IWOOT Christmas Jumpers*

*[AD- Review. This post features products that were sent to me in exchange for a review. As always, all words, opinions, and photos are my own].

Christmas wouldn't be Christmas without wearing a fun Christmas jumper at every opportunity. We wear them to the Christmas lights switch on, curled up watching Christmas movies on the sofa, for decorating the tree, and of course, to embrace the festive spirit at the office Christmas party and on Christmas Day itself. They're now as much a part of Christmas as Christmas trees and mince pies, and I wouldn't have it any other way.

I don't know about you, but I love a good Christmas jumper, and own several I like to wear year after year to enjoy the festivities. Even so, I can never resist window shopping for new designs each Christmas to see what I can add to the collection, and when IWOOT got in touch and invited me to review a couple of Christmas jumpers for them, I naturally jumped at the chance.

IWOOT invited me to choose two jumpers to review from their extensive selection of Christmas jumpers, which was no easy task as they have hundreds of amazing designs to choose from this Christmas. Their designs cover everything from cult films like Harry Potter and Star Wars, to retro computer game characters and consoles like Super Mario and Nintendo; Christmas films like Home Alone, Elf, and National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation to Marvel and DC Comics' superheros, and cute festive motifs. No matter your tastes or interests, there's something for everybody, and you can even kit out the whole family as they do Christmas jumpers for men, women, and children!

I eventually narrowed down my favourites and chose two Christmas jumpers that I think you're going to love as much as I do. I was hoping to model them for you to show you how they fit, but I'm still recovering from a neck injury, so I've had to go with a few flatlays instead. Sorry guys.

My first choice was the Muppets Pattern Christmas Sweatshirt* in grey, which I think I was drawn to as The Muppets Christmas Carol has been one of my favourite Christmas films since 1993, when my Nana gave us a copy of the film on video for Christmas. It's been a staple part of my Christmases for nearly thirty years now, so it wouldn't be Christmas without watching it at least half a dozen times each December. It's a classic! I don't think I've ever seen a Muppets Christmas jumper before, though, so I was excited to see this design, and knew it was the one for me.

This officially licensed Disney sweatshirt features a white Christmas print with festive images like snowflakes, presents, Christmas trees, and Santa in his reindeer-led sleigh, and the colourful faces of everyone's favourite Muppets mixed in for good measure. There's Miss Piggy, Animal, Fozzi Bear, and Gonzo, plus Kermit in a Santa hat, and even a couple of baubles designed to look like Dr. Bunsen Honeydew. The design is so cute, and perfect for any Muppets fan- including my Mum, who has already attempted to steal it from me!

The sweatshirt is a lovely light grey and as it's made from 95% cotton and has a fleecy lining, it's super soft, and so warm and cosy to wear. It's a medium-thick sweatshirt, but not to thick, so it's the ideal Christmas jumper for keeping warm in without overheating. If grey isn't your thing, the sweatshirt also comes in black, and both colours are available for men and children, as well as women. The women's jumper comes in sizes XS to 5XL, which the size guide says translates to a UK 24. Knowing sweatshirts like these often come up a little on the small side and hoping for an over-sized fit, I decided to size up, and requested a 5XL, hoping it wouldn't be too big. I'm glad I did, as this sweatshirt is definitely at least a size smaller than advertised, and while it still has a relaxed, roomy fit on me, it's not over-sized and doesn't have a lot of room to spare around the hips. I think the size down would've been too snug for comfort, so I'd recommend sizing up at least once, if possible, especially if you prefer a slouchier fit.

The second Christmas jumper that I selected was the Friends Happy Holidays Women's Christmas Sweatshirt*, a thick white sweatshirt with a colourful illustration of Ross Geller dressed up as the Holiday Armadillo on a bright blue background across the chest. 

When I first laid eyes on this sweatshirt, I may have gotten a little overexcited, and knew this Christmas jumper had to come home with me. You just can't have Christmas without The Holiday Armadillo, your part Jewish friend for all the southern states, aaaand MEXICO! (And all the counties of the UK and Ireland, too, of course)! The episode is a Christmas classic and one I still enjoy watching every year because it's hilarious, and never fails to make me laugh.

In all the years since that episode was released, I have never seen a Holiday Armadillo Christmas jumper before, so this officially licensed Friends sweatshirt is so unique, and one you're unlikely to find every other person wearing at the office Christmas party... at least this year because everyone is going to want one when they see you wearing it! Luckily, the sweatshirt caters to both men and women in sizes XS to 5XL, so most people can join in the fun with you!

Like the Muppets sweatshirt, the Happy Holidays design is small sized, and I'd recommend sizing up at least once- if not twice- for a more comfortable fit. It's snug on the hips on me, even though I sized up from my usual size to a 5XL, and quite fitted everywhere else, too. Not quite the over-sized fit I was hoping for, although, it's still loose enough to wear comfortably. It's not quite as soft as the Muppets sweatshirt, either, but as it's made from 80% cotton, it's still soft and snugly and it's fleecy lining will keep you snug as a bug (or should that be an armadillo??) while you're Christmas shopping or strolling around the Christmas markets.

Both jumpers retail for a very reasonable £24.99 each, and they're currently on promotion for just £14.99, so now is the time to treat yourself to a new Christmas jumper for the holidays, and grab yourself a bargain.

If The Muppets or Friends aren't your thing, IWOOT have almost two thousand other Christmas jumper designs to choose from, featuring all kinds of popular movies, TV shows, cartoon characters, and more, and you can find their full range of Christmas jumpers here.

IWOOT have also kindly provided me with a discount code to share with you, so be sure to enter code XMASLOUISE at checkout to save yourself 30% off their range of Christmas jumpers!

What would feature on your perfect Christmas jumper?

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Blog Every Day in May Day Five: My Love and Devotion For My Best Friend

Today is day five of the May blogging challenge I'm currently participating in, and today's mission is to 'publically profess your love and devotion of one of your blogger friends. What makes them great? Why do you love them? If you don't have blogger friends, talk about a real life friend, or even a family member.'


Well, I've been fortunate enough to make some lovely blogger friends over the fourteen months I've been blogging here at Polka Spots and Freckle Dots HQ, but I don't want to choose between them for this post, so I'm going to write about my best friend instead. I feel a lot more comfortable singing her praises, and she's somebody who means the world to me.

Seeing Boyzone live in Liverpool in Feb 2011... when I was still a brunette. 

I have known my best friend, Angela, for nearly seventeen years, and she is one of the most incredible people I've ever been fortunate to know.

We've been best friends for a very long time, almost two thirds of our lives, and she's been there for me through thick and thin; through the good and the bad. She's provided me with so much support, love, friendship, and advice over the last seventeen years, and has been a huge support for me during my battle with my disc injuries. She's always able to make me smile and laugh when I feel down or unwell, and checks in regularly to find out how I'm doing; then talks for England, which takes my mind off the pain. I honestly couldn't have gotten through the last twenty months without her.

We met during our first week of secondary school as innocent eleven years olds, and soon bonded over our love of the boyband Boyzone. After that, we were inseparable and spent all our spare time obsessing over them, like teenagers do, until she moved back to Scotland a few years later. I was devastated when she moved, but we've never let the distance break our friendship. We've always remained in regular contact by phone and text, and by sending letters so long they could be mistaken as novels. And we've always met up with each other as often as possible, often to go to Boyzone and Ronan concerts, which we still go to together today. We've made so many brilliant memories together just from those concerts alone!

Angela is a strong soul, mentally and emotionally. Life has been far from easy for her in recent years, but no matter what she's going through, she always manages to keep her head held high, and keeps going with a smile on her face. I've always admired that about her. I really don't know where she finds the strength.

She's the most hard-working person I've ever known, and dedicates herself to everything she does, while being a devoted single Mother to her three year old son who is such a credit to her. He's intelligent beyond his years, well-mannered, and quick-witted, and she would sell the clothes off her back to provide for him if she had to. She adores her little boy, and she really is a fantastic Mum.

Angela is the type of person who stands up for what she believes in. She won't keep quiet, she says what needs to be said, and if anybody is in trouble in any way, she'll stand up and fight for them, too. She's always been a loyal friend, but she'll also help people she's just met, too. That's such a rare trait in this day and age! She's well liked and popular, and a friendly person who enjoys having fun; she always seems to be happy and smiling. She also happens to be gorgeous, with the most amazing huge blue eyes, and men fall at her feet. They always have done.

 She's embarking on a fresh start hundreds of miles from home this weekend, and I'm so proud of her for finding the courage to make changes to her life that are right for her and her son. I want her to be happy. My best friend means the world to me; in fact, she's more like a sister than a friend. She's family.