Christmas

19 Clever and Practical Gifts to Tick Off Your Shopping List!

The countdown to Christmas is on! As well as buying gifts for the kids, you probably have a few grown-ups on your list as well – you know, the kids’ teachers, the grandparents, the co-worker you got in secret Santa, your husband… 

Regardless of who is on your list and how much you have to spend, we’ve a whole sleigh worth of goodies to browse through (including ones especially for you!).

From $3 coasters to $300 hair straighteners, welcome to our 2017 Christmas buying guide for grown-ups!

For Mums

That’s a nail wrap!

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Add a little glam to your everyday with those funky nail art wraps.  Enjoy chip-free, salon like manis instantly without the hassle of nail polish, lamps, glue or water. And you can DIY at home while the kids are napping! Her Royal Flyness have a heap of colourful options to choose from, but our fav has to be their I Would Dye For You wraps.

Get yours at Her Royal Flyness ($14).

Best mum bag ever

neoprene tote bag or nappy bag

Having kids is a messy business. And often that mess finds its way inside your bag. Spilt milk, leaky Textas, nappy explosions, bum cream, squished snacks – all these things and more can ruin your nappy bag or tote. But what if you had a bag that you could chuck in the wash whenever the kids messed it up? Guess what? You can.

The Hedzup Neoprene Tote Bag is totally washable so you can keep it looking new, no matter what icky bag spill you encounter Use it on its own as a beach bag (it’s waterproof) or add in a matching Tote Organiser to turn it into a nappy bag or mum bag with more pockets than you can poke a fruit stick at

Choose your fave design at Hedzup (from $89).

Rock out in rose pink 

mum centralThe must-have headphones on every wish list this year? Beats by Dr. Dre – Solo3 Wireless Headphones. And in pink of course! These bad boys are the top of the headphone line with premium acoustics, superior comfort and long hours of playback. Perfect for blocking out the noise of squabbling siblings or Peppa Pig reruns!

Get yours at Dick Smith ($289).

Straighten up!

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Lose the mum bun and bring on the smooth, straight and soft locks! A hair straightener can be a mum’s best friend, but only if it works quickly because we mums don’t have hours on end to spend fussing with our hair. The Cloud Nine range delivers ultra speedy straightening results and glossy, healthy looking hair. Plus, it works on all hair, including the “I haven’t had my hair cut/styled/dyed in months” type.

Pick it up at Cloud Nine ($340).

Water… and wine mum central

Make ‘me time’ even more magnificent with these funky wine holders, especially designed for the shower. Enjoy a luxurious bubble bath and a glass of bubbly without worrying about tipping it over. Hurrah for mummy/wine/bubble bath time.

Pick one up at Etsy ($14).

Pouch appeal

Mimco Mim Pouch

MIMCO is one of our favs here at Mum Central and their MIM Pouch is a great choice for all mums. Crafted from leather and finished with their signature hardware, it is perfect for carrying your cash and cards.

Pick one up at MIMCO ($79.95).

 

Pack it

Kmart Look Zip Backpack - Christmas gift ideas for mums

There comes a time in every mum’s life when you no longer need to lug around a nappy bag the size of a small house. That’s when a cute little backpack like this comes in handy. Big enough to stow the necessities – wipes, some cash, a box or two of sultanas, a lip balm, a couple of Band-aids and a spare nappy or two – it’s all smart mums need for a quick trip to the shops or an afternoon at the park or zoo. And the Zip Back Pack straps onto your back to keep both hands free – especially useful if you have more than one kid!

Grab it at Kmart ($20).

For Dads

BBQ delight

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BBQ at home or on the run with a Weber Baby Q. It’s the smallest in the Weber range, but it is also the most convenient and handles all your cooking needs for a family of six. Plus, it means dad gets to take on a little bit of meal making duty. And you get to take on a little bit more wine drinking, I mean, supervising the meal making, from the back deck.

Get it at David Jones ($287).

Shoot the sauce

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What do you get when you combine condiments with a squirt gun? The gift that keeps on giving, that’s what! This condiment squirt gun allows you to squirt your sauces with precision and ease. Dads will love them. And we’re pretty sure the kids will want to have a go too!

Get it at Gift Australia ($19).

Google box

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Get answers. Set your alarm. Plan the day. Control your smart devices. He can do all of this (and more) with the latest Google device. The Google Home Mini is your personal home organiser which responds to you through voice recognition. It supports up to six users in your home and is a great gadget for any tech-loving dad.

Get it at The Good Guys ($79).

Atari re-booted

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Hello 80s! And hello happy daddy (and kids). The brand-new Atari Flashback 8 Gold brings the vintage goodness of old video games into your home. The console includes two all new high performance 2.4ghz wireless controllers, styled after the Atari 2600 originals, as well as two legacy controller ports for optional wired joysticks or paddles. Oh, and not to mention 120 built-in all time favourites (take that Xbox!) including Missile Command, Asteroids, Centipede, Millipede, Konami’s Frogger, Activision’s Pitfall! and River Raid.

Get it at JB Hi-Fi ($149).

He brews

Craft brewing beer kit - christmas gift ideas for grown-ups

Why buy when you can brew it yourself? This Stone Pale Ale brew kit comes with everything your man needs to brew his own afternoon beverages (sorry VB, you’re out!).

Pick it up at Australian Geographic ($89.95).

For Teachers

Festive fragrances 

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Say thanks for all that your child’s teacher has done with a delicious Merry&Bright candle. The gorgeous fragrances, from jasmine and mint to candied cherry and gingerbread, will make the whole house smell like Christmas.

Pick a few up at Dusk ($34.99 each).

Vinyl vibe

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Handy and fun, these vintage vinyl coasters are sure to be a hit! Add a cute message to them, like “For the record, you’re an awesome teacher” and perhaps a bottle of wine (this $7 award winning bottle of red will do the trick), a pair of movie tickets or some scratchies to bulk up the gift.

Pick them up at Kmart ($3).

Aromatherapy made simple

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Freshen their minds, their classrooms and their homes with Bosisto’s natural Aroma Mists. This is another cute gift idea for a teacher, friend or even yourself, especially if you love aromatherapy. Spritz the air around you to enjoy the effective benefits of pure essential oils. You can choose from Breathe, Energy or Sleep or get a bundle with all three.

Get them at Bosisto’s ($12 each).

Punch it out

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We all deal with our fair share of stress. But teachers take on A LOT, especially towards the end of the year when their classrooms of children are even crazier than normal. This desktop punching bag or full sized inflatable pillar bag lets them swing away the stress, perfect for teachers with a good sense of humour.

Pick one up at Kmart ($8 punching pillar or $15 desktop bag).

For relatives, friends and workmates

Ear candy 

diamente cluster stud earrings and dual tone drop earrings

Add a bit of oh la la to their ears with these unique two tone droplet earrings or diamante cluster stud earrings, both featuring glass stones. The lovely sets make a perfect gift for your mum, mum-in-law or even as a Secret Santa gift for someone in the office. And they’re cheap enough for the kids’ pocket money budget too,

Find them at Sussans ($14.95 each).

Classy, Fabulous and Chanel

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As part of The Gift Edit’s popular Tribute to Fashion Collection, The Little Book of Chanel pays homage to Coco’s decades of leading fashion and flair and is a must have for your coffee table and collection. Each box includes The Little Book of Chanel, Aspar hand cream and lip balm, Kandila Co Candlette, Earl Grey Soap, and Fizzy Prosecco Gummies, all in a stylishly packaged box

Pick one up for your best mate or sister (and one for yourself too) at The Gift Edit ($129).

Magic soap

Botox soap Christmas gift ideas

No, it doesn’t clean the house for you, but it can rejuvenate your skin without having to meet with a cosmetic surgeon. This miracle Botox soap moisturises, firms and smoothes the skin helping to keep it looking bright and healthy. Botox soap can be used on even the most sensitive skin without irritation or creating negative reactions like normal soap can.

You can add a few more miracle skin regenerates to your bag of Botox goodies too, including the 2-in-1 Botox Serum and Morning Time moisturising lotion.

Pick it up at Ho-me Cosmetics ($14.95).

Dinner with Jamie 

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Got a sister who love to cook? How about a time-poor friend who is starving for some dinner ideas? A cookbook is always a classic choice. And when it’s Jamie Oliver AND only involves five ingredients per recipe, well, you really can’t go wrong!

Pick it up at Booktopia ($41.95).

We wish you a sweary Christmas

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Now that you’ve got Christmas all wrapped up, pick up some of this delightfully hilarious Merry F*cking Christmas wrapping paper.

Adults are done. Time to move on to the kiddies – check out our Christmas gift guides for babies, little ones and older kiddies, all hand-picked by the team at Mum Central

Avatar of Jenna Galley

Born and raised in Canada, Jenna now lives in Far North Queensland with her tribe. When the mum-of-three is not writing, you can find her floating in the pool, watching princess movies, frolicking on the beach, bouncing her baby to sleep or nagging her older kids to put on their pants.

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