Christmas Gift Guide 2018

Christmas Gift Guide

Still in need of Christmas gift inspiration? 

The Madia & Matilda gift guide is brimming with ideas for your loved ones this festive season, we hope that we can inspire you to celebrate a sustainable Christmas this year!

For the fashion conscious:

1. Victoria Jacket

Our Victoria jacket is the perfect gift for your loved one this Christmas. This soft tweed blazer is an ideal item for smartening up any outfit and suitable for any time of year – from chilly summer evenings to autumn/winter layering. Click here to buy.

2. Anabel Top

Why not treat someone to this super soft jersey top this festive season. Featuring a round neckline and flared sleeves, you can choose from grey, pink or blue stripes so you’re sure to find the perfect match for that special someone. Click here to buy.

3. Jungle Dress

Give someone the gift of a New Years party outfit this Christmas. This one shoulder chiffon dress is the perfect forest green number for any party this season. Click here to buy.

4. Rae Jacket

Ideal for layering up on chillier days or adding some glamour to an everyday outfit – Our silver Rae jacket features delicate flower embellishment and is the perfect gift this Christmas. Click here to buy.

5. Raphielle Top

Why not gift a friend or family member our gorgeous Raphielle strap top this winter? Featuring a contrast velvet panel and satin body, this top is sure to stun at any festive party this season. Click here to buy.

6. Bobble Hat

Whether you’re shopping for you mum, wife, sister, aunt, daughter, friend or college this Christmas, we’ve got you covered with our range of bobble hats. With a choice of two different designs and six colours you’re sure to find the perfect match for your loved one this winter. Click here to buy.

7. Hettie Bags

Treat someone special to our range of Hettie bags this Christmas. Whether you’re looking for a handbag, clutch or cosmetics bag look no further than Madia & Matilda – we’ve got a selection of gorgeous bags in various colours to make gift buying simple this year. Click here to buy.

For the stationery obsessed:

1. Washi Tape

Whether your buying washi tape to decorate your gifts and Christmas cards this year or buying it for a stationery obsessed friend, it’s a great gift. Choose from our selection of metallic or festive themed tapes to make the perfect stationery gift box this Christmas. Click here to buy.

2. Pencil Case

Know someone who needs to get organised? Why not help them out with our sustainable pencil case? Made from a rose-coloured cotton with a polka dot print, this will make the perfect gift for any age. Great for using at work, school or just tidying up your desk at home. Click here to buy.

4. Cards

Our beautiful range of handmade scrabble letter cards make the perfect for someone who loves giving. With a range of birthday, Valentines and Christmas cards to choose from, send these cards alongside your gifts or treat a stationery lover this Christmas. Click here to buy.

5. Paper Clips

Perfect for any stationery enthusiast, these gold and copper paper clips are sure to add some glamour to boring paperwork. If gold and copper aren’t to your liking, we also stock silver scissor clips. These quirky hashtag clips make a perfect gift alongside any of our other stationery items. Click here to buy.

6. Pocket Mirror

Not necessarily an item of stationery but perfect for those who love collecting small items. Ideal for touch-ups on the go, this metal mirror features a tropical leaf print. Why not gift our pocket mirror alongside some of her favourite makeup items for a super sweet Christmas present? Click here to buy.

For the homeware lovers:

1. Coasters

Know someone who loves a classy cocktail or can’t be without a cuppa? Why not treat them to our stylish coasters, choose from dipped concrete or hammered rose gold for a practical yet chic gift. Click here to buy.

2. Trio of Succulents

It’s no lie, everyone loves house plants and succulents. Placed on shelves or a windowsill or as the table centrepiece, why not treat your special someone to our trio of succulents this Christmas. Click here to buy.

3. Hexagonal Wall Mirror

Part of our new Madia & Matilda home range made in the UK, this gorgeous rose gold hexagonal wall mirror is perfect for decorating any wall in the house. Gift your friends or family to this simple elegant mirror this Christmas. Click here to buy.

4. Hoogly Tea

Everyone knows a tea lover, so why not treat them to our range of Hoogly teas. Whether they like their tea green, black or white, or they like trying more adventurous flavours like liquorice and lavender you’re sure to find the perfect gift at Madia & Matilda. Click here to buy.

5. Tray of House Plants

If you want to give more than one person a succulent this year as a part of their present, why not buy our tray of house plants. Perfect for adding your own touch with personalised pots or as part of a gift hamper they’re sure to make someone's day. Click here to buy.

Sincerely Madia & Matilda

Foodie - Vegan Cinnamon Doughnuts

Vegan Cinnamon Doughnuts

Ingredients

For the batter1 1/4 cup plain flour
2 teaspoons pumpkin pie spice/all spice
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup packed brown sugar
1/2 cup unsweetened almond milk
1/3 cup pumpkin pureé
2 tablespoons coconut oil, melted
1 teaspoon vanilla
​
For the Cinnamon Sugar Coating
1/4 cup melted coconut oil or vegan butter
1 cup organic sugar
1 tablespoon cinnamon

The recipe

Preheat the oven to 180°C and grease the doughnut tin.

In a large bowl mix the flour, spices, baking powder and salt. In another bowl lightly whisk the brown sugar, almond milk, pumpkin pureé, coconut oil and the vanilla.

Next combine the dry ingredients into the wet ingredients a little at a time, this should result in a thick batter.

Then, using a spoon to fill the tray, make sure that the mixture is evenly distributed in each mould. 

Bake for 10-12 minutes.

Leave to cool on a wire rack and prepare the sugar coating.

In one bowl, mix the sugar and cinnamon, in another pour the coconut oil or vegan butter. Make sure the oil/butter is a liquid but not too hot.

Once the doughnuts are suitably cooled, dip one side into the oil/butter and then straight into the cinnamon sugar mix.

If they last long enough, you can display them on a cake plate or stand.

If you want to find out more information about this recipe, click here. #madiamatilda if you would like to share your creations with us

Sincerely Madia & Matilda

Things to do this Nov & Dec - Culture

Things to do in Winchester

The Rare Brand Market
Winchester Guildhall, The Broadway, Winchester
The market hosts a wide range of rare brands across clothing, food, drink, jewellery, beauty, toys and gadgets, lifestyle and homeware. More than 85 brands will be presented at 19th century Winchester Guildhall, from Wednesday 14 November 10am - 8pm to Thursday 15 November 10am - 3pm.

For more information click here.

The Christmas Lights Switch On

The Broadway, Winchester

Celebrate the start of the Christmas season by attending the city’s spectacular Christmas lights being switched on by local Winchester heroes nominated by the public.

The event will take place on 15 November 2018 4pm - 7pm.

For more information click here.

Christmas Market and Ice Rink
Cathedral Office, 9 The Close, Winchester

Attend the opening ceremony for Winchester's Christmas market and ice rink. Enjoy routines from professional ice skaters and live music from the Cathedral Choristers. The ceremony will take place on 16 November 2018 from 6:45pm.

For more information click here.

Silent Disco On Ice
Cathedral Office, 9 The Close, Winchester

If you're looking for a fun activity to do this winter, look no further than Winchester's silent disco. Choose songs from the 70's, 80's, 90's or 00's and enjoy skating to your favourite throwback tunes.

20 November - 20 December, every Tuesday and Thursday at 7.00pm & 8.00pm.

For more information click here.

Sincerely Madia & Matilda

Best Christmas Films

Christmas Film Edit

Cuddle up, cuddle bunnies! Put on your dressing gowns, onesies, blankets; gather your mince pies, Bailey's, cats, small children, etc. The cosy Christmas film viewing is, for many families, as essential a part of the big day as dinner is. Here are a few well-acknowledged favourites. Is yours here? Drop us a comment to let us know! 

Home Alone

Ballsy little Kevin McAllister sets so many perfect booby traps that I'm always amazed villains Harry and Marv make it out alive. Any else have great memories of crying with laughter during this film? Did you wet yourself? 

Elf

Will Ferrell stars as a larger-than-life, Christmas-obsessed elf who spends most of the movie getting into scrapes with cynical New Yorkers. The tights definitely make it for us.  

Image credit: IMDb

A Charlie Brown Christmas

Vintage Charlie Brown? Can't be beaten! The 1965 special was initially predicted to bomb magnificently, but won an honorary Emmy years later! Who could watch this without falling in love with Snoopy all over again? 

The Nightmare Before Christmas

A little darker than the other movies on this list (though still full of fun!), The Nightmare before Christmas is about Jack Skellington's attempts to bring Christmas to his Halloween hometown. Tim Burton heads up the writer's team working on this movie. 

The Grinch
A Christmas villain manages to finally redeem himself with the villagers of Whoville in this adaptation of Dr. Seuss's picture book, written in 1957. Great fun, plus a green villain! What's not to like?

Image credit: Bristol Film Festival

Miracle on 34th Street

A heart warming, dreams-can-come-true tale. The premise sounds improbable (who takes Father Christmas to court?!) but essentially this is a story about a young girl's belief in something adults repeatedly tell her is not real. So there! Santa does exist! 

What do you like to watch at Christmas? Who do you watch it with?

Drop us a comment and let us know! 

Sincerely Madia & Matilda

Sustainable Christmas

Happy Sustainable Christmas!

It’s a well-known fact that we all enjoy indulging ourselves a little more than usual at Christmas – whether it be by buying our loved ones more gifts planned, treating yourself while Christmas shopping (cos that shizzle is exhausting!), or having to unzip your jeans after dinner. But spoiling ourselves this season does not mean we need to spoil our planet too.

Here are a few tips to help you enjoy a sustainable Christmas this year. Challenge accepted? 

1) Sustainable Christmas Trees

Christmas is a massive tree brushing the ceiling of your living room, adorned with glittery baubles and lights and memories of Christmases past, right? Doesn't have to be! Why not try an artificial tree for a more Sustainable Christmas – these can be bought from most shops and last on average up to 20 years.

Not only that, but they come in all shapes and sizes – for example, there is the classic artificial tree, but also more unconventional trees such as this stunning steel tree above. Stick it away in the loft when January rolls around and re-use every year!

Another option for a sustainable Christmas tree would be to rent one! Yes, you read that right. There are now companies all over the UK, such as Forever Green, Christmas Tree Rentals, or Living Christmas who specialise in growing Christmas trees in pots. You simply order yours, they deliver it and you water it every day. Then, come January, the company comes to pick it back up and look after it all year until it gets rented again the following Christmas. The benefit of this is that trees are not simply being planted to be chopped right down again come Christmas time. Here at M&M, we think renting Christmas trees is a pretty great idea and will certainly be renting ours from now on!

2) Eco-friendly decorations

There is nothing prettier than an autumnal wreath on the front door at Christmas time and our friends at Fleur de Rue in Stroud Town Centre are selling the most stunning wreaths that would look amazing in any home this winter!

Why not pop down to their stall and have a little nosey for yourself at their beautiful pieces?

3) Recycle your tree!

You do not have to rent a tree or buy a fake one to be sustainable this Christmas. Make sure to recycle your tree when Christmastime is over and ensure you're not contributing to the 90% that end up in a landfill. For advice on recycling your tree, simply call your local council.

4) Send e-cards

Not in the mood to handwrite hundreds of Christmas cards this year? No worries – check out how to create an e-card and then email them to your recipients. The process takes minutes and all your cards can be sent at the same time – saving you time and effort, which means more time to get into the Christmas spirit with your family and save trees in the process! Win-win! Or a voucher from us, now what's not to love! 

5) Why not try a Vegan Christmas dinner?

The Vegan Food and Living website has some incredible Christmas meals and snacks to try. What's to stop you from updating your Christmas dinner, whilst still allowing for tradition? Check them out now for stunning and simple recipes such as Vegan Christmas Pie and Vegan Tofu “Egg” Nog and enjoy a sustainable Christmas dinner.

6) Eat your leftovers!

Boxing Day's leftover-sandwiches are a great part of the season's culinary offerings. Ensure to make your Christmas leftovers last and avoid throwing away good food this Christmas instead of binning your food remains. Books such as Love Your Leftovers from Friends of The Earth are a great way of doing this, but failing that, it might be an idea to donate your leftovers to your local homeless shelter. For some, it may be the only Christmas dinner they will get this year and you will be helping to cut down on global food waste whilst making someone feel loved. Is that not what Christmas is all about?!

However you choose to spend Christmas this year, we hope this has been of some help to you in having a more sustainable Christmas! All of us at M&M would like to wish you a very Merry Christmas and A Happy New Year and thank you for all your support this year.

Sincerely Madia & Matilda

Party Season Edition- Longer Nights, Party Lights

Longer Nights = Party Lights! 

Since the clocks have gone forward, we've been watching the night falling quicker and quicker. You could respond to this one of two ways: go to bed at 5pm; or you could take advantage of the longer nights and go wild 'til the early hours. Here at M&M, we're in favour of a 70-30 split between partying all night and going to bed at 5pm. So we've got a few special party pieces together to tickle your fancy. Whether your a day bird or a night owl, dressing up a bit in these colder days makes everyone feel a little bit more sparkly inside!

Cocktails, dinner, book club— wherever you're heading of an evening, these styles will have you sorted. Check out our specially selected range of going-out stuff!

Cocktails, dinner, the club— wherever you're heading of an evening, these styles will have you sorted. Check out our specially selected range of going-out stuff!

Dress? Check. Statement jewellery? Check. Sassy shoes? Look below! Like, wow, we have you covered. Get them here!

Allow us to explain: it is winter, but it's also strappy season, honest! You can layer over them, accentuate them, do what you like with them. Get our beautiful Lila dress here. 

More straps! How about teaming our lovely Emily dress with a silver long-sleeved top underneath for the chillier days? Heck, make it sparkly! A belt made of fairy lights, perhaps? Other similar and equally delectable dresses include ravishing Ruth and dynamic Delia. 

Oh hi, Kate! (She just dropped in for some milk. She's diggin' the strappy look too). 

All that's left to say is YAY! Yes, it's winter, but it's also party prime-time. And we're not settling for dreary and dull in the sartorial section when there are goodies like the ones above, all ready to go! 

If you piece something killer together, please comment or tag us in a pic! We'd love to see what you're wearing. 

Sincerely Madia & Matilda