Working from home in style with Viking

Since starting my work with Riddle I’ve had to become a lot more organised with everything. My time management skills had to improve ten fold and my habit of leaving to-do lists and bits of paper all over the house had to stop. I was recently contacted by the folks at Viking Direct and asked if I would like to pick a few bits from their range of fashion stationery which was the perfect kick up the backside to sort myself out in style…not only for my job, but for all my blogging paraphernalia too.
Obviously my old faithful Mac Book is a blogging and working essential but unlike most people I know, I’m not a fan of spreadsheets for keeping organised. I prefer good old pen and paper so when I saw this adorable Hello Kitty fountain pen it was immediately added to my “please may I have” list. I always think my writing looks loads neater when I use a fountain pen and I love the old fashioned look of real ink.
On the afternoons where I set up office in the conservatory (or when I’m cheekily writing blog posts on my bed) you’ll never see my far away from my pink Moleskine notebook and my weekly planner from Paperchase. I don’t care what anybody says, Moleskines are hands down the nicest notebooks to use- they make me feel a lot more productive too, for some reason! The planner is a recent addition to my desk and it is so, so useful as I can see at a glance what I have on for the week and how much time I have to fit in all that I need to.
Also from Viking I picked this pink 3 litre storage box to store some of the bits and pieces I get sent for review as I am so bad for putting things down somewhere and not finding them again for ages. I also have some pink plastic bucket type things from Asda for bigger items and they keep my bedroom looking a whole lot neater!
Finally- FOLDERS! I’m mad for owls so it was a no brainer when I saw the funky owl range
on the Viking site. I always feel like I can never have enough folders in my life as I use them for everything- receipts, press releases, copies of invoices, important documents, magazine clippings…the list goes on and on.

I think that just about sums up my current essentials, all you lovely bloggers (and work from home-ers) what can’t you live with out? I’m sure there are things I am lacking and I do love an excuse for a good stationary shop!

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What’s your true fashion style?

As well as working my “day job” at the doctor’s surgery I have recently taken on another, really exciting role providing content for a new website called Riddle which is based on social sharing of fun and interesting things. I’m super excited to share my first fashion related content with you- and please do get in touch if you’re a blogger and would like to share it too; there are super exciting things ahead and I’d like as many of you to be a part of it as possible!

[postriddle data_game=”//riddle.com/Personality/Embedded/20″ data_width=”100%” data_height=”auto”]

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Blast of Normality

Dress c/o Goddiva
Boots c/o Shoe Zone
Necklace: Spain
More Tartan! In a more subtle form this time thanks to this gorgeous mini dress from Goddiva. I wasn’t too sure about how it’d look when I selected it but I followed my instinct and sized up for a more relaxed fit and it’s now one of my favourite dresses I own. I broke the “rules” a bit by adding black tights and boots but I loved how the all worked together and these trusty boots dress down the dress to reflect my “off duty” style.
With only two days until Christmas I must be the only person in the world excited to be heading in to work this morning, but after 6 weeks off sick and in constant pain I’m delighted to finally be at the point where I am fit to return and get my normal life back. I’m a person who loves to work and have missed my colleagues and patients dreadfully. Not being able to do what I usually do doesn’t sit well with me and ever since I could get out of bed on my own I’ve been itching to get back.
Things are mostly better. My left leg semi functions now and I’m in not as much pain, it’s still slow going though and hopefully seeing a neurosurgeon in the new year will help shed some light on prognosis and if it’s likely to happen again.
Phew, bit of a life ramble there. I’d best finish getting ready. My fob watch is being replaced by a festive brooch today and I’m tempted to initiate carol singing in the waiting room.
Bring it on!
What are you most excited about this week?
xxx
P.S. blogging will be slower this week with all the festive happenings and getting used to being back at work. I’m sure it’s the same for many of you so if this is the last post you read, have a good ‘un!

second skin

Dress c/o Chi Chi
Shoes: Bertie
Bracelet c/o Lulu Pearls
I appear to now have quite a collection of Chi Chi dresses and with each new arrival in my wardrobe my love for the brand grows a little bit more.
This particular dress is one of those “I’ll chance it” type things, I had no idea what to expect it to look like on and to be honest, I didn’t expect to like how it looked on me.
Time to eat my words I guess; not only can I see myself wearing this out in public, I also enjoy how it fits and how it will fit when I have a few more curves.
I even managed to stick on some heels for a few minutes before admitting defeat. Shallow, but I don’t feel like me when I have to live in trainers and flats. Roll on my foot being fixed!
The bracelet came courtesy of a lovely lady named Lulu who contacted me whilst I was away in Spain. I’d never heard of Lulu Pearls  but a bit of poolside browsing told me that I liked what I saw and indeed she sold the kind of things I had spent much of my holiday searching for.
I love wrap bracelets and had been on the hunt for the perfect one and I believe it’s now mission accomplished. It’s not just wrap styles she sells- the whole range is available on the website and will soon be sold on ASOS too.
Well,
Monday again and work calls. I’ve just been awarded a proper phlebotomist role at work so I now do a 50/50 split of reception and blood taking. It’s an odd combination, I agree, but I love my job and never really dread or suffer from that Monday morning feeling.
For those of you who do, here’s a token gesture of a kitty sleeping…it’s about time Mae showed her face again.
(And why not cheer yourself up with a spot of shopping at Lulu’s site or Chi Chi?)
xxx

Iris

Dress c/o Warehouse
Top: C&A in Holland
Boots: ASOS
As you can see, my photos (as per) fail to do this gorgeous Warehouse dress justice. I was so excited when I was asked if I’d like to choose something from the website, I just knew that this was the dress for me!
I wore it for my shopping and dinner date with Trudi layered with my ever faithful top that I picked up on my ill-fated trip to Holland- my foot still isn’t right you know?! Madness. I probably should be choosing more sensible shoes but needs must.
How’s the short week treating you? As ever I’m on my early early start for work today- as if 8am isn’t early enough! At least I finish at 1pm to hang out with someone awesome. The next couple of weeks are going  to be especially mad on a Wednesday as I’ll be going straight from my shift at my usual work place over to another surgery to do a clinic there to help them out. I’m nervous but really excited too as this is a great chance to build up my experience.
Anyway, enough work talk so early in the day, I’m on the weekend countdown!
xxx