Review: Recycled WWF In the Wild Lulu Bag

I first saw the Recycled WWF In the Wild Lulu Bag in jade green (£75) when browsing Instagram to search for ethically made products which support good causes. I used to subscribe  to the WWF many years ago. I had the t-shirt, stuffed panda, magazines etc. I only stopped because I wanted to support more charities on an adhoc basis. I have also been looking for an ethically made vegan leather bag, obviously for ethical principles but also because I tripped over a hedgehog when I was going out in the evening to put the hoggies’ food out. As I can’t look down I felt my foot touch him, lost my balance and flung myself to the side to avoid landing on him and potentially squashing him. He got out of this fiasco unscathed, I did not. I landed on the shoulder which is pinned. The pins are now no longer where they should be. I need to use a lighter bag to avoid putting pressure on my shoulder for the foreseeable future. As I was feeling pretty miserable I decided to buy jade green Recycled WWF In the Wild Lulu Bag.

The WWF x Fenella In The Wild Collection supports the WWF’s Save Our Wild Isles Campaign. The bag is jade green, measures 7.5 D x 16H x24W.7.5  It is made from vegan leather (recycled RPET FABRIC  which is a new type of environmentally friendly recycled fabric. The yarn fabric is made from recycled coke bottles and mineral water bottles, also known as coke bottle fabric).  The bag comes with a beautiful crossbody adjustable strap and a tassel zip. There is a pouch pocket on one side of the main bag compartment and a inner zipped compartment. The bag has complimentary gold hardware and a sturdy zip. The inside of the bag has the same print as as the strap. 

The bag arrived carefully wrapped in Fenella Smith London embossed tissue paper. The bag is incredibly light but does not look cheap or fake as some vegan leather items sometimes do. The “leather” is textured and feels very tactile to the touch. The strap design and the inside of the bag are works of art. The birds and flowers are so detailed and intricate. I love the tassel. As someone who can’t look down and has difficulty gripping small items such as zips the tassel makes it so easy to undo and fasten my bag without me worrying I haven’t pulled the zip all the way and I at risk of getting pickpocketed! 

I love my bag. I can fit quite a lot in it, my wallet, phone and camera plus it supports a great cause. I have used my bag continually since I purchased it and will continue to do so. It is one of the best items I have purchased. I would recommend it for anyone who wants to support an ethical brand and especially to anyone who has hand problems and/or needs a lightweight but smart looking bag. 

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

Charlotte’s Web Part 3: Review & Win Aqua Chalcedony Infinity Universe Earrings

 Charlotte’s Web aqua chalcedony Infinity Universe earrings (£35) are one of the most affordable pieces on the website. Handmade from sustainable silver and ethically sourced aqua chalcedony cabochons the stones can go from a dull blue to a greenish hue depending upon the light. The cut and colour of the stones makes the earrings look like hey are part of a warm inviting ocean. The hooks are easy to slide in and out (I haven’t tried this pair for hygiene reasons as they are a prize) and as I have coordination issues I find they are the easiest to put in/ take out. They are packaged I the new style gift box.

I really like these earrings. They are elegant, eye catching, timeless, feel light so won’t drag the ear lobe down. I am only using them as a prize as I have nowhere to wear them where they will be admired and appreciated, annoyingly I am developing an allergy to silver and my ear lobes swell if I wear silver for any length of time, and I also have so many pairs of earrings that I cannot possibly wear them all in one life time!  As with the pendant I want them to go to a home where they will be worn and admired as so much effort goes into each piece. This competition will be on my Instagram account - Sparkling_Magpie (@sparkling_magpie).

Rules:

Competition is open worldwide;

Competition opens 4 June 2024, closes 5 July 11.59pm GMT; 

Must follow my IG account;

Comment on the competition IG post;

Comment on other IG posts for extra entries;

The competition is not affiliated with Instagram, Meta, Facebook or Charlotte’s Web in any way. Please contact me if you have any queries;

Good Luck!

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Charlotte’s Web Part 2: Review & Win Rajput Serenity Turquoise Silver Spinning Necklace

I started this series back in January with an introductory post about Charlotte’s Web as a jewellery brand and how it has evolved. Time and my depression took over but I finally feel more like me again so I thought I would reboot the series with two reviews and giveaways, this one is for my blog and a smaller one but just as gorgeous on my Instagram. 

Inspired by Charlotte Howarth’s love of India, Charlotte’s Web Rajput Serenity Turquoise Silver Spinning Necklace is a tiny sterling silver ring charm adorned with two tiny pearls and pieces of turquoise. The silver is sustainable and stones ethically sourced. The spinning principle is the same as the rings - there are three rings which spin independently of each other. The ring  pendant is £48 and the sterling silver adjustable snake  16-18” chain is £24. The chain has both a little CW tag on it and a chain extender. 

 The pendant would be great for those who like to fiddle to help relieve anxiety, reduce stress etc but don’t like to wear constricting rings. My fingers swell in the summer so I much prefer to wear looser jewellery like necklaces that don’t feel constricting on the skin. 

I was really torn about using this piece as a competition prize. I love the idea and concept but I just don’t like or wear turquoise or pearl jewellery so I feel it would languish at the bottom of my jewellery box unworn and unloved. It doesn’t deserve this fate as so much thought and detail has gone into it!

*** Emma Jane Forster is the winner***** I don’t know why it isn’t showing up on the Rafflecopter app. 

Enter here >> a Rafflecopter giveaway

Rules:

Competition is open worldwide;

Entrants must complete the mandatory Rafflecopter requirement;

Competition opens on the 4 June, closes on the 5 July 11.59pm gmt.

The competition is not affiliated in any way with either blogger or Charlotte’s Web. I purchased the item myself so please contact me via email if there are any queries;

Good luck! 

Book Review: The Baby Swap That Bound Them by Hana Sheik

 

This is a True Love Mills and Boon novel written by Hana Sheik. The storyline is set mostly in Uganda. Yusra is a divorced Ugandan Muslim who is struggling financially. Bashir is a single father, a billionaire of Somalian origin who has worked his way up to achieve financial success. They realise there babies AJ and Zaire have been swapped when they are nearly 3 years old. They both love the babies they think of as theirs. They agree upon a marriage of convenience so they don’t lose this. Slowly this marriage develops in to more but can they both overcome their pasts and their emotional baggage and achieve a HEA? 

I found this an interesting book to read. I think this is the first M&B novel which has had Muslim characters and I hope this teen continues. I enjoyed reading about Yusra’s modest clothing and Uganda in general. Both there characters are complex and there is a lot of baggage. Yusra has escaped an emotionally abusive marriage and has been struggling to maintain a living as a graphic designer, Bashir is terrified of intimacy and love as he lost his family during a flood in Somalia as a child and he is afraid to love again.  There is chemistry between the pair but it seem very muted and almost off. 

I love Mills & Boon UK and I think you will too! Click my personal referral link to get a discount on your first purchase http://rwrd.io/f4yjeqp?c 

I received this book via Netgalley and Mills and Boon in exchange for a honest review. I am a #MillsAndBoonInsider #netgalley #gifted 

Book Review: The Forbidden Greek by Michelle Smart

 The Forbidden Greek is the first novel in Michelle Smart and Pippa Roscoes’ mini series Greek Groom Swap. Billionaire Leander Liassidis has agreed to a marriage of convenience to ensure his oldest  friend Helena Haddon can access her inheritance. He backs out of the wedding and Kate Hawkins is dispatched by his estranged twin brother Leonidas and Helena to find him and bring him back to Greece before she starts her dream job as a veterinary surgeon in Borneo caring for orangutans. 

Kate finally tracks him down but he refuses to return and tries to get her to leave. Slowly they go over old ground and chemistry develops between them but will Leander’s hang ups prevent a HEA for the pair? 

I enjoyed this novel. The characters are both strong willed, determined and bounce off each other. They are relatable to the reader and it’s obvious the author enjoyed writing this book. 

I received this book via Netgalley and Mills and Boon in exchange for a honest review. I am a #MillsAndBoonInsider #netgalley #gifted

Book Review: Think Twice by Harlan Coben

Think Twice is the twelfth novel in the series but it can be read as a standalone novel.  Myron Bolitar is a high profile ex basketball player/ sports agent/ attorney who resides in New York. He is visited by the FBI after a former client, Greg Downing’s DNA was found at a double murder scene. Greg supposedly died 3 years ago - Myron attended the funeral and gave the eulogy. Myron needs to find out if Greg is actually dead so he and his companion Win set out to discover  if Greg really did die and why his DNA is at the murder scene. 

I enjoyed this novel. The plot is full of twists and turns as secrets and lies are uncovered. As the characters are 12 books into the series they know and get on well together hence the humour in the dialogue. I wasn’t keen on the novel changing from the third to the first person a few chapters in but that is a personal preference. 

I received this book via Netgalley and Random House UK, Cornerstone in exchange for a honest review. 

Book Review: Reluctant Bride's Baby Bombshell by Rachael Stewart

Reluctant Bride's Baby Bombshell by Rachael Stewart is part of the four part one year to wed series published by the True Love series for Mills & Boon.

Eve fled the Australian outback and her home town of Marni after discovering her parents had lied to both her and to her sisters. She has built a life in London and a loving relationship with her maternal grandparents whilst remaining estranged from her parents and sisters. She returns home after her father dies to discover that to inherit the cattle station, Garrison Downs,  the sisters must all marry within a year. Nate Harrington is the son of George who was Eve’s father’s lawyer. As he is ill Nate has move home and taken over his practice. Nate resents his father but slowly discovers her was absent for most of his childhood as he was busy helping others. Nate and Eve meet and have a one night stand the night she returns to Marni. She finds out she is pregnant and the storyline goes from there. 

The storyline is very formulaic and there is nothing fun or memorable about it. The characters don’t seem to gell or work very well together. I also thought that they didn’t really catch the reader’s attention.  I enjoyed that that both characters worked through their childhood and parental issues. I wouldn’t reread this novel and normally I enjoy Rachael Stewart’s books. 

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I received this book via Netgalley and Mills and Boon in exchange for a honest review. I am a #MillsAndBoonInsider #netgalley #gifted