Welcome to the UK, Smiggle!

I was pretty excited when I was asked to look at some Smiggle products ahead of their first UK store launch at Westfield Stratford on 20th February. Firstly because it was my first ever PR sample and secondly, I can't get enough of cute stationery, I just wish I had more time to put it to good use.


I've always got time for a mechanical pencil and those highlighters are scented. ♥
An amalgamation of 'smile' and 'giggle', Smiggle was born in Melbourne, Australia in 2003, and they're all about fun pens, notebooks and gadgets. With their first UK store opening in a matter of days and stores in Reading, Brighton and Kingston due to follow by the end of March, Smiggle are looking to make stationery exciting again!




I was really impressed with all the products I was sent, without a bad word to say about any of them really, even if that cute mouse calculator seems to have run out of batteries (I really wanted to write boobies on it for the photos). How great is that gel pen case? Definitely brought me back to being 10 and my obsession with smell gels, it was a bit of a shame that the gel pen in my favourite colour was a leaker but I think that's kind of part of the nostalgia too.




My favourites were easily the headphones, I wasn't expecting much but they're actually brilliant. Maybe I don't know too much about audio but I know everything I've listened to with them has been clear with the just the right amount of depth, making any song from Kanye to Taylor Swift (plus artists and bands I actually listen to) sound great.

I'm really willing Smiggle to do well, I mean, I still have love for Paperchase but it's nice to see a change and I'll definitely be heading to their Reading store once it opens if I can't make it to Westfield Stratford before then.

What do you think of Smiggle? Are you a bit of a stationery-fiend too?

You can keep up with Smiggle on all the usual social media platforms like Twitter, Facebook, Youtube and Instagram ahead of their big launch on Thursday and if you can't wait until then, you can have a preview of their products over on their Australian site.

*All products sent as a PR sample for review; views are my own.

Basic Appreciation.

I've found that going shopping with Moon, if he's not in the right mood, can make me feel a little rushed, so it was nice when he was away a few weeks ago to get in a good few hours of quality shopping alone-time. I have been trying to have a clear out, but in doing so, I manage to have gotten rid of kind of tatty but essential things - here is where H&M was my friend.

Maybe I'm growing up or something but I am finding that having a few go-to items is a little more satisfying than flimsy fashion pieces, I'm always going to be a little all over the place though, at least, I'm not ready to be a sophisticated grown up all the time just yet.


1. Cable Knit, £24.99 – I'm totally missing my faithful chunky knit teal cardigan so this was an adequate replacement, and will be great for Ireland next week. It's really soft and comfortable and I can definitely see myself wearing it heaps more once the season changes.

2. Cotton Harem Trousers, £14.99 – I was pretty big on these a few years ago, until I said goodbye to them after ruining my final pair at Glastonbury 2011, so much mud... I can't decide if these are acceptable to wear outdoors really, they're far to comfy to not be day-pyjamas. I'll admit they're not the most attractive trousers but they do for pottering around the garden. I'd love to know what you think about harem pants, and what to wear with them, I'm feeling a little stumped.

3. Green Leggings, £7.99 – Nice to have a change every now and then. I had steered clear of H&M's leggings for a little while because they were really thick and chunky, these ones are pretty nice though and a lot of their coloured ones seem to be like this too, I may have to pick up a few more. I mainly got these because it came to my attention that I pretty much only have black leggings now, anyone else remember when H&M did the coolest crazy leggings, I was all over those.

4. Yellow Skater Skirt, £14.99 – I've been unsure about skater skirts for a while, but this one isn't as short as the rest I've seen usually seem to be. I just really like the colour, yellow is one of my favourites and I really don't think I have enough of it in my wardrobe at the moment. One bad point about this skirt is that it is slightly see-through, which I don't think will be as much of an issue when it gets cooler and I can layer up but isn't something I'm too happy about at the moment.


Have you been stocking up on awkward Summer/Autumn clothing yet, or am I little early?
I blame the unpredictable weather, I miss the heatwave.

Lemon Dinosaur.

Here's what I wore to Dot-to-Dot Festival on Saturday, I went for being a little sunshiney to match the weather (who would have guessed this was just a few days ago?). My hair is entering an awkward phase where it doesn't quite know what it's up to - I think I want to grow it out again but having it shorter is so much easier. I think I kind of like having my hair done like this but would love some tips on how to make it stay this way for longer than a few hours; it seemed low maintenance at the time but ended up needing adjusting every hour before I finally gave up at around 5 o'clock.

I love this lemon-patterned dress, it's definitely one of my best Primark finds ever, I've had it for a couple of years now and it's still going, it does have a tendency to get a little 'boobie' but I can live with that for such a great, summery pattern.


Cardigan: H&M
Necklace: Designosaur
Dress: Primark (about 2 years ago)]
Belt: New Look (with skirt)
Tights: Primark
Shoes: Converse



I really am not happy with these shoes at all, I felt like I was walking around on painful blisters all day, not really painful but just painful enough to be annoying. Not great considering they're coming up to two years old and have been worn loads of times. I miss my turquoise Converse, which I stupidly threw away after coming back from Ireland, they were the comfiest shoes and the best colour.

...And now it's back to covering up in my parka, here's hoping there will be nicer weather by the time Glastonbury rolls around in a few weeks. I might just start dressing the opposite the what the weather dictates and stay summery, but it's so much easier to be floaty and bright when the sun is out, nothing really feels like an effort. I don't mean to complain about the weather so much and I know the rain is good for my garden, but I just want the days to feel longer and to be able to have teatime outside...

Vouchercloud: Summer Fashion Tips

Lovely Ben from vouchercloud got in touch with me after reading my post about 30 Ways to Save £1 and asked if it would be cool to do a guest post. I guess it's not something I'd ever really thought about before, but definitely something I'd be willing to consider in the future, if it's relevant, obviously. So here's a quick little piece about some must-haves for men and women now that the weather is picking up and it's time for ice cream and getting accidental sunburn (I'm okay with flip flops though(!)).
Be sure to check out the great offers on Boden vouchercloud have on at the moment, the perfect site to follow up these tips with.

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Summer is the time to make a statement and one of the best ways to do this is through your wardrobe. Ruth has given me the opportunity to provide some of the hottest fashion trends under the sun this summer for both sexes, so don your sunglasses and bring out the floral dresses. You never know, we might even get some sunshine.

For the ladies
Monochrome – One of this summer’s early favourites is monochrome, which is basically rocking an entire outfit in black and white. The catwalks have been dominated by sleek and sexy monochrome garments and the stars of entertainment have been getting into the swing of things too, with the likes of Kate Middleton, Carey Mulligan and Emma Stone all adopting the look on the red carpet.
The main attraction of monochrome is what you can do with it. Stripes are also big this summer so you could go for a striped dress with a leather jacket or a smart cream jacket over dark leggings/tights with heels.


Floral Print – This design is as popular as ever with dresses, silk shirts and even shoes with floral patterns. Many see floral as the true festival look, which is always complimented by a pair of sunglasses. Floral skirts are especially popular this season.

Summer Sunnies – It is really down to personal preference when it comes to sunglasses. You have the classic Ray Bans, aviators and a host of new designs and styles, including cat eye and decoration. Cat eye sunglasses adopt a classic 50s style with rising peaked frames making you stand out from the crowd. Decoration styled glasses bring out the Lady Gaga in you, with bright and bold designs and colours attached to the frames.

For the chaps:
Gingham Check Shirts – These can be worn in long-sleeve and short-sleeve, but personally I would recommend the short-sleeve option if the sun is shining. Designers have produced a wide range of styles and colours and dependent on your style, you can opt to button up to the neck or open the collar. Gingham check shirts look great with a pair of lightweight indigo denim shorts or trousers.

Pastels – These soft colours are brilliant either as shorts and tee-shirts or as a lightweight trousers and jacket look. Pastels also allow you to show off your shiny metallic watch or bracelet and work really well with a pair of bold dark Ray Bans.


Kicks – Flip flops are out, so don’t even consider it unless you are on a beach in Cornwall. Daps will go well with most summer outfits but don’t just get any old generic cheap pair, Vans have a great range of flats with or without thick soles. Alternatively summer brogues are a good option with pastels but don’t go for these with shorts, it’s far too bold!


So there you have it. No excuses to look dull this summer. Enjoy your sunny days and free time while looking your best this season.

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Author Bio: Ben Walker is an SEO thought-leader at vouchercloud, who specialises in digital content, relationship management and fashion.

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What I Wore: Kitsune

Here is an outfit from last weekend. Do you ever buy things together without intending for them to be worn together? That's exactly what happened to me on Saturday, I picked up this bargain dress from Primark for just £5 after seeing Becky from Becky Bedbug's post about it - without ready-access to a Primark nowadays, I do tend to rely on blogs to know when decent things are in. This cute shirt was from the men's section but I couldn't see a boy wearing this 'for truesies', I love it though, mainly because I find animal prints completely irresistible.

I paired it with my pretend school shoes because I thought it was a little schooley, especially with the additon of my Flapper Girl lady tie. It could have done with being a little warmer and a little less windy, but I'll definitely be wearing this combination a lot - and I basically only put it together because I was in an 'I need to wear everything I just bought' kind of mood.


Cardigan: PacSun
Shirt: Primark
Lady Tie: Flapper Girl
Dress: Primark
Belt: Primark
Tights: Primark
Socks: New Look
Shoes: Schuh



Eeep! Such a cute little print ♥


I'm not too happy about how these have faded, not sure they're polishable because of their colour, definitely calls for some research!
They're super comfy though!

What I Wore: Criss Cross.

15/04/2013

Dress: Etsy
Necklace: Designosaur
Belt: eBay
Tights: Primark
Shoes: Converse

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This is what I wore to work on Monday, I really like it, I didn't even have to wear a cardigan when I lef the house it made me feel so bright and sunshiney. Now it feels like the weather is finally getting better, I feel like I want to make the effort to dress up a bit more. I've just discovered this dress again and it's been such a while since I last wore it. I love the shape, it's so flattering and different from other styles I have, plus it's my favourite colour and goes so well with my Converse.
It's a shame these tights get so baggy because they're such a great colour, I guess that's the problem with Primark tights sometimes, I usually find that the thicker they are the worse this problem is.

Stay Smart.

So, when payday rolled around at the beginning of the month I treated myself to a couple of pairs of new shoes - in addition to a bargain £3 pair of leopard print Primark pumps. I wanted some shoes that were a little smarter than the trainers I've been knocking around in (but they had to be kind of ugly too).


Left:// Red or Dead, Schuh
Right:// Office

I've been after a pair of schooly sandals for ages but hadn't seen any that had really made me want to part with my money, this green pair from Red or Dead were a great decision though. They're so comfortable and didn't need any wearing in, which I'm so glad about due to the price tag. I always find it's a bit of a bummer when you spend a bit more money on shoes than you would like only to have them rub your feet for weeks. I'm really looking forward to wearing these minus socks if it ever decides to get warmer(!)

These tapestry flatforms were a real steal at just £13.50, they are a tiny bit bigger than advertised but I still really like them as they're completely different from any other pair of shoes I own. Are flatforms still a big deal? I've found it pretty hard to find a pair that have the right balance of ugly and neat. I'm keeping my fingers crossed that once I wear them in a little more they won't slip so easily off my feet when I'm walking because that's a bit of a problem at the moment.

Have you picked up any pretty ugly shoes recently? I'm a big fan.

Tuesday Tabs #36

I feel like this week's going to be a good one but I'm super sleepy already and it's only Tuesday! I'm starting to feel more and more festive as the real countdown for Christmas draws in, how about you? I'm really looking forward to payday weekend already, with the promise of a trip to Ikea for decorations, I'm excited.

Here are some of my favourite finds from the last couple of weeks ♥.

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["Hunters: Charks an' Kittehs" by Kozyndan]

When we were in Brighton at the weekend we saw this print in real life in Art Republic, at £62 a month thanks to the Own Art scheme, I must admit I was really tempted, it was just so huge. Isn't it the best though, that beautiful oriental print and cats, perfect. Kozyndan consist of husband and wife team Kozy and Dan (geddit?), actually before seeing this print and looking it up later I actually saw I'd seen some of their other work before and love it then too. I really like their style and if I had a whole spare wall I'd make this mine.

The video for Mumford & Sons new single, 'Lover of the Light' is beautifully shot. It's always kind of satisfying to see the video for a song you've been hearing for a long time. I remember how great this sounded when I heard it at my first Glastonbury, and I can't wait to hear it again when I see them in Portsmouth on Thursday.

[Urban Outfitters]

A new throw is something I'd really like soon as the current one is a little worse for wear. We're thinking of getting a new sofa in the new year hopefully one that won't really need a throw though so I'm umming and ahhing over how much I really like this one, but those bicycles sure are cute.

[Gemma Correll]
Gemma Correll perfectly summing up how I feel most mornings at the moment.


[Shanalogic]
I like these because my cat hates coasters and I love meme cats.


[Ligamentum]

I love these rustic wooden napkin rings, I wouldn't allow myself these until we had a nice dining table though (and napkins, obviously).

[Gracey May]


[Pretty Dreamer]


[Rob Ryan]
I think Rob Ryan should just do everything, there I said it.


[River Island]
I want to wear more clothes made out of fabric like this.

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Tumbleweed Houses — I was sent the website for these neat tiny houses by lovely reader, Laura, aren't they cute? I think I'd definitely prefer a smaller home to a larger one.

Kaylah's Brooch Collection — I love Kaylah from The Dainty Squid's posts about her collections and they really make me wish I had a hobby. Her photos of her brooches definitely made me a little envious, she has as many adorable brooches as she does dresses.

Stickygram — I had plans to talk about my Stickygrams in a proper blog post at the weekend but it's so easy to run out of daylight for decent photos that I'm going to hold it off for a bit. I think you should still see them though, they're so neat, basically you connect your Instagram account and for just $14.99 - and super-speedy delivery - you can have a set of 9 of your photos on adorable square magnets, a must have and a great stocking filler idea.

For Luna — The prettiest retro swimwear.

Felt Christmas Ornaments — Really simple but effective Christmas decoration DIY, I'm so tempted to make a huge one.

Cookies & Cream Marshmallow Bars — These are really high up on my must-make list. Making anything with Oreos is always so easy and tasty.