Support Small Business This Christmas

 With lockdown looming, and Christmas on the horizon, it is more important than ever to support small businesses for your shopping this year. Small businesses are essential to our economy, and provide so many jobs to so many people, but have sadly been badly affected by this pandemic. Buying from a small business isn't putting more money into the pocket of some billionaire from a corporation, but is helping a family buy food, keep their lights on, and keep their dream alive. I wanted to share some of my favourite small businesses, and encourage you to check out their products. You can find a lot of inspiration on Etsy and Notonthehighstreet too (but wherever possible, I buy direct from the small business themselves, because they will charge fees).

First up, Sugar & Vice. Over the years I have bought SO much from Sugar & Vice, my jewellery collection is probably in the majority from their collections, and despite owning some of it for 6 years plus, it is still in just as good nick as ever. Run by pals Sarah & Matt, these guys have made incredible stuff over the years, and have always been so helpful with any of the custom requests or ideas I've had for them. Even making me a sign for my house! I'm a huge fan of their new homewares section, and if you love your horror movies, they are definitely the company for you.

They custom made our wedding cake topper to fit our 'True Romance' obsession.

I personally own this tiger paws necklace and it gets compliments every single time I wear it, a true statement piece I always find myself reaching for.

Next up is a company I just can't seem to stop myself from buying from lately, Crafty Glass London. Crafty Glass make stained glass for a new generation, everything from hearts and moons, through to Pikachu and David from Schitt's Creek! They even did a spooky Halloween range, and have been teasing not only some festive Christmas pieces, but also a personal Pokemon favourite of mine, Venomoth! I can't wait to see it. Their store isn't open all of the time, and instead they tend to offer limited pre-orders, and open their shop for a limited space of time every 2 weeks or so, to ensure that their shipping and customer service is up to their standard, so keep an eye out on their social media for their next update!

This is their mountain range piece, and below is their cheese plant leaf. Just 2 of the maybe... 8 pieces I've bought and gifted since I discovered them? I really need to buy something for myself already!

Another jewellery company that I can't help but adore, is Bloody Mary Metal. Between me and Stu, I'd say we easily own well into 40 pieces from them! We even visited them during our Cornwall holiday to celebrate our first wedding anniversary to buy pieces from them in person for the first time. While they do make some of their jewellery in gold, they are known for their unusual silver designs, with an alternative twist. If you see me wearing silver jewellery, I can basically almost guarantee you that is it from BMM. Their customer service is also absolutely wonderful. They've repaired pieces we have broken because we are both clumsy AF, and when we visited in person they offered to reshape jewellery we were wearing that had been bashed about it over many years of daily wear!

Just some of the many pieces I own from BMM, they offer a lot of one offs and it is so cool to know you own something unique no one else will ever own!

And final, inclusive clothing designer and general bad ass Plus Equals! Plus Equals manage to not only be one of the most fun clothing companies out there, but also one of the most inclusive, offering a standard size range of a UK 14-42, but also offering made to measure at no extra cost, and if your size isn't listed, just drop them a message and they will get you sorted, love!

My ridiculously incredible purple and faux fur sequin jacket is from Plus Equals, and I wear it for all my fancy occasions. I am sure I will be swanning about in this on Christmas Day no matter what ends up happening! If you love bright colours, faux fur and sequins, Plus Equals are the place to go.

My absolute fave faux leather vintage jacket is also from Plus Equals, part of their upcycled range. It just makes me feel cool (which I am so very far from!).

What are your favourite small businesses that you'll be shopping from this Christmas? Please do comment and help me find some new faves!

Much love,

Kitty xxxx

Cashback This Christmas

If like me you do most of your Christmas shopping online, a good cashback website is absolutely essential. While I'd love to support my local shops sadly Grimsby's high street these days is mostly pound shops and bargain stores, and therefore not the most suitable for gifts. This year thanks to Georgina Grogan I discovered a new cashback website that is really helping me get some money back!

I've been using Topcashback since I started Christmas shopping and already have nearly £100 in cashback waiting for me! I've been amazed at some of the cashback rates and offers they've had, I've saved money on orders I was making anyway thanks to discount codes they've had, and also received a percentage of each order back, up to a whopping 20% at times!

I haven't withdrawn any of my cleared funds yet, because I'm aiming to resist till well into the new year, then treat myself (and maybe my husband) with the cashback. Most major retailers on the site, I've bought from ASOS, notonthehighstreet, The Fragrance Shop, Cadbury and more with no issues. Even Just Eat and Dominos are on the site, so get cashback on your takeaways too! They often do offers where if you activate a link they email you and place an order within a certain time frame, they give you an extra few quid back too, even if your order is only 99p. Now I'm in the habit of doing my shopping through Topcashback it's easy.

If you join by my link below I get a little something for getting you to join, so please consider it!

https://www.topcashback.co.uk/ref/kittyramblesalot

I've been really impressed with it so far, the percentages seem higher than other sites I've used for cashback before, and every order has tracked no problem (which I definitely can't say for the one I used to use!). This isn't a sponsored post or anything like that, I'm just really happy with the site and wanted to share! I've got my Auntie using it, and one of my colleagues, and both already have over £50 cashback just from shopping they were going to do anyway for Christmas, so it's well worth the effort.

Much love,

Kitty xxx

Taffy Mail : Christmas Decorations Haul

What I Got For Christmas

I know, I know, Christmas seems forever ago now, but I always do a what I got for Christmas type post, and I wasn't going to not do one even though it's late. This year, I'm only sharing two of the presents I got for Christmas, both from my husband Stu. Both of these presents made me absolutely sob, so I had to share the story behind them.

Before I opened this beautiful necklace, I opened a lovely photo frame with a picture of our dear Sinbad the one eyed cat who passed away in 2016 in it. That got me all emotional, and as I started to open this necklace, I realised what it was. It's cremation jewellery, it contains a small urn inside for you to place the ashes of your lost loved one inside, so they can be with you when you wear it. I have wanted one of these for such a long time, Sinbad was the first cat that was 'mine'. I rescued him, he rescued me, we were inseparable. I was heartbroken when he passed away and this was a perfect present from my husband.

Now the second present, and why it made me cry, need a little more explaining. Any 90's kids have any guesses as to what it is? This, is Fetch Armstrong. Fetch Armstrong was the doggy sidekick to Stretch Armstrong, a superhero with an elastic body that could stretch huge amounts. My brother had Stretch, I had Fetch. I bloody loved Fetch, despite his rubbery body and solid face, he slept in my bed with me at night and I carried him round with me wherever I could.

As it turns out, you can stretch these super stretchy toys too far, as my little brother discovered when he stretched Stretch too far and ripped him. All his stretchy gooey insides leaked out and he was broken. Angry he had broken his toy, he decided it was Fetch's end time too, and he overstretched poor Fetch much to my horror. I was gutted! My brother will tell you it was an accident but there's no telling me otherwise, I know the truth! (I forgive you bro.... maybe). A few years ago someone we know got their kid a Stretch Armstrong for Christmas, and I told Stu this story. I had no idea they had brought them back and thought it was really cool.

So imagine my surprise, when on Christmas day, I opened my present to discover inside, my very own Fetch Armstrong. Stu had been hunting for one since I had told him the story, and they had finally started making them again. It was such a thoughtful gift, I howled with laughter whilst also crying at how much it meant that he had remembered my love of my original Fetch!

Fetch is now proudly on my bedside table and will be going absolutely nowhere near my not-so-little-anymore brother.

What did you get for Christmas?

Much love,

Kitty xxxx

My Christmas Day Dress

I hope you all had a wonderful Christmas! I spent the holidays surrounded by my friends and family and had the most wonderful time. I was spoilt rotten and for the first time, me and Stu were able to really spoil our families too. I couldn't resist being a pest and shooting my Christmas day outfit real quick to share on my blog.

Dress - Alice & You via ASOS

Leggings - ASOS

Boots - Demonia

Sunglasses - Quay Australia

Cardigan - Label Lab

My Mum got me the cardigan for Christmas. She found it while we were out shopping one day and got me to try it on. It's an XL which is apparently a size 16-18, but it fits me just fine and looks really cute! Size labels aren't the be all and end all, so try stuff on if you think it's lovely.  I love the laddering down the back, teenage greebo me had so many tops like that. It's a great throwback!

With Alice & You I've always been told to size up. It was not necessary in this particular style, but they didn't have my usual size. It's really comfy and an oversized fit, and I love that the velvet is a blush pink colour. You get velvet in green, red and black as standard, but I hadn't seen this colour before.

Ashen can never resist getting in on an outfit photo when he has the chance, sweet poochicle!

My sunglasses were also a Christmas present from my parents. I love Quay Australia sunglasses and these aviators are amazing. They have pink, purple and blue tones and are so comfortable. I have to be careful with sunglasses because of my chronic headaches and migraines, but Quay Australia ones never bother me at all.

I always plan out my Christmas day outfit, do you?

Much love,

Kitty xxx

Favourite Outfits : Dinosaur Dress

You Are Not Alone

In my last post before Christmas, as I did last year, I want to share information to help those of us who might be struggling, or feeling alone this Christmas. Please remember, you are not alone, please reach out to someone, anyone, if you are alone or concerned.

NHS Emergencies

999

MIND

Website www.mind.org.uk

Tel No   0300 123 3393

Tel No      116 123 

Alcoholics Anonymous

Website   www.alcoholics-anonymous.org.uk 

Tel No     0800 9177650 

Narcotics Anonymous

0845 999 1212

www.ukna.org 

Stonewall

Website    www.stonewall.org.uk

Info line 08000 50 20 20 

London Lesbian and Gay Switchboard

Tel No    0207 837 7324

SANELine

Website   www.sane.org.uk

Tel No     0300 304 7000

Papyrus, Prevention of young suicide

Website  www.papyrus-uk.org 

National self-help body for the Transgender community

Beaumont Society

Website http://www.beaumontsociety.org.uk

Information Line 01582 412220

Childline/NSPCC

www.childline.org.uk 

Phone: 0800 1111 for Childline 24 hour helpline

0808 800 5000 for adults concerned about a child 24 hour helpline

www.nspcc.org.uk

Depression Alliance

Website   www.depressionalliance.org

Refuge

Website   www.refuge.org.uk

Tel No     0808 2000 247

Beat

Beating eating disorders.

Website https://www.b-eat.co.uk 

Help Line 0345 634 1414

Youth Line 0345 634 7650

Shelter

Website  www.shelter.org.uk

Tel No    0808 800 4444

NHS Direct

1111 

No Panic

Website http://www.nopanic.org.uk 

Tel No  0844 967 4848

Youth Helpline     01753 840393

Rape Crisis

0808 802 9999

www.rapecrisis.org.uk

OCD Action

0845 390 6232

www.ocdaction.org.uk

OCD UK

0845 120 3778

www.ocduk.org 

Anixety UK

08444 775 774

www.anxietyuk.org.uk

LGBT Foundation

0345 3 30 30 30

https://lgbt.foundation/

Age UK

0800 169 2081

http://www.ageuk.org.uk/

If you can think of any other numbers you think should be added please let me know.

Remember, you are not alone, and there is always hope.

Much love,

Kitty

xxx

Original list compiled by Big Fashionista. I removed the number for the Samaritans due to their treatment of the LGBT community, and added others.

A Morris Family Christmas Tree

We put our tree up last weekend, but I totally forgot to share it on my blog before now! We get our Christmas tree from a local farm, Town Gate Farm, and this year opted for a 6ft Norway Blue. We took the boys along with us to pick for the first time this year and they loved the colour of it so home it came with us. There's nothing quite like the smell of a Christmas tree farm, it really gets you feeling in the holiday spirit.

Our tree is a real mish mash of fun and unique baubles, so I just had to share some of my faves with you. Pretty much all of them are from Asda, but if they aren't I will pop a little comment  underneath the photo with where it is from.

Custom from Sugar & Vice

Sugar & Vice

Paperchase via ASOS

Paperchase via ASOS

Sugar & Vice

Aren't they so cute? You can get such adorable baubles these days. Some of these are a few years old now, like the T Rex, the robot, the burger, the fries and the tiger (sorry! I know!), but the balloon dog, the whale, the cat and the rainbow are all new this year from Asda.

I finally found a good spot for this string of light bulbs too. I'm the trekkie in our house, Stu isn't a fan, the shame!

When did you put your decorations up? After the 1st December it's a free for all for me as far as Christmas is concerned. I can't resist.

Much love,

Kitty xxx

Advent Calendars for Adults : Colourpop Haul III

Stu is shaving his beard for charity! Read more and sponsor him here

https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/stushavesthebeard

Advent Calendars for Adults!

This year is the first year I've ever not had a chocolate advent calendar. Because I have something WAY cooler, that I will get to shortly, but I just have to share the advent calendar I got Stu. There are so many neat concepts for advent calendars for grown ups now!

Someone on my Facebook friends list shared a contest that The Chilli Jam Man were running for one of these advent calendars, and I had to get Stu it. I've bought chilli roulette type presents before and thought this sounded so fun and right up Stu's street.

The chocolates themselves are absolutely gorgeous. All beautiful colours and patterns, clearly expensive and very thoughtfully made. I thought they looked good on the website, but once I saw them in person I was blown away.

Of all the chocolates, 6 are chilli chocolates, and you have no idea which ones, hence the roulette! And given Stu's reaction to eating one of the chilli ones, which is not repeatable on this blog, they are very, very hot! Much fun for me watching!

I dropped major hints about this advent calendar on Facebook, and my Mum decided that we both needed it, yay! I've eyed up beauty advent calendars for a couple of years but haven't seen many cruelty free ones, but Makeup Revolution are a favourite of mine so this was meant to be.

The packaging is all rose gold and matte black, and it contains all full size products! All full size!

I saved the first 3 days to open and photograph (mostly because it's pitch black by the time I get home from work and therefore rubbish for photographing anything). The packaging is super secure, the products are not going anywhere, and it was actually kind of hard to get day 3 out of the packaging at all!

The first 3 days brought with them a peachy lipstick, a anti shine balm, and a fur-free makeup brush. I'm so excited to see what else there is in it! I'm sharing the goodies inside it every day on Snapchat, so add me under the name 'kittyrambles' to see what else is included.

Thanks to Momma Wood for my advent calendar! I'm looking forward to seeing Stu open his again haha.

Much love,

Kitty xxxx

Christmas Decorations Haul II : Winter Party Outfit

Stu is shaving his beard for charity! Read more and sponsor him here

https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/stushavesthebeard

Christmas Decorations Haul II

It's officially December, and from now on I am Christmas wild! I've already done a Christmas decorations haul, but can never resist cute new decorations, so here are a few I've picked up recently.

I already have this adorable little balloon animal dog in pink, and had to get him in green too. Too cute to not buy! These first few baubles are all from Adsa who have such a good Christmas range in, and all of them cost £2 each.

As a cat lady, this little cat had to come home with me! It's in the style of a traditional glass bauble, and so just precious.

My youngest step son fell totally in love with this walrus when he saw him in Asda, so I had to go back and get him for him! It's a baked style decoration, so almost has a slightly homemade feel to it that I love.

My amazing Nanna got my these from Paperchase via ASOS. These are so cool! Little felt cactuses, so very very me.

Aren't they just the sweetest? The invisible string on them isn't the best, I snapped one of them right away with my Hulk hands, but I jobbed a fix together for popping them on the Christmas tree. These were £8 for all 6 which I think is a great price.

My next Christmas decorations blog will be the actual tree, because it is up now!

Much love,

Kitty xxxx

Christmas Decorations Haul : Winter Party Outfit

Stu is shaving his beard for charity! Read more and sponsor him here

https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/stushavesthebeard