At My Desk: My Home Office

#OfficeInspo! As a freelancer, my office is, literally, in my spare room. Take a peep at how I'm styling my home office. 

Ever since I moved into my new flat in September, I've been itching to give my readers a tour and to show you how I've styled my home. However, in reality, it's taken me quite a long time to really get into adding all the little touches that make it worth sharing. It took me 6 months to even get myself a coffee table! Fast-forward to June, and it's finally starting to look like my own. 

My office is my unused spare room. It's actually the slowest room in terms of progress, and it's still half empty (apart from various boxes, laundry, and my spin bike), but I'm starting to really love my desk setup so I thought I'd take you on a little tour of my work corner, and show you where I spend my days.

Not gonna lie, sometimes I don't even work in here - it's very tempting to flop down on the sofa on my Chromebook, or even work from my bed if I'm having a bad endometriosis day, but my office is so lovely and bright and I definitely feel more motivated and productive when I work at my desk. Especially now that I have plenty of plants and pretty things to go on it.

The Key Elements

My desk itself is the IKEA Micke. If I remained true to my heart I'd have gone for a chunky rustic reclaimed wood-style desk top, but I don't have the budget for what I really want so I deferred to my inner handbag basic and went for the pristine white IKEA option. And I do really love it. The drawers are lovely and huge so I can stash plenty of snacks and stationary without my workspace being cluttered. My current chair is also an IKEA buy, but only a temporary measure, so not really worth mentioning - although, I will say that, for a basic, folding chair, it is surprisingly comfy and I'm happy to work all day on it.

I work on a 2015 iMac, which I definitely prefer now to a PC and would never switch back. I was so happy when I made this purchase, I could have cried. I'd been making do with a knackered old Windows laptop that was completely fried from 4 years of university, and I really wanted something that would catapult me into my new freelance career and do everything I needed it to do. It also allows me to sync everything up with my clients, as most of our shared documents and calendars are in iCloud. 

The Wall Art

This is something I'm still working on, as this room is still very much a shell, compared to other rooms in my home. However, I recently came across the perfect focal piece on an impromptu trip to Dunelm. As an ex-Londoner, I do still crave the city from time to time, so this Canvas Map of London (£16.99) just jumped out at me. 

I find it so understated, yet fascinating. I keep looking at it and reliving so many fond memories of my home and University in Greenwich, and travels around the city. It's the perfect colour scheme too, as it has a touch of neutral gold running through it. It also matches my University of Greenwich map notepad perfectly! 

I also have my degree certification framed on the wall by my desk, as well as this motivational quote print. I felt like I had to have one of those. I think I'd have to hand in my blogging card if I didn't!

The Little Touches

Copper Basket - Primark

Copper Plated Standing Photo Frame - £5 Dunelm
(Inspirational photo of my gorgeous Dad not included, obvs)

Rose Gold 2018 Diary - Tu at Sainsbury's

Mini Succulent (part of a pack of 3) - IKEA

Mini Cacti (part of a pack of 3) - Sainsbury's

Himalayan Salt Lamp - £15 Amazon 

Harry Potter Mouse Mat - Etsy

Daily Gratitude Journal - £18 Happi Empire via NOTHS

It was so important to me to have a photo of my Dad at my desk. He was so instrumental in helping me through my degree an getting me to where I wanted to be career-wise, and I hate that he's no longer here to see me progress. He gave me endless inspiration, and believed in me when I was losing the will to live over my dissertation and wanted to jack it all in. I love this little copper photo frame, and having Dad here will help me stay focused and not procrastinate - he'd be kicking my arse 7 ways to Sunday if he thought I was slacking. 

The other notable accessory here is my Himalayan Salt Lamp. I've been a convert to salt lamps for a few years now and I now have one in pretty much every room. I just love how soothing they are and they really help with my anxiety - of which a lot is related to work. I can't be doing with bright, fluro lamps, which tend to leave me agitated and on the way to a migraine, so the warm glow of the salt lamp is exactly what I need if I'm working in the evening. It certainly helps me fall asleep quicker after staring at a computer screen all afternoon. 

Plants

There HAD to be plants! I've always been a lover of houseplants, but I think I'm now the latest recruit to the 'crazy plant lady' tribe. Once I started I couldn't stop. I have 3 plants in here at the moment, but I'm sure more will find their way in. I just find them so beautiful and now I just have this need to be surrounded by them. On my desk, I have my mini Dracaena, which I picked up on a whim while at the Garden Centre in Matlock one weekend, and this cute little mini succulent from IKEA. 

The crowning plant glory in the office so far is this Calathia, which was also from Matlock Garden Centre. I keep it in the office because I kept freaking me out at night when I put it in my bedroom. As a prayer plant, they rustle at night as they close up for the evening, and again in the morning when they unfold to receive the light again. 

What's Missing?

Eventually in here I would like a sofa-bed (because it's customary to have somewhere for visitors to sleep when they stay over) a rug, and some sort of shelving unit to display books, folders, and some more of my plants on. I'm also thinking of adding a little coffee table so that I can see clients in here eventually. Once all these things have been added (along with the rest of the plants) I'll be doing an update to this post to show you the finished result.

So, that's my office so far. It's still a work in progress, but I'm so pleased with how it's progressing that I had to share my desk space with you all. I can't wait to show you the rest of my home!

What finishing touches do you have in your office?

Pinspiration | Office Goals

I've been working for myself from home for almost a year now and I absolutely love it. Granted, my current living situation is a little 'unfortunate' and I don't have complete control over my workspace yet - I'm still working on boosting my finances since graduating from university and currently bunking in with my parents - but I've managed to carve out a little office space for myself in the guest bedroom and am currently trying to make it my own. I'm also dreaming of the office I'm going to have once I've finally got the deposit for my own house together. As always, I've turned to Pinterest for ideas and inspiration and thought I'd paint you a picture today of my dream office using Pins...

(Note - embedded pins may not show up on mobile devices so switch to web-view)

Colours

My dream office is full of flowers, books, efficient storage and lots of natural light (which my current dark space is seriously lacking). As a general rule in my home decor, I like a combination of white, wood and neutral, soft colours, mixed in with metallics. I find bright colours really distracting in an office environment, and I'm very easily distracted when I'm writing. The slightest thing can throw me off and make me lose my thread.

Desk

My current desk is the IKEA Micke. I chose it because it also provides me with a white backdrop for blog photography when I need it. In an ideal world I'd probably choose a pale wood finish for my desk-top, but I love IKEA for their affordable, functional options, and the drawers in the Micke mean that my surfaces don't get cluttered and plenty of room for my hoard of office snacks.

Storage

I love shelves. Historically I've always favoured floating shelves in either white or pale wood (see above), but recently I've started coming around to the idea of shelving units and bookcases. Eventually, I'd like my home office to also be a place where I can come to relax and read, so all my books will be kept there and I believe books should always be on display. Although drawer space is important to me, and I detest a cluttered workspace, I'm not keen on having too many drawers, so well-organised shelves are a must.

Lighting 

In my head, the windows in my office of dreams are going to be huge. Due to chronic fatigue syndrome, a dark room makes me sluggish and drowsy and no amount of vitamin D is going to compensate for lack of natural light. While I know in my heart of hearts that having my desk face out of a window will seriously affect my productivity, it's nice to dream. My current office lighting is a bit slap-dash, as the room gets almost no natural light whatsoever, but I've put a himalayan salt lamp* in there for a soft, pink glow while I work because I find the artificial glare of most desk-lamps too harsh.

Decor

I love the idea of having a feature wall in my home office, with interesting prints or art on it, while leaving other walls more minimal. I'd love to do a DIY job or giant pinboard, using various prints and quotes, but I also really love the idea of a large world map canvas. I'm working with a client at the moment that makes the most beautiful wall maps and murals (they made the map wallpaper featured in this pin - although I'd style it completely differently myself) and I just know I'm going to cave in and buy one as soon as I've got somewhere to put it. That wasn't a shameless client plug by the way, I genuinely love their products, which makes my work even more awesome.

I could go on forever about all the things I *need* for the dream office I don't have yet, but if you want more office Pinspiration, you should definitely follow my board. I've been going mad on office pins lately! Once I've got my current little corner the way I like it, I'll probably follow with a photo-tour post.

I also love sneaking a peek into others' home offices, so if you have an office tour on your blog or channel, do link to it in the comments, and it'll probably end up on my board!!

What's in your dream home office?

*Affiliate link  (I purchased this product and absolutely adore it)

Yankee Christmas 2014: My Top Picks

Some animals hibernate during the winter... I hoard Yankee Candles. There's nothing better to me, when it's cold outside, than snuggling under a blanket with a good book and something sweet in my wax burner. Winter scents have always been my favourite. I love anything woody, spicy and comforting. I'm also a sucker for food-themed scents. 

Normally, come November, I'll hunt out a selection of wax tarts that tickle my fancy, try them all out and then decide which scents are worthy of a larger jar purchase. This year, Yankee Direct* have saved me the hassle of choosing and provided me with a gorgeous selection of this year's seasonal scents.

Christmas Garland: Pine and Cranberry

Silver Birch: Dry, spicy and woody

Bay Leaf Wreath: Bay leaves, orange and cedarwood

Candy Cane Lane: Peppermint, sweet cookies and vanilla icing

Icicles: Winter forest with pine and cinnamon

Angel's Wings: Spun sugar, flower petals and smooth vanilla

This was a really well thought out selection. They've included a bit of everything. Candy Cane Lane is brilliantly fresh and sweet, Silver Birch is everything I expect from a woody fragrance and Bay Leaf Wreath carries wonderfully through the house. I wasn't as convinced by Icicles (perhaps a bit 'soapy' for me) and Christmas Garland (I used to clean pubs so pine is usually a no-no for me hehe) but I didn't find any of them unpleasant. Angel's Wings is definitely this year's winner. It's fresh, floral and sweet all rolled into one and I MUST get the biggest jar I can find of it IMMEDIATELY! Other favourites from last winter include Snow In Love, Christmas Eve and Snowflake Cookie, all of which are still available this year. 

Yankee Direct are a discount stockist of all your favourite scents and have some great offers throughout the year, as well as at Christmas. Their wax tart bundles are amazing value and they're always super quick to ship so there's plenty of time left to order before Christmas. Yankee products make fantastic gifts! 

More info at www.yankeedirect.com

You can also find them on Twitter and Facebook

My Yankee Sale Purchase

This is only a snippet of my collective January Sales haul for 2014. I'm planning on doing my main Sales post next week as a job lot as I'm still waiting on a parcel. I haven't gone nuts this year so it will all fit into one but I wanted to bring you THIS post in advance, and all to itself, as it is the one I've been most excited about. I FINALLY got my mitts on a Large Yankee 'Snow in Love' jar candle. And I got it in the SALE too!! 

I picked up this badboy for £14.99 which is £4 off the RRP for a large Yankee jar. I actually made this purchase just before Christmas because I wanted to make sure this scent hadn't sold out by the time I got round to buying it. Luckily the Yankee sale had already begun by then and I got a bargain. 

Snow in Love was my ultimate favourite of the 2013 Festive collection from Yankee. I did do a little haul post not so long ago about all my favourite Yankee jars, tarts and votives for the 2013 season (you can find that Here) in which I declared this one the winner of my affections. I love it because it is woody, fresh and slightly sweet at the same time and is a scent that I feel I will enjoy all year round. It's such a refreshing change from your usual sweet, spicy Christmas fragrances (not that I don't adore those too, I might add, I'm burning Snowflake Cookie right now!)

I also took the liberty of ordering a couple of extra wax tarts in this fragrance just to be on the safe side. Sadly, as I write this post, it seems that Snow in Love has sold out in the Yankee sale BUT there are still many bargains to be had, from jar candles to votives or tarts. There are still some of the Christmas fragrances marked down.

Check out the remaining bargains at 

yankeecandle.co.uk

What were your fragrance winners over Christmas 2013?? Did you take advantage of the Yankee Sale??

Smells Like Christmas... Yankee Festive Fragrances

I don't know about you but Christmas isn't Christmas for me without a big Yankee Candle haul. I look forward to their Festive selections every year! It's now a tradition for me to go out and buy a massive selection of votives and wax tarts and then decide which one I love the most so i can go and grab a BIG jar. I've been absolutely obsessed in my quest for about the last month so I thought I'd show you my Yankee haul so far this year (my large jar won't be making its arrival until Christmas Day as it is a gift from my parents) and which fragrances are my favourite.

Wax Tarts....

Red Velvet: Not technically from the Christmas selection I suppose but I hadn't come across it before and popped it in with the others. Comforting, sugary and sweet and just what a cupcake fragrance should be. WINNER!

Cranberry Ice: Can't have Christmas without Cranberries can you? Yankee were dead right to pop this into their Festive mix this year. It's fruity but still has a bit of a sharp bite to it. 

Christmas Eve: This is up there on my favourites list. It's spicy, sweet yet mellow. I could burn this for hours! Too good to save until Christmas Eve itself in my opinion (I ended up getting 3 of these). 

Christmas Cookie: An oldie but still a goodie. I had to pick one of these up again this year as it was such a favourite last year. It never loses its charm. I burn this all year round! 

Snow in Love: This is my ultimate winner out of the bunch, and the one I have chosen for my large jar. I adore woody fragrances and this is just perfect. Clean, fresh and woody with a slight sweetness about it. Just like a walk in the snow with your special someone (I'm assuming haha). 

Fireside Treats...

I gave 'Merry Marshmallow' a miss this year, purely because I liked this one better and didn't feel that two marshmallow fragrances were called for. I opted to get a medium jar of Fireside Treats as I just found it a lovely, warm, sweet fragrance, just like grilled marshmallows! It's not the strongest of Yankee's scents and you stop noticing it after a while but it lingers in the room and, if you've been out and come back in, you walk back in and get a lovely sweet hit. 

Snowflake Cookie...

This was the runner up in the battle of large jar supremacy. To be honest it only really missed out because I've not been able to source any jar of this at all. It must be a popular one! I can see why though, as I actually prefer it in some ways to Christmas Cookie. It's just that little bit less stodgy and more fresh smelling.  Seen as I couldn't get my mitts on a jar I took the liberty of stocking up on wax tarts and votives in this scent.  It's given me the perfect excuse to christen my gorgous purple glass holders. They look so pretty in low light. 

So those were my Festive fragrance choices for 2013. No doubt I'll still be burning them in July (I've bought that many, I have multiples of most of the tarts featured in this post) which doesn't bother me in the slightest! I do it every year hahaha. 

I'm sure you all know where you can buy Yankee Candles by now BUT... Just a heads up that Yankee Online have some fantastic discounts at the moment, so it's well worth checking what they've got left (I think a couple of the Christmas Fragrances are sold out online now). And there's still time for delivery before Christmas!

www.yankeecandle.co.uk

Do you love Candles at Christmas?? Are Yankee a favourite of yours?? Which scents are you loving for Christmas 2013??

New Makeup Set-Up and Vintage French Storage

Good evening beauty seekers!!

A bit of a slow week last week on London Beauty Banter to say the least!! Two posts?? NOT good enough! I think May is going to be a bit of a funny one as I have Uni deadlines GALORE to get everything handed in and finally say BYE BYE to Derby University ready for Greenwich in September which I am REALLY looking forward to. Anyhow, today I have pulled my finger (and my camera) out big time and had an afternoon of photography so that this week will not be quite so barren. 

Today I want to talk about something a bit different. I've not done many storage posts since I moved to London as my stuff has just been EVERYWHERE while I've figured out my new room and furniture etc etc. However, thanks to a gorgeous new edition from the lovely people over at Out There Interiors, I finally got the kick up the backside I needed to sort out my Vanity once and for all!!

So there it is....

My Vanity is actually a study desk which doesn't have a chair haha (probably why I don't get much studying done to be fair). Still, it's an improvement on a ferret cage, which you can actually see through the mirror haha, which is what I was using before!

My Vanity Consists of:

Brush Holders - These are various mugs and plant pots that I've picked up from Pound Shops over the last few months. They're cheap and work really well. I use the larger pot for my face brushes (and also nail files, hair brushes and suchlike) and the smaller mug for eye, liner, and brow brushes. 

Cath Kidston Makeup Bag (eBay) - I got this really cheaply. I can't find the exact one today to link you to but if you look Here there are lots of similar ones still on sale for very good prices. This has mostly pencils and liners in it along with my most used mascaras.

Mirror (Argos £12.99) -  I've only just got round to buying a proper vanity mirror. Before i was just using a hand mirror or my full length wall mirror because I didn't trust the ferrets not to climb up and knock it over (7yrs bad luck I could do without). Luckily they can't climb up to the new desk so I'm safe.

Scented Candles and Cupcake Scentsy Warmer* - Because I like to have things that smell nice and they just look pretty along with everything else. These ones are Neom 'Serenity' (Sandalwood and Vanilla), an M&Ms one from the Pound Shop and I currently have 'Apple Press' in my warmer. You can read more about my Scentsy warmer and fragrances in my post Here.

I'd also like to mention my homemade crochet doily that I put there just to break up the desk a bit because the wood looked boring haha. 

AND

Onto the Main Feature!!

Three Vintage French Style Vanity Boxes* from 'Out There' Interiors!!

Yes, I did a major SQUEE when these arrived. I'd been using mostly Glossyboxes as makeup storage in the past but they just don't have the WOW factor that these have! Plus they don't really hold much and were starting to get very tatty. THESE, however, as well as being visually stunning, are so roomy and very sturdy indeed! There are three sizes in the set and i use each to hold different items. They mainly hold the products I reach for the most. I do have some other shelves and drawers that hold makeup and skincare but those are still a work in progress and I don't use those items quite as much or they are a little too big to fit in these boxes. 

These boxes are just Vintage, Shabby Chic PERFECTION! I love how they have been made to look weathered and aged around the edges. The detailing is superb. The print is exactly what I go for and I'm in love with the ornate clasps. Inside they have a deep red velvety lining. They also fit LOADS in. Even the smallest box!

I'm going to take you through each box from top to bottom so you can see exactly what I have stashed in each.

The smallest box at the top is reserved for Nails Inc polishes. Nails Inc are my favourite nail brand of all time and I wanted to have my most-worn nail colours all in one place where I can just open it up and pick one out. My Seche Vite is in there too. I have another drawer full of other polishes as well (my stash seems to grow weekly just lately) but these are the ones that deserved a special place. 

The middle box is for blushers, highlighters and bronzers. Again, I have more, but these are the ones I reach for the most or have a special place in my heart (minus my BeneFit boxed blushes, as I feel they are too pretty to hide away). In here I have MAC, Illamasqua, NARS, Bourjois and a few others as well as my HD Brows palette.

Lastly, the big bucket-sized one in the bottom has my skincare, primers and foundations in it. Basically, anything that goes on my face. There is everything from moisturiser to serum to foundation to BB creams in here. Most notable at the moment for me are my Elemis Illuminating Flash Balm (Review Here) and my NARS Sheer Glow Foundation in Santa Fe (Review Here). Most of my cleansers and toners are permanently kept in the bathroom but these are the items I tend to switch it up with depending on how my skin is feeling. 

I'm so happy with my new storage. The boxes are so beautiful and just looking at them makes me happy. I also love that I'm now more organised with my makeup storage and that I know exactly what is in each box and that everything has it's correct place. I'm a Virgo, this makes me MAJOR happy! I really did go through a phase of tearing my hair out over my Vanity because it never looked or functioned the way I wanted it to.

These storage boxes retail for £49.99 which, for me, is at the higher end of what I could afford to spend on makeup storage but I guess it's only the same as a decently sized set of Muji and I'd definitely say they're worth every penny in their visual beauty alone!

You can find these storage boxes along with so many other stunning Vintage French Items at 

www.outthereinteriors.com

 

What's on YOUR Vanity?? What are your go-to solutions for storing your makeup?? Do you go crazy for Shabby Chic??

Popping my Scentsy Cherry

 

Something a bit different from me today! I'm no different from most of the beauty blogging community in that I ADORE scented candles. I share my room with two ferrets, who actually are not as horrendously stinky as one might assume and are kept very clean, but I always like to have something sweet and fruity lingering in the air, fuzzies or no fuzzies as it makes me feel all warm and happy inside. I'm a great fan of Yankee and Neom and all that jazz but, recently, a good friend of mine who just happens to be a Scentsy consultant made me a proposition I'd be foolish to refuse. She persuaded me to ditch my wick and give a flameless Scentsy warmer a try! She's ever so kindly sent me these items free of charge so that I can share them with you. 

Mid-Size Cupcake Scentsy Warmer - £35*

For those of you who are unfamiliar with the concept of a flameless wax warmer (not burner, nothing burning here), I'll give you a bit of a rundown of Scentsy's mission and how their products actually work. Basically, they aim to bring you beautiful, decorative, family/pet friendly products that will make your home smell AMAZING and that eliminate all the mess, fuss and sometimes danger that goes along with traditional flamed candles and wax burners. You know the one where you've left your Yankee jar too close to the wall and you end up with that massive black soot smear ten feet high.... Yeah THAT! 

The Scentsy warmer works by warming the ceramic tray from beneath by a single lightbulb. It plugs in at the wall, clicks on and off at the touch of a button and is pretty much child/pet/idiot proof! You just break a couple of blocks off whichever Scentsy bar you fancy (and there are many to choose from) and place them in the dish at the top. This Cupcake warmer also features a lid to make it extra secure. After a while, the blocks will begin to melt and the room will be filled with your delicious scent of choice!

There are so many different warmers to choose from of different sizes, shaped and designs. They are also perfect as gifts for weddings and also for newborns (a decorative and perfectly safe addition to the nursery). It really seems like a great investment and very eco friendly as you won't be left with an empty jar to get rid of every time.

Regular sized Scentsy Bars - £5 Each*

The Scents that Dawn has included for me to test drive are:

Vanilla Suede

I see from my brochure that this scent is actually featured as being perfect for MALE tastes.... Not sure what Dawn was getting at with that one or what that says about me hehehe. I did, however, specify beforehand that Vanilla and Sandalwood is my ultimate favourite scent. I have both Yankee and Neom varieties and I absolutely adore it! Vanilla Suede has both of these ingredients in abundance with the addition of rich amber and spices. 

Cherry Limeade

This is a featured scent for the new Spring/Summer season and is a delicious mix of key lime, cherry and berries. It smells just like fruity POP! Most scents that I tend to go for are food orientated to be honest. A calorie free way to satisfy a latent sweet tooth haha. Scentsy actually do a specific 'Corner Cafe' range of scents as well featuring everything from Baked Apple Pie to Lychee Sorbet! 

 (Seriously, I had so much fun taking and editing the photos for this post! Great excuse to make use of some spare cupcake print wrapping paper I had lying around!)

I have to say that I am extremely impressed with the quality of the product! The warmer is sturdy, melts the wax steadily and the scents fill the whole room without being too overpowering. I'll report back on how long they last for scentwise. I've been burning 2 blocks in the warmer for a couple of days now and haven't had to change them yet. I find Vanilla Suede so comforting. 

I also feel more confident to use the warmer when the ferrets are out and about as there is very little they can do to disturb it. The cord is a decent length and I've installed it on my vanity next to my makeup stash so that I can catch a whiff when I'm putting on or taking off my face.

I can't thank Dawn enough for giving me the chance to sample her wares!! You can browse and buy from Dawn's full catalogue online on her very own Scentsy website at nowick4uk.scentsy.co.uk or email her with any product questions at smellsheavenly@hotmail.co.uk. She's a lovely lady and a great friend and happy to help! I'd love it if you could show her some support.

Scentsy also offer an at-home service which is very similar to a handbag, Body Shop or naughty lingerie scenario so if you and your girls fancy a warm, relaxing evening in with a bottle of wine and some shopping then I'm sure Dawn can put you in touch with a Scentsy consultant in your area. I hear the hostess benefits are AMAZING!

Do you adore scented candles?? Would you consider swapping your Yankee?? Scentsy lovers, what are your ultimate Scentsy fragrances?? I need recommendations!!

Keeping Britain Shabby: Cath Kidston

Hello lovelies!!

Remember back in the day when IKEA, dramatically, ordered you all to "CHUCK OUT YOUR CHINTZ"?? To banish kitsch and floral in favour of minimalist and clean?? Swap your pastels for contrasting brights and hide your tea set away inside sleek, Swedish storage units?? I do. If you don't then here's the YouTube Link to the ad (circa 1996) for you all to have a giggle at. I take great pride in the knowledge that one woman has single-handedly laughed in their faces and, in recent years, has not only taken the world of home, decor and lifestyle by STORM, she has reclaimed British-ness for our bedrooms, kitchens and bathrooms and all the personality and character that goes with it. I am, of course, talking about the interior design powerhouse, Cath Kidston...

I was recently set a challenge by Amara.Co.Uk to tell them, and my lovely readers, WHY i love Cath Kidston so much.... But i fell a bit flat trying to put it into words. HOWEVER, i realised i was answering the wrong question. Rather than writing a whole post along the lines of "I love Cath Kidston because her things are pink and pretty" (which is, of course, a part of it), i've decided to tell you a bit about what Cath Kidston MEANS to me and how it makes me feel. The woman has, basically, reinvented an entire way of living incorporating nostalgia, vintage crafts and stunning prints for all ages. She's personally sparked a national obsession with what has now become known as 'Shabby Chic'. 

Cath, herself, describes her style as being of the 'Marmite' variety. In her opinion people either go nuts for it and have to have EVERYTHING or are completely repelled by it. Personally, i haven't come across ANYONE, male or female, who has expressed any significant dislike for it. 

Whenever i spot a piece of Cath Kidston in a shop window or online i automatically smile. The style just seems to evoke a warm, safe, homely feeling in me. Kind of like how i used to feel as a little girl when i used to stay at my nana's and loved how warm and snuggly the Eiderdown she used to put on my bed was. I don't know if it's purely psychological (probably) but i always feel physically warmer under a ditsy floral print duvet than i do from anything clean, crisp and plain. 

Aside from the warming factor, i find the colour palette Cath Kidston uses to be very calming and easy on the eye. It's easy to just sit back, surrounded by all that pastel loveliness, and just breathe out! With all these lovely feelings it's not surprising that i am currently trying to introduce the style into every area of my life. My travel makeup bag is Kidston (see previous post), my Oyster card wallet is Kidston, all my laptop and iPad wallpapers are Kidston.... you get where i'm going with this. It ain't easy though cos this lady isn't cheap (and rightly so) and my student budget is lowly at the best of times. 

Here are just a handful of the items on my 'Cath Kidston Lust List'...

Pink/Spot Duvet set in Provence Rose - (link)

Washed Roses Day Bag - (link)

White Printed Bathrobe - (link)

Trailing Floral Twin-Lid Sewing Basket - (link)

Crochet 'Knit in a Book' Tin - (link)

So, all in all, i reckon Cath Kidston has done a bang up job of taking the retro and outdated and reinventing it into something stylish, current and hugely popular within modern homes of all shapes and sizes. And as for IKEA?? Well i'm sure they're laughing all the way to the bank now, as they try and sell us back all the things they encouraged us to bin all those years ago. I hear that they too have jumped on the Shabby Chic bandwagon. The Swedish may have AMAZING meatballs, but they can't take away our British character!! So feel free to sit back and pop your homemade crochet teacosy on your floral teapot, relax and feel PROUD to be British!!

And I'll leave you with a, not so subtle, suggestion.....

Finding Homeware HEAVEN with Amara

Good evening my dears!

I little late night blogging for you tonight. Trying to get a few bits scheduled again for next week as i keep finding myself rather busy and exhausted lately, which is not conducive to effective blogging at all! Roll on the Xmas break from Uni!! I'm coming to you today to chat about a new website i have discovered recently. With my newfound love of handmade and shabby chic EVERYTHING, when i was contacted about the possibility of writing a piece for Amara.co.uk i just couldn't say no. Their site is like a little slice of HEAVEN to me!

I had a good rummage around the site, more or less the minute i found out about it. I'm not joking, EVERYTHING is absolutely stunning! They have every kind of bedding you could possibly dream of, beautiful furnishings to suit all tastes and a wide range of kitchen and tableware to get your culinary juices flowing! I've found so much inspiration from this website and am currently crocheting up a multitude of different cushions and throws (more to come on that on my other blog VERY soon). 

I was also lucky enough to be sent this STUNNING cushion by Pip Studio and i've completely fallen in love with it! I had been holding off on this post as i've ordered some new bedding which compliments it PERFECTLY, but it still hasn't arrived yet and i'm so excited to write about it that i've just gone ahead. 

This piece of art (yes i'm calling it that because it really is) is possibly the prettiest thing i own homewise at the moment. I just can't stop looking at it! Every time i do i see something different! From the music notes, to the little hearts, to the chinese pottery in the background. The print is so well thought out and different. Everyone who has seen a picture of it on Facebook or Instagram has commented how beautiful it is. 

This baby measures 45x45cm and is made from 100% cotton. The prices for Pip Studio's cushions ranges from £22 up to £49.99 depending on the style. 

Amara are stocking an extensive range of Pip Studio items. They include cushions, bedding, bath robes and tablewares amongst other things and all feature beautiful prints and patterns in gorgeous fabrics. Browse from up to 20 pages HERE. At the moment, as an extra incentive, if you sign up for their mailing list, Amara are offering 20% off your first order!

So now i am redesigning my whole room (and possibly my landlord's whole house) based on this cushion haha. I've found some amazing inspiration from Amara and, if my budget wasn't that of a student, i would definitely go a little wild on that site. For now, i am content admiring my cushion, but if you have a few spare pennies to spend on your home i'd say spend them at Amara. Items like this don't just brighten up your room, they brighten up your soul! 

What are your interior design inspirations?? Do prints get you going??