To get you in the Christmas mood, Carrolls Irish Gifts have created a fun interactive Christmas Tree quiz. Light up the tree with your knowledge and be in with a chance of winning a €100 online voucher so you can pick up some beautiful Celtic jewellery, fine Aran knitwear or any of the array of top-brand Irish produce available.

Play the game here: https://www.carrollsirishgifts.com/media/christmas/

Words by Amanda Lewis

If you’re like us the kids rooms are literally groaning at the seams with plastic fantastic and your anxiety increases with every Greta Thunberg tweet as you feel guilty as hell that your even thinking about more stuff this Christmas.

Help lighten the load by offsetting some carbon and guilt by gifting more ecologically this year and also spreading some experiential joy along the way. Wooden toys are always a joy and these will grow with your child as there are endless combinations and additions.

The people and planet friendly alternative to cling film and tinfoil – handmade here in UK. Yes, tin foil and cling film have a terrible effect on the environment but  Beeswax Wraps has the answer to your needs.

For the ethical teen in your life these credentials show you care – 100% organic Fairtrade certified cotton. Vegan. Extra soft organic cotton, check out People Tree. Made entirely from organic cotton which is grown using methods and materials that have a low impact on the environment with systems in place to replenish and maintain soil fertility, reduce the use of toxic and persistent pesticides and fertilisers, and build biologically diverse agriculture.

A stylish way to transport your lunch, My Cleverbox was founded by Jyoti to solve the problem of her kids’ lunches (but they’re just as good for big kids too!). Jyoti not only wanted something to pack healthy food but she wanted something healthy, reusable and sustainable to put the food in – so My Cleverbox was born!

Seed bombs with a mix of native wild flowers seeds, enough to create a wild flower and meadow. Each pack replete with a beautiful kraft tag so you can personalise each gift. Beebombs are a mix of 18 native wildflower species, enough to create 210 sq ft, / 19.5m² of wildflower meadow.

Making delicious condiments since 2012, from surplus fruit and real champions of great food and sustainable living.

Giving experiences is not only a great way to show your love but a great deal of them are sustainable in their nature. Visiting the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew; a recognised UNESCO World Heritage Site. Enjoy a private tour of the gardens and delve into the history, the art and the science behind what goes into making Kew Gardens so special. To cap a memorable day, savour a three-course meal at London’s beloved Michelin starred restaurant, The Glasshouse.

Yes we’ve got round to sometimes the most forgotten people at this time of the year, the Male, whether that be Dad, Brother, Grandad, Uncle, Boyfriend, Son or even, God forbid, YOURSELF. At Christmas we normally are so wrapped up in ensuring everyone else is OK that we sometimes forget about ourselves at Christmas. So, as always we’ve brought together some gift inspiration that will hopefully tickle your fancy and get you in the mood for some retail therapy. Enjoy.

Refresh your winter wardrobe with this super versatile Fleece Crew Sweatshirt from CP Company. Constructed with long sleeves and a crew neck for a classic look, this sweatshirt features a super soft fleece lining for guaranteed warmth during the colder months, finished with a signature logo to the chest

Pockettalk from Smarttech is the new and easy way to have a real conversation with someone who speaks a different language. Your Pocketalk smart device learns as you use it, meaning you can be understood and understand others – just like a local. Easy to use and with 74 languages (and more on the way), Pocketalk puts the power of two-way voice translation in your pocket. Just imagine where it can take you.

One, who doesn’t enjoy a good board game, particularly on a cold Winter’s night. Now, two, throw in the magically fun of Whisky and Bob’s your Uncle. A board game to match your favourite tipple. Ideal for any whisky connoisseur who knows a Scotch from a Bourbon and a single malt from a Rye. Work your way around the game board, collecting different worldwide whiskies to win.

What a cracking good read! We all need a laugh these days and this lil jem ticks all the boxes. Fashion Wankers is a celebration of fashionistas and fashionistos. Being a #FashionWanker is a good thing. Own it! Whether you are one, know one, love one or want to be one, this is the book for you. It will help you decide which sort of #FashionWanker you want to be, and how to be a better one. Guided by unashamed #FashionWanker and style blogger, The Chic Geek, this is a crash course in the dos and don ts of making your way in the confusing world of style

Now if you fancy pushing that boat out check this Yuletide, I couldn’t think of something better than this from the Tiffany 1837® Makers collection, Tiffany & Co.’s chain bracelet is stamped with symbols inspired by the jeweller’s original hollowware shop. It’s crafted from 18-karat gold and has an I.D. bar that can be engraved with a name or significant date

We know how notoriously difficult certain members of the family can be to buy for, but who could resist and what fun is this Smart Phone Printer from Debenhams !?!

The Vardag 25 is a real tough slice of stowage from Fjällräven. Inspired by the classic Fjällräven backpacks of the 70s, it’s made out of the same stuff Fjäll use on their Greenland jackets, so it’s sure to put up with plenty of stick, whether you’re using it on the commute or to store your Wayfayrer ready meals while you’re hiking up Scafell Pike.

The Sky Planter from Boskke is a stylish upside-down plant pot that makes use of ceiling space, using an innovating slo-flo irrigation system, bringing moister to your plants for up to two weeks at a time. The irrigation system ensures that water poured from above into the pot, is fed directly into the plant’s roots with no risk of dripping through. On the invention of his Sky Planter, designer Patrick Morris says “you should be able to live on the 12th story of an apartment, and have as rich a garden as anyone else. If you don’t have much space, the ceiling is the obvious place to grow.”

Ohhh go on either spoil yourself or someone you love with the Endurance Lightweight down Parka, engineered to a performance standard rather than a price point. The Endurance is ultra-light, ultra-warm and ultra-efficient. Filled with 100% pure European goose down, it has been proven down to -30°C and field-tested in Antarctica and the Arctic. Each one is handmade in the UK – it features a deep collar, removable synthetic fur hood trim, waist draw-cords and external hand warmers.

Welcome to something for the weekend. Our Christmas special! If you’re anything like me and  starting your Christmas shopping from this weekend, I hope our bitesized Christmas guide below will give you some much appreciated pointers this festive season! Let’s get straight into it.

1. The James Bond archives 

Released for the 50th anniversary of Bond in 2012, the book covers the period of the  franchise from Sean Connery’s Dr.No (1962) up to Daniel Craig’s Third appearance as Bond in Skyfall (2012).

The actual James Bond archives were opened up to author Paul Duncan, who over the course of two years searched through over a  million images and 100 filing cabinets of documentation to create the most concrete insight into the making of each of the films.

The book includes a carefully curated selection of photos, designs, storyboards, and production materials, as well as over 150 accounts from various  members of staff who worked on the films over the 50 years.

A perfect nostalgia trip for any reader this Christmas, and just in time for Daniel Craig’s last outing as 007 next April in No Time To Die.

2.  Seiko 5 Sports Watch  

Like trainers and jackets, a man can never have too many watches. This Seiko 5, finished in polished stainless steel is equipped with a unidirectional bezel, automatic day-date mechanism and 10 bar water resistance capability (100 metres). Similar to the Rolex GMT Master 2, without the 10K price tag…….

3.  Veuve Clicquot 750ml – Personal Champagne 

Everyones a sucker for a personalised gift at Christmas. They don’t come much more extra than this.

The bottle of Vueve comes enclosed in a metal case available for personalisation of up to 14 characters, So if you have a long name like mine an initial and second name should suffice!

4.  Areaware Drink rocks 

This ones for the brave spirit drinkers this year, willing to risk it all to indulge in the strong stuff. These drink rocks made of Marble and Soapstone provide the perfect reusable partner to your seasonal beverage.

Just cool in the freezer prior to use for around 3 to 4 hours for prolonged coolness for the many drinks that I’m sure will follow this Christmas.

5.  Chilli Water Bottle 500ml 

You only have to look at the thousands of 5 star reviews to understand how good these bottles are. As all moves towards using less plastics are warmly welcomed by us, the Chilli bottle offer’s both protection from the heat and the cold.

Offering up to 24 hours of cold for your soft drinks and 12 hours of keeping your warm dinks that bit warmer. The Chilli bottle is fully customisable on the website with various colours, patterns, sizes and attachments available.

Sizes range from as little as 260ml (£20) right up to 1.8L (£35).

6. Star Wars : Rise of the Skywalker @Selfridges Cinema 

Equally as beloved as personalised gifts, are experiences. Sci-Fi fans this ones definitely for you, with the launch of Selfridges state of the art cinema back in November the luxury department store will be hosting all of the future blockbusters including the latest Star Wars.

If Star Wars isn’t your thing they’re also showing Daniel Craigs latest who-done-it, Knives Out as well as all the Christmas favourites of Elf and Home Alone. £20 a head, in the centre of London at Christmas, in a state of the art Cinema ………

7. Heritage leather Co wallet 

Crafted in LA, this vegetable tanned, Moccasin leather wallet from the Heritage Leather Co will provide a durable and contemporary wallet which look’s better with age.

8. Malin+Goetz dark rum candle 

Bucking the trend for men, in the last couple of years I’ve become a real lover of candles. Almost as good a strong perfume in my books.

This particular candle is made form natural wax and poured into a branded glass. With a spicy aroma inspired by Bay Rum this candle contains sweet notes of plum, leather and rum.

Aside from natural benefits of inhaling scents of Bay Rum, this candle provides a sweet but masculine scent to switch up the mood of any room.

9. Extra Large wireless charger 

Theres nothing worse than mucking about trying to find your bedside charging cable when you’re ready to hit the sack. This XL wireless charging port cant be left to rest on your bedside table or chest of drawers for uninterrupted charging.

Due to the size of this particular charging port, it can charge up to three devices at once including wireless headphones.

10. Mens UGG ascot slipper

It wouldn’t be a Christmas guide without including a banging pair of slippers right? UGG have long been the leader in creating super cosy footwear for men and women.

These classy but comfy slippers usually retail at £110, via Amara they’re at the price above.

I hope thats rescued at least a handful of you this Christmas with one or two decent ideas to choose form this year!