As someone who talks a lot and someone who writes a lot, there's not many times when I have writers block - I simply type as I speak ... so to speak. Yet here I am tucked away in my study, my son screaming on his Xbox, my daughter watching the end of Squid Game (it's half term) and I'm feeling quite stumped for words. Why? Well last week I received possibly the best sample I have ever received, and that's saying something considering I've been doing this for about 25 years. So what's got me all in a tizzy.
It's The Body Shop's Christmas gifting range (more reviews coming soon), and taking central stage is the magnificent advent calendar. There really is no other word for it. It's the holy grail of all advent calendars and I'm not sure how to write about it, as I don't want to ruin the surprises inside. I think I actually sobbed when I received it. I'm a single mum who desperately tries to give her kids the happiest Christmas every year, and yes whilst I know it's about the memories of hot chocolate and Christingle, I personally could never afford something so amazing! Anyway enough blubbing on, here's a little bit about this years No 1 advent calendar.
Share Love, Joy & Kindness RRP £320 total product worth £495
When I was younger, advent calendars were the small cardboard boxes and when you pressed the day it revealed a cartoon picture, yes that's right it didn't even give you a measly chocolate - showing my age now. However, the surprise element still evokes fond memories of pressing each day. Fast forward 49 years and we have advent calendars that are filled with chocolates, products and, if my like homemade one, the odd £1 coin.
Most of these calendars are advertised as 'value for money', yet often behind each door or box is a product you may not use. Not so with The Body Shop's Share Love, Joy and Kindness launch. To give you an idea of how heavy the box is, it took both my daughter and I to lift it out of the box. As we opened the box, we both gasped at the beautiful Christmas design, it felt like Father Christmas had delivered early. When we opened the calendar, we gasped again as it revealed the most beautiful pop up scene. I can also remember having books like this when I was younger and I defy anyone not to get excited and have a similar reaction as we both did.
The calendar consists of two pull out drawers filled neatly with sturdy boxes, each one containing at least 1 full sized product of their best selling lines. In fact many of the boxes contain more than just 1 surprise as the whole advent contains 44 pieces!
Now here is my dilemma, usually when writing up on products I like to give a run down of the product, ingredients etc but I don't want to ruin the element of surprise here. What I will say is that each and every product has been carefully chosen to be universal and loved by everyone. Filled to the brim with best selling shower gels, masks, shampoos, conditioners, body butters, eye creams etc, there really is something for everyone, and the whole family will be wanting to delve in and open 'their' day. There is also a little 'act of love' written in both English and French on the side of each box, making it a unique gifting experience, if you wish to spread a little love.
Whilst it seems like a lot of money and yes there's no denying it is, each product can be gifted separately. The calendar can be used year after year and re-filled with other treats - in fact I still have my other calendar from The Body Shop from last year and started doing just that. Or the box can be used to store your finer Christmas decorations, as a make-up drawer, jewellery box, arts and crafts - the design is so multi-purpose you will want to keep it out all year round. They have several other advents online and in store however, I would be very quick as they do sell out quickly and once gone they are gone!
Of course my heart will always be loyal to The Body Shop, the awareness they've raised, the campaigning for fair trade and they remained loyal to their cause of against animal testing, only recently agreeing to stock in China, as the country dropped it's animal testing. There's so much to read up upon and I would urge you to have a little read on their website, and also check out their amazing Christmas range at
www.thebodyshop.com
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