New Puppy ish...

Ok, so maybe I haven't got a new fluffy, panty, loyal puppy (I wish), but I've got the next best thing.. A very kitsch china version! My mum picked this cutie up in a charity shop whilst I was in Bath a couple of weekends ago, she sent me a picture of him and I fell in love..

Some things are just so wrong that they're right and I am first to admit that my new little pup is well and truly firm in that category. He may not be able to play fetch, but he does looks adorable on my dresser. I wouldn't say this is his permanent home for the moment - he does fit in well with the white, pretty theme, however he compliments silver and chrome very well, so I'm contemplating giving him a new home else where. 

What do you think or my new pup and have you guys got any items that fit in the "so wrong it's right" category, I'd love to know?

xxx

Family Weekend

A few snaps of my weekend, had two of my older brothers down for their Birthday's, along they brought girlfriends, wives and sons. A very busy weekend full of food, laughs and champagne...

Hope you all had a super weekend xxx

Wrapping Presents For A Guy

Just a quick post today - I thought I'd show you how I wrapped my brothers Birthday present. It was his Birthday last week, but as him and his girlfriend have come down today I thought I'd save it for him to open when he visits. This is just a really simple idea that can be done with stuff you may have around the house, or you can pick up pretty cheaply from DIY's and charity shops.

So this is roughly what you need, obviously you can adapt things, or take bits away.. but this is what I've used - 

A long piece of twine - Any good DIY

Scissors 

Tape

Large labels - Bailey's Home store 

Map - Charity shop

Stamps - Bailey's Home store

I took the map and opened it out, you want to cut the front cover off.. don't worry if it's not neat, it's very easy to cover up dodgy cutting. Lay the gift on the map, and use it as you would wrapping paper. The creases in the paper help if your wrapping something quite square or with edges, you can get really neat folds. I then took a good length of twine and tied it around the gift, fastening it with a simple knot. 

So here's the final product, I've layered two presents on each other, but you can work it how you like and feel will work best for your gifts. To finish it off I've added a large label - you could use small labels, or make one yourself out of card board, an old gift tag, or even a post card. I stamped onto the label using my go to stamps, it just adds a personal touch or a nice little message. Looking back on these pictures, I wish I stuck a postage stamp on the label, think it would've looked quite cute, sticking with the maps and travel theme. 

There you have it, a quick, easy and affordable way of wrapping a gift for the men in our lives. Have you got any fun wrapping ideas? 

xxx

I've Been Shopping #3

I seem to have acquired quite a few new bits and pieces over the past couple of weeks - I think it's because Summer 2012 has officially ended in the UK, now Autumn is well and truly on its way. I so much prefer Autumn dressing than Summer, I'm definitely more of a boots and fur kinda' girl than, hot pants and bikinis. I thought I'd share with you some bit's bought by me and my mum, she has a brilliant eye when it comes to looking for interesting pieces.

I first spotted these Massimo Dutti boots whilst in Paris last month, as it was boiling hot the thought of buying winter boots didn't really bode well with me. So I left them, but me being me, I couldn't stop thinking about them, so with my car boot earnings I ordered them and I absolutely adore them. I can't say I'm a massive shoe/boot person, so for me to be in love with a pair of shoes is big news. They literally go with everything - jeans, skirts, dresses. Just perfect for Autumn...

My mum found this leather bucket bag in a vintage shop last weekend. It's such an unusual shape. We both loved the fact it's so warn in, the leather looks so soft, making the bag feel quite relaxed. Like shoes, I'm also quite fussy with bags, I have about four that I switch between, and I rarely buy new ones, but this is fast becoming a new contender.

Also from the same vintage shop, which I'm yet to go to and I've only heard top notch things about is this old sailors pullover. If you've read a few of my other posts I mention a lot that I have a little obsession with anything nautical, so this literally is a dream item. If you look closely at the top right photo, you can see that it even still has he who ever it was that once owned this was name. Things like this I adore - there's nothing better than having clothes in your wardrobe with stories and memories behind them.

Have you guys found anything cool lately, or any great vintage/charity shops? I'd love to know...

xxx

Weekend In Bath

Bank Holiday weekends always leave me feeling completely off kilter.. I never know what day it is. It's a Tuesday evening and it feels like a Sunday in mid November. The past 5 days have been a complete blur - Friday I had a speed awareness test.. with my dad (don't ask), Saturday was Em's 21st Birthday party (she loved the present) then a very hungover Sunday we went to see Charlotte Church and finally early Monday morning me and Mat went to Bath for a night. We had a super time shopping, eating and checking out the history of the City, it really is a beautiful place to visit.. Here's just a snippet of the trip.

I sadly am a dunse when it comes to camera memory cards so didn't have much space to take endless snaps. I got a few goodun's of The Roman Baths, and a quick mosey round The Crescent. Had a lovely time despite the faux pas with my camera.

 I hope you enjoy the few pictures I took and had a lovely relaxing Bank Holiday yourselves, will look forward to posting about some interesting bits I've picked up the past couple of days and reading all your blog posts I've missed out on...

Harri xxx

Happy 21st Birthday Em x

This will possibly be the girliest, pinkest, sparkliest post you will see on this blog - It's one of my best friends Emily's 21st Birthday party tonight, and it was my job to buy and wrap the present. A job that I well and truly loved. I love nothing more than buying presents, wrapping them and buying all the novelty Birthday bits, I go crazy for it. Em is one of the girliest girls I know, she loves anything pink and sparkly, which made it great fun for me to pick out presents - I thought I'd share with you what I bought and how I wrapped it...

The lid holding the presents came from old packaging from a candle box, we often keep these around the house and use them for storage. They're usually pretty sturdy and come in nice colours or prints - you can also always cover them in wrapping paper or prints if you fancy a change. I picked up the "E" In Clintons in the sale, It was only as a little bit of decoration, but it'll make a nice Christmas decoration or to hang on her door. 

The presents were bought by all my friends, we each chip in and take turns on who actually goes and buys the gifts. I knew Em really wanted a charm for her Thomas Sabo bracelet, so I bought her the little 21, they always come in a cute box too. I picked her up two nail polishes, one was the blue sparkly Barry M and a minty Miss Sporty one, the pretty ring I found in Primark, also were the twinkly nail files. I really wanted to get some pink chocolate to add to the gift, my mum found these princess mints and the Angelina ballerina lolly (see the first pic, it's poking out the top).. everyone needs sweets on their Birthday!

Do you guys like wrapping and giving presents? Have you bought anyone nice recently?

 Ahh.. right I better get off and give the Birthday girlie her presents, hope she likes them :)

xxx

Retro Kitsch Kitchen Storage

I've had my eye on these kitchen storage jars for a while, I spotted them in one of the charity shops in my local town. This particular shop is probably my favourite - it's well merchandised, you don't have to sift through the crap, they put the good stuff out, but with this I've learnt the key is, if you see something great buy it when you see it. So many times I have mulled over something and when I've come back to buy, it's been sold.

I originally only wanted the Pasta pot, I think it's so kitsch and fun, and for £2 you can't really go wrong. It's not like I'm a culinary goddess or anything, but these will look great in my the kitchen of my new university house, and pasta is my best dish (thanks Dolmio).

I couldn't resist buying the set of three, flour, coffee and biscuit jars, they like the Pasta pot are uber kitsch. I love the crayon yellow colour and the bold typeface, they will add an element of fun to any kitchen. I paid £4 for the three of them, a complete bargain, for something that you definitely won't find anywhere else. 

It's definitely worth looking around charity shops if your after kitchen storage for a new house, if your a student like me and wanting something cool, but cheap, or your just wanting a little re-vamp. You can find some really quirky bits, that are so affordable, and affordable enough that if it breaks, it hasn't broken your bank. These jars would make a suitable home for cutlery, tea bags (my Uni essential), pens, utensils, anything! Just remember, it doesn't have to hold what it says on the tin...

I hope you like my new finds, let me know what you think, or if you've found anything quirky recently?

xxxx