Sweet Shit Round Up
Small Businesses and Best Buys of 2021
Black Friday is here which means it’s also the last Friday of November which also also means it’s time for a round up!
It’s been a minute since we last had a Sweet Shit Round Up around these parts so I’m excited to get back into it. But in honor of the busiest shopping weekend and season of the year, I’ve decided to use this round up as an exclusive product and Small Business round up for all you fine readers who might be on the look out for cool things and places to buy gifts this year.
I’ve broken this list into three categories: small businesses I’ve discovered this year and/or bought something from for the first time, small businesses that I haven’t bought from yet but hope to soon, and finally, a list of the best items I’ve bought from Amazon in 2021. Yes, I know that buying from Amazon is kind of the antithesis of wanting to support small businesses but ya’ll…sometimes Amazon just has the shit you want or need for a price you can afford.
So if you’re somebody who likes to get their shop on for the holidays, enjoy some of my favorites from 2021 and maybe you’ll get to find yourself a new favorite too!
*I am in no way affiliated with the small businesses I’m about to discuss below and have not been paid or gifted in any way for including them or their products on this list. I am, however, an affiliate with Amazon meaning if you buy something from one of my Amazon links I will make a commission at no cost to you. You can read more about that HERE!*
Small Businesses I’ve Discovered/Bought From for the First Time
Okay so these things are genius. Remember those like springy coil bracelets with keys you’d see your teacher wearing in school? Well these are like a nicer version of that! They’re a simple bracelet made of silicone in a bunch of different styles and colors with a keyring attached. Then you can attach your keys or id case or whatever might hook onto that keyring and be able to go hands free in style!
Who are these best for? Parents juggling bags and babies, people going to the gym and wanting to keep it minimal, office people and teachers who have to keep keys and ids handy. They’re an easy, affordable gift for anyone on your list.
Black Friday Deal: Three FREE stacking bracelets with a $35 purchase
Imagine a world where you didn’t have to worry about finding those awful travel size bottles to put your toiletries in when you’re traveling. Well, that can exist for you if you make the switch to Cadence! Cadence capsules are these small, magnetic, jars that allow you to store anything from jewelry to shampoo to breath mints. I bought a bundle of six over the summer and got to try them out on my anniversary weekend away. I filled them with all of my bathroom essentials like shampoo, conditioner, cleanser, and lotion and ya’ll…they held way more than I could have guessed. Like, I filled them pretty full and was still using the product out of each of them for at least an extra week after we got home from our weekend trip. They didn’t leak and the inside stayed dry even while they sat in the shower. My favorite part is the ability to leave them magnetized to each other to keep them organized. There’s a variety of colors and there is a list of options to print on the label up top to identify what you’ve put inside.
Who are these best for? People who like to be organized when they travel or with their day to day essentials or anyone who is into sustainability (they’re made of recycled plastic.)
Black Friday Deal: 25% off site wide with code Maketheswitch
Instagram’s targeted ads got me on this one ya’ll. I started seeing ads for these bright, colorful, travel bags that can be carried like a suitcase, worn like shoulder bag, or, the main selling point for me, as a backpack. I finally bit the bullet and bought two of their Go-Bags (the Small size, which is like the medium of their three Go-Bag sizes) one each for Jonathan and I. We used them on our weekend trip just to try them out and I really liked them. They were roomy enough for all of our stuff and could probably fit even more if we had used our packing cubes. I LOVED being able to wear it as a backpack but will admit that the way the straps hit on my arms was a tad bothersome but nothing unmanageable.
Who are these best for? Travelers who like a bag with versatility.
Black Friday Deal: Nothing that I can see but they do typically give free domestic shipping for orders over $50 and are currently giving a free gift with purchase over $150 while supplies last
Handbags are my kryptonite and Brandon Blackwood makes some nice handbags. He really came to my attention when his ‘End Systemic Racism’ bags hit the market in July 2020 and celebrities and every day people alike were posting them all over social media. Due to his popularity, Blackwood’s bags are often sold out quickly but I was able to pick up one of his Kendrick Trunks on a preorder over the summer and I’m really glad I did. This is the kind of bag that makes you feel Classy with a capital C. I’ve only been able to use it once so far (at a funeral no less) but I got a surprising amount of compliments on it for the occasion. It’s really just such a beautiful bag and I’d probably buy another in the future if my budget permits.
Who are these best for? Bag carriers who want to feel Fancy, people who want to carry a bag but don’t need one that hold a lot of stuff.
Black Friday Deal: Nothing of note but I do think he has a release of two new bags coming today
I’ve never really been a tights girl, probably because the second you pull them down to pee the first time they never pull up right again. But then this year I came across Snagtights, a Scotland based tights company that sells opaques, semi-opaques, patterned, fishnets, and all kinds of other things for sizes 2-34. They claimed to not roll down and to be relatively snag proof (though they are tights of course so don’t expect them to be totally snag proof) so I bought a bunch of colors to give them a whirl. They’re great. They’re warm, they’re beautiful colors, AND they don’t roll down all the time…they’re awesome! I’ve done several orders this year and so far highly recommend. They do take a few weeks to get here from the UK but I haven’t had any trouble with the deliveries, definitely order far enough in advance if you want them for a special occasion though.
Who are these best for? - Anyone! These are great for so many sizes and have enough styles, colors, and patterns that I think most people could find something they love. Snagtights also sells chub rub shorts so fellow chub rub sufferers would probably be about it.
Black Friday Deals: Snagtights has a regular deal of getting 10% off your order of 3 pairs of tights or more OR 15% off your order of 6 pairs of tights or more (I bet you can see how I ended up with so many so quickly) so they don’t other sales.
Small Businesses I Hope To Buy From Soon
Image Credit: AAKS
More handbags! These beautiful bags are hand woven in Ghana and come in so many shapes, colors, and sizes. They’re intricate and detailed in a way not many mainstream bags are and I can’t wait to add one to my collection in the future.
Black Friday Deals: None from what I could see at the time of writing
I literally just stumbled on this brand in the last month thanks to the Black Owned Everything Instagram and their clothing is beautiful. There is this gorgeous orange trench coat that looks great on the model and I get heart eyes every time I see it.
Black Friday Deals: 30% off of everything with code BLACKTK21
Image Credit: Rufescent Lips
A girl can’t have too many red lipsticks, right? If you’re on the hunt for the perfect red for the holidays, Rufescent Lips might be the perfect site for you. They focus on exclusively making red lipsticks, especially shades that look good on women (or lipstick wearing men) of color.
Black Friday Deals: None that I can see at the time of writing
Donald Stanley is a UK based dress business where they custom make each piece to your specific measurements. You pick the style of dress, the length, the neckline, and, maybe most importantly, the fabric/print you like and they’ll whip you up a dress and send it to your home. I think they can be really lovely and look flattering on every model I’ve seen them on so I hope to grab one for myself soon.
Black Friday Deals: 30% off all prints until midnight November 26th
Best Amazon Buys of 2021
-This damn thing has really killed it this year. Jonathan picked one up over the summer and I swear to god he’s used it every day since while I use it probably once a week or two. We’ve shown it to everyone, made everybody try it, and even influence my mom to buy one for herself and my dad to put one on his Christmas list. If you’ve got sore or achey muscles but can’t afford to get professional massages weekly, get yourself a massage gun!
- I love this bag and apparently so did everyone else. I got so many compliments from readers and real life friends and family alike and it was probably my most clicked Amazon link of the year. It’s small, it’s summery, and it’s a cute statement piece for a spring or summer outfit. Or just rock a rattan bag all year, there are no rules!
- Exercising is one of those necessary evils that we all have to do eventually but if you can find something you don’t loathe entirely it makes a world of difference. That thing in this house is this rowing machine. We got it in August and it’s a rowing machine that uses water in a tank as the resistance for the rowing strokes. It’s low impact so my knees don’t hurt when I use it and I always leave the machine feeling like I actually did something good and not like I hate everything in the world.
- Gotta get that water intake, bruh! It takes practically an entire Brita pitcher to fill it but you’re gonna get hydrated af and that’s a good thing…even if all the peeing is exhausting.
- If you’re gonna be working out and wanna check those vitals AND like the look of the Apple Watch but don’t have that Apple Watch kind of money you should look into Amazon’s Amazfit 2. I typically wear mine only when I exercise but Jonathan wears his constantly and loves it. He can get his texts on his phone, the battery life is impressive, and allegedly it’s waterproof so you can wear it in the pool but neither of us has been brave enough to try it yet (plus that means we’d have to change the watch bands and no one has time for that.)
- All lamps should be touch lamps, I said it. When we needed new bedside lamps, Jonathan found these little guys that also have two USB ports so we could directly plug our phone chargers into them. They’re pretty bright for their size, they have three light settings, and they don’t take up a lot of space. Worth every penny.
- Jonathan’s a/c in his car hasn’t worked in years but this year, he picked up these fans to get the air moving a little more directly on him while he drives and they were kind of a life saver during those hot as hell months.
What small businesses did you discover and love this year? Give them a shout out in the comments below and let me know if you check out anything on my list!