A Charity Shop Girl At Heart

" It is not important what is under the Christmas tree, but the people who are around it...."

....However Christmas wouldn't be Christmas without giving a little gift or two and this Christmas I really wanted to put a lot of thought in finding gifts for my loved ones. Sometimes I really can't believe how much money is spent at Christmas, often it seems the more money is spent on someone the more we must care. Of course this is not the case and for many, who like me, simply can't afford to spend hundreds of pounds on gifts at Christmas, I like to moochy around the charity shops. I really enjoy thinking of what that person may like and so many times have found the perfect gift for a loved on in a charity shop. you just never know what you may find in there....

Oh how I loved this. Perfect for Master Poppins who shall have hours of fun with these ever so retro pocket binoculars which I think were made in Japan, and from the 60's....

He shall absolutely love these binoculars, and I think an utter bargain for £. I can't wait for him to view the world through them. As for my next charity shop fine, I can only give a peeky as I wouldn't want someone to spy it before the big day. I adored it as soon as I saw it and I knew would be the perfect gift for somone special. Hopefully she shall fall in love with it like I did....

I couldn't help but pick up a Christmas pretty or two along the way. As I have somewhat of a silver theme going on with the tree this year, I loved these NOEL decorations, 4 for £1....

They really do go so nicely with the rest of the tree....

My humour really knows know bounds as I just HAD to have this kitsch gnome that makes a little , urmmm bottom 'noise' when one walks past it. Well worth the £1.95 price for all the laughter we've had already. This is going to be a special treat for a person who I know shall really appreciate it ;)

Now this little £3.95 charity shop number may not look like the kind of gift one would like to unwrap on Christmas day....

Not my usual pretty little number huh, but kinda cute. He is actually an original, handmade in Norway Ny Form Troll, which being the Speed Skater troll, has now been discontinued. You can read about the trolls here if you fancy. It was actually Miss.Poppins who spied this one in the charity shop as she thought was a bit of a bargain and knew the original trolls, especially the discontinued ones could fetch a bit. Think I'll take her every time we go troll hunting....

Ah, I think he has rather grown me and have thought of the perfect person he can go to for Christmas. They apparently bring good luck too, so actually I think quite a sweet, unique gift and he still has his original label....

There really is something quite special in my opinion of having a vintage Christmas. I think it is perhaps the nostalgia of it all and I just love helping myself to a choccy or two served in a pretty vintage dish....

So bring on the Sinatra.... 

And gather those we love around the table to remember days gone by....

Merry Christmas one and all :))

X

It's Beginning to Feel A Lot Like Christmas

Finally, after some days of feeling under the weather, poorly and generally not feeling like doing anything, I  found the energy to begin the decoration of the tree. I find Christmas a really cheery time and love looking at everyone's pretty decorations and the twinkling lights on trees always bring a smile to my face. This year I have stepped away from my normal traditional red/white look and gone for a somewhat silver look. I thought it would have a cold feel to it but actually I really, really like it. When we got tree #2 (long story, tree #1 didn't quite work out) in its little stand with water and stretched out the branches, it was time to get the decorations out. I am really happy with the look....   

The silver aspect rather than giving a cold feel, actually looks very pretty and there is certainly enough sparkle on there. The Poundland butterflies are perfect and so easy to just clip on....

Decorations I already had  from over the years also suit the look....   

It did feel strange though leaving off all my red decorations, but I have dotted some of favorite ones around the house so they can still be admired. I think this little Bonne Mamon jar I had and popped some candy canes in looks cute. The ribbon I glued on creates a special Christmas touch....

I had bought these 12 baubles a while ago from the charity shop for £1, they are beautifully vintage, and so pretty I had to photograph them twice. I cant wait to get them on the tree.... 

So until I am feeling a bit more with it, and can finish all of it off with the children, we kind of have a 3/4 decorated tree, but I think looks good for now...

 Nearly there....

Merry Christmas one and all. Have you got your tree up yet?

X

Christmas At Poundland!

Oh my, where is the time going? I think my real life 'to do' lists are stretching sooooo long that blogging has taken a bit of a back seat of late. Especially at this time of year I really love reading other people's festive blog posts near Christmas so am hoping to get my Christmas blogging hat on. Talking of Christmas, a little while ago Poundland who have a blog were inviting customers to apply and offer their services to become a Poundland Ambassador. Well I couldn't resist applying, especially as I have purchased many a pretty and useful item from Poundland and indeed is a store where many a bargain can be found. Soon I was told that I was to become one of their Ambassadors and I was to take part in monthly challenges to share my experiences of the store, goods purchased, and general customer service. My children like it there too, and I occasionally offer them a little pocket money to pop in and choose some £1 items. I wanted to include them very much in these challenges.

Here are all the ambassadors involved....

   

This months challenge was of course focused on Christmas and we were to purchase items from many of their different ranges on offer. So with a £20 gift voucher in my purse I made my way to the store for this months Christmas challenge. I was to pick at least two Christmas inspired items from these Poundland ranges....

Christmas Wrapping & Accessories 

Christmas Gifts (Adult)

Christmas Stocking Fillers (Children)

Christmas Party (Beauty/Clothing)

Christmas Tree Decorations

Christmas General Decorations

Christmas Table Decorations

Christmas Sweets

Christmas Homeware

The two extra items left over could be purchased from any of the ranges. Of course the children wanted to head straight over to the sweet isle ;) 

Well they had to pick Santa didn't they ;)

Then it was on to Christmas wrapping and accessories. These cute, vintage inspired labels caught my eye and in the basket they went....

I must have chosen wisely as later on that evening whilst reading one of my house-y magazines, there they were as a top item to buy this Christmas....

I also picked out some pretty Christmas ribbon and bows that I knew would coordinate nicely with my Christmas wrapping paper already purchased.... 

Christmas gifts chosen for the adults were this pretty trinket box and iphone cover....

I chose the cute Christmas stocking fillers for the children as a surprise, I just loved the cute light up brooches.... 

Next up it was beauty and clothing. I am finding in this bitterly cold weather my hands need a bit of tlc so chose something to make those hands of mine look as best they can at Christmas festivities....  

We had great fun picking decorations for the tree and these beautiful butterflies came away with us...

 I am going a little different this year and where normally I would opt for a red/green/gold traditional theme for our tree, I am going very girly and colourful. So lots of pinks, blues, silvers and I can't wait to get decorating the tree that we purchased over the weekend. For general decorations we decided to include our two extra's as well, so our 4 items were this cute little snowman decoration....

 Oh we love him and I have seen very similar items in other stores that cost much more than a pound. Then Miss. Poppins wanted a little Chrismas tree for by her bed and when she saw this one for a £1 she knew it would be perfect. She can't wait to get decorating it....

She also saw these cute dog window stickers, how could I say no. TOO CUTE....

Our final choice from the general range was one I picked and I thought would go perfectly with my colourful and girly theme this year....

I love a pretty table at christmas and I do like a traditional feel to it, so from their table wear range I opted for 2 of these charger plates in a lovely Christmas red....(more were indeed bought by myself)

For our final 2 items from homeware, we picked a useful roaster tray and some festive tea towels....

So in my opinion we chose a really good variety of Christmas items and I think a great Christmas stash for only £20....

 I am really pleased with the items and so far the quality is really good. The shopping experience itself was quite fun, and staff were helpful when I asked about their different ranges etc. Some may point their nose up a little at 'bargain stores' such as Poundland and the like, but as we all know, money doesn't grow on tress and I for one am never shy of hunting out that next bargain ;) They also have a great Pinterest page that can be found here

X

Disclosure: We were provided with a Poundland shopping voucher to the value of £20 for the purposes of this blog post. Many other items from Poundland were also purchased by myself.