First Impressions – Notepads and Pens galore!

June 30, 2015June 30, 2015 hansjonesLeave a comment

Just a quick post to share my thoughts on some of my recent purchases that I shared in the recent stationery blog.

I have been using the List Book from Paperchase pretty much every day. The fact it comes with a notepad makes it super versatile for on the move and it doesn’t get squished in the bottom of my bag either! 20150630_082755614_iOS

For the smaller handbag requirements, I have been loving the Marks and Spencer Today notepad and the Target Dollar Spot floral journal from the swap. Both look cute (in fact had a couple of compliments from fellow commuters) but are also very practical. I highly recommend if you stumble across either (or both! 😉).

I have also been using the Sharpie pastel palette pens – whilst the colours are great and make your pages look summery and inviting, they do bleed through regular notepad paper. Most Sharpies will do this because of their original purpose of being a multi tasking pen for writing on CD’s to whiteboards so it is worth bearing this in mind. I can cope with that given the colour palette is a beaut!

I have also been writing……and then erasing a lot too! The Pilot Frixon pen is all its hype led it to believe. You can actually write and then erase with pretty much all of the evidence disappeared. It reminded me of the magic ink from my childhood that “vanished”……although it never really did. This actually does scrub away to nothing. I am definitely going back to purchase more colours. The range seems to be expanding in most standard UK stores – most have standard blue, black and red but keep your eye out for more colourful options.

The only items I have been a little disappointed with are the Uniball gel pens. I love the colours but they aren’t particularly easy to write with. I prefer pens that you can write both in your best hand as well as the quick shopping list but with these Uniball, you certainly need to concentrate more with these pens. I will of course have a use for them – great for birthday cards for example – but would suggest a thinner nib if you are looking for something to fulfil those every day needs.

Have any of you made the same purchases and have thoughts on your first impressions?

Please leave a comment by clicking on the link above this post And don’t forget, you can find us on Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest and Twitter.

x PB x

Let’s style it up!

June 25, 2015June 22, 2015 hansjonesLeave a comment

If you are a regular visitor to my blog, you will know that in one of my first posts, I shared that as well as Stationery, I am also very keen on interior. Let’s not pretend that this is verging on interior design. I did sign up to complete an interior design course… I just haven’t quite got round to finishing the programme.

However, I find other ways of researching interior fashions. That is usually a visit to T K Maxx!

I did this recently. In fact, I browse regularly. You never know what you will find. They regularly change their stock so I try to visit once every couple of weeks. I also love that there isn’t 15 of the same thing so hopefully you are adding a little bit of uniqueness into your home.

And guess what?! The unique found me and I found a pineapple! How convenient.

That came home with my right away. It would look perfect on my shelving around the fireplace.

When I positioned it, it looked a little lonely. I haven’t yet tracked down a large silver button, but if you spot one, let me know! So, it needed something extra.

I wanted to create an easy style to the shelving. A selection of items that look like they belonged. Therefore, I added some Posh Graffiti. Every household should have (one or more) of their products. Such a simple concept but with great results and can be used in a variety of surroundings. The addition of the initials was perfect. I haven’t fixed them to the wall, they just lean in which can be precarious when cleaning but it adds to that relaxed “oh, I just chucked that up there” look.

Finally, I spotted these seriously gorgeous rose gold, dusky pink tea light holders. Along with a lovely pair of inexpensive clear peach candlesticks, these tea light holders add a blast of colour but with softness. When lit, the colour is really ornate and, like, most of my purchases, they were cheap! Around £5 each which I think is a great price for something that draws the eye.

What additions have you made to your home recently?

Where else do people shop, other than T K Maxx? I would love recommendations of where to find inexpensive gems.

Please leave a comment by clicking on the link above this post And don’t forget, you can find us on Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest and Twitter.

x PB x

http://www.poshgraffiti.com/

The obsession is real…..I’ve started writing about hauls!

June 23, 2015June 22, 2015 hansjones2 Comments

And I have a stationery swap pal! But more on that shortly….

In my search for all things perfect about stationery and style, this has developed an interest in regularly shopping. “Developed an interest”?? Who am I kidding. I am forever shopping. There ain’t no thing as no spend months in my little world.

So, to that end, I have collected a fair few items over the past few months which I thought I would share. Those pieces that I have starting using will appear in a follow first impressions so watch this space if you are keen to purchase the same.

First up – notebooks. Although I try to use up a notebook before moving onto another, that doesn’t stop me from having stock. In a recent visit to Paperchase, I spotted these adorable sticky note sets. I love that they come in a hard back storage book making them using to use on the go without damaging them. They also look cute on a bookshelf. One of the sets is a List Book so also includes a standard notepad which I think will be super handy. 20150620_190924007_iOS

I also picked up a pack of Cath Kidston notebooks which come in a set of three in their usual cute floral designs. These are probably more an A6 size which is great for slipping into a handbag. I use these in meetings if I’m travelling quite a bit with work. You can still get plenty of content on the pages but they are far more convenient than the usual Black and Red A4 pads.

So, my next item was purchased purely for its look rather than its practicality but how cute is that Today slim pad!? It’s from Marks and Spencer – that was a treat! If you are from the UK, you will know that M&S are more renowned for their bras and meal for £10 so it was a pleasant surprise to see that they have upped their stationery game. The store I visited, which is their flagship in the South, had a wide collection of new products so I would highly recommend checking it out either online or in store. I’m not sure about availability for overseas but, leading into my next items, you could always find a swap partner to connect with to send you a selection!

As you will guess from the title, I recently connected with a lovely lady from the U.S. on an FB group. Fully aware from my extensive research that the U.S. seem to do it better than us, I reached out to see if anyone would like to swap and this lady said yes!

We did our first swap a few weeks ago – it was an easy, pleasant and painless experience which I know is sadly not always the case for some, but I hit lucky!

The items included in the box will continue to feature in my next few blogs but as a starter, she sent me 2 adorable journals and 2 list pads from Target. Apologies to all the stationery experts out there, but for those starting out, you will see a lot of hype about Target Dollar Spot. I have not visited this part of the store before as I always just thought it was seasonal products but the Target Dollar Spot has got a lot to say for itself! Beautiful stationery that retails around $1-$3 each!! I haven’t started using these items yet, saving for a special reason but I’ll be sure to feedback.

You can’t have a notebook without a writing instrument! So I have also built up my pen collection recently. Included in the swap box were some cute gel pens in pink, teal and green. I particularly love the heart on the lid.

Other recent pen purchases – pastel Sharpies! I have seen their primary colour collection but spotted these pastel beauties in the line up at Paperchase.

I also love any type of heavy gel pen and these uni ball are just gorgeous colours which I know will write well too.

Finally, I had heard on the blogging grapevine that the Pilot Frixon pens were awesome. So I had to try! I just purchased the pink neon for now and will see how I get on.

You can find links to all purchases below.

Have any of you swapped with someone recently and been super chuffed with the contents?

Any recent purchases that you would like to share too?

Please comment clicking above this post. Also, remember to find us on Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest and Twitter!

x PB x

http://www.cathkidston.com/cath-kidston/set-of-3-clifton-rose-notebooks-1012698

http://www.paperchase.co.uk/stationery/essentials/sticky-notes/blur-floral-boxed-sticky-notes.html

http://www.paperchase.co.uk/stationery/essentials/sticky-notes/chunky-floral-sticky-notes-book.html

http://www.marksandspencer.com/geometric-shopping-list/p/p22367946

http://www.staples.co.uk/fine-permanent-markers-pastel-colours-assorted-x-4/cbs/416339.html

http://www.pilotpen.co.uk/en/must-have/frixion-family.html

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