it's supposed to be the 'happiest time of the year', but the festive season has - justifiably so, really - come in for a lot of criticism over the past few years for it's negative effect on collective mental health, as well as the environment. i've spent my own fair share of years bemoaning christmas festivities but i've made peace ...
no time like the present
it's beginning to look a lot like.. that time of year again! i've written before about the pressures of the holiday season to find the perfect gift for all the important - and sometimes not so important - people in our life, and often end up spending money we can't really spare but, 'tis the season and all that. my ...
back to local
it's almost black friday, and the supposed 'biggest shopping day of the year.' except the reality is that such heavy discounting over just one day - or week ('black fivedays' is the new buzzword apparently) - can spell disaster for small independent stores, as customers hold fire on making purchases for christmas during november, expecting heavily discounted products to hit the ...
shop small: gifts over £50
when it comes to spending sizeable chunks of money on gifts for your loved ones, it makes sense to be investing in products that are lovingly handcrafted, promoting ethical and sustainable practices and giving a little back to the community, right? i find it fascinating that, while people are more open to the idea of buying small craft pieces from ...
shop small: gifts under £50
when it comes to gifts for your nearest and dearest, where you’re more likely to be spending a little more cash (although this is most definitely not necessary – some of the most personal gifts can cost nothing!), its important to take time to gift thoughtfully. i wrote last year about how i planned to find myself a quiet, cosy ...
shop small: gifts under £25
choosing to shop independent at christmas is the very best way to see your festive sparkle spread far and wide. not only will you be gifting your loved ones with a beautiful and thoughtfully crafted present, you'll also be giving a wonderful gift to the independent business owner too. whether they are the designer/maker of the product or the curator ...