Beauty. Fashion. Lifestyle.
Posts tagged Gifts
25th Birthday Haul
1On Valentine’s Day I turned 25, and though I felt unwell (for the third birthday in a row!), I had a great day. Charles treated me to a lovely breakfast in bed of Belgian chocolate waffles, hot tea, and fresh orange juice. We then went for a long walk around Bradgate Park with my family, and had lunch at a tea room, and in the evening we had a pizza party with amazing chocolate birthday cake!
I was lucky enough to receive lots of cards, a few Highcross and Amazon vouchers from friends and family, and some gorgeous gifts, so I thought I’d do a little haul post to show you some of what I got.
My mum gifted me this watch, and it’s absolutely stunning. I love the marcasite detail and I’ve been wearing it every day since I got it.
My two main presents from Charles were these Kate Bush themed necklaces. The first one is from her official website, and features lyrics from one of my favourite songs, Cloudbusting. I actually saw this when I went to see Kate in London last year, but couldn’t afford it at the time. I really wasn’t expecting to get it for my birthday, so was so happy when I opened it! The second necklace is made of silver and was personalised just for me. I love it.
Charles also got me this awesome Game of Thrones t shirt. I can’t wait to style it for an outfit post in the coming weeks!
My dad gave me a few bits for the house, my favourite of which is the Moroccan lamp. It’s made of metal and is lined with purple fabric, and gives off a lovely ambient glow. It now takes pride of place on my living room fireplace.
Much to my delight I get quite a few books every year, and this year was no different. Charles gave me ‘A First Book of Nature’, and ‘An Astronaut’s Guide to Life on Earth’ by my space hero, Chris Hadfield. The rat training book was from an old school friend, and my sister gave me ‘Wreck This Journal’ and ‘The Pocket Scavenger’, both by Keri Smith. I can’t wait to start filling them in!
All of the above were parts of gifts from my old school friends, who I celebrated with last night at my favourite restaurant. There was a definite rat theme to their gifts this year!
And of course, no birthday haul would be complete without an abundance of chocolate!
Last but not least, my talented mum made me this super cute heart wreath. She crocheted the flowers herself, and decorated them with buttons. This now adorns my bedroom door and it looks right at home.
Naomi x
Valentine’s Gift Ideas: 10 Under £10
1
6 years
For today’s Valentine’s Gift Ideas post I have put together a gift guide of ten Valentine’s gifts, all of which cost under £10 each. Around this time of year, the prices of romantic gifts, such as chocolate and lingerie, are often hiked up. However, as this guide shows, if you shop savvy you don’t have to spend a fortune to treat that special someone (or yourself!) to something nice. The guide features some traditional gifts, but also fashion and beauty themed items.
Hotel Chocolat Lovely Hearts Classic £6.50 / Thorntons Because I Love You Premium Collection £6.00 / ASOS Heart Friendship Bracelet £2.00 / Yankee Red Raspberry Candle £7.99 / George Entice Lingerie Set £7.00 / Floozie Red Heart Fairisle Scarf £6.60 / Tesco Rose Petals in a Jar £5.00 / LUSH Heart Throb Bubble Bar £3.65 / Models Own Colour Chrome £4.99 / LUSH The Kiss Lip Gloss £5.95
What will you be gifting to your loved one this Valentine’s Day?
Naomi x
What I Wore: Rat Fan
1
6 years
Have you ever found an item of clothing that is just so perfect it could’ve been made with you in mind? Well for me, this t shirt is one of those items. I love rats, I love Batman, I love black clothing, so what better than a black ‘Rat Fan’, Batman-style t shirt?!
ratsratsrats Rat Fan T Shirt / Primark Long Black Cardigan / Blue Rags Black Ornate Embroidered Trousers / Dr Martens Lauren Boots
I bought this t shirt for £14.99 from an online store called ratsratsrats, which specialises in rat-themed clothing, accessories and gifts. I’ve ordered a couple of t shirts from them now and I’m always really impressed with the quality. The fabric is really soft and comfortable, the fit is great and the print is always high quality. I also like the length of ratsratsrats tees as they sit below the hip, which I prefer.
I teamed the t shirt with my favourite winter cardigan, and a pair of Blue Rags black embroidered trousers, which are so warm and comfy. They’re also patterned with a beautiful embroidery-style damask, which you can see clearer on the red pair I styled here. My Dr Martens Lauren Boots make an appearance too, of course.
This outfit is pretty much my go-to outfit for cosy, lazy weekend days, and is perfect for nipping out to the shops, or slouching around the house in.
Naomi x
Birthday Haul
7
7 years
by Naomi in Hauls
Last Friday was my birthday, and I was lucky enough to receive lots of lovely gifts from my friends and family – some that I’d asked for, and some that were a complete surprise! So, as promised in my birthday outfit post, here is a little haul post for those who are interested.
Alexander McQueen Savage Beauty / The Usborne Book of Drawing, Doodling and Colouring / I Am Pusheen the Cat / Batman: The Killing Joke / Cornucopia at Home: The Cookbook
Look Beauty Glitz & Glam Nail Set / Sleek Blush By 3 in ‘Pink Lemonade’ / John Galliano EDP
Dreamcatcher Scarf / Batman Socks (they have capes!!)
Ratty Photo Album / Treats for my girls / Rat Calendar / Custom Made Rat Necklaces by Solstice Mini’s (I’ll be reviewing these separately soon!)
The Great British Bake Off Muffin Tin and Sandwich Tins
Graduation Photo Frame / Pink Notebook / Batman USB Stick / Uniball Gelstick Pens
Lumpy Space Princess Plush
Lots of Chocolate! (I actually got 4 boxes of Milk Tray but one of them was polished off before I took these photos…)
My mum got especially crafty for my birthday this year. She actually crocheted the blanket you can see in the photos above, as an extra special gift, and she even made my birthday card by hand. With a heart and rose theme as it was Valentine’s Day! Look how beautiful it is…
Oh and I’m also waiting on an amazing necklace from my dad that I plan on styling in an outfit post asap, so keep an eye out for that.
Thanks everyone for my gorgeous presents 
Naomi x
What I Got For Christmas
3
7 years
by Naomi in Hauls
Hi everyone,
I hope you all had a great Christmas and are looking forward to the New Year. My Christmas was spent at home with family, as is traditional, and was filled with lots of food and games!
I was very lucky this year and received a lot of lovely gifts, some that I’d asked for and some that were a complete surprise. I love being nosy and seeing what other people got for Christmas, so I thought I’d do a similar post and share my haul with you too!
Dove Gift Set / Snow Fairy Shower Gel / OPI Nail Lacquer x 2 / The Body Shop Body Butter / 17 Nail Polish / Ghost Captivating Perfume / Scholl i-Pop Massager
Snood / Butterfly Hair Clip / Socks / Kitty Slippers / Owl Mittens
Monsters University Shower Set / Monsters University Glow in the Dark PJs
Agate Necklace / Amethyst Silver Ring / Copper Spiral Amethyst Pendant
Black Stud Bag
Ratty Compact Mirror
Kurt Geiger Sally Ankle Boots / Kurt Geiger Brace Wedges
Sugar Skull Money Box / Owl and Star Photo Frame / Salads Recipe Book / Dinosaur Cushion / Rocket Tea Infuser
The Dark Knight Manual / Batman Arkham Asylum Anniversary Edition Graphic Novel
Breaking Bad DVD Box Set / Skullcandy 50/50 Earphones
Rats 2014 Calendar / 2014 Button Diary
Lots of chocolate!
What did you get for Christmas this year?
Naomi x
Last Minute Gift Ideas… For Your Cat!
1
7 years
by Naomi in Pets
With only three sleeps to go until Christmas Day, I’m sure we’ve all got our shopping pretty much done and dusted by now. But have you forgotten anyone? What about your pets? I always, always buy my pets a couple of little treats at Christmas, and this year I was kindly gifted a few bits and pieces by Pets at Home to give to my cats, Moo and Moth. Here’s what they received, and here’s what the cats think of them…
Door Hanging Santa Face – £6.00 / Reindeer Cat Teaser – £3.00 / Webbox Cats Delight Tasty Sticks – £1.00 / Catnip Flavoured Santa – £2.50
Moth always loves chasing anything dangly, so her favourite toy is the Reindeer Teaser, even if she’s too lazy to get up off the sofa to play with it! This toy seems quite robust so hopefully it will last a bit longer than their toys usually do, and at £3.00 it’s reasonably priced too.
The Door Hanging Santa Face is a firm favourite with Moo, although we aren’t too keen on having his claws near the wooden door, so we hold it up for him instead! This toy is quite large and has multiple, well made strands hanging from it that the cats love to attack, as you can see. This one costs a bit more at £6, but given its size and quality it’s well worth it.
The cats have had these Webbox treat sticks before and they always enjoy them. They even pull them out of the packet themselves if you open it for them first! I can’t find these on the Pets at Home website but I think they come in at £1 a pack, which if you don’t want to spend much is ideal.
When I first opened this Santa treat all hell broke loose! It’s catnip flavoured and the cats could smell it straight away, and were all over the packaging whilst I photographed it. When I gave it to them they pounced on it and had a nice little munch before I took it away from them. They can have more of that at a later date! These are £2.50 each and they’re a good size, and will last a while if you limit how much you give at a time. It’s such a good idea too, being able to give your pet a ‘chocolate’ santa at Christmas along with the rest of the family.
Pets at Home also have a fab Cat Christmas Stocking available for £5.00, which contains a few toy mice, balls and pom-poms, two packets of treats and a carton of cat milk, as well as other gifts for cats, dogs and small pets, to suit all budgets. So, if you still need to pick up some Christmas presents for your pets, Pets at Home is the place to go!
Naomi x
*These Pets at Home cat Christmas gifts were sent to me for review purposes. All opinions expressed are honest and my own.*
‘Spend or Save’ Fashion and Beauty Christmas Gift Guide
2Whether you’re on a tight budget, or you’re able to flash the cash this Christmas, today’s festive post features a selection of ‘Spend or Save’ fashion and beauty gift ideas for women. The ‘Spend’ section includes a variety of luxury options for those who want to spend that little bit more on a loved one, and the ‘Save’ section includes some great alternatives that are just as good, but don’t cost the Earth.
Spend:
Alexander Wang Kirsten Bag $295 from ialexanderwang.com / Jurlique Rose Shower Gel (300ml) £14.40 from LookFantastic / Urban Decay Naked2 Palette £33.30 (was £37.00) from Debenhams / Ciaté Tree Trinkets £21.00 (was £30.00) for 6 from Ciate / No7 Protect & Perfect Intense Beauty Serum (30ml) £23.95 from Boots / Dr Martens Cherry Red 1460 Boots £100 from Dr Martens
Save:
Multi Belt Two Way Bag £38 from Rings & Tings / Bayliss & Harding Wild Rose and Raspberry Leaf Shower Creme £1.99 from Superdrug / MUA Undress Me Too Palette £4 from MUA / Lacura Multi Intensive Serum Aqua £3.49 from Aldi / Limited Collection Mini Nail Polish & Lip Gloss Bauble £5.00 each from M&S / Burgundy Boots £24.99 from H&M
I’ve been lusting after Alexander Wang’s Kirsten Bag for ages, but it’s really quite expensive and difficult to track down, so when I spotted the copy on Rings & Tings I just had to share it with you all! I don’t yet have either bag myself, but from photographs the copy looks pretty impressive.
I currently have both the Jurlique and the Bayliss & Harding rose shower gels in my bathroom, and they are equally lovely. The Jurlique one foams better, but each has a distinct sweet rose scent and luxurious packaging, making them both gift-worthy.
The Urban Decay Naked2 palette is perhaps one of the most highly sought after beauty products in the blogosphere, so would make an excellent gift for any beauty blogger. If it’s a bit out of your budget though, MUA’s Undress Me Too palette is the perfect dupe. I have it myself and the eyeshadows are all excellent quality, and at £4.00 you really can’t complain!
I’m new to serums, but have recently started to use the Lacura Multi Intensive Serum from Aldi. It’s aimed at women aged 25-35, so I’m almost in that age bracket, and it makes your skin feel so soft and plump. It’s lovely, and an absolute steal, but if you want to gift a more classic brand then No.7 is the way to go.
When I first put this guide together, Ciaté’s Tree Trinkets were £30 for the set, but they have now been reduced to £21 which is actually a pretty good deal, especially if you want to split the set up as smaller gifts. If you want more for your money however, M&S’s beauty bauble contains a nail polish and two miniature lip glosses for £5. I also spotted a Primark equivalent earlier this week, costing £2 for a bauble containing 3 little lip glosses, which is even better value for money!
I absolutely adore Dr Martens and am building up quite a collection. They last forever and, once they’ve been broken in, are incredibly comfortable. But if you’re looking for a cheaper version for your fashion-loving friend this Christmas, H&M’s burgundy boots look fab.
Check back soon for another ‘Spend or Save’ gift guide!
Naomi x
Beauty Stocking Fillers for £5 and Under
4
7 years
This year seems to have gone incredibly fast, and Christmas is almost upon us. I’m sure by now we are all well into our Christmas shopping (I’ve been extremely organised this year and only have a couple of bits left to get!), but I thought I’d put together a few festive themed posts over the next week or two to help with that last-minute rush. I have spent a while lately trawling the shops and internet for stocking filler ideas, so today’s post features my pick of the best beauty stocking fillers for £5 and under.
Clockwise from Top Left:
Orly Nail Polish £3.99 from Fragrance Direct / Lacura Aqua Moisture Cream £1.99 from ALDI / SuperDrama Mascara £5.00 (was £10.00) from Avon / Halo Futuristic Nail Glitter £4.50 from ASOS / Denman Small Styling Brush £4.99 from Fragrance Direct / Ginger Sparkle Hand Cream £4.00 from The Body Shop / Momiji Mini Gift Set £5.00 from M&S / 3 in 1 Nail Art Pearl Gem Pen £4.50 from Claire’s / MUA Luxe Velvet Lip Lacquer £3.00 from MUA / MUA Luxe Glitter Palette £4.00 from MUA / Montagne Jeunesse Strawberry Souffle Face Mask £0.99 from New Look / Snow Fairy Shower Gel £3.50 for 100g from LUSH / Metal Eyelash Curler £3.25 from John Lewis
I hope you all find this edit helpful! If you have any £5 or under stocking filler ideas to add, please comment below as I’d love to see what you’ve come across.
Check back soon for my next Christmas post, featuring Spend and Save Christmas Gift ideas.
Happy Shopping!
Naomi x
Capology Urban Fashion
3
8 years
Whether you’re a guy or girl interested in urban fashion, or you have a partner/relative/friend who is, I have discovered a really quirky company who you will definitely be interested in, who are bang on urban trend – Capology. Capology’s edgy pieces would make great additions to any wardrobe wanting to make a statement, or excellent gift ideas for a stylish loved one this Christmas.
Capology are a new, independently owned company, who have a store in Newcastle which was opened in February this year, with Professor Green in attendance, but you can also shop with them online. As their name suggests they specialise in all types of caps, but they also stock unisex and kids’ clothes and hats from brands such as Mishka and Play Cloths, as well as accessories, bags and even toys. After a long time spent browsing their site and trying to narrow down my favourite pieces for this post, I have managed to put together an edit of just a few of the items they have to offer.
Top Row: Mishka Keep Watch Cardigan – £100 / New Era Hero Break Out Batman Cap – £35 / New Era NFL 59ifty Miami Dolphins Aqua Fitted Cap – £25 / 10 Deep Ghost Roses Crew – £90
Bottom Row: 47 Brand Stevenson Avalanche Dogeared Hat – £30 / Any Forty Artist Tee Sprinkles – £30 / Play Cloths Safara Shield Cordovan – £15 / Play Cloths Horizon Socks Mimosa – £6.50
My absolute favourite piece on the whole site is the 10 Deep Ghost Roses Crew, pictured above. I’m a big fan of black for Autumn/Winter this year, and the contrasting rose print is unusual, but not over the top. I’d love to see my fiancé in it with a pair of black jeans.
Whether you’re on a tight budget or have a bit more cash to splash, Capology have something to suit every budget, so check them out for all things urban. You can also find them on Facebook and Twitter to keep up to date with all their latest news.
Naomi x
*This post is a collaboration.*
Batcat Necklace from TrueCutie
5
8 years
Earlier this week I received a very special delivery in the post from a fantastic independent jewellery brand called TrueCutie. TrueCutie is owned by Chatch, who has been making and selling cute, kawaii inspired jewellery and accessories since 2011, and she is extremely talented. Chatch and I had been talking on Twitter, and she offered to create a piece for me to review based on my suggestions, and what I gave her to work with was bats and cats. In no time at all, Chatch had worked her magic and made me an absolutely gorgeous Batcat hybrid necklace, and I couldn’t be happier with him!
Batcat is extremely well made, and it is obvious that Chatch puts a lot of love and care into her work. He is also very detailed, with heart melting eyes, blushing cheeks, pink ears, a quiff of hair and a curly tail, all of which add to the little guy’s cuteness. The pendant is quite large (around 1 inch high and 1.5 inches wide), and comes on a 24 inch chain, so it really makes a statement. I really like how the necklace sits too, as the angle of the bat wings keep Batcat straight, and the length of the chain means he hangs quite low.
The necklace is also really versatile. I think it looks great with bright, colourful clothing, such as the dress pictured above, but it also works well with plain outfits and helps to jazz them up a bit, adding a fun, quirky edge.
Because Chatch’s accessories are all handmade, they are all unique. She is also happy to do commissions so you really can have a one of a kind piece that is special to you, which is hard to find these days in a world of high street monotony! Every time I wear Batcat I get so many compliments, and people always ask me where I got him from because they’ve never seen anything like him before, which is what I love about wearing individual pieces. I just love him so much!
If you want some TrueCutie goodies for yourself, or as a gift for a loved one, you can view the TrueCutie Etsy shop here. Everything is so reasonably priced (ranging from £2 to around £15), and if you’re looking for a commission you can get in touch with Chatch at . You can also find TrueCutie on Facebook, Twitter and Pinterest, and Chatch will be holding a stall at London Comic Con in May for the first time, which is really exciting! Chatch is a lovely, friendly girl and her products and service are amazing, so please help support a very gifted maker. She’ll be making more hybrid pieces soon too, so keep an eye out for those.
Here are a few of my favourite pieces from the TrueCutie Etsy store.
Five-a-Day Fruity Hair Clip – £12
Strawberrylicious Ice Cream Cone Necklace – £8.50
Red the Crab Necklace – £7.50
Fondant Fancy Necklace – £10
Which TrueCutie piece do you like best?
Naomi x
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