December is just around the corner which can only mean one thing. Christmas will soon be upon us! As much as I look forward to this festive occasion, there's no denying how busy it can get. Leaving things to the last minute can make those days leading up to the 25th an absolute nightmare. I love Christmas shopping but consider it the most stressful part of the holiday season. Not only are the crowds and queues tricky to handle sometimes, but you're never guaranteed to find the item you're looking for straight away. It takes a lot of patience, perseverance and constant travelling from store to store. This is where online shop UncommonGoods.com comes in. With their wide range of festive gifts, you'll find all you could possibly want at the click of a button AND from the comfort of your own home. In today's post, I'll be showing you my favourite items from their site. Whether you're looking for him or her, this gift guide will hopefully inspire you to get giving this Christmas time.
Gifts For Her
Homeware Gift
Elwood the Rainbow Unicorn Mug: NZD 52.70 || GBP 28.30
Tech Gift
Bedside Smartphone Vase: NZD 44.40 || GBP 23.83
Foodie Gift
Row Boat Serving Bowl with Wood Serving Utensils: NZD 90.20 || GBP 48.41
Craft/Stationery Gift
Sewing Station: NZD 80.50 || GBP 43.20
Accessories Gift
Pedestal Jewelry Holder: NZD 66.60 || GBP 35.75
Fashion Gift
Literary Scarfs: NZD 66.60 || GBP 35.75
Note: This scarf is made up of a selection of passages from famous novel, Alice in Wonderland. You can choose from other classics such as Jane Eyre and Pride and Prejudice.
To find more gift ideas for her, be sure to look at this page here.
Gifts For Him
Homeware Gift
Around the World Alarm Clock: NZD 50.00 || GBP 26.81
Tech Gift
Driftwood iPhone Charging Dock: NZD 94.40 || GBP 50.65
Foodie Gift
Record Bowls: NZD 34.70 || GBP 18.62
Craft/Stationery Gift
Nailed it Desk Organiser: NZD 80.50 || GBP 43.20
Accessories Gift
Eye Glasses Holder: NZD 25.00 || GBP 13.41
Fashion Gift
Men's Llama Socks: NZD 13.90 || GBP 7.45
To find more gift ideas for him, be sure to look at this page here.
UncommonGoods.com is, without a doubt, your one stop shop these holidays. Not only are their products incredibly creative and unique, the intentions behind this company are as pure as ever. UncommonGoods is working at making their company as sustainable as possible. They choose to print their catalogues on recycled paper and refuse to sell products containing leather, feathers or fur. UncommonGoods strongly believe in the protection of both our environment and our animals. For me, their mission is what makes their company stand out from the rest. Definitely check UncommonGoods out! It's truly amazing what they're doing!
Thanks so much for reading! What's your favourite item from this gift guide? Let me know in the comments below!
* This is a sponsored post. All opinions are 100% my own. *
CONTINUE READING
Today, I'm going to see if I can guess what kind of Pinterest bedroom you have. If you don't already know, I'm obsessed with pretty interiors and room decor so this post was a lot of fun to write. If you want to give this quiz a go, all you have to do is grab a piece of paper and for each question write down the letter beside the statement you think fits you the most. Your most common letter should reveal what type of bedroom you have. Let me know if I got it right or if I got it completely wrong!
1. On top of my work desk, you'll find...
A) My laptop and a table clock.
B) A patterned pen pot and my favourite notebooks.
C) My current reads and lots and lots of candles.
D) A funky table lamp and several potted plants.
2. I feel most __________ when I'm in my bedroom.
A) Organised
B) Creative
C) Comfy
D) Optimistic
3. Whenever someone sees my room they always compliment on how...
A) Neat and tidy everything is.
B) Well decorated it is.
C) Relaxed they feel.
D) Colourful it is.
4. The three words that best describe the aesthetic of my room are...
A) Natural, airy and neutral.
B) Sweet, stylish and light.
C) Modern, quiet and moody.
D) Fun, cool and loud.
5. Whenever I'm in a homeware store, I go straight to the...
A) Lighting section.
B) Wall art.
C) Pillows and blankets.
D) Artificial plants.
6. My favourite combination is...
A) Marble and metal.
B) Copper and pink.
C) Gold and navy.
D) Yellow and wood.
7. The best thing about my bedroom is...
A) The huge windows that look out onto the back garden.
B) The adorable, fluffy rug I have on my floor.
C) The bed of course!
D) The crazy wallpaper I have up.
8. I think every bedroom should have...
A) Good natural lighting.
B) A colour scheme.
C) A comfortable reading nook.
D) Some nature and greenery.
9. When it comes to pattern, I like...
A) Stripes.
B) Polka dots.
C) Chevron.
D) Floral.
10. I love that my bedroom...
A) Is a really open space.
B) Reflects my personality and style.
C) Promotes sleep and comfort.
D) Is such a happy place to be in.
You have a __________ bedroom!
(Mostly A's)
Simple and Spacious
(Mostly B's)
Pretty and Pastel
(Mostly C's)
Cute and Cosy
(Mostly D's)
Bright and Bold
Thanks for taking the quiz!
CONTINUE READING
Since my school ball is less than a month away, I have decided to write a post dedicated to the occasion. There is quite a lot of thought and preparation that goes into this one night but that just adds to the fun of it all! I recently checked off the last of my to-buy list and am now looking into different hairstyles, nail designs and makeup looks. In today's post, I'll be sharing with you my top essentials for the night. Hope you enjoy!
Dress
Out of all things ball-related, the dresses excite me the most. Ball dresses have definitely been a constant topic of conversation at school lately but that doesn't bother me at all! I love hearing about other people's dresses as well as telling them about my own! My ball dress is creamy white with pearls around the neckline and pleats in the skirt. It's simple, sweet, glittery and pretty much me in a dress. I can't wait to wear it on the night!
Jewelry
My dress has quite a high neckline so I probably won't be wearing any necklaces for the ball. Instead, I'll compensate with hand and wrist accessories. I recently went ring shopping and came back with six rings to pick and mix with. When choosing which rings to buy, I was definitely drawn towards the more dainty and delicate of the lot. These were the ones I knew would compliment the aesthetic of my dress quite nicely. Having jewelry for the night is definitely a top essential for me as I don't think a formal look is quite complete without a bit of sparkle here and there.
Makeup
I'm pretty terrible at applying makeup so to disguise my lack of ability, will be sticking to the softer colour palettes and tones. The lipstick I'll be wearing is only slightly darker than my natural lip shade, and the blush colour I have decided to use is the palest of the five shades. The school ball is the perfect opportunity to really showcase your makeup artistry but I think in my case I'll be keeping it light and subtle.
Small Purse
I'm obsessed with this floral purse I bought a little while ago. It's the perfect addition to my school ball attire. The contents of your purse are definitely worth thinking about. This would be the best place to hold any make up wipes or bobby pins in case anything needs fixing up throughout the night. Not only is this purse super cute, it's functional too. Definitely a necessity for the ball.
Camera
They'll be heaps of chances for me to take photos so I'll definitely be having my camera close by. I'll want to be able to look back on this night in years to come so taking pictures is definitely a top priority for me. As well as during the ball, I'll be able to snap lots of photos before the ball too, when everyone is getting all dressed up and ready to go. I'm bound to make heaps of memories on the night so it's important I have my camera with me to capture these.
Thanks so much for reading!
CONTINUE READING
Deciding to start a blog was one of the best decisions I've ever made. Since starting my own website, I've learnt so much about myself and what I'm capable of. Blogging has definitely had a positive influence on my life and I would recommend this hobby to anyone and everyone. No matter how long you maintain your blog for, whether that be a month or two years, you're guaranteed to take something really valuable away from it. Today, I'll be writing about the skills I have acquired through keeping a blog. Let me know if you're skill set is similar to mine!
Self-discipline
Everything to do with your blog relies on you and your commitment to the hobby. Time management is so important. Not only must you be able to set deadlines for yourself, they must be realistic enough in order for you to see them through. In terms of time pressure, there is definitely quite a bit of flexibility with blogging. When managing your own website, no one is telling you what to do or when it's due. It's all up to you. Because of my blog, I have a much stronger work ethic and a better sense of responsibility.
Communication Skills
Your blog is a reflection of you and your personality therefore it's natural for your own personal values and beliefs to come through in your writing. Blogging is a way for me to arrange my thoughts, making it easier for me to articulate these in real life. Through creating content every week, I've been able to really refine my writing style and written ability.
Online Confidence
Blogging has really opened my eyes to the world of coding and web design. Not only that, it has opened my eyes to the tools and platforms I had little to no association with before starting a blog; these being Adobe Photoshop, Lightroom, Twitter and Bloglovin'. Having a regular online presence and knowing how to promote yourself on social media not only proves helpful to blogging but to any other passion as well which is why I'm glad I've been able to really develop this skill through my blog.
Perseverance
When it comes to maintaining a blog, everyone has their moments of self doubt. Blogging has definitely tested my determination and resilience but I'm thankful for this because it has helped me to grow as a person. I like to give my blog a little moment of attention each day, whether that be sharing my link on social media or planning my next post. Every little bit counts and I know that each time I tend to my blog, whether it's for 2 minutes or 2 hours, I'm putting myself one step closer to where I want to be.
Thanks for reading!
I've always considered myself an introvert. It's definitely not unusual for me to feel a little out of place at big social events/gatherings. I tend to keep to myself in large groups, need to step away from the crowd from time to time and take a little while to warm up around new people. Over the past few years I've been able to come out of my shell quite a bit however I still have my introverted preferences. I definitely feel more comfortable talking one-one-one than with a group of about 5 or 6 and when having a conversation with someone I've just met, like to ask questions instead of sharing stories about myself. In today's post, I'm sharing with you 4 tips for introverts. If you find socialising a bit tricky at times, hopefully this post will be useful in some way.
1. Fake it Til You Make it
If you find yourself in a social situation where you don't know anyone, try not to let your discomfort show. If you're not quite ready to approach someone, make yourself look as friendly as possible. People are more likely to come up to someone who is smiling and looking around rather than someone who is frowning and staring at their feet. Stand tall and proud even if you're shaking inside. You'll have company in no time.
2. Seek Advice
It's okay to ask for help from family and friends. If you struggle in certain social situations, don't be afraid to ask those who are more comfortable talkers/socialisers for advice. You don't have to change your personality completely, but if you're wanting to build on your social skills, it may help to get some tips and strategies from a person who is of the extroverted type. Talk to those who encourage you to meet new people and open yourself up to others but don't let them turn you into someone you're not. Introverts and extroverts are two different personality types and there is nothing is wrong with either of them so don't feel bad if you can't keep up with what they're telling you to do.
3. Practice Makes Perfect
For quite some time, I really struggled with small talk and making conversation. Every time I went to speak with someone, I almost rehearsed the conversation in my mind, making sure I was completely prepared to say what I wanted to say. This was the only way I felt safe starting a conversation with someone and even though this probably wasn't best way to interact with people, it definitely helped me to develop this skill. Nowadays, I'm able to make small talk more naturally and I feel like I definitely have the practice I put into this skill to thank for that. Just put yourself out there. Even if you don't start off doing it in the right way, don't worry because you'll get there in the end.
4. Start By Talking About Them
My favourite way to start a conversation is with a compliment. If you like their jacket or their shoes or their earrings, tell them! This is a great conversation starter in terms of leading on to questions and personal stories. If you ask them where they got something from, it's highly likely you'll be able to continue the conversation from their response. If you're not very good at talking about yourself, make the conversation about them. Listen and ask questions. They're bound to appreciate your strong engagement and focus.
Thanks for reading!
