Polka Dot Christmas Gift Guide – For The Couple & Each Other

My third and final instalment in the Polka Dot Bride Christmas Gift Guide for 2013 is all about presents you can buy for your beloved, or that gift givers than gift to a couple. perhaps for Christmas or perhaps as a wedding or engagement present. presents to enjoy together and help build your home, or add some beautiful touches to your abode.

Aura By Tracie Ellis Chevron Grande Tablecloth in Smoke, Kitchenaid Artisan Stand Mixer in Watermelon ($779), Mozi Tropicalia Gold Spot Cushion ($79.95), kikki.K Wedding Organiser $39.95) Bormiolo Rocco Palatina Multicolour Glasses ($24.95), Pommery Grand Cru 2004 ($99.50), Aromatherapy Associates Limited Edition Bath & Shower Oil Ultimate Collection ($103.80), Minted Christmas Cards (From US$43 for 25)

I couldn’t write this gift guide without including a Kitchenaid now could I? Kitchenaid has released a fantastic set of new colours for Summer- including the pictured Kitchenaid Artisan Stand Mixer in Watermelon, plus Crystal Blue, Truffle and Cocoa Silver and along with new colours in their platinum collection (Blueberry, Plumberry, Toffee & Liquid Graphite). Kitchenaid stand mixers are always a classic gift for a newly engaged couple, a wedding present or your beloved. The only thing that’s stopped me from getting one, is colour indecision!

This Mozi Tropicalia Gold Spot Cushion is such a fun addition for Summer to your couch or bed. It’s vibrant, polka dot and just a nice addition to make your home a little more yours. I love the shimmering gold of the dots on this pillow, pair it with a bright blue or lime green throw for a festive Summer look!

Admittedly, this kikki.K Wedding Organiser is the Polka Dot Bride office copy – the newer version has your own customisable tabs, a polka dot cover (win win) and is packed with checklist. The neutral colour scheme of white and grey has always been a winner for me with these wedding planners and they are such a great gift idea for the newly engaged- the paperwork starts to pile up quickly and it’s a wonderful way to keep on top of it all.

Bormiolo Rocco Palatina Multicolour Glasses are part of my motto of buying great things you would never buy yourself. I’m always picking up plain glassware but don’t think of something bright and bold like these beauties. They’re perfect for outdoor entertaining or dressing up a table for a dinner party. I’m still a big fan of buying couples or each other crockery and glassware- my parents still have pieces from their own marriage and engagement and they’re treasured with each story that is told. Pair a box of these with your favourite cocktail ingredients for something a little extra.

Champagne never goes down as a bad gift and the decadent Pommery Grand Cru 2004 is a perfect celebration gift. Perhaps even one to gift your beloved to drink on a special night (the first night home from your honeymoon perhaps?). Madame Pommery described her champagne as joyful lightness. The brand is always dancing to it’s own tune (being the first to make extra dry champagne for English Aristocrats in the 1800’s). The flavours fresh and light making for a delicious gift to enjoy.

I am a firm believer that the world does not have enough baths. So this Aromatherapy Associates Limited Edition Bath & Shower Oil Ultimate Collection is my mission to help change it. These bath and shower oils are truly luxurious – based on the beautiful therapeutic oil blends, this set contains nine miniatures of their popular bath oils. With each having a different “mood” and essential oil blend. “Support” containing Lavender & Peppermint oils, “Relax” a blend of Vetivert, Camomile, Sandalwood oil right through to “Deep Relax” and “Revive”. I love this gift for a newly engaged couple as an act of support through any kind of wedding stress and also for each other- take time out and enjoy the peace of a bath.

I love fun Christmas stationery and I loved the Minted Christmas Cards this year- gorgeous foils, die cut shapes and typography really set the cards off and adding your own photographs, especially if you are newly married, makes it personal. Minted has a huge range, including custom Christmas wrap to coordinate.

 Aura By Tracie Ellis Chevron Grande Tablecloth in Smoke, KNIndustrie ABCT Range Casserole Set (16cm casserole $88 16cm lid $58, 24cm casserole $110, 28cm lid $67 28cm casserole $129 28cm casserole lid $88) Kate Spade Larrabee Dot Toasting Flutes ( $149 Similar available at Wedding Gifts Direct) Leah Duncan “Nesting” Print ($28  Available at The Woodsfolk), Breville Nespresso Umilk In Pure White ($299), Aura By Tracie Ellis Big Spot Tea Towel In Marine ($8.95), Normann Copenhagen Cognac Glasses- set of two ($70 Available at Wedding Gifts Direct), French Navy Personalised Note Cards & Lined Envelopes  ($249 for 50)

Isn’t this kitchen ware the funkiest? KNIndustrie ABCT Range Casserole Set is a new favourite of mine. All white enamel cookware with wooden lids that convert to trivets for hot pans. The pieces are somewhat convertible (a detachable handle and silicone lids are available).

Kate Spade is always, always on my Christmas wish list and when the Larrebee dot range is on the cards, well isn’t that just a match made in heaven? Champagne flutes are almost obligatory for an engagement and these Kate Spade Larrabee Dot Toasting Flutes (Similar available at Wedding Gifts Direct) up the stakes with their elegance but playful touch.

This gorgeous Leah Duncan “Nesting” Print (Available at The Woodsfolk), may be on my Christmas list. I’ always looking for beautiful art to hang in my home and I love the playful vibe of these sweet birds. Prints are always a wonderful gift – for me, I find that they can evoke things I want to say to someone, or how much I love them through someone else’s artistic talent.

There was one thing that came into my life this year that I can say changed it. Breville Nespresso Umilk In Pure White (with integrated Aerochino not pictured), I had put off buying one for years until Mr Polka did it behind my back, like all great things he gifts me. This little machine is my go to in the morning for quick one button coffee that has kicked anything ‘instant’ to the kerb. There’s three programmable coffee sizes,a  range of colours and a bucketload of different coffees (including flavoured varieties) that make this one of my favourite gifts for people who don’t fancy spending ages in front of their coffee machine.

Looking for something cheap and cheerful? Try the Aura By Tracie Ellis Big Spot Tea Towel In Marine. Fun tea towels that sway from the traditional stripes and checks are always a welcome addition and somehow, I think this one has my name all over it!

These are Normann Copenhagen Cognac Glasses – set of two (Available at Wedding Gifts Direct)  – beautiful pieces aren’t they? Wedding gifts to me are always wonderful things you would never buy yourself but make your life together just a bit more special and these I think, do that justice. They can hardly just be glasses, instead, I call them ‘art’.

I love this gift idea- French Navy Personalised Note Cards & Lined Envelopes. Remember in the “olden days” a wonderful gift was new stationery with your new married name? Why did that become something of times gone by? French Navy has long been a favourite of mine (see this post of stationery I still treasure today!) and they’ll work with you on a custom design to reflect your new initials. I love this idea for a wedding present- nothing beats a beautiful handwritten note.

Aura By Tracie Ellis Chevron Grande Tablecloth in Smoke Blacklist Studio XO Gold Foil Print Set ($149), Pony Rider Flower Patch Cushion Cover ($109),  Pimms, Aura By Tracie Ellis Big Spot Apron In Coral ($29.95), Polk Audio Heritage Speakers, Woodbourne ($849), Neato Robotic Vacuum ($799), KNIndustrie ABCT Range Wok And Handle (32cm Wok $143 Handle $44) , Bruny Island Cheese Club (From $83), ABC Delicious Tasting Bowls ($29.95 Available at Myer), Palm Beach Collection Deluxe Candle In Quince ($99.95)

This modern and super cool Blacklist Studio XO Gold Foil Print Set would make such a fun wedding present. The X and O are modern, the gold foil a touch of luxury and the message behind it warm and wonderful. I really do adore beautiful prints and I think this striking duo would look fantastic hanging on a wall.

Pony Rider makes such beautiful pieces and I fell in love with this Pony Rider Flower Patch Cushion Cover. It is such a lovely neutral with a bit of added botanical interest.

Pimms, what more could you want in a summer drink? Making jugs of Pimms on hot Summer days is one of my favourite things to do and gifting this to a couple is something you can’t go wrong with. Include a jug and the ingredients (lemonade or ginger ale, mint, oranges and strawberries) for something fun or a bocce or lawn bowl set for something non perishable!

Aprons are never something I think to buy, but judging by the state of my clothing after I cook, something I need. This Aura By Tracie Ellis Big Spot Apron In Coral is such a fun addition to the kitchen and has multiple colours so you could buy two as a wedding or engagement gift. Mr Polka and I love cooking together (except I don’t cut the onions, because he needs them to be in millimetre perfect size) and this apron set would suit us to a ‘T’!

I admit I wasn’t sure quite what to expect when we dug these Polk Audio Heritage Speakers, Woodbourne, out of the box for our shoot (it comes with it’s own dust bag) but I never thought I would walk away actually calling it beautiful. But if a speaker could be beautiful, then this one is it. It works with Airplay, Bluetooth and even hooks up to your TV and stereo system. I love the idea of this as a gift for a music loving couple who have a chic sense of style.

Nobody likes to vacuum, or if you do, feel free to come and meet me. So that’s why I love the Neato Robotic Vacuum as a gift idea. Sit back and relax as this laser mapping vacuum cleaner (read: no bumping into furniture) does the hard work for you. It works off a schedule for your daily cleaning, adjust its speed depending on your surfaces, is pet friendly and can return to it’s charging dock when it’s low on battery.

The KNIndustrie ABCT Range Wok And Handle is the final piece in the white enamel cookware set I featured earlier, but this piece shows off the removable handle making it easy to store. Stylish and convenient? Yes please! The entire cookware range can be used on gas or electric cook tops, is nonstick, oven and dishwasher safe, and is designed to go from oven to table.

Let me introduce you to one of my favourite pieces of mail. The Bruny Island Cheese Club. Based in Tasmania, Bruny Island make the most incredible cheeses and offer a monthly cheese club where you receive a selection of beautiful cheeses and accompaniments. It is one of the more beautiful pieces of mail to receive (and if I am honest, stinkiest!). The Bruny Island Cheese Co are wonderfully passionate about the art of cheese making (they taught me cheese needs to be at room temperature to enjoy it, or as my beloved French friends put it “friendly”.) Each month founder Nick films a video which has us drooling and if you have cheese lovers in your life I guarantee they will adore this.

The ABC Delicious Tasting Bowls (Available at Myer) are a fun little gift for your home or for a couple. They come in a set of fun pastel tones and are again, one of those items you never think to buy yourself but always appreciate when you have it. Perfect for entertaining- olives, nuts, cheeses and your favourite dips can all sit in these sweet tasting bowls looking as stylish as can be.

Candles make the best gifts, as sometimes they’re just a little too indulgent to buy for yourself. So I adore this Palm Beach Collection Deluxe Candle In Quince. They’re Australian made and owned (big ticks for both) and this epic sized candle makes for a wonderful gift for a couple. It has four wicks and is a stupendous weight, kicking off a massive 180 hours burn time.