After yesterday's rather sombre post, we thought we would give you two things to cheer you all up in today's blog: food, and novelty aprons! We'll be sharing a few fun, festive recipes for you to try over the holiday season, based on the 'chef' stereotype you fit best!


Cookie Monster: The Dessert Expert 

If your cookies, crumbles and creme brulee all put Mary Berry to shame, then why not try making your own festive dessert this Christmas?

Why not try this Peppermint Bark Cheesecake from Cooking Classy, or these delicious Rolo Christmas Cookies from Living Locurto:                                     
                                            

The Impatient Cook  

If you're looking for something quick and easy to whip up in the kitchen, then why not try out these simple 3 Ingredient Candy Cane Lollipops from BBC Good Food, or these Pan Roasted Brussel Sprouts With Bacon if you're after something savoury.

Kitchen Hero 

If you're a bit of a wiz in the kitchen, you'll want to try something extra special this Christmas to wow your dinner guests.  Why not try out this incredible Roast Duck recipe from Jamie Oliver, or this incredible Chocolate Cake With Homemade Marshmallows for dessert! 

Batman (The Dark Knight) Adult Apron
(Buy Apron here)

Foodie Frankenstein

If you like to try something a little different in the kitchen, then what better time of year is there than Christmas to test out some new and interesting recipes?

If you're looking for some interesting combinations to have a crack at, then take a look at this Brussels Sprouts, Chilli and Thyme Jam, or these Pork and Cranberry Sausage Rolls, both from bakingmad.com.


Danger - Man Cooking (Apron and Hat Set)
(Buy Apron here)

Boozy Baker

For a flashy fish dish with an added kick, have a go at this Beetroot and Vodka-Cured Salmon from Woman and Home. If delicious bakes are more your speed, take a look at this fantastic Hazelnut Liquor pastry dish from Half Baked Harvest.

6 Pack Apron
(Buy Apron here)
Christmas is a time for love, happiness and smiles all round, but sadly, the same can't be said for Christmas films . In fact, Christmas movies can be pretty darn depressing at times, as illustrated by some of the examples below. 

I should warn you that there will be spoilers below, so if you're planning on watching some of these and haven't already, it's probably a good idea not to read the descriptions....


The Snowman - Snowman melts:

This film broke our hearts as children, and it still does to this day. It sets about fulfilling a childhood dream, then goes and completely destroys it! A boy is led by his snowman companion, flies to the North Pole with him to meet Father Christmas, only to discover that he's a melted puddle by the next day! Traumatic to say the least...


A Christmas Carol (2009) - Christmas Past:

Don't let the combination of animation and Jim Carey fool you, this version of Dickens' classic is pretty dark and depressing at times, particularly during the 'Christmas past' section. Not only do we see Scrooge as a sad and lonely little boy at boarding school, we then have to watch as he endures the death of his sister, and loses the woman he loves due to his developing fixation with wealth.


A Muppet Christmas Carol - Tiny Tim prophecy: 

Although this version is far more light-hearted than the 2009 adaptation, it still has a few moments that leave us feeling rather emotional. Once such moment comes later in the film, as the silent and creepy Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come reveals that adorable Tiny Tim will not be alive next Christmas.


Jack Frost - Jack is put to rest:

Okay, so a few people may have commented that the snowman looks a little creepy, but there's still no denying that this is a heart-warming family film. At the very end of the movie, Jack has to part ways with his son Charlie, this time, getting a chance to say the goodbye he never got the first time round. This makes for a sad and bitter-sweet ending to a story of second chances, giving us all the feels, all at once.


Love Actually - Too many moments to count:

Love Actually has to be the best, British Christmas film, with a stellar cast and a host of both hilarious and sad moments. From Colin Firth's sad goodbye to his Portuguese housekeeper, to Andrew Lincoln's confession of love to Keira Knightly (his best friend's wife) on her doorstep, this film is filled with emotional moments to get those tears flowing. The award for saddest moment of all goes to Emma Thompson, however, for that emotional realization scene when she discovers her husband has bought a necklace for another woman. We can't even listen to that Joni Mitchell song without sobbing.

Edward Scissorhands- Hold me 

Although this film is pretty melancholy throughout, the part that hits us right where it hurts is when Kim lovingly asks Edward to hold her, to which the replies 'I can't'. Burdened by difference and doomed to a life without normality, Edward is forced to endure a reclusive existence once more, free from the judgement of humanity. 

For more Christmas Posts, follow us on Twitter. We promise they're a lot more cheerful that this one!
Do you love a challenge? Do you enjoy a good puzzle to get your brain working? If so, this Maze Cube - Large is perfect for you! 

This 3D Tetris-like puzzle has 19000 possible solutions, so it should keep you busy up until Christmas next year! It consists of 13 different pieces in red, blue and yellow, which make a thousand different configurations. When put together correctly, you can make a perfect cube.

Gadget Inspector | Gadgets and Gizmos, Gifts and Novelties
We had our fair share of fun over the Christmas break, but now it's time for us to get back to reality and back to work. Faced with the daunting task of endlessly hearing the same question of  "Good Christmas?", and giving the same drab reply on auto-repeat, it's already feeling like a bit too much to deal with this soon after the holidays! 

To cheer you all up, we thought we'd share some of our brilliant office gadgets, which are all sure to brighten up your workplace!


Just £8.50 

It's a stapler, shaped like a bunny rabbit! Surely you can't get more cheerful than that? This adorable stapler is the cutest desktop accessory in all the land, and is guaranteed to make stapling be the most enjoyable part of the day! 



Just £4.99 

It's the first day back and you're guaranteed to make some mistakes, so what better way to correct them than with this set of Novelty Rubbers! Whether zombies or soldiers are more your thing, these characterful erasers are sure to bring some fun to your stationary selection.


Just £8.00 

If you turned over a new leaf during the Christmas break and decided you want a nice clean desk to start the new year with, then this Genius Paperclip Holder is perfect for you! Save yourself the torture of having paper clips all over your desk, just stick them on Albert's head instead!



Just £9.99 

There is always one person (or a dozen) in the office who likes a good moan, but at this time of year you really don't need any more negativity. This Complaint Department Grenade Ornament is the perfect gift for to put them in line, and is guaranteed to get a few chuckles around in the office.




Just £4.99

After having so much fun during your Christmas break, you're bound to be slightly miffed about getting back to your regular nine to five! If that's the case, then why not brighten up your mood with one of our desktop game sets? After a few heated sessions of our desktop games you may even completely forget that you're back in work, so just remember to finish off your tasks by the end of the day! 


Just £14.99 

The mess from your lunch break stands no chance against this mini R2-D2 Desktop Vacuum! It's the perfect way to indulge your inner big kid, whilst also honouring your promise to keep your desk tidy!

 

Just £4.99 

These Desktop Standees are the perfect accessories to brighten your desk and add a little humour to your workspace! We realize that it's not quite like having a real office minion, but it's most certainly the next best thing (unless you plan on selecting a not-so-lucky employee to participate in spot of fancy dress!)

For more Gadget Inspector news and awesome gift ideas, be sure to follow us on Twitter!
If you're planning to see the New Year in by throwing an awesome party, you're going to need party supplies! We know how stressful it can be to try and organise a party, and with Christmas just gone, the last thing you want to be doing is adding more stress to your life. So, we're here to the rescue! We've listed out top party essentials that is guaranteed to make your party the best party of the year!