let's get organised... the office

A tidy desk and work area helps to keep us focused and motivated and this is easily achieved with the addition of a few simple accessories, which can really make such a difference towards working. Desk decorating doesn't have to be dull and corporate either. Bright colours, mixing materials and textures, as well as quirky more unusual designs can create a fun and motivational work environment. Work isn't always fun or interesting and at times the thought of those mundane tasks can be less than inspiring. Creating a happy and stress free desk might just make work feel like less of a chore. 

Keep your desk top clean and fresh so try to wipe the surface regularly with disinfectant wipes. A pen pot ensures you always have a pen or pencil handy when you need to jot down something important! A box of tissues is also useful on the desk but you could add some whimsical fun and charm, with a novelty tissue box cover. A bright and bold desk lamp instantly adds colour as well as that much needed additional light if working late is necessary (not a fun thought we know!). Stackable trays for letters and paperwork help keep the desk empty with plenty of free space to work. A desk calendar, a novelty stapler, gadgets and other personal or fun accessories can create a positive working space! 

Shop around and find pieces that are personal to you and will create an environment you know you will love to work in! 

Desk calendar Not on the highstreet £21 / Lamp Wilkos £30 / Grass desk tidy Tiger £4 /  

Wooden letter tray Ryman £12.99 / House tissue box cover Red candy £5 / 

Chicken stapler Paperchase £4.50 / Cookie USB cup warmer Prezzybox £10 

Sarah and Holly

      

let's get organised... thanks for the memories

Today's lets get organised post is about documenting and recording moments and memories. A year might only be 12 months (and maybe it's just us) but when we look back at 2015 we struggle to remember what we did or where we went! Scrapbooks and photo albums are a perfect way to store and keep those fun adventures and events to look back on in years to come. At the end of each month gather together any items that have been saved or print out some of your favourite photographs you have taken. Sit down, put on a film and start arranging a few pages to reflect the month just gone. Washi tape, stickers, instant photos, patterned papers and alphabet stamps work well combined together to create fun and exciting pages. Pinterest and Instagram are perfect places to look for inspiration to get you started! It's a chance to get creative and if you do this month by month you won't forget what you did! 

There are lots of types and styles of scrapbooks out there as well as a brand called project life, which is a simple and easy way to document your life. There are kits and packs available containing postcards and insert cards to help and aid you to easily add text and images to pages. These are great as they add colour, design and fun to page layouts and can be easily incorporated alongside your own photos and keep sakes. Why not give it a go and see how your scrapbook looks at the end of the year. And if a scrapbook doesn't seem like your idea of fun, then why not try out some magnetic photo frames for the fridge and switch the photographs each month. Whatever you decide to do make sure you have something to look back on fondly in the future to remind you of the fun times had and the adventures taken over the years!

Project life pack Hobbycraft £25 / Planets scrapbook Paperchase £16 / 

Camera scrapbook Paperchase £12 / Washi tape Papermash £2.50 / 

Letter stamps Hobbycraft £12 / Polaroid instant camera Argos £119.99 / 

Holographic alphabet stickers Ohh deer £5.50 / Awesome tape Ohh deer £3.50 / 

Magnetic photo frames Red candy £11.50 

Sarah and Holly

      

let's get organised... for the year ahead

Happy new year and hello 2016! Well 2015 flew by! We thought we would start off our first blog post of 2016 with a practical theme. Today's post is all about getting ourselves ready and organised for the year ahead. A lot of technology today allows you to plan and log events and manage your year using different devices and apps. But we still prefer the good old fashioned and traditional methods. There is something satisfying about turning a calendar over each month and looking at the events, birthdays or holidays that the month has to bring. Keeping a diary or journal is a sentimental way of looking back on a year and reminiscing on the memories you have made. Helping to keep our life's a little more organised should make the year seem much easier and enjoyable (well in theory). We are all guilty of ignoring the ever increasing to do list so why not make the process pretty and fun and pick out quirky items like the fish paper clips. Or you can keep it stylish and modern with on trend copper and marble.

Here are a few ideas and our favourite picks, we hope you like them. Don't forget to follow our blog (just click the follow button on the right side just scroll down you can't miss it!) so you can keep up to date with all the exciting posts we have planned for this year!

Marble notebook Ohh deer £6 / Fox diary Paperchase £4.50 / 
Copper in tray Paperchase £10 / 2016 calendar cards Not on the highstreet £17 / 
Sardine paper clips Ohh deer £6.95 / Storage tin This modern life £9 / 
Sticky tabs Paperchase £3 / Owl highlighters Paperchase £3.50 / 
Peg board This modern life £30 / Sticky notes Not the usual £3.95

Sarah and Holly

     

and a happy new year

Christmas is over and done with for another year. Why does it go so quickly? All that fuss for just one day but we had a lovely time with our family. Now it is the awkward time in between Christmas and new year, the slightly depressing realisation that the big day is over and the decorations just start to irritate us slightly. We have a few days back at work (back to some normality for us) but we still have the new year celebrations to look forward to. We are not wild party animals so we tend to enjoy a nice evening at home but this doesn't have to mean a boring or dull night. We like to watch some good films, make some cocktails and drinks (why not treat yourself to a posh shaker) and choose a selection of snacks and treats. Or if we want to ensure we stay awake until midnight (this is much harder now) we like to play some party games and we are currently loving the Obama llama one, which we featured in our last blog post! 

Staying in doesn't mean scrimping on the decorations or the fun. Bake a celebration cake or some party buns! Or opt for a disposable camera, which is a good talking point too, to capture the celebrations and fun in a more traditional way (no instant photos!) Some banners hung up, party poppers at the ready and some novelty accessories create the perfect party to welcome the new year! And if you can't be with friends or family then why not send out some happy new year cards to them! Whatever your plans or however you decide to spend the evening make it special and say goodbye to 2015 and hello 2016!

Cocktail shaker Paperchase £18 / Cake topper Not on the highstreet £17 / 
Happy new year banner Folksy £18.90 / Lets party card Urban outfitters £3.50 /
Gogglebox game Amazon £18.41 / Disposable camera Urban Outfitters £12 / 
Metallic paper cups Paperchase £4.95

Sarah and Holly

      

setting the christmas table

Christmas dinner has to be the highlight of Christmas day for us and with this in mind we think setting the table is as important as the food itself! A beautifully decorated table helps create the festive atmosphere as you, your family, guests or whoever you spending Christmas with, are all seated and ready for the food to be served. Christmas comes but once a year as does a Christmas turkey dinner, so on this one special day of the year indulge and make the effort to create a memorable and fun day! Take some extra time and plan the layout of the table and decorate to create something fun and exciting. Here are a few ideas to make the table extra special. 

Place cards labelled with guests names ensure no confusion over who sits where (make sure you pick wisely to avoid arguments!) DIY or make your own place cards or opt for pre bought depending on your theme or the time you have! Some christmas table confetti scattered on the table adds some extra detail nestled around plates and cutlery! Keep it easy and use a disposable paper tablecloth and napkins so any spills or drops of gravy are not a worry (you don't want to spend the day cleaning up!) And Christmas wouldn't be Christmas without crackers and those classic, colourful paper hats. 

We all enjoy a nice drink with our dinner so some festive themed tumblers or wine glasses can hold the perfect Christmas beverage. The centre of the table should be the centre of attention on Christmas day. Scented candles or some seasonal flowers and plants (or both) arranged beautifully together to create a show stopping focal point that is sure to get everyone talking (or those interested in homeware!) Once all the food has been consumed and everyone is full, an after dinner game can be a fun activity (we have picked up the Obama llama one) or maybe take some family photographs with a fun photo prop set or kit. Now, we understand everyone has their own traditions or preferences, but why not try something new or incorporate some different ideas into your Christmas dinner, day and table this year!

Place cards Paperchase £2 / Wooden confetti Not on the highstreet £2.99 / 
Table cloth Ebay £2.79 / Napkins John Lewis £2.50 / Crackers House of fraser £25 / 
Tumblers Next £16 / Table candle centre piece Farthing £9.95 / 
Obama Llama game John Lewis £20 / Photo booth prop set Lakeland £6.87

Sarah and Holly

      

it's a wrap!

Once the christmas shopping list is ticked off and complete its time to start thinking about how to thoughtfully wrap those important gifts. Just as much thought is needed in wrapping a gift as well as buying it, thats part of the fun of giving. Lets face it, buying the presents is the easy part but starting the mammoth task of wrapping all those presents is not one we look forward to. So why not get creative and enjoy it! There is a huge choice of paper, tapes, bows, tissue paper, string and tags, so you can get as creative as you like. You could stick to traditional colours and imagery or pick on trend designs that use hints of luxurious coppers and metallics. Character based designs, typography, there really is a massive range out there. 

If you are feeling really ambitious what about creating your own paper designs or crafting home made gift tags. If you are not as ambitious as that Sarah & Bendrix did a blog post about their printable designs, check the post out by clicking on the link. You could even incorporate small gifts into your wrapping. Tying a christmas decoration to a bow adds a thoughtful and sentimental touch to a gift. 

We have picked out some of our gift wrapping favourites below. 

Washi Tape Hobbycraft £5.00 / 2M Wrap pack Next £6.00  / 

Large gift bag Paperchase £4.00 / Red film bow John Lewis £2.00 / Personalised gift stamp Not on the high street £17.50 / Sticker Roll Wilkos £1.00

Sarah and Holly

                                                             

with every christmas card I write...

In our now very modern world of technology and gadgets you would think it impossible that the modest traditional Christmas card would still be so popular! Although sending a card does require a greater amount of effort than simply sending a text message or email, you can't deny a card has more thought and meaning. Thats why we like the idea that someone has picked a card and thought about you! There is something very nostalgic and pleasing about writing a card, sticking on a postage stamp (a christmas one of course) and popping it in a red post box! A simple and easy process, which gives a satisfying and warm feeling. In the run down to Christmas receiving a card is a lovely and thoughtful gesture to let someone know you are thinking of them at this time of year. As children we always loved opening the brightly coloured envelopes, to reveal an array of different designs. These were then always hung from string, which our Dad had attached from one side of the room to the other and by Christmas Eve there was quite a collection! 

The selection of card designs out there is vast and we think it is important to pick the right card for the right person. Designs and themes can range from humour, to cute and kitch, glitter, glitter and more glitter, traditional, scenic winter landscapes, modern and simple, charity cards, typographic, food... we could literally go on and on! The best tip we can give you, make sure before buying your cards to write a list of everyone you intend to send a card to (and maybe buy a few extra just in case you forget anyone!) there is nothing worse than running out of cards when you are in card writing mode. Our second tip, invest in a good quality pen and get practicing your handwriting. Now we all type on screens and keyboards constantly, so lets just say the handwriting skills might be a little rusty! Our final words of wisdom, don't leave it until the last minute to send out your cards, you don't want people to receive them on Christmas Eve! 

Christmas wishes Not on the highstreet £2.90 / Leap through the snow John Lewis £4 / 

Pea and pud Clinton cards £2.99 / Ski cat Paperchase £2.25 / Reindeer Whsmith £2.75 / Tinsel and elf M&S £5  

Sarah and Holly

                 

      

a b c it's as easy as, 1 2 3

A Etsy £33 / B Asda £2.50 / C Not on the high street £22

It seems like everywhere we look there are letters and numbers dominating the shops. 
The most iconic and well know copper Oliver Bonas letters spring to mind? Don't we all have one? Or at least want one. But it seems this trend features heavily throughout home ware items. Maybe its a way of personalising your home? Using your initials as an example in your home creates a special and intimate detail. Your home is a way of show casing yourself and your family and letters and numbers are an easy way to add that detail. Or perhaps it is the familiarity of words and letters which is comforting. 

                               

Oliver Bonas £10

Letters and numbers are also interesting in shape and form and can be introduced 
with other items to create a bold statement. It's not just letters individually. 
Typographic prints can create a strong and adventurous element to your home. 
Abstract and graphic interpretations of letters and text often take on a new form.  Letters which are created into geometric shapes can make exciting pieces of design for your walls.
Take a look at some of our favourite pieces we think would be a great addition
 to any home. 

Yellow poster The modern life £19 / Candle Asda £2 / & Wilkos £5
Love print Etsy from £7.28 / Panda The modern life £20 / Cushion Next £10 
Thanks postcard Paper chase £0.70

  Sarah and Holly

                                 

      

bear love

Bears are one of our favourite animals and they seem to have a huge influence in homeware recently. There are so many lovely illustrations and artworks of bears. We wanted to share some of our favourites that we have seen popping up on the high street and online.  

Illustration styles range from bold and graphic, to cute and stylised characters that seem to have charming personalities. The combination of playful and witty phrases and typography really makes us fall in love with these "unbearable" pieces. 

There's a diverse range of styles and designs and it doesn't have to be something that is incorporated into children's decor. It can be added in a mature and sophisticated manner too, adding a quirky and fun touch to a room. 

Of course, bears are not the only animals influencing home accessories. Why not check out our post about cat inspired homeware. 

We hope you like the items we have selected. 

 Bear cushion George £7 / Bear cushion Next £16 / Candle M&S £15 / Print Not on the high street £19 / Ceramic bear Wilkos £4 / Bear plate Paperchase £8.50 / Bear mugs set of 4 George £4

  Sarah and Holly