Review: GemeShou Gypsum White Ring display holder

The Gemeshou Gypsum ring holders isre available in a set of 3 in two different sizes (£13.86) from Amazon. I got one of the taller ring holders as a sample gift and I really like it. The design and material it is made from is quite unusual. Mine measures 3.5x3.5x6cm. The holder is quite striking and the rings sit nicely on the cone. I don’t think I would have chosen this design myself but now it is in front of me I really like it! 

Save The Bees: Bee Revival Kit

 

Even though bee season has nearly ended there are still a few buzzing around (I have taken the photographs) and readers may find this useful for next year. I have several 4ft lavender bushes in my front garden and kept finding exhausted/dying/dead bees on the flowers. I hate seeing any animal in pain or suffering. So I researched causes and solutions to the poor little bees plight. 

Bees collapse/ die because they are overworked, need a boost of energy or a drink of water. The bee revival keyring/ bee thirst aid kit is from the revive a bee store from Amazon. The keyring is £11.49 and the paper hang tag is plantable wildflower seed paper. The gold key ring unscrews to reveal a glass vial containing Invertbee, a combination of fructose and glucose liquid. Unlike sugar syrup this will not crystallise as it dries out. This will give the bees the boost they need. Do not offer it to bees that don’t need it, they won’t thank you for it! A percentage of every sale is donated to Rewilding Britain. 

A useful tool to help a tiny much needed member of the wildlife community which is often overlooked or seen as scary! I have used it several times and the bee did seem to be revived- it flew off. I know one definitely did survive as it only has three legs and I saw it back at work the next day. This is a great concept and I like that a donation is made to a worthwhile charity. 

I purchased this item myself and the views expressed in this blog are my own.  

Croci Kennel For Dogs

I’m finally back for good (I hope). I am not going into where I’ve been or what was wrong but I will say/ write if you feel your mental health deteriorating please don’t ignore it until it becomes a big issue and don’t let Drs fob you off. I will be sending out outstanding prizes with extras during the next week or so, 

So my first purchase when I got back was a Croci dog kennel.  Last year I adopted an ex feral cat, Zeus, via the RSPCA who sadly died when I had just had him a year (this was what tipped me over the edge). I don’t know why he died so suddenly but I decided never to have another one. A few weeks ago a large white and black huge stray cat who looked like a skeleton with a head arrived in my garden and started eating my hedgehog food (kitten biscuits). I have been feeding him proper cat food left over from Zeusy, and as Hercules looked so tired and grubby I decided to get him a cat house to live in until I can tempt him in with me. There are lots of cat “houses” available on Amazon, Etsy etc but most are not suitable. They are too small, not enough ventilation, poorly made, designed for cutesy aesthetic value rather than durability and animal safety. 

The Croci Villa for Dogs is £49.99 on Amazon UK (it may be cheaper on other sites). It is made from recycled plastic and measures 50Dx60Wx41H cm externally and 40x30x35cm internally.  The villa does need putting together, so you will need a screwdriver to put the roof in place. The surround to the door just snapped in place. The vents were more tricky to snap in and it took a lot of force and two people forcing them in to place. 

I like the villa. The roof even has little drain holes for the rain water to run off through. As it is plastic it will be easy to wash and keep clean. I will put a brick in it in winter as I don’t want it to fly off like the farm house in the Wizard of Oz! I also appreciate the vents, I like that the designers considered the need for air to circulate as I also put cat food in there which can smell rather pungent and attract flies. I do wish it was slightly bigger as Hercules is a very tall cat. There is a medium villa  (£71.79) and a larger sized Dog Villa which is over double the size of mine but as it is £142, Hercules will have to like what he has (which he does) and hopefully he will realise not all humans are cruel. 

I purchased this item myself and the views expressed in this blog are my own, 

Review: Serenity Garden Planter

As mentioned in my previous post I decided to plant some flowers in memory of my cat. As a complete novice starting from scratch I decided to look on Amazon and found these 2 large planters for £16.95 including delivery. 

Each planter measures 21cm (H) x 31cm (top diameter, base diameter 18cm). 10litres of compost filled it to the top. They are made from plastic, so not that heavy even when filled with compost and have 5 holes in the base for drainage. The planters are a greenish/blueish colour depending upon the sun and have a white floral pattern etched in. I like them and feel they were good value when compared to the reviews of other planters in this price range.  

Beaks & Claws: Anna Sui Shiny Coral Cattleya lipstick (301)

Anna Sui Shiny Coral Cattleya lipstick is £23 and is available from both Amazon UK and BeautyBay.com.  Anna Sui have recently revamped their lipstick line. Stars are out whilst roses and butterflies are in.  I think that whilst the lipstick cases are not necessarily travel friendly - I would be gutted if the butterfly got broken off the top of the case or flowers got scratched whilst in transit but they look incredibly elegant and almost like a piece of art to be displayed on a vanity or dressing table.  

The new lipsticks are available in full and sheer pigment.  The sheer range is available in sheer and glitter shades.  My Coral Cattleya lipstick is glittery and can feel a bit gritty when first applied.  I have worn this alone and pared with another new lipstick - the Paul and Joe 106,  Rue Cermieux. This combination gives my lips more pigment , makes them glossy, glittery and look a lot fuller.  The lipstick has a slight tea rose scent but this fades away quite quickly.

Available from Amazon UK and BeautyBay.com

Jewellery Advent Calendars 2016: £5-£179

Jewellery advents are a fun way to expanding your jewellery collection or to give as a gift to someone as a way of introducing them to the world of jewellery.  I have found some that range from £5-179 and a couple are housed in reusable jewellery boxes. 

This one is the cheapest and is from Monsoon. It is £5 and comes with 25 pairs of stick on earrings. 

This unicorn advent is £10 from Accessorize.   This is aimed at little girls and each door has either stick on earrings or a ring behind it. There is a blue advent for £15. This has a necklace and a bracelet plus 22 seasonal charms.

This is from Kramer.co.uk and is £19.90 for 24 horse themed jewellery charm and 4 bracelets.  These are nickel free.

The Meri Meri Nutcracker Jewellery Box Advent Calendar s £21 from trouva.com but prices range slghtly in price depending upon the website (it is £18.99 at partypieces.co.uk).  There is a jewellery box (4.3"x 6.7"), 1 braceet and 23 festive charms.

This is from Amazon.co.uk.  It is £23.72 plus £4.49 delivery.  It is by Nici and the charms can be put on a wrist wrap hair clip or bobble/ elastic band.

This is from Etsy and the seller is Pearls of Symphony.  There are 24 earrings with a choice of handmade jewellery/box/advent.

This is from Johnnylovesrosie.com.  It is £55   It is filled with jewellery which have either gold or silver plated metal finishes.  There is a surprise of a fine chain necklace, earrings or a ring behind each door..  

    This is the most expensive at £179 from tresacharms.com but it was on wowcher.co.uk last year so keep an eye out for it being cheaper there. This advent has 24 pieces which include 18k and silver plated overlay murano beads, earrings, necklaces, watches and bracelets.

I hope you enjoyed reading about these jewellery advents and enjoy opening whatever advents you receive whether they be chocolate, lego or jewellery!

Jewellery As Art - jewellery trees, displays & holders. #WIN

Life is too short to keep jewellery closeted away in dark jewellery boxes brought our once every blue moon. Instead how about displaying jewellery as a piece of art, on walls, on stands or draped artfully in vases, teacups or jewellery trees. Vintage cups and saucers, vases and pots artfully displayed can be sourced from that old favourite- eBay or from your local charity shop 

                                                

You could make your own piece of art by covering a picture frame with wallpaper and screwing in some curtain hooks, or put a piece of foam on a picture frame, cover with material and use pins to secure the jewellery. Or, if you are lazy like me search eBay, Etsy or Sass & Belle have a vintage version just like I would make if I was artistically inclined! 

            

Sass & Belle's website have some quirky, fun and eye catching jewellery display items and ideas and more display items can be found searching Ebay UK and Amazon UK .  I found the rabbit and unicorn ring holder on Sass & Belle's web site, they are adorable and not expensive. The rabbit ring holder and unicorn jewellery are quirky but would look great on any dressing table. 

They are all statement ornaments which would make a statement out of your favourite pieces of jewellery. There is a lot of choice and so many great display choices so I hope these have given you a few ideas. Happy shopping!



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                             All views expressed in this post are my own and either my own items bought by myself or stock photos. 
These items can be found on Sass & Belle's website: https://www.sassandbelle.co.uk/
or resellers on Amazon and EBay can be found by searching Sass & Belle

Brooch or pin converters

Ever had that special brooch or pin that you just don't wear in case it pulls your clothes? What about investing in a brooch or pin converter.   Available at most jewellery maker online shops and on Amazon UK (mine cost under £5 each including shipping), these nifty little inventions can stop your beloved brooch from languishing at the bottom of your jewellery box.

There are both horizontal and vertical converters, which one is suitable for your brooch depends on where the pin is situated. The converter slides over the pin and is locked into place by closing the clasp. The necklace then goes through the loop at the top of the converter, either saving your brooch from being abandoned in the jewellery box or by making a new piece of jewellery!!