Showing posts sorted by relevance for query christmas gifts. Sort by date Show all posts
Showing posts sorted by relevance for query christmas gifts. Sort by date Show all posts

AD/PR Sample | Christmas In Liverpool With Aura Print


Christmas is one of my favourite times of the year as it has so many fun and festive activities. I've been really excited to put up our Christmas tree that it went up in the middle of November as I couldn't wait until December. We have a tradition in our house of me, my partner and my little sister decorating our tree together, including picking our theme for that year and choosing from our selection of baubles and tree decorations to suit. My partner will always lift my little sister up to complete the tree by putting the star on the top. It's so cute to see them do this each year and it nicely starts our countdown to Christmas. I've always loved buying presents for people, there is just something about searching for and buying gifts for people and seeing the smile on someone's face when they open a gift they love. When it comes to this time of year it's great as I get to shop for gifts for multiple people. My partner has said to me before that I'd make a good professional present buyer as I always seem to find good options for people. 


When it comes to giving people Christmas cards I always like to spend some time to pick out a nice design that are special and good quality. I like to be able to choose from a good range of designs so I can find the perfect one. Being able to choose your festive cards from the comfort of your own home can make things easier and more relaxing, particularly when the alternative is heading out in the cold weather. It's great to work with brands over Christmas that will help you out with finding the perfect Christmas card. I got to pick out a pack of Christmas cards from Aura Print, who are a printing company that operate across the UK & Europe as well in the United States. They have been around since 2007 and offer a whole host of printing services for all your printing needs and want to offer high quality print at an affordable price. The design that I chose is a white card with a snow globe on the front with text "Wishing you the happiest Christmas ever". It's a simple design but will stand out against a lot of the bright red Christmas cards you will see. On the inside it says "Christmas isn't a season, it's a feeling". There is plenty of room to write your own message in which is something I always look for. They have a great selection to pick from so you shouldn't have trouble finding one you like. If you fancied putting a personal touch to your Christmas cards and using your own designs then you can print your own Christmas cards which allows you to upload your own designs and let Aura Print do the rest. Don't forgot to also check out their gift tags offering as you could match your card to your tags.


One of the other things I love about this time of year is getting all cosy on the sofa and watching Christmas films. There are a few films that I'll always like to watch each year which include Christmas with the Kranks, Polar Express and the first two Home Alone films. I don't normally enjoy watching rom-coms or family films, but when it comes to Christmas I'll always enjoy sticking on some of the cheesy feel-good Christmas films and snuggling up with a hot chocolate and some Christmas cookies with my family and friends. We will always pick a film to watch on Christmas eve in our matching Christmas PJ's to settle down and help build up that excitement for the big day. I think it also helps you to unwind ahead of the busy day particularly if you are hosting like us.


One of my favourite memories around Christmas was when I was 18 and it was my little sisters first Christmas at only 2 months old. I'd had so many years where everyone was more grown up so being able to see it from an adult perspective for a little baby was the cutest thing. And of course I got her some adorable little Christmas pyjamas to wear. I'd always like to sit down and help her write Christmas cards and as she got a little older I'd encourage her to write some nice words in the cards as it can mean so much to someone when they read a special message in their card. Don't forgot when it comes to shopping for your Christmas cards this year to check out Aura Print as I'm sure you'll be able to find a design you love or even try your hand at designing your own cards and let them print them out for you so you can show off your creative talents to family and friends. I hope you all enjoy the festive season and have a lovely Christmas.

This is a sponsored post and contains press samples
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How To Save Money When Buying Christmas Presents


I'm one of those gift givers that aims to make the receiver overjoyed. I want to see them smile, which often takes it's toll on my purse. Over the past few years I've been trying to give people presents they will love, without it putting a huge financial burden on me. Here are my tips on how to save money when buying Christmas presents.

Plan ahead

I write down a list of everyone I'm buying for, for multiple reasons. First off it means that I can see on paper who I need to buy for so I can keep a note as I'm buying gifts. Second of all, it means I won't forget anyone who I intended to buy for. Once you have your list, you can put those people in priority of budget you're going to spend on them and start looking at potential gifts.

Set yourself a budget

In order not to go above and beyond like I have to the extent where I used all my birthday money on other people, you need to set a firm budget. Say you can only put a few people on the top of your list, set a max budget for those people. If there are people you need to buy just a token gift for, set a little budget for those too. If you've managed to buy the same gifts but with money off them then you've saved yourself money.

Look out for store offers

Stores like Boots and Superdrug often to 3 for 2 on Christmas presents where you can save quite a huge chunk of money. Debenhams have 3 for 2 on stocking fillers at the moment so it's always worth looking to see what deals you can get your hands on if you're buying those items regardless. Around certain times of the year, such as Halloween, Bonfire Night, Thanksgiving etc all seem to have at least 5% or 10% off, so make sure you sign up to receive emails to be the first to know when you can save yourself a buck or two. If it's a place that does student discount, for example Superdrug, you can actually most of the time use your student discount on top of the 3 for 2 offers. Make sure to check out the Unidays and NUS websites to see what student deals you an get.

Black Friday

There are websites that promote their Black Friday offers a few weeks ahead, see keep an eye out. Last year, there were rumours that Boots had a huge discount on the Olympus Pen E-PL7 on Black Friday, so I looked out for it and could you believe it, I actually saved more money than I spent on it. Every year on Black Friday I put my game face on and head online to look for exclusive deals on places like Amazon who put heavy discounts on just for a day (unless they do ones for Cyber Monday too). I actually bought Andy's drone last Christmas on Black Friday which I wouldn't have been able to afford if it hadn't been for this day after Thanksgiving that has made it's way over to the UK.

Buy in bulk and split them up

Some people I won't buy a main gift for, inspired by a favourite Fairy Godmother Kat, who spends a lot of time creating festive goodie bags. They're filled with chocolates, token mini alcohol bottles, scratch cards etc and they are one of the things I look forward to every year because I know she has spent so much time putting them together. You can pick up gift boxes from a lot of stores, Amazon and Etsy in particular, and fill them with items that you can buy in bulk such as sweets, candy canes, lip balms and so on. Instead of buying someone another Lynx set or body lotion pack, give them the gift their inner child will love.

Don't always buy presents in the festive aisles

I can't stress this enough. Not every present that you will give to people will be from the Christmas section in the store or on the online website. Say fragrances for example, in the present sections they have boxes with scented body creams or novelty items like mirrors in, for a significantly more expensive price. If you look for the individual fragrance around Christmas time, you can often make a huge saving. You can buy items such as alcohol and chocolate from the normal sections of the store instead of falling for pretty packaging that adds money on top just for a red or green label on the front of it.

Get on Google to look for deals

Often places like Vouchercloud host exclusive discounts by clicking on their site and it takes you through to the brand's website. Places like Groupon often put discounts on if you buy through their site, and they only take a few seconds to search for. If you type in 'discount code' or 'offers' into Google then you will see a ton of results to tempt you with money off. Even if you use these discounts, if you're a member of any cashback websites such as Quidco or with your own bank that do cashback deals, you can have that small percent put back into your bank the following month, making January not a sad month after all.

Look for giveaways and competitions

Head over to Twitter and Instagram to see if there are any giveaways for products you're looking at buying yourself. You can always enter, buy the item anyway and as long as you keep the receipt, if you won you could return the item (check store policies) and have then saved yourself money if you strike lucky. I have two giveaways that are live at the moment: Win an Urban Decay Naked Smoky Palette and Win an Urban Decay Naked Basics Palette.

Think outside the box

So you're thinking of what stores in town you can pick up your presents from, right? How about supporting smaller businesses, where you can often save yourself money and buy more personalised gifts. Places like Notonthehighstreet, Etsy, IWOOT etc have options to personalise gifts with money off, and you often get better customer service as a result of dealing with a brand with a smaller customer base. In some stores you may be looking at makeup bags that have items inside them, but online you could buy personalised makeup bags that are cheaper and look a lot nicer.


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Debenhams Festive Christmas Hamper


Debenhams are feeling very festive this season and I'm so glad I can share the Christmas spirit with you this year. They're one of the department stores in the UK that have a big focus on Christmas, stocking plenty of brands and gifts to make sure present buying is a doddle so there is something for everyone. I'm going to be talking about a selection of products they stock on their website and in store that they chose specifically for me, to help you with your Christmas shopping this year.


Firstly let's talk about makeup. It's my first point of call and these were the presents that were wrapped up all lovely when I opened the hamper. Too Faced is a brand that I've only been trying out for the past year but they're one of my favourite beauty brands. Every year they bring out the most beautiful Christmas collection and this is the Merry Macaroons set (£28)* which features a romantic New York ice skating rink filled with the delicious vanilla scent of Merry Macaroons. Inside the box there is a mini Better Than Sex Mascara and a pop out palette which contains twelve vanilla scented eyeshadows. The box is presented with such care, and after Christmas if you don't have room for the box anymore, you can pop the eyeshadow palette and mascara out to put in your makeup storage.  


The second gift set is by Kat Von D which is another brand I've only recently fallen in love with. The London Calling limited edition makeup set (£19.50)* is filled with three of Kat's favourite products from her range so that you can create your own bold and beautiful look. It includes a mini Studded Kiss Lipstick in Lolita, mini Everlasting Liquid Lipstick in Double Dare and a mini Tattoo Liner in Trooper. I've tried out all three of these products before, not in the same shades but they're honestly so good, which makes it perfect that Debenhams now stock Kat Von D. Having mini sized products also means they won't take up too much room in your bag too. The last makeup item was a pleasant surprise; the Mac Matte Lipstick in Kinda Sexy (£15.50)* which is a full sized lipstick. The shade is described as a pinky-peach with brown undertones and a semi-matte finish. It's a new favourite of mine and looks so lovely with my pale skin and blonde hair.


The second category I want to talk about is what I describe as home comforts. This starts with the Isotoner Ladies Novelty Penguin Original Slipper Socks (£6)* which are toastie socks with grips on the foot so that you can wear them instead of slippers. Aside from having the cutest design on them, they're so warm and comfortable to wear. I didn't even know Debenhams stocked slipper socks but I know what I'll be adding to my Christmas list this year now! The Yankee Candle Melt Cup in All is Bright (£5)* is a wax filled heat-resistant cup which can be used and reused for up to 24 hours of fragrance. The scent has top notes of grapefruit and orange, mid notes of redcurrant and the base note of sweet cup. I've never actually used a Melt Cup before but will be stocking up as I love Yankee Candle products, especially since they're actually cheaper from Debenhams than they are the Yankee Candle shop online. The last comforting product is the Lindt Advent Calendar which is 160g in weight and has 24 doors to open to count down towards Christmas. I've not bought myself a Lindt advent calendar since 2014 and was going to pop into the new Lindt store in Liverpool One but now I don't have to which saved me a trip!


The third section from the hamper was filled with Kitchen goods. My favourite item from this department is the Jamie Oliver Non-Stick Baking Sheet (£15)* because I absolutely love baking and I am a huge fan of Jamie's. I've been to his Italian restaurants more times than I can count and love watching him on TV. When this arrived I was so happy to finally have one of his products other than a recipe book. Each piece from his bakewear range has been smartly designed to turn out showstopper cakes and melt-in-the-mouth dishes time after time. After seeing the photo on the card around the sheet, I'm inspired to make scones for the first time and this is definitely the most heartfelt present in my eyes.


The other three products in this section are from the brand At Home with Ashley Thomas. There is the adorable Salt & Pepper Set which has two shakers in the shape of hearts with little red hearts dotted around them. They lean to the side and don't at all look like your traditional seasoning table item which mixes things up a bit. The set of three printed tea towels I couldn't find on the website for this specific set but they do have different designs on the site are £14* and made of super-soft cotton and scream Christmas to me. Although this year I'm still not into a new house, I'm going to put them away for the next place as they seem so lovely, I wouldn't want to mix them up with my cheap tea towels. Finally, the Jam-Packed With Love Storage Jar is so up my street and is a little jar with a floral print and an easy to close lock fastening to keep food items fresher for longer. I already have different sized lock jars similar to this from Ikea but they're plain and a little boring, so this one will be saved until I can fill it with something pretty, like party rings or a similar item.

I'd like to say a huge thank you to Debenhams for making this Christmas special and make me feel like a kid opening all of Santa's presents. The hamper really cheered me up and has filled me with inspiration for presents to buy for my family and friends. If you want to check out their Christmas range, click here to find a gift for everyone you know.


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23rd Birthday Haul


I've been incredibly lucky this year to have received lots of beauty filled presents so I thought it would be a good idea to write a little post about everything, as not all products were bought here in the UK. This is not an exhaustive list, as items such as chocolates, pjs and lovely alcoholic gifts have either been consumed or worn so I didn't think there was much point including them. I received some vouchers and money too which have nearly all been spent on even more makeup which I'll do separate posts about. I have to include a disclaimer too that I'm extremely grateful for everything and I was definitely not expecting all of this! The first item I'd love to talk about is this beautiful lightbox above which includes 69 letters and symbols, and can be powered with either batteries or with a plug. I've wanted one of these for so long now and hadn't mentioned it to the family member who bought it so it was a huge surprise and I can't wait to use it for future blog posts and Instagram photos.


My boyfriend Andy put in an order with Sephora with a few things I'd previously mentioned, including one of Too Faced's new Christmas gifts - The Chocolate Shop. I'm not a patient person and couldn't face waiting until Christmas Day to open a Christmas set. The palette includes 21 eyeshadows, a highlighter, bronzer, blusher, eye primer, mascara and lipstick. Who would want to wait to open this? I've only tried a few Too Faced products before so this was the perfect opportunity to try a bit of everything. The Chocolate Shop includes the Chocolate Soleil Bronzer which is well loved by other beauty bloggers, the Chocolate Covered Strawberry Blush and the Luminizer in Inner Light. It features an adorable mini Melted Chocolate Liquified Long Wear Lipstick in Chocolate Milkshake, a mini Better Than Sex Mascara and a mini Shadow Insurance. It's cruelty free and paraben free and has a combined value of $312 but costs just $58.


Last weekend I went out with some of Andy's family and his Grandma bought me these cute mini mixing bowls from Lakeland. They are heavy like large mixing bowls and I've not decided what to do with them yet. In design they're incredibly similar to some plates, bowls and milkshake pieces that I have from Ikea and I'm sure they match the colours spot on.


Two other palettes that were bought from Sephora were the Tarte Amazonian Clay Blush Palette Color Wheel and the Tarte Rainforest of the Sea Eyeshadow palette. The blush palette is exclusive to Sephora I believe that's limited edition with a value of $150 but comes in at $44 which is a huge saving. It includes 10 blush and highlight shades in a compact palette and in my opinion is a perfect size with a variety of cheek shades to choose from as 5 shades are warm toned and 5 are cool toned. The Rainforest of the Sea palette is so tiny it's adorable! Aside from Tarte's beautiful packaging, the palette is also limited edition and has 8 eyeshadows of both matte and shimmery formula. I've not used anything from the Rainforest of the Sea collection yet so I'm definitely excited to be trying the palette out. 


 Two more palettes (I know, but I love eyeshadows!) came from my family after I'd been lusting after them both in person and on Twitter. Firstly there is the Too Faced Semi-Sweet Chocolate Bar palette which is another in the set of chocolate bar palettes which I have a huge thing for. I've found both the original Chocolate Bar palette and the Chocolate Bon Bons palettes so be highly pigmented and easy to blend, so it was an obvious choice to add to the list! It holds 16 eyeshadows that are cocoa-infused, and if you ask me, chocolate and makeup is the perfect combination. The second palette was the Urban Decay Moondust palette which I've been almost dreaming about for the past few weeks. It has eight new moondust eyeshadows that are super sparkly and go perfect on top of the Urban Decay Electric palette. It's obvious that it's not an every day palette but for those special occasions or days where you're really feeling like adding a bit of glitter, it's just unreal.


Andy also made a cheeky Colourpop order, buying me four individual shadows, a blush, two lippie stix, an Ultra Satin Lip and two of the collab collections. I'm not going to go into too much detail here about the items as I plan on doing a whole post dedicated to my first Colourpop product try on's and experience. From what I've used so far, I'm very impressed.


Finally, here are a few little bits. Andy picked me up another Beauty Blender since mine is looking pretty ragged since I bought it back in April. I don't use it every day but with beauty sponges they need to be cleaned regularly and mine has taken it's toll. From my family I also received another Too Faced Liquified Long Wear Lipstick and a Too Faced Melted Liquified Matte Long Wear Lipstick in two stunning red shades. Again I won't go into too much detail as I plan on doing a collective Too Faced post but they're right up my street! I'd love to thank everyone who wished me well on my birthday and now I can go on to enjoy Halloween (which I think is the best holiday). Don't forget to enter my Urban Decay Naked Basics Giveaway!


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Christmas Scents From Fragrance Direct & A Giveaway


I love shopping for Christmas gifts, and fragrances are something a lot of people love receiving. Choosing a scent can be difficult at times, but it can be fuss-free if you know what the person likes. I usually create a wishlist that people can choose from, and Fragrance Direct has made it even easier for you with their thoughtful gift section. For me, floral and fruity scents are my go-to, so it was quite easy to pick a few perfumes to go on to my wishlist. I chose one from Chloé, and one from Hugo Boss in 50ml bottles as they will last quite a long time but they're not too expensive as to make you shy away from selecting them.


 Boss The Scent Intense For Her Eau De Parfum 50ml is a seductive scent for women, with a higher oil concentration and 'amplified aphrodisiac ingredients' to enhance the sensual journey. There are notes of freesia blossom and honeyed peach, heart notes of oriental osmanthus with a rich base of dark roasted cocoa, strengthened by vanilla.  The bottle is sleek and sophisticated with the diamond-shaped flacon flowing upwards to the precious jewel cap. It is a pretty bottle with more structure than the Chloé perfume and would be great for someone with a strong personality.



Chloé Signature Eau De Parfum 50ml is a perfume that makes me feel classy. It's a unique bottle with that timeless design that makes you feel more expensive when it's on and when it's sat at your beauty desk. The fragrance is a combination of floral powder notes, with uplifting hints of lychee and peony with a drop of springtime freesia. It's a flirtatious and feminine perfume, with lily of the valley, magnolia and subtle notes of elegant cedarwood and warm amber. It would suit anyone from the early 20s onwards and now has a permanent place in my perfume collection.



If you love floral, feminine and fruity fragrances, these are the ones for you. There are some other amazing fragrances to pick from on the Fragrance Direct website, such as Marc Jacobs Daisy, Marc Jacobs Decadence and Lacoste L12 12 which would be amazing gifts for your loved ones. I tend to get fragrances as my main presents as it's something that I wear all year round and it means a lot to know someone would appreciate something I like as a huge beauty lover. 

If you'd like to have a chance at winning the Chloé Signature EDP, make sure to enter my giveaway below!


T&C's
UK entries only. Chloé Signature EDP Giveaway ends 3rd December 2017 at 10pm. Must follow @laurahadleyx and @fragrancedirect and still be following by the time the giveaway ends. To enter, follow @laurahadleyx and @fragrancedirect on Twitter and retweet the tweet to qualify, quote retweets are not permitted. Winner will be notified via Twitter. No cash alternative.


*Post contains press samples and affiliate links*
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10 Tips for Travelling Home for Christmas

Hey Guys,
I'm travelling from Newcastle where I stay during Uni, to Liverpool (my home town). If you're getting a train, I follow my little checklist to make sure I'm travelling stress-free, especially during the festive season. Follow these tips and you can too!


1. Pack your bags well
When travelling home for Christmas, everyone will be rushing and throwing as many things into a bag as possible. Pack wisely with only the things you need, it won't be as heavy to carry!

2. Choose your bags wisely
So many people will take a large suitcase with them and try to cram them all into the luggage compartment on the train. Why not choose 2 small holdalls instead of one large one. You can fit them into the overhead storage without taking too much space.

3. Book tickets in advance
There's nothing worse than getting to the train station on time and seeing a huge queue for the ticket machines. If you book your ticket in advance, you can get tickets posted home, print them out yourself or pick them up from a machine a few hours after you've bought them. If you happen to be near your train station days before your trip, you can pick them up then, meaning less of a rush on the day.

4. Get cheaper tickets
If you book in advance online, you can see the prices of the tickets. This means you can pick the cheapest tickets available to your suitability. Sometimes it is cheaper to buy 2 singles than a return, so buying in advance is a huge life saver. Don't forget, if you have a railcard you can use it to book tickets online, saving about 1/3 of the price too.

5. Get a reservation
Booking as early as possible (usually about 12 weeks in advance) means you can get first picks of the seats. You can choose a normal seat or table seat, and aisle or window seat. I personally always go for a table seat at the window as I do uni work whilst I travel. Having your own reservation means that no matter what, that specific seat is yours for the journey. It means less rush during busy Christmas travelling times as you don't have to scramble to find a free seat, and you don't sit in someone else's reserved seat. I can't got on a train journey without a reservation!

6. Arrive 15-20 minutes early
You're at the station and need to find your platform with 2 minutes until the train leaves. You have to go through the ticket barrier and then onto the platform, which could be a few minutes away. There are loads of people looking to find their train. Then you miss it. Arriving about 20 minutes before my train means that I can grab any drinks/snacks before I leave, and I'm ready to board the train as soon as the doors are open. Christmas time is usually incredibly busy, so allowing yourself as much time as possible to get to your platform is a ticket to stress-free travel.

7. Don't forget to pack your presents
You can't arrive home without the presents you've carefully wrapped and added a sparkly bow to can you? If you have a lot, try to make sure any fragile gifts are in between your warm jumper in your bag to keep them protected. If you plan on taking gift bags home, flat pack them in your luggage and re-pack them into their gift bags at home. You don't want them to be creased on Christmas Day.

8. Grab a hot drink and some food
In most train stations there are usually a variety of little shops like Costa, Starbucks, Pumpkin etc that you can buy a hot drink and some food from. Some trains don't have food trolleys to buy things from, as they don't always have a huge selection. You can get your festive food and hot chocolates from stores in the station and carry them onto the train with you. Just remember to put the rubbish in the bins located on the trains or in the station when you're done.

9. Add Christmas songs to your phone/iPod
The train is loud and you want a peaceful journey back home, ready to see your family and friends. Why not make a playlist filled with your favourite Christmas songs to listen to on the way back. Just don't forget your headphones!

10. Get the National Rail App
No matter where you're travelling, you can track your train journey with this handy app. If there is a delay, you can see even when you're mid way through your journey, how long the delay may be. This is handy if someone is picking you up from the end point station as you can update them with what time to arrive there to greet you. It also sometimes tells you which platform you will get off at, so if you know the train station well, you'll know how long it will take you to get from the platform to the exit. Particularly handy in Liverpool Lime Street Station as there are 3 different sets of platforms (Wirral line, Plat 1-6 enclosed and Plat 7-9 near some shops and the exit).
  
I hope you enjoy these tips! I'll be travelling via First Transpennine Express* this Christmas, where you can find cheaper tickets online. On the home page, you can find their 'best fares' and their student offers which are quite handy. Their destinations include Newcastle, Liverpool, Manchester, Leeds, Edinburgh, Sheffield, York and many more. This means that you can visit the Manchester Christmas Market with a cheap ticket too!

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Best Black Friday UK Deals Of 2016


- List updated daily - 

Amazon: Deals throughout the week and the weekend, including electricals, fashion and more. Gaming, fitness products, skincare and grocery deals included.
Anastasia Beverly Hills: Up to 30% off makeup (use forwarding service to ship to UK).
Ann Summers: 20% off all lingerie.
Apple: Suspected one day deals.
Argos: Big savings off electricals, toys, fragrances and homeware.
Asos: Deals throughout the week with up to 70% off. 20% off everything with the code GOGOGO.
Beauty Bay: Confirmed deals but currently not announced.
Benefit Cosmetics: 20% off makeup items on their website with the code BLACK20 at checkout.
Birchbox: 30% off your first box with the code EARLYBIRD at checkout.
Boohoo: Black Friday clothing sale.
Boots: Up to 50% off hair electricals, makeup starter sets, makeup brushes and gel nail sets. Suspected deals on Soap & Glory products.
Carphone Warehouse: Phone contract deals with both Android and Apple phones.
Colourpop: 20% off liquid lipsticks and limited edition Ultra Matte Lip in Black.
Currys PC World: Online deals starting early on Friday 25th November.
Debenhams: Half price on a lot of items including furniture, clothing and toys. 10% off beauty.
Disney: Doing a Monday-Thursday set of deals with up to 20% off toys. Separate deals suspected on Friday.
Dorothy Perkins: Up to 50% off items all week including coats, dresses and shoes.
Elegant Steps: 20% off everything across their website.
F&F: Deals on clothing, home, gaming, toys, gift experiences and more.
Feel Unique: Daily deals on their website including makeup and haircare.
Game: Big deals expected with major savings on PS4 and Xbox One S both in store and online.
Halfords: Most deals announced on Friday but early bird deals on dash cams and sat navs.
Hotel Chocolat: 20% off Sleekster and H-Boxes with the code BF20 online.
Ice Lolly Holidays: Exclusive deals yet to be announced.
Jack Wills: Online and in store, up to 50% off selected lines.
Jewellery Box: 16.5% off everything.
Johnny Loves Rose: Confirmed there will be deals, not announced yet.
JD Sports: Deals on sportswear, fitness clothing, accessories, outdoor goods, trainers and hoodies.
Jessops: Plenty of deals online off tons of cameras.
John Lewis: Home appliance and technology offers online throughout the week.
Kat Von D: Mini gift set when you spend $100 (use GoSend etc to ship over to UK).
Kiehl's: 20% off everything when you buy 2 or more products (Friday 25th - Saturday 26th).
Little Mistress: 50% off everything with the code XMAS50.
Lola Rose: Up to 70% off jewellery online.
Look Fantastic: Definitely bringing some deals out, not announced yet.
Lord & Berry: Makeup deals yet to be revealed.
Makeup Geek: Confirmed both Black Friday deals and 12 Days of Christmas.
Maplin: Plenty of deals online including gaming, home electricals, gadgets and more.
Marks and Spencer: Up to 50% off home, clothing and beauty items including Champagne, Fitbits, and hair electricals.
Miss Selfridge: Online now, up to 50% off items this week.
Models Own: Up to 70% off in bottle shop stores and online.
Morrisons: 'Black Five Day's with a lot of deals on alcohol.
New Look: Up to half price off selected footwear, clothes and home.
Prezzybox: Online deals starting Wednesday 23rd November.
QVC: Deals online including savings off L'Occitane products.
River Island: Up to 50% off selected items and 20% off full priced items with the code BFRIDAY16 (online only).
Rush Hair & Beauty: £20 off GHDs online.
Schuh: Up to 40% off shoes online including Nike, Ugg, Converse, Dr Martens and Vans.
Selfridges: 20% off Christmas Shopping and 10% off beauty & fragrance 24th-27th November.
Sephora: Download the app to view exclusive deals.
Shoeaholics: 20% off everything online with the code 20BLACKAFF.
Skinnydip: Up to 80% off phone cases and other products online.
Sky TV: Free 43" Ultra HD TV on Box Sets deal. Free 32" TV or Lenovo laptop with Original Bundle deal.
Smyths Toy Store: Deals online and in store until Monday 28th November.
Snapfish: 70% off selected Slim Canvas products with the code SLIM1116 and up to 50% off everything else with the code BLACK116
Stila: Makeup deals yet to be announced.
Superdrug: Deals online including Christmas gifts, electricals, beauty and more.
TAM Beauty: Up to 80% off selected items online (mostly Makeup Revolution).
Tesco: Deals throughout the week online (11 days of deals). Tesco Extra stores opening at 5am on Friday 26th.
Topman: £15 off when you spend £75 online with the code INTUCYBER.
Topshop: Up to 50% off selected items online and in store - 24th-28th November.
Toys R Us: Up to half price on toys this week.
The Body Shop: Black Friday bundle worth £93.50 for £35.
Urban Decay: 20% off Perversion Mascara all Cyber weekend both online and at free standing boutiques.
Very: 20% off fragrance, jewellery and selected Phillips and Babyliss items.
Vodafone: Deals off phones and tablets.
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What I Got For Christmas 2017


Every year I feature a few gifts I received for Christmas not only to say a thank you to those who very kindly bought me them, but to also have a recurring post I can write every year. It's also fun seeing other people's posts which gifts seemed to be popular that year as well. My previous posts (2016 and 2015) seemed to go down really well so I'm back with a few items photographed and a few not. I seem to be creating a new tradition of bringing some presents with me 2 hours away to my fiancé's family house (yes the engagement post will be up soon) so I didn't bring everything with me.


Vans Old Skool Burgundy
I've wanted a pair of Old Skool Vans for ages now, and when I was ordering them on behalf of my Dad, the black and the pale pink pairs seemed to have sold out everywhere. In hindsight I'm really pleased that I went with the Burgundy pair as they go with so many things that I own. I was looking at a really autumnal pair but they just wouldn't have gone with some items of clothing. The whole Christmas theme for me this year seemed to be burgundy and pale pink which is a welcome change.

Huda Beauty Desert Dusk Palette
If you've read my Anti-Haul post you'll notice that I said I'd never buy a full-sized Huda Beauty palette as they were quite expensive. Well, this doesn't break any rules as Andy actually bought me it so it's fair game. This is the Desert Dusk palette with a range of eyeshadow finishes that I'm desperate to start using. I'd look out for a full review, most likely including whether or not I think £56 is justifiable and I have a bad feeling that Huda has swayed my way of thinking by the means of glitter.

L'Oreal Galaxy Holographic Strobing Lip Gloss in Polaris Pink
This was from my little sister and it's such a 'me' product. I love holographic products and although I'm sure I've not worn a coloured lip gloss since 2008 I really like it! It's a clear base with lilac shimmer that shines pink and gold in the light. I've not worn it on top of a lip liner or other product yet but I'm betting it will look stunning. L'Oreal never seems to disappoint me.



Wedding Planner
With the recent engagement, it was very kind of my family to (at the last minute due to the timing) pick us up a wedding planner. I've seen so many around and I love the different categories for planning with items on the checklists that I'd never even thought about. It's a good job our wedding won't be for 2/3 years.

Carvela Mia Across Body Bag
I saw this bag online and I fell in love with it instantly. I do love a good Carvela bag, not necessarily for the name but I find the bags to be high quality with an affordable price tag. As you see with the Vans, there are plenty of items I own that will match or go well with it.

Adidas Originals Navy Suede Gazelle
I tried a pair of Gazelles a while ago but I wasn't sure if they were 'me' enough but they were a bright pair. Mine are navy and look far nicer n my opinion. I've never been one for nearly neon trainers so I'm glad I didn't pick those up now.


Huda Beauty Faux Filter Foundation
After watching countless reviews about this foundation, I'm glad Andy picked one up for me. I chose the shade Cashew and it's pretty spot on with my skin colour, and the guide online is incredibly accurate. It doesn't seem to oxidise much and blends in well when using a beauty blender. I did see some comments online about it encouraging blemishes but I'm yet to see this. Most likely I'll write up a full review.

Ikea Vouchers For Our House
Andy's Mum & Grandma have been kind enough for both our Birthday and Christmas presents to gift us Ikea vouchers to go towards our new home. We get spoilt enough with presents so have some vouchers in place didn't make much of a difference now but will really go a long way when we've just moved in. We found a sofa we love from there so we'll have to try it out in a showroom.

Ban.Do 2018 Agenda
I'm not the most naturally organised person so in 2016 when I saw the Ban.Do Agendas I knew I had to add one to my list. I have the Rose 2018 Agenda which includes monthly views, yearly views, a huge notes section, stickers, artwork, a double-sided pocket and much more. It's by far the best agenda I've ever had and I think I'll be taking it everywhere with me now.



Huda Beauty Mauve Obsessions & Huda Beauty Smokey Obsessions Palettes
I love these handy little palettes. They're £25 each and include 9 shadows per palette with four different palettes in total. I already had enough warm tones for the Warm Brown Obsessions Palette and plenty of bright ones for the Electric Obsessions Palette, and paired with the Desert Dusk palette I have a wide range of shades to play with now. Plus I really can't turn down glittery eyeshadows.

 Pink Chenille Jumper
The Chenille jumpers have been brought back in a big way in 2017 and with the millennial pink trend also hyped up it seems that I have a very 2017 jumper on my hands. I'm head over heels for it. It's so soft and warm but not too frumpy on me with having a larger chest. I'm finding it so hard not to pick it up in a ton of other colours too.

Makeup Revolution Liquid Highlighter in Unicorn Elixir 
I do love a good liquid highlighter and this one by Makeup Revolution is so unique. The unicorn trend was another 2017 hit and this does not disappoint. It has shimmery particles in, reflecting blue and pink into a silver. It's definitely not an everyday highlighter but it's bloody beautiful.



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20 Small Businesses to Support in 2021


I decided during the first lockdown that supporting small businesses would be more important than ever now. For most of the Christmas presents we bought, we bought them from small businesses and it was more exciting than buying the same old products from the same huge stores. I've picked out some shops I've bought things from before, and some stores I will check out when financially viable. I hope you'll consider supporting some of these shops in the coming year if the opportunity presents itself to you.



Okay, I am biased here, but my Sister-in-law has her own small business selling scrunchies, masks, greetings cards, bunting and other bits and bobs. She has a degree in textile design and has made items using her own patterns and fabrics. I'm sure she will release more products as time goes on but right now she's just announced her items for Valentine's Day which look so cute. I've bought scrunchies from her before and received a greetings card for my birthday too so I can vouch that she's a hard worker with great quality items. You can check out her Etsy store here > Handmade By Helen Liz.



I first saw Alice's small business over Twitter and have bought multiple pairs of earrings and keyrings from her since. She makes items using Polyclay and as I'm writing this post I'm realising there are a few new pairs of earrings I am eyeing up. Her products are worth a lot more than she charges and she is doing so well over on Etsy. I love all the different colours her earrings are and since I love wearing drop earrings her products are perfect for me. You can check out her Etsy store here > AlicexLizzy.



I bought a beautiful white and gold ring dish from Love Me Unique for myself and Andy for our wedding and engagement rings instead of putting them in their ring boxes. We have them out in the dish even though they're not being worn yet. Our dish is like the one above but has L & A on and I absolutely love it. I know we're well ahead of our wedding (which has been postponed for the third time!) but it's so nice to have the rings out on our pretty dish. Love Me Unique also sell ring cones, foiled prints and Christmas decorations if you'd like to check out their store here > Love Me Unique.


Sootmegs is actually a store I bought from a few years ago now as I wanted to wear badges for when I used the disabled toilet in public if it wasn't inherently obvious that I had a disability. They don't just sell badges for disability, they have LGBTQA+ badges, mental health, social distancing, general feelings and custom pins. They have badges for everyone and the bright colours really help others pay attention to them. I have mine on my sunflower lanyard to help highlight that I have an invisible disability and I know I'd like the public to read them and acknowledge them, I feel more confident using services available to disabled people just by wearing them. I'll have to pick up some more soon as they have badges for neurodiversity and more of my health conditions. You can check out Sootmegs Etsy store here > Sootmegs.


I've only recently discovered Tree Market and I love their store. I was browsing through Depop the other day and saw that they sell vintage books and other goodies and it was so lovely to see there. Because of the pandemic, I've not been able to go to stores to see products like these, so obviously, I had to pick something up for a present for someone. If you'd like to visit them, click the link here > Tree Market.



I've followed Cally who makes Constellation Co Jewellery on Twitter for a while, so I have seen her jewellery before, and it is stunning. I'm obsessed with the piece above, the Celestial Space Pendant Necklace (£16). I mainly wear rose gold jewellery which is why I haven't bought it yet, but if an event comes up where I need to wear gold, I can guarantee this is the first piece I'm buying. I love celestial things, I even have most of my gallery wall in my living room based around celestial things. If you'd like to check out Cally's Etsy store, click the link here > Constellation Co Jewellery.



Stitch & Ink is a sustainable and plant friendly shop that make some really nice home decor and accessories as well as some items for your doggy friends. Whether it's prints, candles, decorative home pieces, face masks, makeup bags or a doggy bandana this shop has something you should like. I'll be looking to buy from here in the future and if you like these type of products it's worth checking out their Etsy store, click the link here > StitchandInkbyAC.



Dumpling Art Design sells some really cute gloss vinyl stickers, art prints and postcards and I love the style of the designs. I noticed that they have done some animal crossing designs which I particularly like as I'm obsessed with this game right now with Maple, Paté and Merengue being my current favourite characters. They have a number of different designs so you should be able to find one you like or for someone as a gift. If you'd like to check out their Etsy store here > Dumplingartdesign.



If you are looking for handmade teddies or fabric bags then I'd check out Fleabag Crafts as they have some really nice designs. I particularly love the vintage campervan bag in the photo above and could see myself using one of these in the future. They use both new and reclaimed fabrics and have a range of designs that would make perfect gifts or a nice treat for yourself. The bags come in different styles including tote and shopping ones so would come in useful. If you want to check out their Etsy store click here > Fleabagcrafts28.



I have started to pick up more handcrafted jewellery recently so enjoy browsing through designers such as KLAI Studio. There have quite a few different colours and designs that are unique compared to items you can buy on the high street, such as their marble earrings. They sell necklaces, bracelets and earrings which includes some clip-on earrings which I think is great to include those who need to wear these and don't want to be limited to what's in a normal shop. To check out their Etsy store click here > KLAIStudio.



I attempted to hand-knit myself a blanket once and can tell you it was a lot harder than I thought it would be and it didn't turn out as it should have so I can really appreciate the detail and quality finish of these knitted items by Alice. She's made a few different items including scarfs, snoods, headbands and blankets and has different colour options. These could be perfect gifts to give to someone close to you, or as a treat to yourself. If you'd like to look at their Etsy store click here > TheKnittingFoxGB.



Blighty's is an independant family-run gift shop that sell gifts made in the British Isles and are proudly supporting British manufacturing. They also like to discover talented makers on Instagram and at trade shows. They have an online shop on their website where you can browse through a whole host of products amd gifts. If you are local to Cranbook, Kent they also have a gift shop on Cranbook high street to visit. To have a look through all the products they offer you can click here > Blighty's. 



Paquita Ruby Jewellery sell a number of different pieces of metal jewellery in gold, silver and rose gold with many including gemstones. They are quite subtle pieces that could be worn regularly with different outfits which is great. Their products include earrings, bracelets, necklaces and rings and they have plenty of different designs to suit different tastes. To see what they are selling, you can click here > Paquita Ruby Jewellery.



The Doodling Company make personalised and handmade gifts for special occasions including wedding-related items. Personalised gifts can make really special presents for someone and show you have put thought into it. The shop sells things such as bags, cards, signs and decorative items that all can be personalised to the recipient. If you want to check out their Etsy shop, you can click here > TheDoodlingCompany.



When I asked on Twitter for small businesses, Terranova Clay Creations posted their shop and I went on and immediately fell in love with a couple of items that could be used for my wedding but would also look cute in my house, so I purchased them straight away. One of these is the one in the picture above. They make some really cute terracotta ornaments, garlands and even cards decorated with clay pieces. If you'd like to see what they have, you can check out their Etsy store if you click here > TerranovaCCreations.


Laura produces some amazing art and I love her style. She paints acrylic landscape paintings and art prints. I particularly love the one above with the celestial theme as this vibe is very me. The detail in these paintings is really impressive and they would be great as decoration in your home or also for giving as a gift. If you'd like to see more of what she makes, you can see her Etsy store if you click here > LauraCarolineArt.



AliceandIvy sells boutique stationery designed to bring a smile to your day which includes cards, prints and paper goods. I've bought some postcards from here before as I really like the style and have put them on my gallery wall and in my kitchen. They have funny, motivational and cute designs including ones for different occassions with many different options to choose from. To check out their Esty store, you can click here > AliceandIvyuk.



I came across Doodles From My Brain on TikTok and thought his style is really quirky and fun. He has a lot of fun with his designs and lets his mind run free when creating. He makes pins, patches, cards and more all in his unique style. There are so many products to browse through you should be able to find something you like. He's also made his own books which would be worth checking out. To see the Esty shop click here > DoodlesFromMyBrain.



If you're looking for some pretty women's home and lifestyle accessories then it's worth checking out what Robin and Thorn offer. They have items such as pin badges, bags and purses, homewear, cards, notebooks, beauty and skincare products and more. I love collecting pin badges and particulaly love the the witch one above. If you want to see all of the products they offer on their website click here > Robin and Thorn.



This shop creates pretty fabric items including bags, gifts, face coverings and decorative homeware pieces. They have a number of bunting designs in different colours which I think are really cute. There are items that could be for yourself or make great gifts for others. If you want to see their Etsy shop, click here > madebymeinyorkshire.



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