Fab(ulous)

I am still constantly scouring online for the perfect pieces for my home.  I have truly swapped fashion for furniture as I strive to finish off my home, creating a palace fit for me and Mr Read.

One online shop, however, was way off my radar - Fab.com.   It was only brought to my attention this week but so far I am finding a whole host of treats, not only interiors inspired but also gadgets, clothes, jewellery and some fantastic gift ideas!

Fab say they are on a mission to help people better their lives with design by providing great products at reasonable prices and introducing exciting designers to it's clientele.  Products are only available for a limited time so new stock is refreshed regularly which makes this an exciting site to keep coming back to again and again. 

As you can imagine, I already have a lust list the length of my arm and have definitely spotted a few gifts that I won't be sharing on here to save any spoiled surprises!

Fab is one of the very few shopping sites I have signed up to as I know updates will be a treat of potential purchases.  You can sign up to the website here or follow Fab on facebook for updates on what new designers are on offer.

In the meantime, here is the start of my very long list of wants! 

Jambox Hex Speaker £148.  This is a brilliant little gadget, I know this as I already own one but I really love the black and gold colourway.  This speaker hooks up to your iPhone via bluetooth so you can use it to listen to iTunes, digital radio or even use as a loudspeaker when taking calls.  The sound quality is amazing for the size of the speaker, I can vouch for that!  

'Dear' Antlers by Heartelier £60.  I love taxidermy, I love neon, do I need to say anymore?

Devine Cutlery Bronze by Pandora Design £32.  I have a thing for interesting cutlery despite my own cutlery drawer remaining very plain and boring.  These are on my hit list. 

Pearl Bangle by Tiklari £35.  This is so pretty and delicate.

Thomas Cufflinks by Alice Made This £160.  Perhaps a gift for the Mister in your life?  I love the simplistic but stunning design paired with gorgeous 24 carat gold. 

Motilo: Social Shopping Online

Only just last night I was doing a bit of online browsing and I took to twitter to find out opinions on a particular item I was lusting after.  Fortunately the consensus from my twitter buds was the thumbs up but it reminded me what a lonely experience online shopping can be.

Let's face it, we all live busy lives, some of us hectic lives so online shopping is often a preferred method and in many cases a plain necessity.  As convenient as it is to have a parcel of goodies sent to your home for your perusal and omitting the dreaded changing room mirrors and awful lighting, it is a shame to miss out on the social experience with your bestests that once upon a time, in simpler days, was just so much fun!

That's where Motilo.com comes in.  Launched in April 2011, Motilo is an online community where friends can share the shopping experience in real time using webchat or just normal online chat.  It basically fuses fashion forward retail therapy with the delights of social networking through an e-commerce platform.

You don't need to be a member of the site to use it but to make use of the social networking tools, Motilo have teamed up with facebook so you can log in through your facebook id.  Not only are they on facebook but you will also find them on Twitter.

Updated daily, items are chosen from hundreds of different international websites by Motilo stylists and you can create 'looks' from any of the pieces on the site.  You can share 'looks' of different outfits with friends and if you want you can choose to buy them.

Motilo is still currently in beta but they hope to launch version 2 by October.

I went a little bit click happy when I tried out the 'create a look' facility on Motilo.  I decided to style up a few looks for a holiday.  Something a little dressy, something for the beach and something that I could party in all night long and come straight home to the beach bar!

Statement dress with skyscraper sandals for an evening of glamour

I am all over high waisted bikinis this summer!

Looking good at the beach party taking you all the way through to the next day!! 

While Motilo is still in beta version you can still get involved and be among the first to try out and make use of the site so I will hopefully see some of you on there!  As well as that they also have a fantastic competition running at the moment to win a Mulberry bag ... you know you want to ... you can enter here and/or here!

Happy Shopping!

*post sponsored by motilo.com

Win a capsule wardrobe with ASOS/Nivea

Oooh, ladies ... here's something a l'il exciting and it's with fave online retailer ASOS.

To celebrate the launch of Nivea Invisible for Black And White Deodorant, they have teamed up with ASOS to create a delightful monochrome capsule wardrobe that can be won on the ASOS site between 18th April - 31 May.

Each week 50 lucky winners will win the 4 piece capsule range consisting of retro-esque tailoring in a classic monochromatic palette.  I have been on having a look a the range and have already spotted my firm favourite from the collection.

Usually an LBD girl ... I have gone outside my comfort zone and fallen for the LWD (Little White Dress, if you are trying to work it out ;p)  ... this gorgeous white skater style dress.  Isn't it lush?  It can be styled in so many ways and I always find the skater style flattering on my curves.  

I've used ASOS online styling tool to team this dress with killer cobalt blue heels, perfect for a summer wedding or a night on the razz :)  I have the perfect blue clutch to match too ... This is even a potential birthday outfit!

Make sure you enter the competition by going to www.asos.com/Nivea and style up your favourite from the collection to be in with a chance of winning.  With 50 winners each week, I have high hopes and my fingers crossed that one of us, if not a few, will be a winner :)

In anticipation for tonight's competition launch I decided to try out Nivea Invisible for Black and White Deodorant seeing as most days my work wardrobe consists of black and only black - a perfect road test.   It left me feeling fresh, smelling sweet and no talcy white residue left on my clothes.  WIN!  Thumbs up to a deodorant that won't stain and ruin my clothes :)

I am now off to crack open a bottle of wine, eat cake and do a bit of an ASOS splurge ... and that's even before the bestie gets here!  Ah well, she will just need to catch up ... I'll try and remember to leave some cake for her ... and some ASOS stock ... if she's lucky! ;)

x

Cherry Loco

I mentioned Cherry Loco in a blogpost a while back when I purchased a gorgeous vintage gold leaf chain from her stall at Sloans market but this week I eventually got round to going back for another visit.

Cherry Loco is the brainchild of Lauren Ridley and is best known for designing and creating 'Quirky bold unusual hand cut acrylic jewellery with an edge'.

Lauren's designs are fun, wearable and most certainly a statement. Very reasonable pricing and you get a unique purchase that can't always be found so easily on the High Street. I picked up the french moustache necklace for £10.

Lauren can also custom design pieces for you so I am thinking about asking her to make me a pair of geek glasses on a chain and I also love her 'show me your teeth' necklace. Can you see a theme here? Anything I can use as a facial prop is a winner!!
Of course, there are plenty of cute and quirky designs to pick from already on the site, it's hard not to go crazy picking lots of pieces brighten up and add a bit of cheer to your everyday jewellery.

Cherry Loco is available at Sloans Market every 3 weekends I believe but you can also find the website and online shop here.

x

Doll Boutique

For years now, I have contemplated getting a tattoo but there is always the dilemma of what part of my body to ink, what design to choose and where to get it done.

Oh, and there is also the small factor of me being insanely squeamish and fainting at the mere sight of blood from a paper cut never mind a needle pinching my skin up to 3000 times per minute. True story.

I may have found a temporary solution though in this quirky tattoo ring by Disaya. In the style of a traditional flying heart it is embellished with Swarovski crystal adding a bit of sparkle. I think it would look great as part of a collection of rings on one hand.


You can purchase the Disaya ‘free’ tattoo ring for £65 at Doll Boutique.

Doll Boutique was one of the nominees at this years Scottish Fashion Awards for Scottish Retailer of the Year but were just pipped at the post by Designer haven, Cruise. Doll Boutique is a fantastic online shopping experience – they stock labels like Whitney Eve, American Retro and J Brand ... my wishlist is getting bigger by the minute! Oh and they even have their own blog too … check it out here.