CHRISTMAS: Advent Calendars without chocolate?

Every year there seems to be more and more 'alternative' advent calendars to choose from. Forget chocolate or pictures, you can now get advent calendars filled with beauty products, alcohol, candles, puzzles, jewellery etc. This concept excites me greatly, I'm a massive Christmas fan and anyway of extending that excitement across the whole of December is ok with me. Generally the downside of these advent calendars is the price, too often they are very expensive for an 'advent calendar'. After searching the internet it's clear that the options are almost endless, so here's my quick guide to some of the choices. Starting with the cheapest...

Nutcracker Advent Charm Bracelet by Little Baby Company - notonthehighstreet - £16.95

Advent Christmas Tea Gift Set by Victoria Mae Designs - notonthehighstreet - £19.50

W7 Cosmetics Advent Calendar - TK Maxx - £19.99

Yankee Candle Advent Calendar 2014 - Yankee Candle - £21.99

No7 Beauty Calendar - Boots - £35 (Sold Out now)

Ciate Mini Mani Manor Advent Calendar - Ciate London - £49

12 Beers of Christmas by Best of British Beer - notonthehighstreet - £49.50

The Body Shop 24 Days of Joy - The Body Shop - £50

Elemis 12 Days of Beauty Gift Set - timetospa - £59.50

Jo Malone Advent Calendar - Harrods - £250

What would you want in an advent calendar?

I love the idea of having a new candle each day, especially when they are festive scents. I'd also love to have an advent calendar that had a different vouchers/gift cards in each day, so you can treat yourself when money is tight!

Helen x

WISHLIST: Autumn Home Accessories from notonthehighstreet

Making a house a home is always a personal target of mine. I love the home Tom and I have created together but as we rent at the moment we can't really make the house completely our home. There's the usual rental restrictions - limited number of items on the wall, can't change wall colours, carpet colours and everything has to be just as when you moved in. Completely understandable as you are in someone else's house at the end of the day but it doesn't stop a girl dreaming about what her perfect autumn house would look like....

'Deer' Cushions and Throw Collection

Whitewash Coat Hooks

Woods Silhouette Linen Lampshade

Copper Vase

Kiko Glass Frame

Penguin Print Hot Wheatabottle

Personalised Photo Block

 

Moroccan Style Lattice Candle Lantern

Alphabet Scented Candle

Oh the dream continues...

Do you like to make you home/bedroom all cosy for autumn?

Feel free to leave me a comment :)

Helen x



HOME: Spring Decor from notonthehighstreet

I absolutely love creating a 'home' for Tom and I - I say home because that's what a house becomes when there's love, care and attention paid to it and within it. Or I believe so anyway. Spring is all about fresh flowers, opening windows again, lighter colours and the good old 'spring clean'. Tom is a much neater person than me, I was always considered neat until I met Tom and now I'm considered messy (which I'm not!). I love the Spring time, it's so fresh and vibrant! It's like everything comes back to life again - blossom on the trees, daffodils growing everywhere and it's my birthday! As I was casually browsing the notonthehighstreet website for the hundredth, thousandth time - I found myself imaging creating the most beautiful Spring home with the following items...

^ Three month monthly flower subscription by Bloom & Wild £50. Bloom & Wild are a relatively new business but their concept is so original - delivered flowers that can fit through the letterbox! There's no worry if the recipient isn't at home because the flowers are carefully wrapped and boxed up, so that they fit through your letterbox. I recently sent some Bloom & Wild flowers to my cousin for her birthday and she loved them! Such a treat to come home too. ^

^'You are so lovely' cushion by Tillyanna £30^

^Birds on a Wire Single Duvet Set by Marquis & Dawe £24.95^

^ Coloured Glass Bottles by Henry's Future from £20^

^Spring Blossom Case for iPhone by Nikki Strange £19.99^

^Pastel Vases Set by Idyll Home £29^

^Ribbed Mercury Glass Vase or Votive by Wedding of my Dreams £10^

^ Medium Ceramic Spring Floral Jug by Pippins Gifts and Home Accessories £14.95^

^Pastel Frilly Chalkboard Decoration by Lisa Angel Homeware and Gifts £5^

^ Belle Teacup and Saucer by The Orchard £15^

^Danta Glass Frame by Nkuku £20^

^ Set of Two 'Sweet Dreams' Pillowcase by Kiren Åkesson £25^

Do change what your house/bedroom looks like for the seasons?

Feel free to leave me a comment :)

VALENTINES DAY: What does notonthehighstreet have to offer?

Valentine's Day is nearly here once again - despite being quite the romantic I'm not actually into the highly commercialised image of Valentine's Day the media seems to create these days. However some companies refuse to take part in the overly cheesy image, instead concentrating on celebrating the love between two people. In the busy lives we all lead we perhaps don't have enough time to let our loved ones know how much we care, so it's nice to put aside a day to really show your love.

notonthehighstreet is one of the best websites for buying thoughtful, unique and luxury gifts for any occasions or even just a treat for yourself. Valentine's Day on notonthehighstreet is all about sharing the love, they have a fantastic campaign this year called Love: Your Story. You can tweet them or instagram them YOUR love story, a brand campaign made up of real people - so refreshing!

I am not surprised that I love almost every single product they have for Valentine's Day, so I thought I'd share my favourite with you...

Valentine's Day Cards

1/2/3/4


Gifts for Her
(I've hinted to Tom for a number of these -  a girl can wish)

1/2/3/4


Gifts for Him



1/2/3/4
(I got Tom number 3 for Christmas - it sums up our relationship perfectly!)




Which is your favourite Valentine's gift from notonthehighstreet?


Feel free to leave me a comment :)

GIFT: Cake in a Can

I first came across this concept on notonthehighstreet website, a cake in a can. It's pretty self explanatory and I think it's simply genius, it's so much more than a cake. The Food Ministry have created a Cake in a Can range that are ideal gifts for loved ones. They have a Valentine's Day, Christmas, Wedding and general range of Cake in a Can - which are available on notonthehighstreet website for £4.99 here.

When I received the Valentine's Day Cake in a Can* (£4.99) I couldn't believe how cute the packaging is. I chose the 'Romantic Pink' design but there is also 'Raunchy Red' and Mysterious Black and Red' designs. When you open the ring pull of the can you get a bag of cake mix, all you have to do is add 2 tbsp of water and mix. Pour the mixture back into the oiled can and bake for 15 minutes. You then have a freshly baked spicy fruit cake baked in a tin - I love the fact it's in a can, so unique!

The Valentine's Day Cake in a Can is a spicy fruit cake but they also have a Chocolate Cake in a Can and a Lemon Cake in a Can as well.

This is the perfect gift for any occasion but especially birthday's. My brother lives a couple of hours away from me at the moment but it doesn't mean I don't want to give him a birthday cake. Instead of trying to send a homemade cake through the post for a small fortune, only for it to sit there for a couple of weeks (I know what my brother is like, such a student!) and then not be eaten. Cake in a Can is perfect to send someone who lives further away from you, they can make the cake up when they want to and enjoy a freshly baked cake in less than 20 minutes!

The spicy cake was so deliciously moist and I now have a cute can to keep!

Have you come across Cake in a Can before?

Feel free to leave me a comment :)

JEWELLERY: Kathy Jobson Bracelet from notonthehighstreet

My love for pearl jewellery is relatively new, about 2 years ago Tom bought me some pearl earrings from notonthehighstreet and I was a little unsure when I saw them. I had never worn pearls and kind of associated them with the older generation. But then I started wearing these gorgeous, timeless earrings that were so understated yet special enough to wear to both special occasions and everyday wear.

 

 

 That was when my love for pearls began, last year Tom bought me this gorgeous Kathy Jobson Freshwater Pearl Heart Charm Bracelet from notonthehighstreet (£9.50). Kathy Jobson has a beautiful range of Freshwater Pearl Bracelets that so stunning. Kathy Jobson designs the prettiest jewellery, each piece is classic and timeless.

 

^ Personalised Initial Freshwater Pearl Lily Bracelet £29.50 ^

 

^ Silver Rose Corsage Bracelet £10 ^

 

The fact that this bracelet is made with Freshwater Pearls makes such a difference to the finish and design. The uneven shapes of each pearl adds so much character and the light reflects off each sparkly pearl at every angle. 

 

 

I'll probably wear this bracelet for my wedding day, I've already decided I'm wearing pearl earrings so this bracelet will compliment those earrings perfectly. I just need to finally decide which wedding dress I'm going to have before I can decide completely on my jewellery but it's all very exciting!

 

Do you like pearl jewellery?

 

Feel free to leave me a comment :)