Paperblanks

Summer holidays are nearly over and the annual back to school is in full swing, for me its 'off to uni' Paige is off to Derby, proud Mummy here!!

You may have noticed several features looking at ideal gifts and products to help out for the start of term. 

Paige is pretty organised already but she will have a heavy schedule of lectures, placement dates, a trip to Morocco, Amsterdam as part of her course,her part time job and Fresher events!!!

Phew it makes me dizzy even thinking about it!! She has a large organiser from Letts very practical,much needed, that will be good for the lecture hall, but she was looking for another one to keep in her handbag for all the events,train times home,work hours and meets with friends.

Paperblanks came up with the perfect planner.

Firstly these planners have all the practical and useful pages any student school or uni needs,  designated pages to enter timetables, you can keep on top of after school/uni clubs and weekly activities, while the day-by-day breakdown is ideal for keeping track of time out  dates and upcoming events.

With their 18-month planning, students  needn’t worry about swapping over diaries in January – these planners conveniently run from July-July covering you for the school year start all the way to the 2014 summer holidays.

But what sets these apart are the beautiful designs. Paige chose the French Fuchsia Ornate mini, the colour and design are great for her, she loves French designs and this is perfect.

She is more or less kitted out and what's nice the prettier items will cheer her up when she uses them. Big thumbs up from us.

The memento pouch is perfect for storing appointment cards and school letters, while the two handy ribbon page markers are ideal for highlighting important tasks or events. The Midi and Maxi sizes also come with an insert address book that is perfectly suited to keep other parent’s contact details and emergency numbers in one place.

www.paperblanks.co.uk 

 Disclosure I was given a free product. I was under no obligation to receive the sample or talk about this company. I get no additional benefits for talking about the product or company.

Letts for The Lecture Theatre!

In just under four weeks Paige will be moving out and starting an exciting journey to Derby University. I am incredibly proud of just what she has achieved and how hard she has worked. She is very self motivated and very organised, the last two months I have had her typed out lists adorning the fridge, these are lists for Things to buy 'things to do before going' and 'Uni Couse supplies'

One thing high on the list were diaries she wanted a big 'week to view' and a mini, she will have lectures to attend, a work placement schedule, work roster for home (she still intends to commute and work here), oh and her Freshers Week events. With a new suddenly very busy year,a  diary is a really important piece of uni kit to ensure she is always in the right place.

Letts are well known for good quality stationery, they got me through college and now they are going to aid our next generation. 

They sent Paige a Noteletts edge 18 month diary,it ticks all the boxes, it has a week to view with notes. A term timetable. It also has lots of ruled,squared and blank pages for those all important notes.

When we attended the University the course lecture emphasised that students need to be organising well for all aspects of their studies, they would be responsible to themselves now for attendance note taking etc. 

Paige had her serious business head on and chose the black design, I  think she will be choosing differently for next year when she is more relaxed into uni life, Letts have a great range of pretty designs to brighten up a students bag.

http://www.letts.co.uk/

The perfect Secret Santa for the office fashionista

These are such a great idea for your friends and workmates, oh and not forgetting teenage students as my daughter nabbed them very fast.

They are so useful too.

Hunting for the perfect ‘Secret-Santa’ solution for stylish colleagues or the ideal stocking filler for the fashionista that has it all? Look no further than these unique Scotch and Post-it Brand gifts from 3M.

 

If your Christmas budget doesn’t quite stretch to a pair of coveted Louboutins or that Mulberry handbag, fear not for you can still be on trend this Christmas with these two leading stationery brands.

 The stylish Scotch Tape Dispenser is shaped like a black stiletto, whilst the Post-it Note Dispenser takes the form of a trendy mock-croc style handbag. These elegant, yet practical desk accessories are ideal for dressing up a desk whether at home or in the office.

The stylish refillable Post-it Note Dispenser is perfect for personalising any desk space. To make it even easier to use it is weighted so this favourite stationary essential stays put on the desk and is always close to hand.

If shoes are the fashionista’s favourite accessory, then step up the style stakes with the chic Scotch Tape Dispenser. Having tangled tape everywhere is not a good look so with this dispenser there’ll be no more sticky situations.

At under £10 both products make the perfect stocking – filler or “Secret Santa” gift for the fashion conscious.

The Post-it Note ‘Handbag’ Dispenser comes complete with one pad of Post-it Notes and costs just £8.99.  The Scotch Tape ‘Stiletto’ Dispenser which includes one roll of Scotch Magic Tape costs £7.99.

Both products are available from Tesco, Staples and Amazon.

Post-it Super Sticky Label Pads

I am a complete pushover for stationary and office gizmos and gadgets. I was straight into WH Smiths after Christmas to see  the new ranges of pads, pens, notebooks and diaries.
 I think its an effort to brighten up a work area and make it feel more fun.
I was very eager when asked to review the new Post-it Super Sticky Label Pads from 3M.
I have a range of different Post It products, from Neon Pads to heart shaped ones, page indicating stickers, although think the proper term is index labels, so the more the merrier.

According to a recent survey* ‘decluttering’ topped the list of New Year Resolutions for the home, with 58% of us vowing to tidy up in 2011. For homeowners craving a more organized home, the clever new Post-it Super Sticky Label Pads from 3M offer the perfect solution.

Whats good is they are super sticky all over, so no peeling corners. The little perforations makes it so easy to remove and add one to a box or folder. I did for review purposes add one to a sandwich box and then removed after a few days and it comes straight off, with no residue at all. So if they look a bit grubby or faded they will be easy to renew.

Once all the clutter and paperwork has been shifted through, boxed and filed, the Post-it Super Sticky Label Pads are ideal for labeling it all neatly and keeping a home looking great.

The back of each label is fully coated with the Post-it brand Super Sticky repositionable adhesive. This means that the labels not only stick securely to just about anything, but they can also be easily removed without leaving a mark.

 

So, when there is another sort-out and everything is labeled again, the old labels can be cleanly removed and folders, boxes or files will look as good as new.

A neat, perforated tab at the side of each Label Pad also makes them super quick and easy to use. Simply write on the label, use the tab to peel it from the pad and stick it firmly in place, whilst tearing off the perforated tab completely.

 

For the ultra-organised with a passion for colour-coding, the Super Sticky Label Pads come in an assortment of sizes and colours; yellow, white, pink, green, orange and blue.

Eight different sized packs are available.

 

*2,084 ABC1 homeowners completed the survey, conducted by online interiors magazine Homes and Bargains

Britain’s ‘Best Loved’ diary – the Dodo-Pad is back for 2011 with brand new accessories!

I love the Dodo-Pad collection, its brought a quirky sense of fun to our house and fits us well. Paige has been using the Academic calendar this year, cleverly made to run from September when the school year starts.

I have the Dodo-Pad Household Stuff Book which is so useful, its like a kitchen filofax.

What I love is the curious facts and funny bits that are absurd.

The new 2011 Dod-Pad Mini Diary is a perfect size for a handbag, its sturdy as it has a ring binder for the spine, it to comes with the usual diary but funny quotes and poems.

The front says  " If you are nearly extinct with the daily pressures of modern life then try the 2011 Dod-Pad.

Its cute in size, funny in sayings and as useful as you would expect your diary to be.

 

The Dodo Pad 2011 diary and calendar range now comes in six different formats to suit every organisational style and includes a NEW Personal size Filofax compatible refill. A brand new collection of faux leather slipcovers in four brilliant colours and two sizes, offer the classiest animal-friendly accommodation imaginable for your Desk or Mini Diary. With irresistible colours including Apple Green, Iridescent Lilac, Aqua Blue and Intense Red, they lend your diary a sleek exterior to protect its fun-filled content. Each slipcover has a blind-embossed Dodo Pad logo as well as a special Dodo Pad watermarked lining and the same high quality finish as can be expected from all Dodo Pad products.

 To make it look a little fancy you can now but a slip cover for the diaries, I received a faux leather cover in lilac.  Its a pearlescent finish and makes it look nice, more classy and protects the diary from fraying too.

 

« Natural Hide Slipcovers The epitome of luxury, these limited edition beautifully crafted Italian leather slipcovers for the Mini or Desk Diary are for people who want a little exclusivity in their lives.

« Recycled Leather Slipcovers Ideal for the eco-bods among us, slipcovers for the Desk or Mini Diary created from leather off-cuts processed and bonded to prevent leather ‘waste’ and save the environment. Do your bit!

Rebecca Jay, Managing (most of the time) Director, who has spearheaded the Dodo Pad’s revival over the past decade, commented: “We know that Filofax followers have been struggling for decades to decide between the ring-bound style of Filofax and their choice of inserts and the fun of the Dodo Pad. We’ve created the fabulous PersonalPOD and Filofax compatible diary refills so that the choice is no longer tricky! Dodo Pad appeals to everyone who loves to be organised but fun with it, and the added bonus of Filofax compatibility means that we can reach out to more fans than ever before.”

Share The Feeling Charity Christmas Cards

I was sent some of these cards to review and I just love them, I like a charity card at Christmas, its more meaningful than just sending a boxed ordinary card. Its relevant in a season that is about goodwill.

I do find that charity cards can be a bit baubles and candles, a bit samey and I like sending cute cards or handcrafted ones to family. 

Share the Feeling have managed to produce just such a card, they are fresh looking with hand drawn designs

This Christmas, they've joined forces disability charity Kith & Kids to offer you the ultimate ethical Christmas card.

Packs of 6 cards and co-ordinating envelopes cost £10. Kith & Kids will receive £3.50 from each pack of cards.

100% of the money will provide opportunities for people with learning disabilities.

My particular favourite is the angel, she has a cheeky chubby faced grin, the sort that makes you smile.

Other favourites are the Santa on a reindeer, the designs are quirky and simply done.

Oh and my pet hate on a card is baubles but Share The Feeling have made even my pet hate just so nice on these cards.

Take a look at Share The Feeling's  blog for all the designs

http://sharethefeeling.blogspot.com/

 

These packs of stylish designs are handmade by Share the Feeling’s team of talented people with learning disabilities who aim to make the world a better place… one gift at a time. So much so, in this season of goodwill, they are donating all of the profits to Kith & Kids, a charity that also supports people with learning disabilities to lead full and independent lives.

At the moment, employment is a concern for everyone. Unfortunately for people with learning disabilities this means that even fewer people than ever are able to find meaningful employment with companies who can offer the support they may need. In fact, just 10% of people with learning disabilities known to government services are in any kind of paid work, of which very few work full time (16 hours)*.

 This collaboration between Share the Feeling and Kith & Kids is a shining example of how communities can work together to give people with learning disabilities a chance to use their skills in a meaningful way.
 


“Working with Kith & Kids to create these gorgeous cards has allowed us to take on another part time employee, so it really is a charity card that has a double impact! When you buy these cards, every single penny you spend makes a positive difference to the lives of people with learning disabilities.

What’s not to love?”

Angie Gough, Share the Feeling.co.uk

The cards are beautifully hand crafted and finished to a very high standard by the talented team (The Chain Gang). Packs contain 6 cards each with one of nine different festive designs, a blank interior so that you can add your own messages, stylish sparkles and matching envelopes. Packs cost £10 of which all profits (£3.50) go to Kith & Kids.

Charity Christmas cards really couldn’t get much better than this. They aren’t the cheapest cards on the market, but not many will be able to claim such life changing end results!

Give more than a card this Christmas.


Available to buy online at www.sharethefeeling.co.uk and www.kithandkids.org.uk.

The Shrubbingtons Review Fab Christmas Gift Idea Festive Friends for every season

Juniper Blue

Finding something personal and different for your loved ones this Christmas can be a difficult task. This festive season Shrubbingtons has a gift suitable for every generation of the family.

Camilla Crimson

This Christmas introduce your family to the new and exclusive Shrubbington collection, designed to brighten any garden, patio or balcony. Each member of the Shrubbington Family has their own personal and unique personality which can be matched with each of their owner’s individual traits. Choose from Daphne Lilac, Butterfly Harlequin, Pine Walters and Camellia Crimson, amongst many other characters and put a smile on your family’s faces throughout the year.

Sweet Betsy

The Shrubbington family gives adults and children the chance to explore the great outdoors together by making it fun and exciting and by encouraging the younger generation to get involved in learning about plants and how they grow, as well as adding colour and character to your garden or window sill. Each individual Shrubbington is just £14.99 and will make the perfect stocking present.

Pine Walters

My garden is like an extra room in my home, it has been great fun not only growing plants and veg, its also lovely to have cool and unusual ornaments.

My family know that something for the garden that is unique is a safe bet, this years presents have been a stone bird feeder with a sun face. A bronze antique dragonfly. A wrought iron sunflower stake for my flowers.

I also love plant pots so when I was asked to review a Shrubbington, I was happy to.

Elder Scarlet

My happiness was more than satisfied when I opened the box to reveal my new garden accessory. I was sent Elder Scarlet her character suits me and also fittingly the name of my blog.

Gender: Female

About Elder:

She is creative, trendy and liked by everyone, is very hard working but easily distracted.

I am impressed by her vibrant colours, she is way larger than I expected and so well crafted. Her head is jauntily placed and bobs back and forth, she is just so cute and needs no flower to brighten her really, but I look forward to adding a pot of gerberas next to her next summer.
A fab and very unique gift and I wholeheartedly recommend for the garden lover or young child.

To view the full Shrubbington family simply visit http://www.shrubbingtons.co.uk/.

The Dodo Household Stuff Book Review

A third of UK people (64%), admit they would forget things if they didn’t write them down! The worrying Tickbox survey for Dodo-Pad, was completed by 1,383 UK adults. It revealed women as the scattier sex, with 45% forgetting a friend’s birthday compared to only 28% of men, and 44% losing an important document compared to 37% of men! The nation is scattier than the bods at Dodo Towers once thought – scarily scatty, in fact!

Are you a scatty soul searching for inner calm in a jumbled world? Well, rest assured you’re not alone; it seems that the vast proportion of our harebrained society lives an existence plagued by wandering warrantees, littered with absent bills, and wrecked by lost lists! A Dodo-Pad (www.dodopad.com) survey themed around organisation (or the lack of it) revealed that 75% of people have a junk drawer where they stuff things. In addition, 56% of people have forgotten an important date, 26% of people classify themselves as forgetful, and four in ten have lost an important document such as their passport, driving license or insurance documents! So it’s about time the country pulled itself together and grabbed a Dodo Household Stuff Book to help get life back on track.

 

The Household Stuff Book creates order out of your chaos and brings harmony to your home. With a wipe-clean weekly activities page, conversion tables and 100 extra refillable pages, along with sections for birthday lists, bills, annual reminders and holiday info, you’ll have no excuse once you’ve got your mitts on one of these! Whether your home is a shell in Shropshire, a mansion in Milton Keynes, or a beach hut in Brighton, the Household Stuff Book can prevent a pickle thanks to its plethora of pockets and pouches to stuff and store in.

So if you’re bewildered by absent telephone numbers and bedevilled by roving documents, let the Household Stuff Book set your home in order. If the three quarters of people who confessed to having a junk drawer where they ‘file’ their important documents had been lucky owners of a Household Stuff Book – they could have avoided stuffing them as it offers the perfect home for all the crucial bits and bobs that clutter up your junk drawer. It’s priced at £18.95 from www.dodopad.com or by calling 0845 053 1166.

I love this, I have so many people I can think of to give as a present, but I also want to keep it.

Its like a filofax
Bills and an annual section is great for things that don't need to be done daily.
There is a Christmas section, so a boon for organising prezzies. Just everything you so often need to remember can be stored in one place!
Just don't forget to buy one!