Boots Christmas Treats

I work long hours in a sometimes difficult and demanding job, so occasionally I think I deserve to treat myself. Last week I was looking on line at the Boots website and saw two items that I didn't need but really wanted and I thought I'd pop these in my basket. Sadly one item was no longer available and the site told me to visit my nearest large store to see if they had any in stock. 

There is a large Boots at a retail park about 2 miles away so I thought I'd call in on my way to do a Tescos supermarket shop. I called in to find both items that I wanted sold out! Now this sent me from "I'd like these two items as a treat" .... to...."the future of my whole life depends on owning these two items". I had to get them so I parked up in Tescos and did a 10 minute walk to another large Boots to find joy of joy a small stock of the two items that I had to have otherwise my life would be in jeopardy (!!?)

So what were these life or death items - the Boots No7 Advent Calender and the Yankee Candle Christmas gift set (star buy for the week).

The No7 advent calendar cost £39 and contains over £151 worth of products inside. I love the idea of having an advent calendar so I stately myself and wait until 1st December to start to open the windows and find out what treats lie within. As we are out of the country for 10 days from 6th December I may have a 10 day opening frenzy on the 6th December and open up all the windows for the period that we are away. I'll look forward to returning home to carry on opening up the rest of the windows on the run up to Christmas.

I have masses of toiletries and didn't need this but I so wanted a beauty advent calendar this year after seeing them all over social media and in the shops. I noticed that there are plenty of these for sale at silly prices on eBay now ranging in price up to £99.99 which I think is a bit greedy of some sellers but I suppose it's a sellers market now they are sold out.

There was a photo of the contents on the Boots website and there is a list of the items contained in the calendar on the back of the box. It has some of my favourites which are:

• Protect & Perfect lip cream which is a must for me under lipstick to keep my lips moisturised and stop them from drying out. 
• Stay perfect eye shadows in Truffle & Wheatsheaf. Truffle is that dark velvety chocolate colour which is smokey enough for a dark eyes look but warm enough to prevent you looking like Alice Cooper. Wheatsheaf is just one of those mink colours that flatters everyone. I love them both.

I get so excited about Christmas and I think nowadays more so than when I was a little girl. I love the preparations and planning and dressing the house. Candles always feature and I seem to go through loads during the whole festive season. The Yankee Candle Christmas gift set cost £23 instead of £45. I thought this was a bargain at just shy of half price. It has a great mixture of items. 

So there is a medium jar in Christmas Eve in that glorious festive red colour. This usually costs £18.99 alone. There is a small  jar in Winterglow which I have not seen before. I like that it is pure white in colour which looks great with silver items such as silver metal candlesticks, baubles etc.

There were two packs of 12 tealights in Christmas Eve and another favourite of mine, Christmas Cookie. Sweet "cookie dough baking" scent with a slight hint of spice....heavenly.

Finally there are 4 votives - two in Bundle Up and two in Cosy by the Fire. Just the names make you want to snuggle up in your home with a hot chocolate (with marshmallows of course), with the flames glowing on the fire and a Christmas film on the TV. I can't wait to get out a plain crystal votive holder and light them up. In fact I loved this gift so much I bought two!!