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

It's World Mental Health Day | Blogtober

Today is World Mental Health Day and instead of talking about my personal issues, I thought we could celebrate how far awareness for mental health has developed and that nobody should be ashamed of speaking about mental health. One in four adults or children are likely to have a mental health problem and incorrect attitudes and opinions can make it extremely hard for some to ask for help. The aim of World Mental Health Day is to make more people aware that they can seek help if they need it and not to be afraid. 

Each year there is a different theme to World Mental Health Day and this year it is dignity. Giving people the correct support is a key step in letting them keep their dignity, however they may define it. If other people believe in you, it can mean the world of difference in your own self confidence which you can then pass on and help others.  I've donated to help the cause and you can too. Text Support to 70660 to donate £3 which goes towards the support of anyone with mental health problems. There should be no stigma, only help.

No matter who you are or where you are, know that somebody in the world cares. If you're ever in need of help, there are plenty of places to contact. Click here for the helpline numbers for mental health. I know a lot of people with mental health issues and we are all there to help each other. To those who know someone in need, please comfort them and be kind. Don't ever say that there is someone out there worse than them. Say that you're going to be there for them, to help them understand their diagnosis and to be patient.  

The more awareness and donations we raise, the more help there will be for us and our loved ones.

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I'm Starting Roaccutane For My Acne




I'm finally starting Roaccutane! I've had spots since I was 11 and they remained mostly on my forehead through my teenage years. By the time I went to University they were anywhere on my face and since I graduated I had acne on my face, particularly on my jawline, cheeks and neck, but also on my chest, thighs and back. It feels like it's everywhere and sometimes it's really quite sore. It particularly gets in the way when I get my partner to massage my back due to Fibromyalgia pain and these cystic spots hurt when you touch them. I have tried multiple different medications and creams/gels but nothing has worked so far. February 10th is the date I get my pills and I really hope it works. They have allowed me to do same-day urine sample tests instead of day-before blood tests due to me needing someone to bring me to the hospital and back. I've been watching content online and doing some reading so I'm going to write down things I can expect and things I'm going to do to prepare my skin.

Dry skin
I know it's going to dry my skin out, including my scalp which will affect my hair too. My GP has prescribed my Aquaderm to keep my skin moisturised and I've bought a big tub of Vaseline for my lips. My hair is naturally curly and dry so I only wash my hair once a week anyway. I don't wash it because it's greasy I wash it because I have product in my hair that needs rinsing out so I can start my curl routine again. I don't think this will change anything, aside from me looking at a shampoo with oil in to help my scalp.

Sun exposure
Your skin is more sensitive on Roaccutane so you must wear an SPF of at least 15. I plan on buying the La Roche Posay SPF 50 for when I'm outside and wearing an SPF 30 inside. At least I start my treatment in February so I have some time until the sun is high in the sky and really warm. I don't tend to go out in the sun a lot anyway as it's not good for my POTS.

Knowing things will get worse first
I have watched Katie Snooks' videos and she said multiple times to prepare for your skin to get worse before it gets better. I know that I need to be kind to myself and to my skin and a bit of patience and moisturiser is what I need. She also said not to pick your skin when on Roaccutane as it can make it worse so I'm going to try my hardest not to as hopefully I will only have to be on one course of it so I need to make every day count.

Mental Health
Another side effect of Roaccutane changes to your mental health. You can get "anxiety, aggression and violence, changes in mood or suicidal thoughts". I have already been diagnosed with depression and anxiety since I was 16 due to problems at my previous home and I have been managing well for the last few years. I still have bouts of both depression and anxiety, as you would because they don't ever fully go away. I am expecting for some changes in my mental health and I am being fully honest and open with my partner and my lovely future Father-in-law and Stepmum-in-law. I will promise to update my best friend and my favourite online friend Kirstie as both of them know my history well too. 

Sunglasses are a must
With the effects of the medicine kicking in, my eyes will most likely be dry and sensitive to the sunlight. Well, with Fibromyalgia they are already sensitive to both sunlight and artificial lights, so I am fully expecting this to get worse. Along with my glasses, I'll bring sunglasses everywhere with me to try to prevent migraines.

i think the next thing I need to do is buy other skincare including SPF so I am fully prepared. If anyone has any advice I'd love to hear about it on my Twitter on Instagram. The more I read people's experiences the more I understand what I should and shouldn't do.


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My Contraceptive Implant Experience - Insertion, Removal and Replacement


After exploring my options throughout my teens, I decided that the pill wasn't the best contraceptive method for me. This came to mind after I had my blood pressure taken three times in one appointment as they were not satisfied than even after I had chance to sit down that my blood pressure was what it should be. I was advised to change from the combined pill to the progestogen-only pill because of this. The progestogen-only pill is given to people who have high blood pressure or other conditions as it doesn't contain oestrogen, and is taken every day with no break. As I was now having to take a pill every single day without a break, it seemed silly not to switch to a contraceptive implant.

The contraceptive implant is a small flexible tube that is about 40mm long and 2mm wide that's inserted under the skin of your upper arm. The procedure is carried out by trained professional and will last three years. The way it works is it stops the release of an egg from the ovary by slowly releasing progestogen into the body, which thickens cervical mucus (lovely!) and thins the womb lining. This makes it harder for sperm to reach your cervix, and less likely for your womb to accept a fertilised egg. If the implant is inserted correctly, it's more than 99% effective (source) and fewer than 1 in 1,000 women who have the contraceptive implant for three years get pregnant. 

Insertion
The implant can be inserted during any point during your menstrual cycle as long as both yourself and your doctor are confident that you're not already pregnant. In the UK the most common contraceptive implant is Nexplanon (which is what I have) as it is designed to reduce the risk of insertion errors and is visible on X-Ray and CT scans. 

After a small consultation with, a doctor or nurse will numb the area of your arm with a local anaesthetic. You feel a sharp scratch from the needle but this is over in a matter of seconds and is not worth worrying about (I got worked up for it and it was absolutely fine). A small wound (about 0.5cm) is made once your arm is numb, and Nexplanon is inserted. The wound is closed with steri-strips and a larger plaster which you must keep dry for three days to prevent infection or slow down the healing process. I was told when I had it inserted in 2013 that I must stay on the progestogen-only pill for 7 days to prevent pregnancy whilst the implant worked its way into my system.

Removal
After my three years were up, I made an appointment at my local health centre to have the current implant removed and then replaced. Some GPs can do the procedure but since mine did not offer this service I went to an NHS Sexual Health Centre. The process is pretty similar to having the implant inserted, as you have a consultation, local anaesthetic and a small wound created. To take out the implant the nurse uses an instrument that are similar to tweezers to ease the tube out. You can't feel a thing, and I could barely even feel any pressure of her using her hands to feel the implant nor ease the tube out. 

Replacement
After the implant was removed, the nurse inserted a new Nexplanon implant into my arm and I couldn't feel a thing. You can hear a click from the instrument that places the implant into the arm and it's done in seconds. I decided to replace my implant as I do not plan on getting pregnant in the next three years. I was told that in three years if I wanted another implant put in, they would remove the current implant from my left arm, and insert a new implant into my right arm to prevent building up more scar tissue in the same place.

My Experience
When my first implant started working I had next to no periods, which I new would happen since I was on the same contraceptive that I was on in pill form. Having no periods suits my personal needs, since I used to get really painful cramps and had a heavy period that would last a full 7 days. I was told that if I ever wanted it taking out due to side effects or deciding to start a family that I could, but this hasn't been necessary for me. I don't plan on getting pregnant in the next three years since financially it wouldn't be good for myself, my partner or a baby and it's one pain less in my body since I have chronic health conditions. On that note, the implant can offer some protection against pelvic inflammatory disease and also cancer of the womb. I'm not sure whether I have been at risk of these but it does add another bonus that there is slightly less chance of them occurring. 

After both the insertion and the replacement I did have some beautiful bruises on my arm which fade completely after about two weeks. Your arm is tender but if you need to take paracetamol I was advised that this was fine. For me, it's great not having to plan in another medication each day, and it's great not getting worried that you've missed a pill since the implant is in your body for three years. When I decide to finish my journey with an implant, I was advised that my periods and fertility would return to normal but I would need to find another method of contraception unless I was planning a pregnancy.

I felt I was well informed about all the advantages and risks of using the implant thanks to the nurses in the NHS and I'm very happy with my experience with the Nexplanon implant. I'm not sure whether I would get it replaced in three years, since I will be 26 then and may decide to start a family then but that's hard to predict right now. If you're looking at getting the implant or have any questions that you want to ask, you could write a comment below or pop me an email to laurahadleyx@gmail if you'd like to speak privately. I wish I had someone close to speak to about it since I don't actually know anyone who has had the implant apart from one friend who decided it wasn't for her and has chosen another contraceptive method since. Everyone is different so I'm not to say it will work for every person out there, but if you have similar circumstances to me or don't wish to take a pill every day then it might be worth asking about it with your local GP or nurse.



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What It's Like To Live With Chronic Illnesses

I don't tend to really write about my health online, not only because I don't want to dwell on the fact that I'm not well, but only because I don't want it to seem like I limit myself. I don't want those prejudicial thoughts that immediately pop into people's heads that I can't do things without asking me first. I've been having a real hard time lately due to the weather changes, stress and anxiety so I thought it was fitting that I lay out some of the problems I experience that probably a lot of other people go through too.

Not Looking Ill

This is something that people with 'invisible illnesses' deal with a lot. If someone has a cast on their broken leg, it's quite clear to people that they're in pain because of this injury. If you have pain in your joints, muscles and nerves, people can't see the problem and therefore don't think you look ill. If I have makeup on people assume you're perfectly healthy - I don't want to look ill, and I'm sorry if you think makeup equates to being fine. If I can't attend an event and someone sees me, they will ask why I can't go because "you look fine". Your appearance has nothing to do with whether you're ill or in pain, so these assumptions can really hurt. 

Being Young And Ill

I have a wheelchair that was given to me by my Auntie to help when things get really bad. Often I'm in pain the day after an event, such as charity walks, taking blog photos, going shopping or lifting heavy objects. Although I've only been in the wheelchair roughly 4 times since I got it last year, I get a lot of stares from people because I'm young and in a wheelchair. People will assume I'm paraplegic so when I get out of the chair there are dirty looks. I've had the comment about it being a shame that I'm so young but I'm ill like an elderly person. I can't change any of these things, so yes, I'm 23 and chronically ill.

Packing Extra Things For Trips

Going on a trip, whether it's a little hotel break or just a day out requires packing things to help me out. Most of the time I need a spare pair of shoes, usually the memory foam Skechers I have that makes it feel like you're walking on cushions. I need to pack wrist supports in case they start hurting. I have to write a checklist to remember medications and a pillow for longer car rides. I can't do spontaneous trips not only down to anxiety but also having to make sure I have everything.

Not Getting Better

What some people don't understand about chronic illnesses is what the word 'chronic' means. A chronic condition or disease is persistent and long-lasting. They cannot be prevented by vaccines or cured by medication. I have three chronic illnesses: Asthma, which is a chronic respiratory condition, and two chronic pain conditions, Fibromyalgia and Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome. They are managed by medications but cannot be cured so I take offence when people say I'll hopefully get better soon. I appreciate the sentiment but I'd rather people say that their thoughts are with me or that they hope I feel a little better.

Sensitivity To Uncontrollable Things

This is a hard one for some to understand. I'm more sensitive to light, sound and temperature and it drives me mad. If you show your phone to me on full brightness it can trigger a migraine and it will be a completely innocent mistake. If you blast your music or shout close to me it can trigger a migraine. If I'm in the car I need to keep sunglasses with me as the sun can pop out of nowhere are it will hurt my eyes.

Opinions Of Sorts

A lot of things change depending on what condition/s you have. Pain management may be in the form of physiotherapy or it might be medications. How much you can move, how much energy you have, what extra items you may use as aids depend along with many other things. No matter what condition you have, most spoonies have the opinion that every person matters despite them, although I have come across the odd person who measures value depending on your condition. We're all people at the end of the day, and this is one thing we face daily. People will always 'have an answer' or compare your condition to someone else. I've actually had the 'think of the people in Africa with no food or water' which has nothing to do with being chronically ill. I think there is a clash depending on whether you're registered as a disabled person or not too. There is such a spectrum when it comes to chronic illness so it doesn't surprise me when there are varied opinions.

What Other Spoonies Think:

@ellexmay "Being asked how can I be so tired because I haven't done anything"

@findingmygay "Getting called a hypochondriac. Using illness as an excuse. Friends making plans knowing you can't do things and expecting you to keep up"

@dreamsglitterxo "A lack of understanding or empathy"

@wonderlandblogs "I'm not too young or too pretty to be chronically ill. Illness doesn't discriminate. It also takes various forms, and people may have the same condition but be affected very differently. Never assume, judge or compete"

@beckieeschle "Feeling awkward for asking to sit down because it's an invisible illness and nobody can see that you need to sit down. Being told exercise will make it better and to just push myself. Getting told that you're so lucky to lie in bed all day"

@neesharees "I'm in permanent pain and when I say no to doing certain things, people try to coax me to do it because I look fine. If I hear one more person suggest doing yoga I will punch them in the face"

@wilson16jade "Having panic attacks at work and being told not to cry because it's all in my head"

@curlysuereview "That a chronic illness is life-long and I won't feel better tomorrow, next week or next year. People lose patience when caring and they wonder why you're not magically better"

@shambiwolf  "Treating you the same as non-ill people and holding you to the same standards can be difficult. I was ill and was told to quit uni or hold it off until I got better. I was asked to leave my internship due to my health and received every PC excuse they could muster which affected my mental health"

@rosettaxoblog "Being challenged for using the disabled toilet even though I had a radar key"

@eleanormaem "People give up on you"

@wildonesweare "People don't realise that medication doesn't always help or doesn't magically stop you feeling shit and having symptoms. When you're being made to feel like you're using your illness or making it up. Having a work newsletter that asked people to stop being poorly as it affects patient care"

@betternotstop "I get super exhausted every day and have to remind people often that the pain is ALWAYS there"




It seems like the biggest issue brought up by other spoonies is what other people think and their actions. We get on with being in pain and we don't mention it every single time because for some the pain is every minute of the day. The prejudice from able people and negative actions that they take seems to be the problem, hence why I've written this post. I'd love to hear more thoughts in the comments section about what your main issues tend to be or some advice you'd give to help others.

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Blogs I'm Loving Right Now


Paige's Preferences
I've been chatting to Paige for so long now I've lost count, and always give her blog a weekly read to catch up on everything shes been writing about. Whether it be about beauty products or her family her blog is filled with variety and fun posts that keep you reading for hours.

Emmys Beauty Cave
I've been reading Emmy's blog for quite some time now and her photos really inspire me to up my own photo game. If you've seen her Makeup Geek Starter Kit + Swatches post you'll know what I mean! Emmy blogs about beauty and lots of it so if you're thinking about buying something, head to her blog as shes probably already reviewed it.

Cycles With Wolves
I actually know Shannon personally as we were on the same law course in University together before she switched to Media and Journalism. Shannon writes a lot about her personal life journey including fitness, lifestyle and beauty and I absolutely adore her blog design.

Franny Mac
If you've not been on Fran's blog before, be ready to be envious. Her blog design is to die for and she writes so openly and honestly that it makes me want to keep clicking away at her blog posts for hours. Her beauty posts in particular are full of swatches and reviews and I've already written a Colourpop order out just from having a read of her blog.

Pint Sized Beauty
Lily is well known in the blogging community for her stunning photographs and composition and if you've not been on her blog before you've probably already had a good look at her Instagram. Her blog is easy to navigate and if you have a look at her Popular Posts section I'm sure they'll inspire you to pick up your camera and get snapping.

Andy Hadley-Smith
Although I'm slightly biased towards Andy since he is in fact my boyfriend, I do really enjoy reading his blog. It's different in the fact that it's from a male perspective but he writes a lot of chatty and tech posts along with taking beautiful travel photos. As we have a vlog channel together he also features these into some of his posts.

Very Berry Cosmo
Kayleigh's blog is bright and adventurous as you might see from her main page. She's known for her raw and open mental health posts that are so insightful. I love reading about events she's been to and Kayleigh is another blogger with a stunning blog design.

VickisBeauty
I've not long been speaking to Victoria but her blog is pastel themed and blogs a lot about beauty. Not only does she take pretty photos but she actually makes mini vlogs over on Snapchat and Instagram so she's well worth the follow.

Sarah In Wonderland
Sarah is an absolute babe who I can go to if I ever have any worries or questions, especially about my medical conditions. Sarah is one of many Spoonies who often blogs about her health journey as well as beauty and anything she needs to get off her chest. She's also hilarious, but I'll let you check her Snapchat out to see for yourself.

When Tania Talks
Tania is another Spoonie who I've spoken to for quite a while and often refer to her blog when talking about medical conditions. Tania talks about a variety of topics such as fashion, beauty and her life journey. She also talks about wearing makeup when you have allergies which I wasn't aware of until I met her so she inspires me to be aware of my surroundings and be a kind and considerate person.

All Things Beautiful
Jessie blogs about varies subjects but in particular I really enjoy reading her fashion and fitness posts. Her outfit photos are stunning, especially her most recent post which features the clifftops and the sea. It definitely makes a change to the regular OOTD posts and her chatty posts are so in depth it's brilliant. 

What are your favourite blogs to read? Link them down below so I can check them out.
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Degustabox April Review #2


It's been that time for testing out the products on offer from this months Degustabox*. This box contained a mix of brands I'd had tried out before and some that I'd never seen at all. If you want to have a look through some other posts to check out what's been in other months boxes you can see them here.

Meal Items

The Garofalo Whole Wheat Penne Pasta (£2.19) was a good cupboard filler as it's always handy to have some pasta as I can use it with a number of different meals. It's made with unprocessed whole organic durum wheat which means that its natural bran, germ, fibre, vitamins and minerals remain intact which give it health benefits. An interesting inclusion was the GOOD HEMP Hemp Seed Hearts (£4.49) which are high in Protein, Fibre and Omega 3. They are free from nuts and gluten and are great for sprinkling on cereal, yogurt, salads and stir fries. I've added a small amount to meals and you don't really notice them which makes it an easy way to make your food that little bit healthier. The last meal item was the Dorset Cereals (£4.89) which I received in the Machu Picchu flavour. It's a blend of oats and barley with brazil nuts, golden berries and a taste of coffee. This pack of muesli is a little different to some of your normal cereal so may be good to go for if you want to change up your morning meal.


Snack Items

One of my favourite snacks from this box were the Seabrook Lattice Crisps (£1.50 - £1.99). I've tried their other ranges before but there was just something about the thin lattice design that makes them taste so nice. There are sliced both ways to hold even more sea salt and black pepper flavour, giving them that distinctive crunch. Something a little more on the healthier side are the Nothing But freeze-dried fruits (2 x £1.20) which come in handy snack packs. They contain nothing but 100% wholesome ingredients and lose nothing apart from water when they are frozen due to their special freeze-drying process. Being suitable for vegetarian, vegan and gluten free diets is an added bonus. One product I had never seen before was the Doisy & Dam's Quinoa, Smoked Tea & Vanilla Chocolate (£1.75). It's certainly one of the longest product names I've come across and is created by soaking the nutty Bolivian popped quinoa in a secret smoky infusion, before being combined with organic Dominican 39% milk chocolate. 

Polos have been around for years now and normally come in a paper wrapping which was rather annoying, so it was nice to see they finally come in a convenient pot. The POLO Sugar Free Pot (£1.49) are flavoured with natural mint oils to help refresh your breath while being accredited by the Oral Health Foundation as being kind to teeth. When I noticed the Whitworths Full of Super Vanilla Maca-roons (£1.50) I was intrigued as I enjoy coconut flavoured items. They are crammed with almonds, flakes of coconut and golden flax seeds while being naturally high in fibre and Pantothenic Acid which aids mental performance. They were a great quick snack to enjoy that would fill you up despite their small size. Something different to the other choices in this box were the ViPnuts (£1.25) which I received in the Hot Chilli flavour. In short they are the gourmet peanut brands that offer a chilli kick and depth of flavour.


Drinks

The first bottle included in this Degustabox was the Fentimans Pink Grapefruit Tonic Water. As we are getting towards summer, having a refreshing drink always comes in handy. To enjoy this at it's best I prefer to stick it in the fridge as the chilled taste makes it that bit nicer. The other drink was the CELIA Organic Lager (£2.49) which is brewed using just three ingredients. It's a premium craft Czech lager which I'm sure my boyfriend will enjoy as I'm more of a cider kind of girl. That's all for the April Degustabox which was quite a mixed one this month. It seems like quite a few items were trying to cater to multiple dietary needs, however this doesn't apply to me. There were only a few products that really jumped out to me this month. If you want to get your own Degustabox then make sure you use my discount code 0GAWD to get £7.00 off!


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Life Update


I'm not the biggest fan of random updates on my blog since I tend to write as I go, but if you haven't noticed I've been a little absent. That's because I got a job! I always thought I could balance a job and blog and still have time to put my feet up but I think because I've just started there were a lot of changes I've had to get used to. Even at Uni I wasn't in full time working hours, nor at Sixth Form so it has been about 5 years since I was out full time. 

I've just starting working at Boots, because although I do earn from blogging and I'm perfectly happy being clear about that, it does not pay the bills. It does help though! I love blogging and if I could do it full time I wouldn't hesitate. We're desperate to save up for a place of our own, getting my into driving lessons and saving up a couple hundred thousands for our trip to LA in April. Albeit this job holds a temporary contract until February but it's a step in the right direction. 

After my first week of working full time on the self select beauty, so brands like Rimmel, Maybelline, Sleek etc, I had to drop to part time. I have EDS & Fibro and my little body just couldn't take working 37.5 hours a week. I really tried, but even on my days off my body wasn't recovering and I didn't have time to blog either since I just wanted to be painless. Now I'll be working 20 hours and although that comes with a pay drop, it comes with improving my health. Boots have been nothing but supportive of both my health conditions and allowing me to drop my hours.

Hopefully next week I'll be back on my feet sofa, laptop open and blogging until my heart is content on my days off. I'll be able to photograph in advance and schedule posts for a week or two ahead. My posts will go back to my August-September schedule, posting on Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Sunday and any extra days if I want to. See you then!


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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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