ETSY.COM - Etsy Items of the Week #1

Etsy.com is a site with hundreds of cute handmade and vintage items. I love trawling through the different shops for handmade jewellery, stoneware mugs, tea towels, pillows and all sorts of nic-nacs. As well as selling my own stuff on an Etsy shop, GarnishedVarnish, I thought I'd put my obsession to good use. Each Sunday I am going to post my picks of the week from Etsy which will be great inspiration if you are looking for a gift or even a little treat for yourself. I might also include things of the site Folksy.com which is a kinda of Etsy-esque marketplace. I realise this will be quite a good insight into what I am shopping for at the moment! Demi and I are moving into together for our last year of uni so I have been searching for cute items like pillows, throws, mugs and even egg holders...

SO let me begin:


Etsy Items of the Week #1 




PILLOW POODLE FRIEND

I love things in houses that make people look even if they don't like it. These pillows are a bit weird and out-there but they have a quirky charm that I love. I especially love the dog ones. I think the people pillows might creep me out a little too much!








THREE STAR EAR PINS

These earrings are a bit different and I always get stuck trying to fill three piercings with earrings that go together. These would also make a cute pressie.

CUDDLE COFFEE MUG

I have a bit of a weirdo obsession with mugs. I am a massive tea addict and I don't know why but stoneware mugs make the tea taste that bit better. This mug has a smaller top which keeps the liquid in it hotter for longer. All round winner!

TURQUOISE MINT DROP EARRINGS

These earrings are gorgeous and a massive statement. The turquoise stone pops next to the gold. I'm sure they'd make any girl stand out in the crowd!

AFTERNOON TEA CUSHION

In my search for some cushions for my new flat I found this little delight. Super chic and cute and £10 is to much of a hefty price tag either!

I hope you've enjoyed and look out for my etsy obsessions next week!

Alex xxxx

My Birthday Wish List!

So it's my birthday in less than a month and, apart from me, the rest of my family hate surprises. This means if I want any presents I have to make a massive list that is circulated amongst everyone with gifts they can choose to get me. I suppose it means everything I get, I like, but I also like surprises. So I thought I would turn my present hunt into a blog post and give other girls some good ideas for their own birthday presents!

At the moment I'm loving little rope bracelets and have yet to get myself one. Urban Outfitters do some like the one below which are pretty inexpensive at £8. I also love this one off Etsy.          
                           

     

I also really like these sunglasses for £16 which I have tried on several times!

Carrying on with everything UO I saw this bag in one of the London stores over Christmas and fell in love. I have yet to acquire the money to buy it but might ask the grandpadres! 

I wanted a kind of bright but daytime wearable lipstick. I think Craving by MAC is perfect as a toned down raspberry shade.

My friends and family know how much I like painting my nails so I though I had to include a mini nail set on my list. I love this one by Jessica and also this Nails Inc one. Both seem perfect for spring and summer! 

I really want something small to boost the sound of my laptop and my dad actually has one of these. They are definitely worth the money.

If you are stuck for any other ideas this website, www.notonthehighstreet.com , has some really cute gifts that can be personalised.

Hope this has helped if you are just as stuck as me!

Alex xx

Homemade Christmas Gifts: Chilli Jam

As a big foodie I'll take any opportunity to cook so when thinking of a cute Christmas gift for the grandparents I decided I was going to cook it!

This chilli jam is so easy to make and goes well with plenty of different cheeses, meats and would also taste great on salmon.

You can find the recipe here: http://www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/8257/sweet-chilli-jam

Also google "food gift recipes" for plenty more ideas from truffles, to chutneys, and even marinated goats cheese (interesting...)

Alex x

Christmas Gifts: Have you been naughty or nice?

For those who know me well you will know how unbelievably excited I am about Christmas this year. I have got into the spirt of things early as Christmas cards were out by the 1st of December (Ok, very keen).

For those who don't know me, I will warn you I haven't been this excited about Christmas in a long time! I think it may be down to the fact that after a hard term back at University I can't wait to unwind in the warmth with my family and friends.

What have you all asked Santa for this year? I'm sure if your like me and have run out of the obvious luxuries such as Make-Up and Perfume these will be high up on your lists...

I just thought I would share some of the goodies I have on my wish list for Christmas 2012

Miss Dior Eau de Parfum, it is utterly delicious!

 

You can find Miss Dior in most places such as Boots, John Lewis, Fenwicks... The cute bottle makes it even nice and I have a sneaky suspicion I am on to a winner here!

 

 

 

Another pressie that I have had my eye on is this uber cool bedding from Urban Outfitters. I can't say no to a floral pattern and this black and white number is no exception. It is a bit of a twist on the usual girly florals...

 



 

This bedding would look perfect on my bed up here at uni, plus some cool fairy lights and we've got the perfect combination... Which brings me to my next most wanted gift.

 

The Fairly Lights!!!

 

I did have some really pretty ones but they broke on me... so therefore I have asked for a new set. John Lewis have great selection, especially with Christmas around the corner. Some of the lights can double up as christmas tree lights as well as room decorations for all year round. Here is a picture of some that I have on my list this year...

 

 

So for those of you that haven't been as keen as me this year, hopefully this post gets you thinking about what you would like from Santa (Mum, Grandad, boyfriend, friend etc.).

 

 

Enjoy xo 

The Present Problem?

As for myself, it is coming to the time when a lot of my friends are leaving their teens,the first year of the 20's and hitting that milestone of TWENTY ONE! This poses me with a great problem, the present problem to be exact. 

What to buy for a 21st? Do you splash the cash and blow it on the expressive gift? OR Do we stick to a sentimental sort of budget? 

Here's some of my suggestions for some 21st Birthday Present Ideas (both blow it and budget)

For the Blow it sort of present, I think nothing says Happy 21st better than a bottle of Champers... 

John Lewis do some lovely gifts, for girl friends, add that special touch of a Rose Champagne, here is one I found when searching today...

Bollinger Rose Ice Tube Champagne Gift- £60

For the Classic Blow-out and a keeper present (suggest splitting the cost of this with other friends as we are not made of money) but this gorgeous black patent Vivienne Westwood Purse is a lovely gift and good enough quality to stand the test of time. 

Vivienne Westwood Classic Patent Purse in Black- £125

Some ideas for the sentimental sort of budget, what about a memory book. If your like me and have known a lot of your friends since the start of school, I'm sure you have a lot of funny pictures dating back to the time of Bebo that you can fill a memory book with. Its a great gift and really shows that you have put thought into the present. On the plus it also doesn't break the bank, get your prit-stick and scissors at the ready... 

Here's a 21st Memory Book that you could fill with fun pics! stockist: www.gorgeousgifts.co.uk - £23

Another gift which I have received myself in the past, and is really cute is this range of Lolita wine glasses that again John Lewis stocks, here is 'Birthday Girl' one. Also what I like about this range of glasses is that under the bottom of the glass there is a recipe for a 'Birthday Girl' cocktail which is quite fun!

Lolita 'Birthday Girl' Wine Class- £18

So here's just a few suggestions of 21st Birthday ideas, I have many birthdays coming up so shall be using some of these ideas. Hope this helps any of you with the same problem. It just goes to show you don't have to spend a fortune on a fabulous gift! 

Enjoy xo Demi 

JolieBox - September and October

For the last two months I have received a JolieBox. Now for anyone who doesn't know what this is, it is a members-only beauty club where each month you receive a luxury beauty box consisting of 4 to 5 exclusive, handpicked beauty samples. Normally you get one full size product as well. This is a great way, if like me, you love to try new beauty products. However, ultimately it is quite hit and miss because you never know what you are getting. It also costs £10 a month + P&P.

From the two boxes I have had so far there have definitely been some things I liked and some I really didn't! For example, the 'full size' product in the first box was a pack of two hair ties! While I really liked them as they were a bit different, I don't think these should classify as 'full-sized' products. However, I received a sample of Redken straightening lotion as well and it was a very large sample that I reckon will last me a good couple of months. Also, they sometimes do lifestyle products like last month when I got some LOVE tea samples which were little muslin cloth tea bags and so cute.

The box is a different colour each month

Some of the products from the September and October boxes

The actual box is really pretty and useful for stuff afterwards like jewellery and bits & bobs. The stuff comes in side a cute little drawstring bag as well.

Along with the box you also get a JolieMag which has beauty news in it which I always find quite interesting.

I am going to try one more box then I think my student budget will have had enough but if your interested I'd suggest trying it for a month and see what you think. PLUS, you usually get an extra full-sized product in your first box just for joining.

There are other companies that offer the same thing like GlossyBox but it is worth seeing what product companies each is affiliated with to see the kinda samples you will get each month. JolieBox seems to be more skincare than makeup but they were affiliated with OPI and had been known to give full size samples which I think sounded good. I may try a glossybox in a couple months to compare the two and do another post.

I may do an actual box review next month so keep an eye out!

Alex xx