Gemma Correll’s Quirky Illustrations Are So Relatable… It’s Like She’s Drawing My Life!

Gemma Correll is a UK illustrator who’s simple, yet easily discernible style has seen her publish three books of her work, and won her comic-space in the prestigious Observer Sunday Magazine. Her relatable doodles have also been made into greetings cards, and you can buy pins, t-shirts and bags with her tongue-in-cheek artistic wit as the featured design.

I first saw one of her illustrations last year, the ‘Couchella’ greetings card, and my son and I immediately loved it because the little character on the card was wearing my daily uniform of a stripy top. They also had my glasses and ponytail (that’s me below).

This year, I found Gemma’s cards on sale in Sainsbury’s, and couldn’t believe the accuracy of the particular drawing (very top, framed), it describes my cat lady-ness wonderfully. So I bought it and framed it.

Gemma’s Instagram is filled with these relatable cartoons, I’ve picked out the ones that most correspond with my feeling that she must be drawing my life. I joke of course, but why don’t you check out her Instagram page and see which illustrations make you think, “that’s so me”.

I Slept Under a Xalm Weighted Blanket For Seven Nights- Can A Weighted Blanket Help Chronic Fatigue, Anxiety, Restless Legs, and More?

I had noticed some Youtubers talking about weighted blankets recently, a product that if you’ve never heard of before, you will be forgiven, as neither had I before 2019. So when Xalm reached out to me to ask would I like to test drive their weighted blanket, I was very keen to say yes!

Back in early 2018, brothers Eddy & David Barrett had seen how weighted blankets in the US were changing peoples’ lives for the better, and wanted to bring the UK’s first high-quality weighted blanket on the market, complete with removable cover, and so Xalm Blanket was born.

But hold on, you may still be asking yourself, and me, what the heck is a weighted blanket? Well, it’s just that, it’s a heavy blanket. They are carefully made with weighted pellets throughout, to equally distribute weight through the blanket, and it’s recommended that when picking a blanket you choose one that weighs 10% of your body weight, plus a little more (Xalm is available in three weight choices & uses micro-bead technology for its weight system).

But… why the heck would you want a weighted blanket? Weighted blankets have actually been around for years in the therapeutic community, and are just now crossing over as more and more people find out the benefits of using them. Traditionally they were more commonly used for adults, and children with sensory issues, as being wrapped in a heavier blanket can be more calming for someone with ADHD or autism.

Why would I want a weighted blanket though? When Xalm Blanket contacted me my initial excitement about receiving the product was just to feel what the experience was like. It’s very much one of those feelings you can’t understand until you’ve tried, because duvets and regular throws are traditionally made to be light and airy, and this is made to be the polar opposite. So I was curious just to feel what it would be like under a weighted blanket. (My brother even had a go when he came round to visit on my birthday, so be sure everyone will want a turn!) There are a wealth of issues a weighted blanket can help with, so I was happy to try it out.

The Xalm Blanket is available on Amazon, in one size 150cm x 200cm. This fits as a throw on a double bed, which is how I am using it currently. You will have to decide on which of the three weights of blanket will suit you, either 4.5kg, 6.8kg or 9kg. The Amazon page will tell you how to work out which one is right for you, by your body weight, as I said before. Your Xalm Blanket comes with a free ‘minky’ washable, removable cover, which is like a super soft, faux fur ‘duvet’ cover. Currently there is only the Xalm in one size and one colour, the stylish grey, but with the ability to change covers I hope they will expand the range as I will be using mine as my bed covering from here on in and would like to be able to change colours once in a while.

The Minky cover which comes with your Xalm Blanket is probably more suited to winter, and is quite warm (I’ve been sleeping in vest & shorts pjs under it), however there is a summer cover you can purchase from them for a cooler night’s sleep. The covers fit more snugly to the blanket than a regular duvet, as they are secured with ties to the blanket on the inside. This stops the heavy blanket moving away from the light fabric cover, keeping it feeling like one whole piece. I hate when your duvet cover comes loose at the side and there is a tonne of empty fabric, so I’m sure this is probably also a choice to limit sensory problems like that for people who would find that irritating.

My initial thoughts. I received the blanket last Thursday on my birthday, and that very afternoon my son and I couldn’t wait to try it out (things get wild when you turn 39 and have chronic fatigue). I set it up in my bedroom on my double bed, and got under it to see what it felt like. It felt good. It’s going to be frustrating trying to explain to you as it’s really one of those things you have to experience, because heavy blankets are just so new, and the beneficial tactile advantages of the science behind them is what clicked for me.

Weighted blankets for anxiety? I was a little sceptical about how advantageous it could be to one’s mental health to ‘just have a heavy blanket’, but that was me a week ago. Now I’m sneaking upstairs early to chill out under my Xalm Blanket, closing my eyes and listening to a podcast and just drifting away. Bliss.

How does it work? The science behind it makes sense once you read about why a weighted blanket makes you feel so good. Humans love hugs, we love being held and contact. The underlying science behind why your anxiety is lessened under a weighted blanket is down to deep touch pressure (DTP). The gentle pressure of the blanket over the body is like a full body hug. The DTP releases serotonin in the body, which promotes relaxation and makes you feel good. From using the Xalm Blanket for the past seven nights, I can concur, it works for me. When I get under the blanket I just feel calmer, and relaxed. 63% of people who used Xalm Blankets reported feeling calmer too.

How does a weighted blanket really feel? The best way I can describe the evenly distributed pressure of the blanket, and how being under a weighted blanket feels like is by likening it to an almost nostalgic feeling, and maybe that’s the calming aspect coming into play too giving me that ‘all is well’ sensation. When I get into bed and underneath my Xalm Blanket, the weightiness all over gives me the throwback feeling you had as a kid, when you had been out in the garden all day long playing and you were going to bed absolutely dog-tired, but content. That’s probably why weighted blankets can help with insomnia and getting you to doze off my quickly. Whilst I’m struggling to pin down a good way to relate the experience of the Xalm Blanket to you, don’t mistake my report of the tired-feeling as a negative, you don’t actually feel more tired, just more ready to rest. I suffer from chronic fatigue and the last thing I want is something making me more exhausted, but actually a weighted blanket could help those with fibromyalgia and similar issues.

Weighted blankets for chronic fatigue? My main health issue concerns chronic fatigue and pain, so I already have to sleep year round with a maternity pillow for my hip pain. The Xalm Blanket can help people with fibromyalgia as it helps you fall asleep quicker, and the DTP encourages a more restful sleep with less tossing and turning. So you may benefit from a better night’s sleep and more energy in the long run. I can’t tell that from just a week’s trial, but I am so pleased with the reduced anxiety that I am a weighted blanket convert already. I was concerned about the weight of the blanket maybe hurting my joints, as I’ve a cat who tries to perch on me when I’m asleep and if she ever manages it, I wake up in pain from her sitting on me. I’m pleased to report however due to the micro-bead technology and how evenly the weight is spread through the Xalm Blanket, there is no pocket of weight that would cause such an issue.

Do weighted blankets work for restless leg syndrome? I’ve suffered from RLS since my early twenties, and I wouldn’t wish it on anyone. It presents as an irresistible urge to have to move your legs, or arms, and shake out what feels like electricity inside the muscles. It’s not as many people assume, your legs just moving by themselves, however some people with RLS can have disturbed sleep as their body will continue to keep trying to fidget when they are asleep. My RLS comes and goes, and I have medication which I take when I have a bout of it to stop it happening. I currently am not experiencing RLS, so I can’t test out the weighted blanket for this medical issue, but apparently the DTP can help prevent it happening, so I’d be interested to see if it could stop my crazy arms when they get started. The weight can also stop your body moving when you are asleep and suffer from it then.

So would I recommend a Xalm Blanket? Yes, yes, yes. It’s been a game changer for me and I’ve only had it a week. It works best for my anxiety issues, but I love the DTP effect so much that I am using it as my bedspread from here on in. One thing to think about though that I wasn’t dealing with, was if you were using it as a bedspread how it would work if two people were sharing the bed. I’d also love to see a smaller size Xalm that I could use on my sofa, maybe a half size, although most people can use the large size for on the sofa too, it’s not just for bedtime. Also when it comes to any weighted blankets and very young kids, they don’t recommend using them for all night sleeping. Maybe use them for falling asleep, then swap out for a lighter duvet that the child can easily remove if they get tangled in it.

The Xalm Blanket has a 100 day risk free trial if you buy on Amazon now. They are pretty confident you’ll love your Xalm (I am too) but any returned blankets they donate to charity, which is very cool. The blanket costs £99, and comes with the free, machine washable cover. Expect to pay between this and £200 for genuine, quality weighted blankets. Those who know me well know I am queen of a bargain, but when it comes to weighted blankets there are several reasons you won’t want to risk a purchase from a unverified seller. The product itself is quite specific in nature and the weight of the micro-beads must be evenly distributed for the blanket to work, so the craftsmanship of the interior piece must be appropriate. Also unofficial weighted blankets may not even weigh the correct amount to have a benefit! You’ll also want to make sure your blanket is made from a fully breathable fabric. If you are under a 6.8kg blanket with a cover and it’s made from nylon you’ll be waking up in a pool of sweat! You just can’t cut corners when it comes to weighted blankets, if you want the full rewards of the product for your medical issues, but the Xalm 100 day risk free trial is an ideal way to find out if, like me, weighted blankets could work for you. If you go ahead and start your new Xalm sleep journey, let me know on Instagram how you get on.

A Peek Inside The Pages of the Spring/Summer 1980 Argos Catalogue

This week it’s my birthday, I’m almost, but not quite forty, as I was born in August 1980. I was trying to think of a cool birthday themed post, and thought to myself, “I wonder if I could find some pages of the 1980 Summer Argos Catalogue online somewhere?”. You know, the catalogue that was current when I was born.

I know the traditional thing is to find the copy of the newspaper that was printed the day you were born, but I do tend to do things a bit differently here at The World of Kitsch. Well, I Googled it, and someone called Retro Mash has scanned in the entire Spring/Summer 1980 Argos Book, in excellent quality too.

There aren’t very many toy pages to peruse, which is disappointing, I guess for full hits of major nostalgia you’d have to hunt down catalogues from 1985 onwards, but there are toys I do remember from being a toddler. So many memories… it really doesn’t seem like almost four decades ago…

Marks & Spencer Little Shop - Miniature Collectable Versions of Their Classic Food Hall Products: And They Are Free! (One With Every £20 Spent)

M&S Little Shop quite possibly has to be my favourite thing they’ve launched all 2019 so far, and it’s not even edible. My secondary school aged son and I are both older than the intended age bracket for this fantastic educational, fun venture, but both of us got a little carried away when we came across all the Little Shop products in our local M&S a week or so ago.

In fact he bought himself a tiny M&S replica trolley, and I bought myself a miniature shopping basket, as they were £3 each and we both thought they were too cool to pass up. Our local store had the full Little Shop display that day, with the accessories which go along with the blind bags which are given out, one free with every £20 you spend in the Food Hall.

Little Shop is a fun and educational event for kids (& big kids alike) where you can collect 25 different miniatures of classic Food Hall products. There’s Percy Pig, Cauliflower Popcorn, and the famous favourite Prawn Cocktail Sandwich. Each little miniature comes with a collector’s card with information about the product. For example if it’s fresh produce it could tell you where in the U.K. or Ireland Marks and Spencer sources it.

There is also a dedicated Little Shop corner of the M&S website, with more for kids to learn about sustainability or print out and play games related to the Little Shop theme.

The 25 products are blind bag items, so you will maybe have doubles, but there have been Swap Shops set up for this very occasion! M&S are having in store Little Shop Swap Meets where you can finally gets your hands on that tin of tuna, or bottle of freshly squeezed orange juice, and they are listed in every region of the country- including Northern Ireland! Full listing here.

The Little Shop world plans to be around until about mid-September, but I did spy on the FAQs section that they say if you have an idea for a product that would make a good miniature version, to let them know… so some how I don’t think this will be the final set of tiny takeaways for my trolley.

In the meantime, I still need the Little Shop loaf, the curry, the pizza……

Lobster Lights, She-Ra Crystals & Twee Tea For All - My Picks of the Hurn & Hurn Summer Sale

Hurn & Hurn is a quirky little homeware online store I stumbled upon this year and bought myself a faux taxidermy ram’s head for a ridiculously decent price. Their 2019 summer sale is on now so I’ve taken a look and picked out some of the items I think are pretty cool.

String lights have been a trend for a while now, and we’ve seen everything from flamingoes to lollipops, but I’ve never seen light up lobsters. For £14.40 you can have your very own Lobster menagerie for the kitchen, dining room, or to decorate outdoors during summer BBQs. I love them.

Hurn & Hurn are stockists of a brand I’ve known of for at least ten years now, as I had one of their handbags around the time my son was a baby. Pip Studio have sweet pastel design teapots, cups and platters in the sale here, with prices starting at £9.00.

The duck egg blue serving tray is reduced to £16.50. Dare I say it, but you could even stock up on some Christmas presents in this sale.

The sale also is packed with amazing natural crystal agate stones, like the bright tea light holders, the second image in from the left. They are tea light holders which were £50 and are now £25. I love the bright pink colour. All the crystals make me think of She-Ra for some reason! I’m not a crystal type of person, but these are tempting me! The furthest right image is also a set of tea light holders, in purple for £25.

The first image on the left, is a huge purple geode ornament for £22.78. The central image is a set of pink crystal coasters, for £17.39, and the last image are bookends for £19.46.

My last pick is the Curious Cat & Bird Bookend Set which is £31.49. I encourage you to go visit the sale as there are dozens more products that may take your fancy.

Vacation or Staycation, The Original Factory Shop Has Got You Covered & For Up To 70% Less on Big Brands!

Hat £6 : Bag £6 : sunglasses £4 : inflaTable £4 : Towel £8

The World of Kitsch has been around for while now, but would you believe that my blog turns ten years old at the start of August this year? Someone else celebrating a big birthday is The Original Factory Shop, who are a splendid fifty years old this 2019, with their first store opening way back in the swinging sixties; they’ve been bringing the U.K. bargains ever since. So with our celebratory coincidence, it’s exciting that I’m partnering with them for the first time to share my favourite finds from their Bangor shop’s summer line.

The Original Factory Shop, if you’ve never visited a branch, has a simple premise, big brands in fashion, beauty and home, at up to 70% off. That means your local store will have a little bit of everything. From clothing for all the family, including brands like Rocket Dog, Wrangler, Nike & Adidas, to electric items for the whole home from well known brands, to make-up from brands like Barry M, Rimmel and Revlon. There’s soft furnishings, gardening bits and bobs, children’s toys, and even food and drink. The best part, it’s discounted and cheaper than you’ll find in most other supermarkets or bigger chain stores.

I popped in to The Original Factory Shop in Bangor this morning and took a voyage of discovery around their huge store to choose from the plentiful summer range and show you what you can save money on for your holiday checklist. Speaking of checklists, The Original Factory Shop even has you covered for that. So you won’t forget to pick up or pack the Factor 50, the sunglasses or the phone chargers, their current special offer leaflet very cleverly includes a holiday checklist. There’s also a printable version on their website.

As you can see, I spotted summer staples like sandals and swimsuits, sunscreen, and aftersun, but also lots of items if like me you’re spending your holidays at home this year- like the bright and breezy raincoats.

One of my favourite picks from my bargain haul has to be the huge, luxury towel, top photo, which was £8 but can be bought mix and match with other prints two for £14. There are flamingo print, rainbow prints, floral prints, but I chose the tongue in cheek ‘Reserved’ design, which will keep your pool-side sun lounger safe all day long. Sticking with the top photograph, I chose the gorgeous navy straw hat. It was only £6, but again it’s available in an offer of two for £10 and comes in a classic cream straw colour-way. I’ll be using mine for keeping shady when I’m gardening. Ditto the big brand purchase of my haul, the £4 Foster Grants’ sunglasses I scooped, RRP £10.

Still with that top picture, I couldn’t resist that stripy beach bag and it was only £6. For that price it also zips closed, which is so handy if you are taking it to the real life actual beach. It’s amazing how easily things can go missing in the sand. Lastly, I’m sure you spied that inflatable doughnut, it comes in pink or brown and is only £4. The Original Factory Shop has many more pool floats, plus paddling pools for your garden, and water pistols. It’s always worth checking their special buys to see what’s in store.

Thinking of poolside, the Bangor store had swimwear for everyone in the family, but I have to talk about this style of swimsuit I found, because it’s the cut I wear when I would swim regularly at Aurora two years ago and the number of times I would be asked by other women where could they find that sort of costume… I could have made a fortune on commission let’s put it that way! So hopefully anyone who has been looking for this style of swimsuit will stumble upon this post, because more modest, cover up swim wear is hard to come by, and sometimes it just feels more comfortable to be a little more covered. These swimsuits have a little skirt, which isn’t clingy and doesn’t weigh you down when you swim. There’s also tummy control and loose fabric around the stomach area. I was a size fourteen when I was swimming and wearing my one, and I’m a size ten now and would still wear these designs of suits, so it isn’t really about size, it’s about feeling comfortable. Anyway, The Original Factory Shop Bangor had a couple of different colours in the suits, as well as more traditional swimwear for ladies of course.

Gold Top £10 : Magnetic Door £5

Going back to my picks, I chose a sunny, golden yellow top with contrasting navy detailing, which was RRP £20, but £10 here. I love the crochet effect, it’s very retro and yet on trend. I was saying to the manager as we were checking out that I will have to call back during the week and stock up from their fashion department, as they have such a great selection of jeggings. I spied a pair of jeggings in a bluebell baby-blue colour that I’ve never seen anywhere else, so I’m going to call back and buy those for sure. Also a much needed ‘staycation’ item, and something I’ve been looking for all over, so maybe you have too- a Magnetic Screen Door. I’m in and out non-stop watering my plants and gardening, so I’ve needed one of these since last year and not been able to find one. This one was only £5 and has a stylish Mediterranean tile design.

Back to those jetting off for their summer break, and if you are looking for luggage, The Original Factory Shop has plenty of options there too. There’s branded luggage, cabin baggage, great deals and even personalised cases in store.

Travel set £5 : fan £2

You’ll also find your family’s sun care at a great price, with the big brands at a discounted amount for sunscreen, aftersun, and tanning lotions. I picked up a travel ready Malibu set for £5 with three different products inside, sun lotion, and aloe Vera gel, and a dry oil. I also got a handy battery powered hand fan for £2, with batteries included.

Lastly I chose some more staycation goodies, and The Original Factory Shop has a wealth of items for your summer BBQs and parties. There’s lots of paper partywear, and plastic plates and cups at great prices. I found this ‘Aloha!’ Water dispenser which will work great for making up my son’s Kool Aid he likes to buy, and it’s only £3. You could make some really nice summer mockfails in this and chill in the fridge with ice cubes.

Water DispeNser £3 : napkins £1 : straws £1

I also grabbed the matching napkins and straws because I love the tiki flair of the green monstera leaves. I’ll bring them along to the next family BBQ. You’ll also find garden games like croquet, badminton, and more in store to get prepped for a family afternoon in the back garden.

So now it’s time to explore your local The Original Factory Shop, check out where your nearest one is, and see what treasures you can find. Stock up for your summer holiday for up to 70% less, or get some bits and bobs for your staycation like me.

M&S’s Pan Fry Range Will Transform You Into a Super Summer Stir-Fry Chef, Plus New Street Food Wraps and Salads

Beef burrito £3.30 : Southern Fried ChiCKen £3

A little bit of a mixed bag of what’s new from Marks and Spencer this month, as I like to show you what catches my eye in store from the new launches, as well as products I think are nifty. I’ve two ranges I want to tell you about, the first being found in the sandwich aisle.

Marks & Spencer’s ‘sandwich aisle’ is a bit of a misnomer, certainly an understatement, as my local Bloomfield Bangor store’s sarnie fridge is home to wraps, artisan sausage rolls, protein pots, quinoa salads, regular salads, vegan options of all of the previous, and more varieties of sushi than you can shake a chopstick at.

The latest addition to their luncheon menu is a Street Food range. Inspired by food stalls in markets around the globe, the new items include some absolute flavour favourites like a Beef Burrito Wrap for £3.30, or Southern Fried Chicken for £3. There are also vegetarian options like the Veggie Falafel & Spinach Wrap with Feta Dressing £3, and a Veggie Samosa you could enjoy either hot or cold for lunch for £1.50.

Other Street Food sandwiches include Katsu Chicken £3, Chicken Vindaloo £3, and Hog Roast, which has a pork, sage & onion stuffing filling, for £2.80. Why I mention the stuffing is that with a little tweak at home (or your office desk!) by whipping out a jar of cranberry sauce, you could DIY a ‘Christmas in July Sandwich’.

There are also some fresh recipes from this range if you like an M&S salad on your lunch break. Bang Bang Prawn Noodle Salad is a Vietnamese inspired dish with a spicy peanut & coconut dressing. There’s also an Indian Style Spiced Chicken Salad, Both are £4 each. Street Food also has a vegan option, the Roast Butternut & Tabbouleh Salad, for £3.50.

I also picked up a couple of their Super Waters, which are priced between £1.50 and £2 a bottle. I chose the Watermelon & Lime flavour infused with Protein & Collagen, and the Apple & Elderflower which has Vitamins C,B3,B5,B6 and B12.

Teriyaki Beef £4 : Fajita chicken £3

Moving on from lunch, to dinner. I enjoy cooking, but I don’t often follow recipes, I’m very much a chef of two disciplines- 1. throw it all in the oven, or 2. throw it all in the pan. So when I was browsing the aisles of the Food Hall and spied this range, I’m not sure if it’s brand new, but I hadn’t noticed it before, and it’s right up my street.

The Pan Fry range has beef, chicken and lamb options for stir frying, which come complete with pre-cut veg and sauce and seasonings. All you need to do with the pack is follow the three or four step instructions on the labelling.

Tandoori lamb £6 : coconut & lime chicken £3.50

You can make a quick meal for two in minutes, and add the side of your choice. No washing and chopping veg, marinading meat, it’s all there ready to go. Ideal for busy folks, or those who just would like a hand in the kitchen.

Even better, they are really well priced. The Fajita Chicken pack is only £3, which you would struggle to find chicken, veg and seasoning for two for less than that yourself. The Teriyaki Beef costs £4, with the Coconut & Lime Chicken at £3.50, and the Tandoori Lamb Chops for £6.

A stir fry makes a great summer dinner, and with these M&S tricks up your sleeve, you’ll have more time to enjoy the sun and not be stuck in the kitchen.

Karen Mabon Does Crufts, Cakes & Cowboys in Her Summer 2019 Collection

It wouldn’t be The World of Kitsch without checking in on what the new Karen Mabon silk scarf collection has in store for the season, and for summer 2019 she has added even more variety with umbrellas and shirts adorned with some of her classic designs too.

The shirts, like Karen’s iconic scarves, are 100% silk. The summer collection sees shirts in print favourites like ‘Breakfast at Tiffany’s’, ‘Garden of Earthly Delights’, ‘Lucky Cat in Olive Green’ and ‘Tiger Blossom’, as worn by Kate Hudson, and seen on screen worn by Elizabeth Gillies in Netflix’s Dynasty.

The postcard mosaic ‘Wish You Were Here’ design has also transformed into a sleek shirt, for sophisticated travellers, as has the very apt ‘Fashion’ print, which was originally a small silk scarf in two colour-ways sold both on Karen’s store and in Anthropologie.

There’s also a brand new print for summer 2019 for the silk shirts, ‘Bookworm’ which has dozens of book covers illustrated in pretty summer tones (below middle photo).

Three fresh scarves for the summer collection, first a silk and wool blend in a long wrap style, ‘Vegetable Plot’ is pastel violet with hopping bunnies. Next is ‘Bake Off’ decorated with busy bakers on a production line making buns, cakes, treats and sweets so very tempting that this scarf is sure to be a sell out.

The last of the early summer 2019 scarves comes in three colour-ways and is on the lower price range for one of Karen’s pieces at only £55. ‘Rodeo’ is a Wild West themed cowboy print available in red, orange or lilac.

There may of course be some surprise pieces added to the summer line as July and August progress, you never know what Karen has up her stylish sleeve. To be in the know it’s best to keep her close at hand by following her on Instagram, where you’ll also be able to catch sneak peaks behind the design process, and follow Miss Mabon on her adventures to fashion shows and exhibitions all over the country, and fashion world!

Lastly, there’s a new addition to the Karen Mabon family, umbrellas! The ‘Tutti Frutti’ umbrella has a tiger print and features Karen’s traditional colourful style. I think it’s my favourite piece out of the new summer collection.