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The sunny days are far behind us and the weather forecast is looking glum - so why not cheer yourself up with one of these gorgeous Flower Patch Weekender Washbag from Collier Campbell. The bright and bold floral print is just the thing to wash away those winter blues. It would also make a great stocking filler for a loved one.

Also available is the matching Flower Patch Mini Zip Purse and the Flower Patch Classic Washbag - sunshine on a rainy day!

Flower Patch Weekender Washbag - £34

Flower Patch Mini Zip Purse - £6

Flower Patch Classic Washbag - £17

www.colliercampbell.com

Ok so we don't want to get you all panicked, but, Christmas is well on it's way now. But never fear our solution to all your gifting woes is the aptly named Gift Guide Friday, where we are going to give you the best food gift ideas for those you love.

First up is the office secret Santa!

Well the only time we bond with our colleagues is orienteering once a year or, more frequently, over lunch. So, we have some base knowledge on *Pete in accounting*, he likes food. Food is always a great place to start and undoubtedly going to gain you some (forgive the pun) brownie points for not getting the generic bath set or novelty socks. We have pain-stakingly picked out the best products to wow the office, and they are all under the usual £10 limit. 

1. USB Mug Warmer: Your colleagues warm beverage of choice need never go cold again. Plug straight into a USB port and place your mug upon it. For only £6.95 it ticks all the boxes: useful, novelty, unusual and you'll have some change left over. From Dotcomgiftshop.

2. Festive Tea collection. A gift that the entire office will undoubtedly benefit from. Sure to get all in the festive mood with its warming Chai and Spiced Winter Red Teas and luxurious Chocolate Flake Tea. Bang on the £10 target but if you want to go a touch over the site offers a nice gift wrap service. From Teapigs.

3.Large Milk Chocolate Florentines. The italian biscuit that oozes all of the finery and pomp of christmas. Presented in a neat box with Harrod's ribbon a plenty you won't look like your scrimped and saved. Perfect for the boss. £9.95 from Harrods.

4. Christmas Chocolate Ballotin. Another no-wrapping-needed gift! With 14 individual chocolates it is the perfect gift for chocoholics, quality to please connosuiers and classics to please the fussy. £7.00 from Whittards.

All appreciation on post cards please.

*fill with appropriate unknown work colleague name

These fab Clutching Toy Blooming Blooms from Timeless Toys make a great gift for babies. The bright and colourful design will delight the little ones while the rustling petals and rattle will help to improve fine motor skills.

The flower shape is cute, and the softness of this rattle and the flower face will provide friendly comfort. The Clutching Toy also features a mirror on one end so toddlers can see their own reflection.

A great gift for blooming babies!

£8.99

www.timelesstoysltd.co.uk

This L'Occitane duo set of mum and baby body wash and luxury hand and body wash makes an ideal gift for a mum on Mother’s day – with something for both her and baby.

The Mom & Baby range is very mild, with a gentle scent and not too much lather,  The packaging is cute with little animals and the pump top is handy when you are trying to support baby in the bath

The hand wash is great for new mums with lots of guests – its always nice to have ‘posh soap’ in the toilet when you have visitors! 

This set costs £24.50 exclusively from www.qvc.uk.com

When it comes to finding a gift for newborns, it can be hard to find something other than booties, blankets or toys.  Notonthehighstreet,com have a wonderful range of ideas. One of our favourites is this Personalised Alphabet Art Print. Simply select the first letter of the newborn's name and it is highlighted and then inscribed with a personal message.

Available in three colourways (comes unframed) £35 www.notonthehighstreet.com

The Rattle and Squeak Set is made up of a snail and butterfly which, as the name suggests, rattle and squeak!  There is also a mirror and crinkly fabric in the butterfly’s wings for added entertainment for little babies.

The rings used to attach to the pram also double up as handy teething rings.

The Little Bird Told Me Rattle & Squeak Set, as with all of their products, comes in gorgeous brown cardboard packaging making them ideal for baby shower gifts

Suitable from birth

Rattle & Squeak Set - Breezy Butterfly and Burble Bee £12 (Boys)

Rattle & Squeak Set - Billowy Butterfly and Softly Snail £12 (Girls)

We fell in love with these little shearling booties when they hit our desk this week... and cooed even more when we saw the high-top trainers!  They make an ideal gift for a new baby and stand in a league of their own when pitted against traditional baby gifts.

My 1st Years use the latest embroidery technology to print personal messages on the smallest of items for newborn babies. They are loved by celebrity mums Dannii Minogue and Denise Van Outen, who have both tweeted about them. Dannii’s son Ethan has been photographed wearing his specially-designed high=top trainers!

You can chose from various products, colours and styles, so whether it’s the perfect newborn blanket you are searching for, or your babies first pair of sheepskin booties or high top trainers, My 1^st Years has it all.

They can be purchased and designed online via the website.

Boots from £30 www.my1styears.com

Let national pride flow at afternoon teatime with the classic one pint mug, 8.5 inch plate and 4 cup teapot, all from the iconic Emma Bridgewater brand. ‘The complicated geometric lined of Union Jack gave our hand decorators in our factory in Stoke on Trent a bit of a headache to start with. But now all we want to do is fly the flag,’ say the brand. 

Whether it’s adding some national spice to your kitchen, giving Dad the perfect ‘desk’ mug, indulging Grandpa in some good old-fashioned nostalgia or buying your brother an imaginative birthday present, the eye-catching Union Jack range has a gift to suit everyone. 

Prices start at £21.95 for a pint mug, £12.95 for a 8.5 inch plate, and £59.95 for a 4 cup teapot. Order online at www.leekes.co.uk or visit your Leekes, Melksham store to view other great designs from the Emma Bridgewater collection, including items from the Flowers, Black Toast, Polka Dot and Pink Hearts ranges.

Union Jack 4 Cup Teapot From Emma Bridgewater, £59.95

Union Jack 1 Pint Mug From Emma Bridgewater, £21.95

Union Jack 8.5inch Plate Emma Bridgewater, £12.95

All available at www.leekes.co.uk

Colourful Geo the elephant is a wonderfully bright and solid shape-sorter that will provide little ones with lots of entertainment as they experiment with shapes and sizes.

The six chunky, wooden shapes slot into the corresponding holes and are easily retrievable so baby can try again. Presented in a box, this would also make an ideal gift.

Suitable: 18 months+

Box size: 21cm x 16cm x 12cm

£21.99 www.peanutandpip.com

The ideal toy for children, a yoyo is a cheap & hardwearing making it perfect for the playground.

The Duncan ‘Pulse’ is a light up yoyo with a ball bearing axle it’s great for tricks and is bound to impress their mates.

Duncan Pulse £10.00, www.wickedvision.co.uk