Guys, I had plans to do several gift guides and other Chritsmassy posts this year. I made a sterling effort last year (in my humble opinion) but life and stuff has cropped up this year. I posted a cruelty-free and independent beauty products guide last week and still have another gift-guide coming but don't hold onto your hats...it's practical and last minute ideas. Thankfully the blogging community has been actively inspiring each other with Crimbo ideas, and there's no shortage of gift-guides floating about. Here are some of my favourites!


If you have a bookworm to buy for check out the Tattooed Teadlady's book gift guide.

One of the benefits to having a small family is that my Christmas shopping list is not nearly as insane as some other people I know. Every year the only people I always buy for are my parents and my Grandmother (despite this I still haven't completed this year's shopping). Since this gives me a bit more free time I decide to make an extra special effort with these people and make them their own personalised cards.

This Christmas marks the third year I've been making Christmas cards so it's not a very lengthy tradition. It started when a then co-worker who is a really big Christmas person said he loved handmade touches. He had previously showed me a picture of how he had creatively decorated his window that year in time for festivities and I re-created it on a card. I also didn't want the other member of our team to be left out so I crafted him up one too. Turns out I enjoyed it and made my family cards too. And thus a tradition was born.

Said co-worker has moved on since then so this year its my mum, dad, grandmother and BFF who are receiving a Morag-made card, and I spent most of last night putting them together. I still have a few finishing touches to add and I'm only showing a quick glance in the photo above of my Gran's card as the chance of her reading my blog are the same as her chances of actually getting home internet. My parents occasionally stop by and my BFF 'reads every post' (hello!) so I'll need to keep pictures of their's privately tucked away until Christmas Day.

I'm by no means a professional crafter and these are purely for the personal touch. Therefore, I don't have that much of a tutorial. My general advice would be to just have fun with it. Practice drawing on spare sheets of paper first. Have an idea of what you'll do before you shop. I shop in the two art stores on Glasgow's Queen Street (including the new Cass Art). Have a look on Etsy for inspiration but remember to never directly copy. A pack that contains a glue pen and loose glitter is the best. UHU is better than Prit Stick. Remember what kind of card that person would want to receive, rather than what you would want to give them. I also bought a 'make your own stamps' kit this year and it was harder than I thought but I got my desired result (in the end).

And remember to find a sensible place in your home and put down newspapers like you do in primary school. Because my bedsheets and carpet now have fake snow and glitter on them.

Do you ever make your own cards, Christmas or otherwise?

Morag x

P.S. You catch a glance of previous cards in this post and this post.

I know it seems like a cliché but every time I go to check out a new restaurant in Dundee I seem to be hungover. This time was no different. My insides still felt a bit sensitive so I fancied something a bit lighter, café style. I had heard good things about Folk Café (previously Parlour Café) including that it has a good veggie selection and whilst it doesn't mark out any food as vegan, the foodie grapevine had informed me that I would wouldn't be left hungry.

I had the falafel, hummus, salad, pickles and tahini dressing in flat bread. This was my first time having tahini dressing and it was by far my favourite part of the wrap. I found this recipe online if you're unsure as to what it is. There was no physical tea menu however the waitress rattled off a big list of available teas so I knew I was in my kind of place. I just wish I could remember what kind of tea I had...



The place itself was very cute, and had decor that was clearly thought through. Unfortunately the place is small and on a Saturday afternoon was very busy so I couldn't get a picture of the whole place without potentially annoying someone. Me and Alan got the last available table and we were so close to the next table we might have well been sitting with them. Maybe a Saturday afternoon wasn't the best time to go, maybe if I'm through during a weekday...

Folk Café also do event catering and from the looks of their Facebook page they have been doing well. So if you need some food for your event in Dundee I'd give them a look.

Morag x

P.S. If it's good enough for Paul Hollywood, it's good enough for you.

Alice included me in her Friday Favourites post last week. Go say hi and check out her other picks.

If you're struggling on what to get the men in your life for Christmas, check out this gift guide by Nadia.

And Sheri has put together a gift guide for the Grinch in your life.

Far Left Buffy is the best Facebook Page in forever. But you need to be a Buffy fan to get it. And a lefty.

These solar system tree decorations are all your Christmas tree requirs this year.

The November checklist for gardeners.

I agree: abusive student relationships are capable of flying under the radar.

It's blunt but I agree and there's a study to back it: It's not your children holding your career back. It's your husband. (Though I do not agree with 'marrying down', ever).

A teacher's letter to parents who ask about THAT kid.

Some blogging advice on working with PRs, from the viewpoint of a PR girl. 

When I was a student also partaking in 300 extra-curricular activities I had a boderline reliance on my Filofax. It's since fallen apart but as my life gets busier alongside my full-time job (the background running of my blog needs structure) I'm thinking of reinvesting. Here's Gala Darling's guide to how to she organises hers.

Molly Crabapple's 14 rules for creative success in the internet age.

If you're a vegan living in the South West region of England you should be following @Dorset_Vegan

And something else for my vegan English readers (but this time in the North West) places for vegans and vegetarians to eat in Manchester.

For fun: what your zodiac sign says about your social media habits.

Drama can be addicting and we can't always tell we're causing it or inviting it but if you think you might be here's a guide to lessening the amount of it in your life.

8 inexpensive but amazing countries to live in for a year.

Some women get an abortion for health reasons. Or because they already have three kids. Or because they're young. But someone women get an abortion just because they don't want a baby. And it's as legitimate a reason as any.

If you have someone in your life who just won't stop farting, gift them this at Christmas so they'll at least smell like roses instead.

What it feels like to be diagnosed with HIV. The article touches on it, but please get tested. I know for a fact I'm HIV-negative, do you know your status?

How online harassment was turned in art.

25 benefits of gaming while male.

Keeping with the social problems in geek culture theme with this piece on racism and fat-shaming in the cosplaying community.

The piece above also links to an article on racism when choosing cosplay costumes. I don't cosplay but love to dress up at Halloween and one costume I've been meaning to do for years is Rogue from X-Men, even though my favourite character is actually Storm. (I also don't like doing female-versions of male characters).

Annnnnd, a solar powered vibrator. (NSFW, obviously).

Morag x

I know every blogger and their pug loves a Lush gift set. Or an Liz Earl gift set. Or a Urban Decay eyeshadow palette. However Christmas is the perfect time to support an independent brand and small beauty companies based in the UK are much more likely to be cruelty-free than the big players.

So get the moolah out, gift your beauty loving friends an ethical product and help a small-business owner keep doing what they love. And maybe sneak in something for yourself...

The Scottish Fine Soaps Company

When a co-worker from India was travelling back for some family time he asked for my recommendations on UK-based beauty products for his beauty-loving relatives. Along with the usual cruelty-free high street favourites I recommended The Scottish Fine Soaps Company to him. And the result? His relatives demanded that he brings more of their products back with him next time.

I myself even got introduced to this brand when my uncle gifted me their Au Lait Pamper Kit a few years back.

Lyonleaf

A lovely brand I recently fell in love with when I got sent their body butter and beauty balm. The owner offers three gift sets of this natural and gentle skincare range. Sarah of SugarPuffFish recommends it for eczema sufferers.

Conscious Skincare

LeafLight

This is not a brand I've personally tried but they were recommended to me when I sent the tweet out about this post. They do a range of organic beauty products which you can order together to create a custom hamper.

Bulldog Skincare

A brand for the men now, and a brand that I have personally purchased gifts from for the men in my life. They are certified both by Cruelty-Free International and The Vegetarian Society, and their website states that their products are suitable for vegans.

Seascape

I reviewed the hand cream and lip balm a few months ago and gave it a bit of a so-so review. However my opinion does appear to be the minority so maybe it's worth giving the extensive range of gift sets from this Jersey based company a look in.

White Rabbit Skincare

This is a small local company based out of Kilmarnock (a town not far south of Glasgow) that me and many other #cfbloggers rave about. Whilst the owner isn't doing giftsets per se she does do customisable travel sets and party favours if you fancy getting something from this Scottish, cruelty-free and vegan brand.

Morag x

P.S. Remember to check out my gift guides from previous years: gifts for the well-groomed cruelty-free male, stocking fillers for gingers and red heads, gift guide for a Scottish fashionista, stocking fillers for kitschy gardeners and stocking fillers for a foodie who loves a drink.