Product of the Week: For Halloween

Contrary to popular belief the next festival approaching - in the UK at least - is not Christmas (that’s in December, I’d like to point out). No, the next celebration we have to look forward to is the glorious Halloween, and increase my anticipation of the somewhat underrated festival - I think it could be much better celebrated without Tesco’s tack plastic contributions - I hunted out a few products that got me itching to trick or treat. 

Flock LDN Tangerine Bandage Skirt

First up is this lovely Bandage Skirt from Flock LDN. Bandage skirts have fast become a wardrobe staple since the Hervé Leger revival of the BodyCon a few years back, and this packs a zesty punch with a vibrant colour. Not only is this reminiscent of pumpkins (in the best possible way!), but it will also brighten up your day as the greyness sinks in.

Chocolate Orange Bath Bomb

Picture yourself on a Monday evening after a day in the office. You’re probably cold after your journey home, and all you want is some nice relaxation and a reminder that life really is pretty great. So, what do you do? You reach for a box set and have a soak in the bath (possibly with a glass of vino). I have found a gorgeous little addition to that to make you feel seasonal, a Chocolate Orange Bath Bomb - it’s practically Terry’s in the bath - to make you feel indulged and spicy (and more importantly, ready to battle the next day). Plus, you get two in your box, so there's another one left to look forward to...

Have a lovely weekend!

Emma

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Hidden Gem: Yumchaa

Coffee seems to have taken over the British consciousness, but we mustn't forget the origins of our 'teatime': the lovely cuppa. Fighting the corner of a good mug of cha is Yumchaa, a London-based company championing the power of tea (and scrummy sweet things too) with a number of physical stores and appearances at a number of London's coolest markets.

Yumchaa has two stores in London; one in Camden and the other nestled just off Oxford Sreet in Soho. It's a far more enticing prospect for a post-Selfridges (I can dream!) pick me up than your run-of-the-mill Starbucks; the range of brews here is quite extraordinary and varies across herbal, green, black and white teas. There are - for those of you who like to forget it’s freezing outside - iced teas (think a Starbucks iced fruit drink) which truly taste of tea. My pick is the Mango Mango - it isn’t cheap at £3.20, but it is bursting with green tea flavour and mangoey freshness. 

Add to this the attraction of free wifi, a genuinely ‘independent’ feeling and delicious freshly-baked cakes and we have, ladies and gents, a winner in the beverage vending stakes! 

To buy their products and discover a bit more, visit their website: http://www.yumchaa.com/ 

Emma

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Vote for Britain’s Best Luxury and Unique Seller 2011 and WIN a £500 Shopping Spree!

Winter has dawned, and we‘re putting a little extra sparkle into our favourite season!

Vote for your favourite frooly shop for the title of Britain’s Best Luxury and Unique Seller 2011, and be in with the chance to win a £500 shopping spree!

Which shop have you fallen for? Do their goodies get you ‘oohs’ and ‘aahs’ of delight, or are they responsible for that never ending overdraft? Whatever your reason, pinpoint just one frooly shop that you love, and vote!

How do I vote?
It's easy and takes just a minute - Find out more at www.frooly.com or go to our facebook page 'like us' and link to the name of the business that gets your vote!

Help support the UK's amazing small retailers, your vote counts.

Happy voting! x

Please note voting closes 2nd December 2011.
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Our Hidden Gem of the Week:

Now it’s cold...best comfort food spot in the capital - S&M Cafe, Spitalfields

Now, I know that not everyone is based down here in the Big Smoke, but I have discovered a real corker for those of you who are, or who might be down here some time in the future: S&M Café in Spitalfields.

It’s not as kinky as it sounds; in fact, it’s distinctly wholesome, with a menu full of freshly-squeezed orange juice, bangers and mash and lovely cream Hot Chocolate. A definite one to stop at especially if you’re a stickler for Fairtrade, Gluten-Free, British Comfort Food. Yummy and saintly; could you as for more?

Oh, one more thing: it’s just opposite the incredible Spitalfields Market, making it a great post-splurge stop off point and fantastic for people-watching. Enjoy!

http://www.sandmcafe.co.uk/spitalfields.php 

Emma
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Product of the Week:

Lowie Vintage Floral Print Scarf

It’s getting to ‘cold’ season; not just when the temperatures drop from the unseasonal high, but that hideous time of year when most people’s diets consist mainly of Lemsip and feverishly consumed Oranges. Vitamin C boosting tips aside (eat Kiwis, they have far more than the orange family...!) it really is worth investing in a versatile scarf.

So, which would be my pick? I’d definitely recommend this beauty from Lowie. It’s ditsy, sophisticated and has plenty of colours in it. Imagine; you could wear it to dinner over your favourite LBD after having worn it with your staple red coat to work, or as a quasi-cardigan over your little summer dress in the central-heated office. It would even double up as a barnet-protector on those horrid days when you forget your umbrella...

Big love for this, and definitely wanting one to keep the London smog away.

Emma

x

Its Summer all over again... for now anyway

So here i am sat on a train down to the big smoke. Now unusually for the time of year, which i have to keep reminding myself is autumn, it's really hot, like 28 degrees hot. So where I would normally be wrapped up in fur, thick tights and gloves, I'm sat here in some shorts. Not the sporty type shorts, nor denimn, but pretty cotton shorts tied with a large bow.  The weather, plays such a huge part in my life, well most peoples if your British, that when it's warm in winter my traditional shopping habits get all confused.


I need to by a new coat, but instead I've found myself pondering over flimsy summer shoes, it is autumn, and next week it will probably be snowing, I had to have the mental argument with myself to avoid the shoe purchase. It is autumn


But in light of this hot autumn thing, the sunshine, sunglasses, shorts and beer - let's relive summer, I am saying no to thick wool tights, no to boots, jackets, coats and hats.It's summer all over again and we are going to embrace it in all it's glory.


So here are a couple of summery treasures which will keep you warm this winter, in spirit that is!

Silver Bird in Flight Necklace, just £12.50

Vintage 1970's Yellow Clutch, £28.95

Set of two Crown Tea Light Holders, £9.95

White Bouquet Oilcloth Cosmetic Zip Bag, £8.50

Beautiful Petals Earrings, £12

Out and About: The quest for some real life hidden gems...

Picnic, Reading

In amongst the clinically formulated chain stores of central Reading, wedged (quite literally) between coffee warlords Costa and Starbucks, sits Picnic, the town's greatest café and lunchspot.

The Outside comes indoors into this glittering jewel of a café - too small to even have a loo, not that it seems to put anyone off - which is packed by a rolling sequence of clientele; morning cappuccino junkies, interns doing the coffee run at 11.00, office workers searching out a tasty home-cooked lunch, and shoppers refuelling after an arduous battle through the department stores of the Oracle.

Each day they serve, in addition to their quite staggering array of sandwiches, two "Picnic Boxes" a filling alongside couscous & fresh lettuce - think Cumin Yoghurt and Almond Chicken or Home-made bacon quiche - and a freshly made soup.

http://www.picnicfoods.co.uk/

Planet Organic, London

OK, so this might not be an utterly undiscovered arena, but this Aladdin's Cave of Organic food and lifestyle gadgets is fused with a Café and take-out food stop. Everything in here is yummy, responsibly sourced and fresh; a real novelty in faced-paced London. My favourite store is at Torrington Place, just off Goodge Street, and its position right by UCL means its always filled with intellectual types who will massage your inactive brain cells whilst you nourish your body.

It would be absurdly easy to walk out with little purchases like the Bobble bottle (a refillable water bottle with inbuilt filter - why didn't I think of that!) and your bodyweight in Vitamin supplements, but it's probably worth avoiding these pitfalls and just heading for the groceries, unless you have a far healthier bank balance than mine - it's not cheap in here!

Anyone who lives in the London area can have Fresh nutritious goodies delivered to their door including Fruit & Veg Boxes, just-prepared meals, Fresh juices and scrummy soups. For everyone else, this is eating for those who enjoy knowing they're refuelling well whilst savouring every bite. A sort of Dean & DeLuca for the streets of London and less commercial than Whole Foods Market, it's an essential foodie pit-stop for lunch, coffee or a whole cupboard re-stock.

http://www.planetorganic.com/

Emma x