then turn the Wellington seam-side down. Brush the top with egg and cut two small slits to let steam escape. If you have any pastry offcuts, use them to make holly leaves or stars.

Bake for 30–40 minutes, until the pastry is golden and crisp and the filling is piping hot. Rest for 10 minutes before carving into thick slices.

Keep the Christmas trimmings

Serve with roast potatoes, sprouts, maple-roasted parsnips and a jug of onion gravy. If you’re cooking for vegetarians, choose Cheddar labelled suitable for vegetarians and use vegetable stock in the gravy.

You can make the mushroom and chestnut filling on Christmas Eve and refrigerate it once cooled. Then on Christmas morning, stir in the Cheddar, wrap it in pastry and pop it in the oven.

Further reading:- Waitrose’s mushroom and chestnut Wellington

https://www.waitrose.com/ecom/recipe/mushroom-and-chestnut-wellington

And we'll likely be buying our cheese from Waitrose for this.

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Get Your Washing Machine Christmas Guest Ready with Vamoosh Pet Hair Dissolver

Preparing for Christmas guests? Discover how Vamoosh Pet Hair Dissolver can help tackle pet hair in your laundry before the festive season.

Christmas is coming, and for many households that means welcoming family and friends, preparing delicious festive meals, decorating the house and making sure everything is ready for the celebrations.

But there's one hardworking household appliance that might be overlooked during all those Christmas preparations. Your washing machine!

At That's Christmas 365, we believe getting your home Christmas-ready involves more than putting up the decorations and stocking the cupboards with mince pies.

And if you share your home with cats or dogs, there's another consideration: pet hair!

The Hidden Problem of Pet Hair

We love our pets, but there's no denying that they can leave their mark on our homes.

From fluffy blankets and pet bedding to towels and clothing, animal hair can find its way into practically every wash.

Over time, pet hair can accumulate inside your washing machine, particularly around the door seal, drum and filter.

And when you're expecting Christmas guests, the last thing you want is a washing machine that's struggling with accumulated pet hair or leaving unwanted fluff on freshly washed bedding.

That's where Vamoosh Pet Hair Dissolver could come in handy.

Give Your Washing Machine a Christmas Makeover

Vamoosh Pet Hair Dissolver is designed to dissolve pet hair during a hot washing cycle, helping remove unwanted hair from washable pet bedding and other suitable items.

Unlike ordinary detergents, which aren't specifically formulated to dissolve pet hair, Vamoosh uses a specialised formula to tackle this particularly stubborn household problem.

It's especially useful for households with long-haired cats and dogs, where even regular washing doesn't always remove every trace of fur.

Before using Vamoosh, check the product instructions carefully. Pet Hair Dissolver requires a high-temperature cycle and should only be used with items suitable for the specified temperature. It isn't a substitute for a dedicated washing machine cleaner or routine machine maintenance.

Getting Ready for Christmas Visitors

Think about everything your washing machine will be doing over the festive season.

There'll be guest bedding to wash, towels to freshen up, Christmas tablecloths to prepare and perhaps even a few festive jumpers needing attention.

And once Christmas dinner is over, the laundry basket will probably be filling up again!

Giving pet bedding and other suitable pet-hair-covered items a Vamoosh treatment before your guests arrive could help reduce the amount of unwanted fur circulating through your laundry.

It's also worth cleaning your washing machine's detergent drawer, wiping the door seal and checking the filter according to the manufacturer's instructions.

Don't Forget Your Four-Legged Family Members!

Christmas is a special time for pets, too.

Whether your cat has claimed a favourite Christmas blanket or your dog enjoys curling up in a cosy bed beside the Christmas tree, keeping their bedding clean is part of maintaining a welcoming home.

Vamoosh Pet Hair Dissolver offers a practical way of tackling one of the less glamorous aspects of pet ownership.

One Less Thing to Worry About This Christmas

With so much to organise during December, anything that makes household chores easier deserves consideration.

So, while you're polishing the glasses, putting fresh sheets on the guest beds and making sure there's plenty of Christmas pudding, spare a thought for your washing machine.

A little attention now could help keep your festive laundry running smoothly.

After all, Christmas guests are always welcome, but unwanted pet hair on their freshly washed bedding certainly isn't!

https://vamooshcleans.com

Creating the Perfect Christmas Cheeseboard

After the excitement of Christmas dinner, there's something wonderfully relaxing about settling down with a selection of cheeses, crackers and perhaps a favourite drink.

Although I might prefer to have cheese as the main Christmas centrepiece, but that's just me! More on that off-the-wall idea later.

A Christmas cheeseboard can be as simple or elaborate as you wish.

But choosing the right combination can make it particularly enjoyable.

Start with variety.

A mature Cheddar provides a familiar, full-flavoured option, while a soft cheese such as Brie or Camembert offers a contrasting texture.

Blue cheese enthusiasts might appreciate Stilton, a traditional Christmas favourite.

You could also include a crumbly Lancashire, Cheshire or Wensleydale cheese.

For something different, consider a goat's cheese or a regional speciality from a British artisan producer.

The aim isn't to include as many cheeses as possible.

Three to five carefully chosen varieties are usually sufficient for a modest gathering.

Next, think about accompaniments.

Plain crackers allow the flavours of the cheese to shine, while oatcakes and speciality biscuits provide interesting alternatives.

Chutneys, grapes, apples, pears and nuts can add contrasting flavours and textures.

A fig chutney or traditional onion marmalade can work particularly well with stronger cheeses.

Presentation matters, too.

Arrange the cheeses on a suitable board or platter, allowing enough space for guests to cut portions comfortably.

Provide separate knives where practical, particularly for strongly flavoured varieties.

Cheese is often best enjoyed when it has lost some of its refrigerator chill, but food safety remains important. Put out manageable quantities and return leftovers to appropriate storage promptly.

If you're serving wine, beer or alcohol-free drinks, choose something that complements rather than overwhelms the cheese.

At That's Christmas 365, we think a good cheeseboard is one of the simplest festive pleasures.

It encourages conversation, invites people to try something new and provides a wonderfully sociable conclusion to a Christmas meal.

And there's always room for another small piece of Stilton, or two!

The Great British Christmas Dinner. Are We Becoming More Adventurous?

For many British families, Christmas dinner means roast turkey, stuffing, roast potatoes, Brussels sprouts, pigs in blankets and generous helpings of gravy.

And let's not forget the Christmas pudding!

But while traditional festive food remains popular, there's no reason why Christmas dinner has to follow exactly the same menu every year.

Increasingly varied dietary preferences and international culinary influences have made alternative festive meals worth considering.

Some households prefer roast beef, goose, duck or a vegetarian/vegan centrepiece.

Others enjoy seafood, Mediterranean dishes or food inspired by their family's cultural heritage.

The Christmas table can be an opportunity to celebrate both tradition and individuality.

One particularly appealing approach is to retain familiar favourites while introducing something new.

Perhaps try roasted Brussels sprouts with chestnuts, an unusual stuffing recipe or a different way of preparing potatoes.

Vegetarian and vegan Christmas dishes have also become more imaginative.

Mushroom Wellington, roasted vegetable pastries and festive nut-based dishes can provide satisfying alternatives to meat.

For those who enjoy cooking, Christmas offers an opportunity to experiment with flavours and ingredients.

However, there's an important distinction between creating an exciting menu and making life unnecessarily difficult.

Preparing several unfamiliar dishes simultaneously can be stressful, particularly when entertaining a large family.

If you're planning something adventurous, test the recipe beforehand.

And don't forget to accommodate guests with allergies or dietary requirements.

At That's Christmas 365, we believe the best Christmas dinner isn't necessarily the most elaborate.

It's the meal that brings people together and leaves everyone feeling welcome.

If your family adores traditional turkey and all the trimmings, there's absolutely nothing wrong with continuing that tradition.

But if you fancy something different this year, why not give it a try?

Christmas dinner should be a celebration, not a set of unbreakable culinary rules.