Your Kent Wedding - Front Page!!!

This year we have provided jewellery for a few wedding shoots and the very lovely Carol and Tony from AphroditeNet Weddings have got a stunning image from their shoot on the front page of Your Kent Wedding Magazine!!!
What a way to send out 2011 but on the front cover of a Wedding Magazine!! Heres to 2012 and many more opportunities :)

You can find AphroditeNet Weddings on Facebook here
Have a very Merry Christmas everyone!

L xx

Is Christmas stressing YOU out?

Now I'm usually a total last minute girl when it comes to Christmas and its as bad as it is good. The added stress and pressure of finding those special gifts at the very last minute but the early Jan sales can ease the money pressure. This year we opted for as much as possible, a handmade xmas this year and I've been finished for over 2 weeks now but with the big day looming i seem to have acquired a twitchy eye. Its yet to disrupt my sleep but the days and quickly falling away and I'm terrified of forgetting something! If you to are worrying about the big day, give this a read;

23^rd December, Officially the Worst Night’s Sleep of the Year

• Money worries & missing shopping deliveries keeping us awake
• Week before Christmas described as “stressful & busy”
• On the 23^rd December we get the least sleep

According to research by Dreams Beds, the 23^rd of December is the night we are most likely to lay awake in bed, worrying and missing out on sleep, in the run up to Christmas day.

With our wallets and purses tightly squeezed this year, it comes as no surprise to find money is the main cause for concern for 51% of us, closely followed by worries of presents not arriving on time. The younger generation have more money worries on their mind, with 54% saying their thoughts keep them awake, while the over 50’s sleep more soundly.

The survey, commissioned by Dreams Beds, asked 1000 people about their sleeping habits in the run up to Christmas. It found that 45% of us tend to stay up later; either partying the night away or wrapping presents. The rest of us tend to wake up early and, as a result, feel tired for the rest of the day. 

When asked how to describe the week before Christmas, no festive cheer was to be found, with 89% stating they were busy and stressed. Only 7% find this week relaxing!

A divide between counties was also uncovered too, as those in the East Midlands will be rising earlier than all of us, on average between 5 and 7am on Christmas day. Those in the West Midlands are more likely to worry about gifts not arriving more than any other region. With many of us not making it to our beds until well past midnight, we’ll be getting much less than the recommended 8 hours’ sleep.

Nick Wood, from Dreams Beds, said, “The results show it’s not just eating a big meal that sends us to sleep on Christmas day.  It’s important to get as close to 8 hours sleep as you can, so try not to worry about things that are out of your control, late at night.

“We recommend preparing as much as possible, in advance and sharing responsibilities within families. Most importantly bedrooms should be kept present wrapping free; it should be a peaceful haven at the end of the day.”

Tips and advice on sleep and dreams can be found here http://sleeptalk.dreams.co.uk 

Visit the Dreams Beds site here http://www.dreams.co.uk

I don't know about you but the last time my bedroom was a peaceful place was before we had kids! I will however be giving the advice careful thought for christmas lunch!! •Runs off to pre prepare christmas lunch•

Pure Collection - Dec Release

New Year’s Eve sophistication with Pure Collection

Pure Collection provides the ultimate in sophisticated New Year’s Eve partywear with a selection of feminine looks in classic red, black and grey.

A simple but utterly chic black dress will never look out of place at a cocktail party, so a Shift Dress, £83.85 is a flattering and versatile choice. In a wool-rich fabric with a slight sheen finish, this wardrobe staple is given a modern twist by sculptural pleats at the neckline. Pair with a Pashmina Shawl in Scarlet, £111.75, in 100% sustainable cashmere for a shot of festive colour and add unfussy, delicate diamond jewellery.

Printed cocktail dresses continue to be popular thanks to the fifties influences recently seen on the catwalks, and the Printed Silk Shift Dress, £77.40, in a bold check print channels the trend effectively. Keep a sleek silhouette with the Pleat Front Silk and Cashmere Cardigan in Cherry, £104.30, in luxurious silk and cashmere mix and its feminine puff sleeves.

If your New Year’s Eve party requires something a little more glamorous than the average cocktail dress, then the Gathered Detail Jersey Dress in Dark Red, £51.75, will be the perfect choice. With a flattering wrap neckline and gathered bodice detail, this dress needs little more than a bag to set it off, such as theSoft Quilt Bag in Black, £134.25. Detach the strap to create an oversized clutch, tapping into the popular Autumn Winter trend.

This New Year’s Eve, keep it stylish and sophisticated with a select palette from Pure Collection.

I'm totally in love with the red and black look for the festive season, the cuts and styling are right on trend and the red pashmina is to die for!

L xx

And The Winner is...

The Very lucky, and deserving winners of the Help Dora Help campaign is...

Belfast nursery awarded £20,000 by Nick Jr.’s

Help Dora Help campaign

Nick Jr., Nickelodeon’s award winning pre-school channel, today announces that Hope Nursery School in Belfast will receive £20,000 funding, as they drew the greatest number of public votes in the channel’s nationwide social responsibility campaign Help Dora Help.

Help Dora Help launched in May, supported by The Prince’s Foundation for Children and the Arts. The campaign encourages pre-schoolers to learn through exploration. One in five UK nurseries/pre schools registered for a free activity pack and were invited to apply for the grant, by explaining how the nursery would benefit and designing a Dora themed backpack. Five nurseries were selected as finalists by Nick Jr.’s expert judging panel and the ultimate winner was decided by public vote.

Hope Nursery submitted a compelling case, stating their intention to use funds to enhance the landscape of their outdoor play area and build new play facilities allowing children to engage in creative, physical and imaginative play. 

Julianne Fleming, Nursery Teacher at Hope Nursery School, said: “We are absolutely delighted to have won this generous funding. The children, staff and parents embraced the challenge and it’s brought the community together too.  We worked hard to create a real buzz around the nursery being shortlisted and it’s obviously paid off with so many people voting for us. The money will be so well spent here and we look forward to putting our plans into action.”

Tracey Seawright, a Parent at Hope Nursery, said:  “The staff and children of Hope fully deserve the number one slot in this competition! The win has been celebrated throughout the whole community so in effect this was not just a win for Hope Nursery but a win for the Shankill, Belfast and beyond.”

Tina McCann, MD Nickelodeon UK, said: “We’re delighted that Hope Nursery have been chosen to receive the Help Dora Help award fund, they are worthy winners. From the start of the campaign our aim was to encourage pre-schoolers to explore their worlds, so in addition to making a difference to Hope Nursery, we’re also proud to have worked with so many nurseries and pre-schools across the UK to encourage a sense of adventure in pre-schoolers.”

Jeremy Newton, Chief Executive of The Prince’s Foundation for Children & the Arts said: “Hope Nursery’s bid was a very compelling and creative proposal and represented an area that will significantly benefit from the award fund.  So we are thrilled they will be able to use the funding to enhance their children’s early learning experiences and development.”

Handmade for Christmas

Taking on an entirely handmade/preloved christmas was no easy task, with very little time with schooling the girls, running La-Chic-Unique and all the other things life throws at you there are still a few outstanding gifts to finalise and of course they have to be for people i barely know and have always been a nightmare to buy for!
But with a few flashes of inspiration i came up with a few bits that i hope you can also take inspiration from and create something beautiful for your loved ones this christmas.

Ive seen a lot of handmade crayons around at the mo especially on etsy, and even though I've not had the inclination to make any before, being stuck for christmas gifts for an 8 yo boy that is a spoilt brat isn't just annoying but you feel your efforts are falling short.
So armed with a silicone ice cube tray and some broken crayons i figured, what the hey all kids like to colour in!
Now this was a first attempt and i think i left them in a little to long but i reckon with another go they will be spot on!

Im kinda impressed with how they have turned out but we need to perfect them before they are bagged and tagged ready for christmas!

Ive been making  paper heart canvases for some time now and having made a tiny one for the girls room and to take to craft fairs, my big ones are TO BIG to carry! i had a spare canvas and whilst tidying away in the office i had an awesome idea! BUTTONS!! Any initial in any style is do able on this size, and would make a beautiful new baby gift or for a wedding and most importantly for christmas! Just lay your buttons out how you want them to look and use a hot glue gun to secure them down. Inexpensive, personalised AND totally CUTE!!! and best of all you could use entirely recycled items!

And if you had a large canvas and piles of buttons you could do words and names!! Still much cheaper than buying a printed canvas or gift for a wedding etc. These may be making an appearance on Etsy after christmas.

So theres a little bit of festive inspiration, if your stuck for a few last minute gifts whip out the craft box and get creating, you never know what you may come up with!!!
Remember christmas isn't about cost, its about sentiment!

L x

Pure Collection Winter Essentials

On-trend Sale Style with Pure Collection

Tap into this season’s trends without compromising on luxury with Pure Collection’s latest sale, where there is up to 60% off key items in their collection. Pair jewel brights with elegant neutrals for a colour-popping outfit ideal for these dark, dreary days.

A structured coat in a bold colour looks striking worn over neutrals, and the Double Breasted Coat in Red, was £249, now £99, is no exception. Glossy button fastenings and warm stand collar make this a practical yet stylish coat. Team with a jewel-toned shirt, like the Longline Silk Tunic in Blackberry, was £109, now £54 with minimalist details to really let that colour pop.

The Cashmere Sweater Dress in Heather Grey, was £179, now £89, in 100% sustainable cashmere, provides a neutral in contrast to the rich jewel colours. Accessorise with a sparkling Sequin Jersey Infinity Scarf in Grey Marl, was £79, now £31, for a contrasting texture that keeps to the soft colour palette, creating a relaxed, feminine outfit ideal for dinner and drinks at a friend’s.

For a smart yet fun everyday look, these colour-pop cardigans are perfect. The Cashmere Puffed Sleeve Cardigan in Amber or Coral Spice, was £139, now £55, is a simple way to inject some fresh, modern style into your wardrobe.

Add texture with your neutral pieces by opting for a luscious Soft Pleat Leather Bag in Taupe, was £249, now £99 for casual, relaxed style: perfect for a day out Christmas shopping. For a touch of luxury, theSleeveless Georgette Blouse in Beige, was £79, now £31, is a beautifully delicate addition in 100% silk that also subtly works this season’s androgyny trend.

The Pure Collection sale runs from 19^th December to 27^th January while stocks last, and has over 120 styles included with up to 60% off.

I don't know about you but i have several pieces on my Wish List!

L x