This is the second, and final, Christmas guest guide (of sorts) – (see the first one here) – and it’s the choices of none other than the wonderful @notsosexintheci. As previously, the guide contains 5 items which total no more than £100. And I’d be happy to fine a lot of these in my stocking in a few weeks’ time.
I really want to be one of those people who can master the art of calligraphy, so I reckon this dip pen set would probably help out with that. I’d probably just make a really big mess, but at least it’d look really cute on my desk.
I just feel like this might really help with my insomnia. I had a colour-changing light strip that sat on top of the TV and plugged into a USB port once, and I loved the way the different colours danced around the room at night. Also, it’s just really cool.
Honestly, I’ve always wanted a Venus fly trap. I find killer plants weirdly fascinating. (I can’t have any plants because my cat eats them, so plant-ownership is a luxury for me.)
Firstly, I like to buy cute stuff from small businesses on Etsy to make myself feel better. Secondly, who doesn’t want to walk into a room that smells like happiness? I’m not really sure I believe that aromatherapy actually works, but I do love a good smelly candle!
This Christmas, aside from, y’know, the standard SBOS gift guide, I thought I’d try something a little different, because hey, you can never have too many gift guides, right? And so the Christmas guest guides (of sorts) were born. Two fabulous tweeters agreed to be guinea pigs for the new format and they’ve both picked a fabulous selection of gifts.
The remit was (relatively) simple – five gifts totalling no more than £100. Today’s tweeter, the lovely @BeStillMyBeaten, has done a stellar job with the budget, managing to pretty much hit £100 bang on. Here are her choices:
This necklace comes in yellow and rose gold colour, as well as the silver shown above. There are also lots of other ‘Fuck the Tories’ type designs, if, unlike me, you understand that metaphorically, rather than taking it dangerously literally.
One of the best things about having guests on the gift guide is that they suggest things that are genuinely sexy and, y’know, befitting of a supposed sex blog.
Slightly bad news on this one. The plug that @BeStillMyBeaten chose (shown in the image) now seems to be sold out (my fault, for taking days to write this up!), and judging by the Etsy review, the person who bought it is delighted with it. The good news is, the store in question has lots of other beautiful toys.
Look at that little face! Also, every purchase of one of these supports The Vagina Museum which, like a lot of museums, is having a pretty hard time because of Covid.
Another year (no, really, it actually has been a whole year), another gift guide. This gift guide has always aimed to include a decent number of indies, but I have tried to make sure that’s where the majority of suggestions come from this year. There’s normally a charitable suggestion, too, and I haven’t done that this year – please pick your local cause that needs the help the most, because this year they really will need it. Oh, and Merry Christmas.
At least Rebecca Strickson’s art is cheerful, even if Brexit really, really isn’t. 20% of all profits go to The Trussel Trust because, as Rebecca says, ‘Guess what? They’re probably gonna need it.’
Not only is Rosie, who makes these, a wonderful person to follow on Twitter, her work is gorgeous. Prices range from £20-£40 depending on size and complexity and Rosie is happy to discuss custom pieces.
Are handmade ceramics expensive? Yes. Are they tactile as fuck and therefore worth what you pay for them? Yes. Plus, you’re going to be drinking your morning latte at home for a while yet…
It’s not that clear from the picture, but there are little fairy lights in the houses. I think this would look super cute on a windowsill. A good one for your grandma, perhaps.
Molly Wizenberg used to write one of the best food blogs on the internet, and has written two previous memoirs. This one explores the breakdown of her marriage and the realisation that she wants to date women, all rendered in stunning prose.
For reasons I can’t quite explain, I have become completely obsessed with these during lockdown. I want them all. Brits can get a smaller range of them from here.
It feels a long time ago now, but I bought some of these as stocking fillers at a Christmas market last year. They smell super Christmassy, and they have beautiful packaging.
Yes, these are garish af. No, they’re not in particularly good taste. But nothing this year has made me as happy as that sprout’s face. Quite fond of the trifle, too. Last orders for these are December 4th.
Sure, the name of this is ridiculous. And it smells like bakewell tart. But in a good way, trust me on this. Shame I can never justify anything other than a quick squirt when I’m walking through John Lewis.
Sex blog (of sorts) 