Last Minute Gifts: Crabtree and Evelyn Biscuits, NYX Wanderlust Palette

The minutes are counting down to the Big Day!  Are you done your Christmas shopping?  Perhaps you are like me, still frantically scurrying around the shops.  This week threw all my plans out of the window.  The washing machine sprung a leak, causing an almighty mess.  I figured that, if I was going to call in a repairman, I might as well knock out a couple of other pressing repair jobs at the same time.  Haha, big mistake.  The promise of "No worries, we'll blast through the repairs in an afternoon" turned into a 3 day marathon.  Herewith are a couple of emergency last minute gift ideas in case you are stuck having to visit your local 24 hour pharmacy (or worse a gas station that has a mini mart attached to it) because the inlaws decided to spring a dropin on you.

Delicious edibles are always a safe bet.  They are gender free and don't involve too much thinking because, at this point, with your brain on overload, too much thought is contraindicated.

The Crabtree & Evelyn shop in Toronto only brings out their biscuits at Christmas time.  Imagine my chagrin when I discovered that, in other parts of the world, their mouthwatering bikkies are available year round.  This year's Christmas special is their All Butter Dark Chocolate and Hazelnut Biscuits.  The packaging is gorgeous, of course.

NYX came out with a selection of Wanderlust Palettes inspired by cities such as Copenhagen, Los Angeles, Paris, Madrid, London and Dubai.  I was really excited to pick up a few Toronto Palettes to give away but the colours were, in my opinion, astoundingly unwearable.  The lip creme was a dark gray/blue paired with gray eyeshadow.  I live in Toronto and have yet to encounter anyone wandering the streets in gray lipstick.  I suppose the intention was an edgy, goth vibe but it just isn't wearable on the regular unless you want to look like an extra off the set of "The Fifth Element."  I settled for Copenhagen which had a more on point selection of colours.

The lipcreme is a wearable nude and the eyeshadows, blush and highlighter remind me of Urban Decay's Heat Palette but at a price point that is a lot more bearable on the wallet.  Darn those Scandis!  Why do they get all the good stuff?

Wishing all of you a lovely Christmas!  Come and visit me on Instagram tomorrow @lheurebleuewithchloe for the last reveal of my Advent Calendar.

This is not a sponsored post.

LBH Weekly Roundup: Target Advent Calendar, L'Occitane, Smashbox, Daniel et Daniel Macarons

December is well underway and we are steadily marching towards Christmas.  Advent calendars weren't part of my childhood which might explain my undying fascination with them.  Imagine having a surprise to open up every single day for 24 days, culminating in the BIG DAY?  Of course, brands have caught on that Advent calendars aren't just for children anymore and every year brings forth a slew of them ranging from the affordable to the money-no-object showstoppers.  The packaging is usually uniformly so pretty it seems a shame to consign them to the recycling bin.  So, I thought how fun it would be to have an Advent calendar that isn't disposable, becomes a family heirloom that gets brought out every year and which can be customized.  Here is a wooden one from Target.

The first few days revealed a mulled wine infused macaron from Daniel et Daniel, a Smashbox lipstick and a L'Occitane shea butter lip balm.

I have been vlogging the Advent Calendar reveals over on Instagram so click the blue button on the right to see me in action!  Follow me @lheurebleuewithchloe and say "Hi!"

This is not a sponsored post.