How Office Yoga can Help you*

Anyone who has ever worked in an office will know that you spend a lot of time sitting on your arse. A recent study has shown that office workers sitting at their desk for at least eight hours a day face a 60% increase in their risk of premature death. It’s not all doom and gloom though as making some simple changes including taking a five minute break every hour, and grabbing some exercise in your lunch break or evenings can significantly improve your chances.

With this in mind Furniture at Work have launched a campaign to encourage desk-workers to get moving using beginners yoga as a focal point. The campaign- #OfficeYoga aims to prove that it doesn’t take much time, or indeed effort to get some health benefits in to your day- using a top yoga teacher and two average office workers to highlight the importance of taking a break and how it doesn’t have to be taxing.

The campaign is backed by youtube videos showing the simple poses that can be fitted easily in to the working day as well as a great infographic both of which I’ve shared below.

Of course as well as keeping you fit reducing your risk of an early grave yoga has the additional benefit of helping you escape from the stresses of the working world and claim back some “you time” each day. Are you a yoga advocate and will we find you doing this at your desk? I’m pretty game on for instating it in my work place once I get back (I just won’t share the news with my colleagues just yet…)

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Gift Inspiration: Chickidee Homeware

I have a pretty good sense of humour and most of what I say to my nearest and dearest is laced with a touch of sarcasm. This would probably explain why I was so smitten with Chickidee Homeware when they got in touch offering me one of their rather fabulous mugs. After a good long browse I decided to expect my tongue in cheek approach to myself and picked myself a pretty perfect gift*.
I think mugs make a brilliant gift, I’m always grateful to receive one. I absolutely love the range on Chickidee- they have the perfect selection for all of your nearest and dearest for the very reasonable price of £6. I’m forever being told I’m a pain in the arse (and I don’t beg to differ) so I decided to indulge myself with a constant reminder.

And it’s not just gorgeous mugs that Chickidee Homeware sells, as the name would suggest there are all kinds of products that would make perfect gifts or adornments to your home. I have quite a wish list brewing for when I move out again some time next year and also rather a few ideas for the last of my Christmas shopping!

If Santa is reading my blog then I really wouldn’t say no to this candle to brighten up my days.

Which mug would you pick and for whom? Not going to lie, I really AM my favourite pain in the arse.

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Gift Inspiration: The Foodie One

I think for most people one of the most integral parts of every festive season is the food. Even the people I know who ordinarily have little interest and view food merely as essential fuel get a little bit excited when the selection boxes hit the shelves. For those of us with serious foodies in our lives this is the perfect time of year to spoil them rotten with some luxurious and unusual treats and today I’m bringing you a selection of sweet (and savoury) little stocking filler ideas…I hope those around me are taking notes!
First up we have almost a rainbow of chocolate from Chocolate and Love* which Mae took an immediate interest in- she couldn’t even be distracted by a bag of dreamies! Chocolate and Love offers something more luxurious than your average chocolate bar, made with ethically sourced organic, high quality and fair trade ingredients. The bars come in seven different flavours which include coffee, mint, orange, sea salt and caramel as well as some varying degrees of darkness plain bars. Just how gorgeous is that packaging? You almost wouldn’t need to gift wrap these bars, just tie a stack together with some string. The mint 67% dark chocolate was my personal favourite and the coffee was a real winner with my best friend. You can pick these bars up in Sainsburys for £3.00 or look at their website for more stockists.
Next up we have a pyramid of pickles (and chutneys) from The English Provender Company* all of which would make a welcome addition to any festive buffet as much as they would make a spectacular gift nestled in to a foodie hamper. I was really excited by these as I’m a bit of a condiment queen and love loading up a festive leftovers salad or sandwich with as many kinds as I can get my hands on. The most intriguing of the selection I was sent was the Moroccan Spiced Chutney which would be simply amazing with a cous-cous and turkey based salad. The website suggests combining it with creme fraiche for a dip with a twist too, I’m so giving that a whirl! You’ll find The English Provender Company in all major supermarkets. I’m doing my best to save this selection for the festive period but I don’t know how long I’m going to last out!
I’ve been a fan of Nakd bars since they first hit supermarket shelves and the festive addition of a Christmas Pud bar has been a seasonal highlight for me for the last couple of years, despite really disliking actual Christmas Pudding. These bars are made from all natural ingredients with a festive kick and counts as one of your five a day! Stock up if you see these in store (or order yourself a case, which is my plan!). Perfect for stuffing in to stockings as an alternative to a chocolate orange too.
What are you food highlights of the festive season? I’m wondering how soon is too soon to start on the Stollen!

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Products in this post are PR samples.

Self.Styled- the book that dares to be different

I’ve been really lucky lately when it comes to books and have been sent some rather excellent ones to review. The one I am featuring on the blog today is no exception, as soon as the email about “Self.Styled” landed in my inbox I was intrigued and eagerly anticipating the arrival of a copy through my letterbox.

The book is a celebration of freedom of expression, diversity and individuality shown through personal style. Each person featured in the book was asked to select two outfits- one to represent their take on day wear and the other for night wear and this is shown by author Anthony Lycett through dual portrait photographs and well written content that makes for a thoroughly enjoyable and inspiring read. I really liked how all of the photographs have been taken against a neutral background so the individual style does all of the talking.

I didn’t want to give too much away by photographing the book, it’s one of those that you really can’t fully appreciate unless you read it yourself. I highly recommend getting hold of a copy for yourself if you enjoy fashion and expressing yourself through how you dress. It’s the culmination of a project that started back in 2008 and features people from all backgrounds and walks of life- it covers such a wide range of themes such as gender and body shape as well as personal taste and it really does have to be seen to believed.

Self.Styled will be on sale from November the 17th with an RRP of £20. Let me know if you get hold of a copy and what you think!

Trollied Dolly

Hello there first outfit post featuring my new hair- about time really since almost two weeks has passed since I had it cut and coloured. It’s amazing what a new style and shade can do for a girl, I’m having so much fun styling my shorter locks and the vibrant colour has made me feel like the “real me” again. Under some lights it looks pretty pink, something very new for me and I’m just loving it.

Dress c/o Trollied Dolly | Boots c/o Long Tall Sally

If I can now draw your attention away from the hair, how gorgeous is this dress from Trollied Dolly? They are a brand I have long since admired for their fabulous retro styles but it was this 1970s inspired bohemian beauty that captured my heart, if it’s possible to fall in love with first sight at a dress then I definitely did with this one.

Trollied Dolly dresses are all lovingly made in small runs from hand designed fabrics and this dress is the most amazing quality. I went for the size small (UK 10) and it fits like a dream, just add a chunky cardigan for colder days and you have my ideal Autumn outfit. Equally it’ll be super easy to spin this in to evening attire with the addition of a pair of heels. I’d show you how I styled it for an evening but truth be told I don’t have a social life so you’re getting standard Laura “chuck on some trusty ankle boots and call it a good ‘un” instead.

Next on my Trollied Dolly wish list is this awesome playsuit which the lovely Char has styled to perfection on her blog- I think out of all of the bloggers I know Char has THE best collection of shoes and the wardrobe I’d most like to raid.

What would you pick from the Trollied Dolly website? And dare I ask what you all think of the new ‘do?

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