Road trip to the past anyone?

In the early summer, my friend Sarah and I came across this lovely little village on our way through the New Forest and we just had to have a look around. We loved it, and decided to visit it the other day.

A chance to get some yummy pub food, stock up on sweeties, and look around the antique stores and cute accessory shops.

There was one shop that just caught my eye, it was a haven for vintage soaps and suds, and when you stepped in, it felt and smelt so handmade. You could get fairy liquid soaps in the original packaging of the 40's, tinned cosmetics and pill boxes along with bath bombs in the shapes of cupcakes.

As it was such a small shop I felt rude if I took pictures, but I got a couple from the outside!

Notice the old Singer sewing machine! I love looking at these, my uncle found one dumped in a skip, its such a shame people throw these gems away, but on the brightside he got to keep it!

I also got some lovely square patterned paper, to help decorate my new room at uni, think of 50's coloured cherries, antique swirls and purples, and newspaper styled to look old. I should of done that one myself, it was always fun trying to 'antique' paper by putting in the oven at school.

My Retail Heaven

To add to my busy week (not that I’m complaining) I’ve landed myself a guest writer role on My Retail Heaven!

Do have a look at my first post! I should have an article up every week.

http://www.myretailheaven.co.uk/magazine/index.php/627/travel/events/one-new-change.html

So...? Eventful

With cherry drops and bourbon biscuits in hand, I had all the help I needed to work extra hard this week.

We’re hurriedly organising the So…? Fragrance display stand at the Clotheshow in December, but little did we know an exciting, envious sister of an event was blowing raspberries at us. It was Britain’s Next Top Model Live (naturally spoken in a Tyra voice) and we only had less than a month to organise EVERYTHING for it, and we knew we couldn’t miss out!

So this week, I had to organise a meeting with the event producer and discuss budget, cost, space…..snooze….but then listen in the gossip of all the celebs and brands that are going to be there! Mawi, Nine West, Bobby Brown, mmm get in my belly!

There’s a lot of pressure for them to pull it off, and become this high class event, complete with free, yes free pampering makeover stations, champagne and sushi bars, Model 1 scouts and a catwalk show with the BNTM finalists!

Luckily I’m going to this event but rather than consuming my weight in yummy food and spending unnecessary amounts, you’ll find me by the till selling our stock! Oh and possible strutting like a wannabe down the catwalk which they’ve made especially for the size 0 in all of us.

Sea, Sand and Charity Shops

Cream Teas and Scones, Fish and Chips, Shopping, Bodyboarding and Star gazing - This alone ticks my boxes for a destination to move to.

One thing I loved was visiting the cutsie shops they had, especially in St Ives, they had little cottages dedicated to just selling Cupcake accessories, or a shop especially for fudge and chocolate lovers. Inbetween these though were lots of charity shops. I normally make a bee line for the coats and jackets, then the bags, then shoes, and then feel disappointed as I havent found a gem piece.

On this occasion it was different, sticking out like a sore thumb I noticed a camel coat, so in true toddler fashion I pointed and shouted Camel Coat, which worked as Keely slipped it over her shoulders. It was original, musty and 100% wool, and most importantly the staple of A/W. And only for £10, she walked away happy.

It was only later on that we inspected the coat further to find it is an DAKS original from the 80's off Bond Street, so was worth a couple of hundred but bought for pocket money.

An all round success, and especially for Keely.