Boxcitement September Box Review

Boxcitement is a monthly subscription box for stationery, crafts, jewellery and gift lovers.
Each month the Boxcitement team choose a theme and craft the boxes around that idea. This month's theme was Patternista and celebrates pattern. It also happens to be Boxcitement's first birthday so there's a slight birthday vibe going on too.
So, what's in the box?...Well, the short answer is, lots!

I was amazed when I opened the little letterbox friendly box at just how much had been neatly tucked inside. It was like an explosion of colour and exciting goodies!

First up is a selection of crafty bits. There is a pack of four mini greetings cards that have been made using the exclusive Patternista designs. My favourite is the light blue thank you card, it's incredibly cute. There was a large sheet of patterned decoupage paper which has a different pattern on either side. I think I will be more likely to use this as wrapping paper because it's a really useful size. There is also a couple of pretty ribbons to use when decorating gifts or creating something crafty.

Next up were a couple of cute pieces of jewellery. One is to celebrate the first birthday of Boxcitement and is a dinky string bracelet with a mini cupcake bead. I've actually used this as a charm for my planner by shortening the string slightly and hooking it over the rings of my Filofax. The other bracelet is made using a handmade, etched glass bead. Unfortunately, as beautiful as the bead is, the bracelet itself is made using very cheap chain so isn't something that I would wear. Because of this, I rescued the bead and turned that into another planner charm :) The final accessory is a sugar skull shaped emery board in a fab shade of bright yellow. I love this! It's sat on my desk full time now.

Lastly, the box also included a few lifestyle bits. My favourite item in the box is a bright pink and white geometric patterned tea towel. Pretty and practical! I haven't had enough pink in my life since moving in with Tom! Also adding some pretty to the kitchen, is a set of colourful storage labels for our tea, coffee and sugar pots. Finally, last but not least, is a pretty bookmark decorated with the Patternista prints. I'm a big reader so this will definitely get plenty of use.

Over all, I'm pretty happy with this box. I love the variety and as I mentioned at the start of the post, I was amazed by how much you receive, however, there were a few items in the box that I could perhaps do without such as the ribbons and the glass bead bracelet. This is because I don't think they really added anything to the box that wasn't already there so for me they were slight overkill. But, other than this, I think this box was a really strong offering and I'm looking forward to seeing what next month brings!

You can find out all about Boxcitement, see contents from past boxes and subscribe from £15 per month *here*.

Annie xx

Plenty of Pens!

Pens seem to be the flavour of the week here at Three Little Búhos Stationery, and we certainly have lots of them in stock at the moment (yay!).
Pens have always been one of my favourite stationery items so it's fab to see that you all love to buy them too. Over the last couple of weeks I have widened the range of pens that we have in stock, and there are still more to come!

Totoro pens went live last week. I couldn't resist the little faces on these pens and knew I needed to stock them. These write in black gel pen ink and have been cleverly designed with Totoro sitting on the lid so that when you remove the lid, his weight doesn't make it hard to write.

The ultimate accessory for planner royalty! I adore these golden crown pens that went live on Saturday. They come in cream, pink and blue and I definitely wish I could keep one of each. They write in blue biro ink and are the perfect size to carry on the go, or stash in your planner for easy access.

These little cuties were added to the site this afternoon and I can't stop staring at all of the sweetie shop colours. They have 0.5mm nibs that are perfect for people like me who naturally have smaller writing that gets smooshed by a larger nib.

One thing that all of these pens have in common is that they are perfect for brightening up even the dullest of desks, so if you're looking for a touch of colour, know someone else who is, or if you've begun your Christmas shopping, then these make lovely little stocking fillers.

You can find them all on Three Little Búhos Stationery *here*.

Annie x

Ohh Deer Papergang Box 7 Review

I always find that subscription box deliveries make the months fly by even faster. It seems like so recently that I was writing last months box review that I couldn't quite believe it when this one arrived.

This month is full of colour and variety. I love a touch of originality and Ohh Deer products certainly have that.
There seems to be less of a theme this month than you would find in usual boxes (animals, maybe?) but I like that because it means that there is likely to be a bit of something for everyone.
So, what was included?

Animal goodness!
First up is a sheet of Zoological gift wrap designed by Jessica Willan (RRP £1.75). Hands up, I love this. All of the animals are wearing party hats! When unfolded you find all sorts of unexpected animals on there including a skunk, ram, goldfish, guinea pig and a poodle! So beautifully random.
Each box also contains two randomly chosen gift cards (RRP £2.50 each). The Hedgehugging card is just super cute and is likely to be sent to my mum at some point along the line because I think she'd appreciate it too. :)

I'm a self confessed planner addict so I was thrilled to find the My Week Turquoise Ombre Planner designed by Jamie Mitchell (RRP £9.95) in this months box. I love the watercolour shades of the cover and the zip lock pouch on the back which make it easy to carry pens and bits of paper etc around with you. The pages are also well designed. They are undated meaning that you can pick the planner up any week of the year you choose and start from there. There is a blank section for each day as well as a section for appointments and times. Great for busy work schedules!
The Stop Procrastinating post it notes (RRP£3.50) are something that I have eyed up on the website multiple times in the past but never gotten around to buying so I was really excited to finally own a set. They are the size of normal post it notes and each pad is made up of 100 sheets "to make jobs slightly less dull" as they state on the back of the pack. Fab :)
Finally is this months Riso Printed Calendar page, which I have noticed doesn't have a price listed with it this month, so maybe Ohh Deer have realised that it makes little sense to advertise them as a single month. Who knows. But I do really like the apricot pink neon shade that was used.

Over all, this box is a lot more in line with previous months than box 6 was, and to me, it seems a good, rounded representation of the things that Ohh Deer sell so I'm more than happy with it. I'm hoping for something a little festive from the next box but maybe that's me being a little premature!

Annie x

The Latest from Three Little Búhos Stationery

Nearly one month in, things are going really well for Three Little Búhos Stationery.
So much so that I have widened the range. I have lots more stock on the way to tempt you, and the first few new items are starting to go live.
In the last few days I have added three new products. So what do we have?

First up are these beautiful rose gold metal pens. I am totally in love with these. There are two options in stock; pink crystals or clear crystals, and I can't decide which I prefer. These are great to write with and rather than clicking up, you just twist the pen which keeps things a lot sleeker I think.

I also added these super cute plush Totoro pencil cases. What drew me to these (aside from Totoro of course!) is their size. there is plenty of room inside for all of your stationery essentials. They're lovely and soft as well as being nice and sturdy. The quality is also really good so there's no need to worry about Totoro looking sorry for himself after a few outings.

The third new product is another pencil case. This one is a smaller option, great for carrying in a handbag if you're always on the go. The cute bears pencil case has room for around 15-20 pens and pencils on average and the light material means that it's easily able to be kept in small spaces as you travel.

The one problem I've found is that, because I'm always surrounded by beautiful stationery, I just want to keep one of everything!
I have more new products coming up over the next few weeks so keep your eyes peeled. You can favourite Three Little Búhos Stationery on Etsy *here* so that you are always the first to hear when I add new goodies to the range.

Annie x

Creating the Spread # 2

I've been a little AWOL the last few days because I'm staying away from home this week and decided to give myself a few days of laziness before getting back to my normal routine.
Because I'm staying away from home, I don't have all of my usual planning supplies with me. Don't get me wrong, I definitely brought plenty with me, but not everything!

I always start off by adding washi tape to the blank page to add some instant pattern. This Grumpy Kitty Washi is available from Three Little Búhos Stationery *here*. Usually I separate the days and my dashboard using skinny washi tape but since I didn't bring any I thought I'd attempt some bullet journal style headers instead. The "this week" sticker is a custom order from Isabelle the Owl *here*.

The next step is to fill my dashboard with any little things. I also usually add the weekly menu, but this week I'm not in charge of what we eat so I'm going to add it in afterwards as a memoir. I also add a any appointments or events that are set in stone so that I won't forget them later on. The stickers in my dash board are from Ugly Bug Does *here* where you can use THREELITTLEBUHOS10 for 10% off your order and the mini to do list stickers are from Lilac & Dot *here* where you can use ANNIE10 for 10% off your order.

Now it's time for the writing. Rather than lists of chores, this week my lists are full of nice things that I'm going. I may only be staying with my partners parents but it's lovely and relaxing. I also add practical stickers at this point to go with the to do lists.

Finally, decorate! I fill in all of the little gaps so that my page is nice and full of colour and interest. Because I only brought some stickers, the majority I have used are b Ugly Bug Does and Lilac & Dot, but I have also used a super cute unicorn sticker from Beautiful Planning *here*, several stickers (including Pusheen) from Harriet Wright Designs *here* and a few randoms that I had in my handbag (as you do!).

And, done! I actually really like this weeks page. I can't decide whether I prefer the drawn dividers to the skinny washi I normally use. I think from now on I'll use a combination of both.

Annie x

New to Three Little Búhos Stationery

It's been two weeks already, where has the time gone?!

This week I have been working on creating gift sets ready for the lead up to Christmas, booking stalls at Christmas markets and getting new stock ready to pad out the shelves a little bit.

Some lovely new pieces have been added to the shop today (take a look *here*) and I have lots more scheduled to go live over the next few weeks including Totoro goodies, rose gold pens and some very pretty pencil cases. Make sure to favourite Three Little Búhos Stationery on Etsy so that you can be the first to hear about it when they go live.

Above is a prototype of the Pretty in Pink Gift Set that I will be launching within the next couple of weeks once I have decided that I am 100% happy with what is included. I'm trying to create kits that include a nice range of products whilst still having continuity to them. If you have any suggestions or requests then please feel free to contact me.

The next week is going to be spent perfecting the gift sets and designing my stall for the Christmas markets that I have signed up for. Hopefully I will have lots of exciting new goodies for you very soon!

Annie x

Creating the Spread #1

I've had a fair few people commenting on my planner spreads and asking me where I get certain things and how I put them together so I thought I would start a series of posts and show you how I put my spreads together each week and show the bits and bobs I use some love.

I started making my pages from scratch because I couldn't find any inserts that I liked enough to justify buying them, so I decided to give it a go making some and found that I really loved the freedom it gave me. Every week is different and if I fancy a different colour or layout all I have to do is cut a piece of A4 paper in half and get creating.

I apologise now for the photos, I do most of my planning in the evening and my little office is under a bunk bed in our spare bedroom so natural light is in short supply! I always start off by laying out the page using washi tapes to separate the days and give a little decoration. The glitter washi and the gold washi at the top of the page both came from The Range. I can't find either on the website but I bought them recently so they should still be there! The Autumn Scene washi tape is stocked in my shop Three Little Búhos Stationery *here*.

The next step is to add the important bits and pieces that I know will be happening in the week such as appointments, events etc and my "task bar" which I usually put down the left hand side. That's where I list any important tasks, write the weekly menu and pop any other bits. My "This Week" stickers are a custom order from Isabelle the Owl *here*, the gradient checklist in the side bar is from Kelizabeth Plans *here* and the kawaii washing basket and rubbish bag are from Harriet Wright Designs *here*.

Now it's time to do all the writing and add in my mini to do lists for each day of the week. I know planners are meant to be practical things but the writing is my least favourite part so I keep it fairly simple! My mini to do lists, the additional boxes I've added and the little kawaii shopping essentials stickers that I've added...and actually the weekend banner and letterbox...are all from one of my very favourite Etsy shops; Lilac & Dot *here* and when the store re-opens, you can use the code ANNIE10 for 10% off your order.

And finally? Go sticker crazy! I've never liked big empty spaces so I do a lot of decorating in my planner. Any area that looks a bit bare gets a sticker shoved in it! Again, the majority of the stickers that I've used are from Lilac & Dot but the online shopping sticker and getting sh*t done sticker are from The Plump Planner *here* her store only opens at weekends but it is well worth checking out for some fun stickers. I also always finish my pages with the gold hole re-enforcers and by rounding the corners.

So that's how I create my week and the things I use to do it. I find it such a therapeutic thing to do and it feels good to cross things off the list as I do them.

Annie x

Three Little Búhos Stationery- One Week In

I can't quite believe that Three Little Búhos Stationery has been open a week already, it has really flown by! If you haven't seen the shop already then you can find it *here*
In that time I have learnt so much and I have really been able to find out what you like and don't like!

Some things I have sold out of already and have had to re-order due to demand, where as some things that I really love, such as the kitty stickers above haven't been as popular as I was expecting.
But what I do know is that I am really happy with how things are going.
I have some exciting new goodies on their way to add to the range, including some rose gold pens which I just want to keep for myself and some Totoro pieces which are beyond cute.

Cute Animal Wooden Ruler

I am also in the process of booking stalls at a range of Christmas and Winter fairs around Dorset and Somerset so that I can sell face to face, get feedback and meet some lovely people. So keep an eye out for me if you live in the area!
As part of this I am also working on some gift sets ready for Christmas, perfect for stationery lovers and, of course, those people who you just aren't quite sure what to buy for. These will be released during October ready for super organised shoppers.

Cute Heeda Girls Sticker Set

What I would really love to know is what you, personally, would love to see from Three Little Búhos Stationery in the future. Is there something that you are looking for that I can help with?

I am always looking for feedback so if you have any suggestions then please feel free to pop me an email at threelittlebuhos@hotmail.co.uk

Annie x

Famous Boy Wizard Subscription Box Review

Phew, it has been a busy week!
Three Little Búhos Stationery opened nearly a week ago and I am so happy with how it is going, thank you for all of your support. You can find the shop *here* if you haven't checked it out already!
Yesterday was also my birthday so I've done lots of celebrating over the last couple of days. I'm feeling the effects of that now!

Anyway, today I wanted to show you one of the best subscription boxes I've ever bought; the Famous Boy Wizard Box from Ugly Bug Does.
I grew up a massive Harry Potter fan and I still am. My first tattoo was a Harry Potter tribute, its on my pj's and now it's on my stationery!

What was included?
Ugly Bug Does make brilliant planner stickers, and in the Famous Boy Wizard box, you receive six sheets which offer enough stickers to create several weekly spreads, even if you are using them exclusively. I tend to mix and match stickers so there are enough in the box to last me a nice long time.

There is a novelty quill pen which made me smile when I opened my box. I haven't used it for writing much yet as I've been on the move a lot and its a little bulky for that, but its a fun addition that looks good in the pen pot on my desk, ready for writing a complaint letter to Hogwarts as I still haven't received my letter to offer me a place!

How cool is Lego keyring Voldemort?! As much as I would have loved to get Harry or Dumbledore, I love my little Voldemort and he has already been put to good use. The level of care that goes into making these boxes is really evident when you look closely at the keyrings. To avoid the worry of losing hands or legs etc, they have all been very carefully glued together by Ugly Bug Does owner, Michelle.

There is also a fab canvas pencil case with a Harry Potter joke written across the front. The geek in me loves this way too much! I've actually used it to hold all of my Ugly Bug Does stickers because it is a generous size and too good to waste on anything I won't be using often,

Ugly Bug Does boxes are always great value and offer something slightly unique. I love that the themes are always different to those that you would expect from most subscription services, I think that keeps them fresh.

You can still pick up a Famous Boy Wizard box *here* for £15 with free UK postage and you can also pre-order the October box.

For 10% discount on orders from Ugly Bug Does, use code THREELITTLEBUHOS10 at the checkout. The products are great so they are well worth it :)

Annie x

Three Little Búhos Stationery Shop Announcement!

I'm so excited to be writing this post. All of my hard work has been paying off and I can finally make the announcement that I've been wanting to shout about for a while now!

That's right, I can finally announce that Three Little Búhos Stationery will be opening its virtual doors on 1st September! I will let you know on Instagram when I have set the shop as open, but I am aiming for 10am. The first 5 orders will also receive a special gift with their order to celebrate.
What will you be able to find in Three Little Búhos Stationery? Well, everything in the photo above and lots of other cute and quirky stationery goodies, including pens, pencils, erasers, sharpeners, pencil cases, washi tape and stickers!
Prices start at just 95p and all of the stock has been chosen by myself to bring a smile to your face, and colour to your work space.
Head over to Etsy and favourite Three Little Búhos *here* so that you can be among the first to know when I open!
For sneak peeks, inspiration and more stationery goodness, you can find my Instagram page *here*!

Annie x

Building the Best Ever Blanket Fort

I was recently approached by the lovely people over at SkinnyPop Popcorn who asked me what would make my idea of the best ever blanket fort. This is a question that I have spent too much of my adult life pondering because I am a sucker for anything cosy. The night my best friend turned her living room into a blanket fort and filled it with pizza and cards against humanity was just the best!
So what makes the best ever blanket fort?

Well, to begin with, you need your essentials! I think my list of essentials also has to include duvets though, because I like a little extra padding and cosiness for the floor! And the brighter and more eclectic the mix of blankets, the better.
Once you have the basics sorted, its all about creature comforts. It goes without saying that only people in pyjamas or a onesie are allowed into my blanket fort- I have no time for uncomfortable clothes at the best of times- and slipper socks and slipper boots get you bonus points!

Image found on Pinterest

For me, because blanket forts are all about being cosy and surrounded by comfort, fairy lights play a big part. For fire safety reasons, I would recommend LED lights because they don't get hot. I also find that battery operated fairy lights make the best choice because they can go anywhere you want them, without needing to worry about plugging them in to the wall! Nothing can beat lying back in your blanket fort and looking up at a sea of shimmering lights.
Board games! These have to be the activity of choice in my eyes! I love Scrabble, Trivial Pursuit and Cards Against Humanity, or to make it feel even more like and old school sleepover, how about a game of consequences? Whichever game, I love how social this can be be, especially when we are living in an age where technology is king, and we would usually all be sat around looking at our phones rather than interacting.

Image found on Pinterest

Snacks and drinks are the other big player in the blanket fort game. Due to a recent diagnosis, I am not longer able to really drink alcohol, and also have to avoid gluten and soya, so this does cut down on the snacking options rather, but that doesn't mean that all yummy things have to go out of the window. Popcorn is still a great choice, and totally the right snack to enjoy inside a blanket fort, you can also get plenty of gluten free tortilla chips, so nachos are another must have along with plenty of cheese and all the dips you can muster. Set these up at a snack station along with mocktail ingredients and you have my idea of perfect blanket fort feasting!

So that is what goes into creating the best ever blanket fort in my opinion. Classic, cosy and comfy :)

Annie x

Ugly Bug Does Rockabilly Subscription Box Review

I mentioned the other day that I had a full review coming up of the August subscription box from Ugly Bug Does, and here it is!

The theme this month was rockabilly which makes me so happy. What I love about Ugly Bug Does is that you don't get the typical unicorns, rainbows and bunnies themes, you get something a lot more unique. It's a breath of fresh air.
So, what was in the box?

All I can do is kick myself for this photo, I'm gutted. All of my photos of the sticker sheets that I took before using them came out blurry :( So I can only apologise. But the first item in the box is three sheets of exclusively designed sticker sheets all with the rockabilly, classic tattoo theme. There are boxes, to do lists, banners, icons and pretties which can all be used to liven up planner pages.

In order to make up for the awful photo out of focus photo, I have taken the photo above to show off some of the stickers in action on this weeks pages of my work planner. As you can see, the quality is beautiful and the stickers all work really well together to build up a themed planner spread.

Next up is this gorgeous rockabilly girl showing off her swallow tattoo and pretty dress. She was designed by Slinkytart and turned into a dashboard by Ugly Bug Does. When ordering your subscription box you specify the size or type of planner that you use, so these are customised to work with your planner.

I also received a lovely little selection of goodies.
The planner charm was customised for each order with the initial of their first name which I think is a lovely touch and really adds to the appeal of ordering from Ugly Bug Does.
There were several varieties of sticky notes across the boxes and I was really happy to receive the hearts because I'm a sucker for a girly heart on my planner pages and the size of these makes them useful for popping on the calendar in the kitchen too when I want Tom to notice something :P
The eye catching planner clips have become a bit of a trademark of the Ugly Bug Does boxes over the last few months, and this month did not disappoint. Again, it offers something that little bit different from the usual planner clips that you find, which makes it extra special.
And finally, two rolls of skinny washi. These are thicker than your usual washi tapes, it feels like they're made from a good quality thick paper. I like the gentle colours and I use skinny washi in my spreads every week so these will definitely get used up.

This months box is right up my street with both the theme and the contents so I have really enjoyed using everything from the box. I don't yet know the theme of next months box and haven't seen any spoilers so I'm very excited. You can find Ugly Bug Does *here* on Etsy. I have noticed a pre-order listing for a Famous Boy Wizard box which makes me way too excited!

Annie x

A Future Full of Buhos

I don't remember exactly when I last posted on here, I just know that it has been far too long.

Life has changed a lot in the last few months and my time has been devoted to looking after myself, adjusting to new routines and planning exciting new ventures.

One of the biggest changes has been that we adopted a beautiful dog called Grace. She is a Romanian Rescue who we collected from Mutts With Friends near the end of May. She's around 14 months old now and needs so much time and attention, more than you'd ever think as a non dog owner. She also enjoys stealing the recycling and eating socks so you have to always be on your guard!

I have also been accepted as a brand ambassador by the lovely Michelle who owns Ugly Bug Does, a stationery shop offering homemade products, exclusively designed stationery and a fab monthly subscription box. I have a review of the August rockabilly themed box lined up in the next few days, but for now you can find Ugly Bug Does *here* and below is a photo of the box contents. Expect to see plenty more from Ugly Bug Does over the next few months!

The thing that I am most excited to tell you about, however, is that Three Little Buhos is expanding! Within the next month or so, once stock arrives, I am going to be opening shop on Etsy and Three Little Buhos Stationery will be born. I will be stocking cute and quirky stationery products including washi tape, stickers, pens, pencils and other bits and pieces, all chosen by myself to help liven up your desk space. As stock begins to arrive I will, of course, be posting sneak peeks on here as well as on the Three Little Buhos Instagram feed *here*. Keep your eyes peeled for an opening day discount code as well. Stationery and planning have always been a big interest of mine (I started my sticker collection when I was a child!) so I am hugely excited to be bringing my hobby into a new life with this venture.

To stop myself going off on a long winded ramble about everything else new, I am going to leave it here for today and get back to design work for Three Little Buhos so that I can bring you my new shop as soon as possible. It's amazing how much work goes into launching a business, and I am loving every minute.

Annie x

Turning your University Room into a Home

It's that time of year when students all across the country are heading off to university, moving into student accommodation and enjoying their new life.
One big part of moving into halls of residence is turning it into a cosy, happy place where you will enjoy spending time for one year at least.
Here are a few things that I would consider essentials when it comes to creating that perfect spot for relaxing and working.

Candles:
Nothing creates a soft, homely feel in quite the same way as candles.
I find that if I'm stressed, fed up or want to relax, then I always want to start off by lighting a few scented candles to help me find my happy place. I like to go for sweet smells such as vanilla, but my total favourite is Yankee Candle Fireside Treats.

Fun, quirky stationery and work spots:
By filling your study space with fun, pretty things, you make it much more appealing. Lets face it, if you're going to be spending a lot of time studying, then you want it be doing it in a pleasant environment. Cute notebooks, stickers and a well laid out but visually appealing planner are perfect for keeping things positive and organised at the same time.

House plants:
Good for the mind, the air, and also very pretty, a house plant or two will brighten up the room perfectly.
I really like seeing plants grow so we have plenty dotted around our little home. Cacti and succulents are a good choice for dorm rooms because they're small and need little attention. Peace Lilies are another good choice because they are one of the top 5 air purifying plants, don't need much sun light and are near impossible to kill, meaning that even inattentive owners should manage to maintain one.

High quality bedding:
Nothing makes a bedroom feel more special that luxury bedding that feels amazing when you climb in after a long day, or can enjoy a long lie in. Companies such as Parachute offer beautiful luxury bedding that looks lovely and lasts a long time. Parachute also have a scheme in place where $10 from every sale of their Venice set is used to fund malaria nets in developing countries which I think is a lovely gesture.

What would you say are the university room essentials? What will you be taking?

Annie xx

The Tipsy Botanists Pop-up Cocktail Bar

I've never been one to turn down a cocktail and when I heard about The Tipsy Botanists, a new and exciting company setting up in my home-town of Bath, I had to share with you.

The Tipsy Botanists are a unique pop-up bar which specialise in creating "wild cocktails" using beautiful fresh, local ingredients that have been sourced from the rich Somerset countryside. They combine these with edible flowers and rare and unique flavourings.

Run by Gracie and Georgina, who met whilst working behind the same bar and bonded over a shared passion, The Tipsy Botanists craft many of their own syrups and also forage for some of their gorgeous ingredients, whilst sourcing others from local farmers markets so you can really trust them when they say that they believe in the beautiful.
Each season has been considered in their sample menus, using the best ingredients available at any given time of year, including peaches and blackberries in the summer and sloes and damsons during the winter.

The Tipsy Botanists offer a beautiful pop-up bar that is perfect for weddings and events, where they work closely with their clients to build a bespoke menu, to guarantee that the client and guests are always 100% satisfied with the options and give every event that special touch.

Also available are special Tipsy Masterclasses, which are run by Gracie and Georgina. These are a fun and informative two hour session where the group can learn to make a range of different cocktails, complete with non-alcoholic varieties which ensure everyone can join in. On arrival, each guest is treated to a seasonal Bellini before getting the chance to get involved and create two cocktails each.
What I find particularly lovely, and very true to the image of The Tipsy Botanists, is the "Infusion Class" that you can add on to the Tipsy Masterclass, where each guest also gets to infuse a bottle of sugar syrup to take home as a keepsake from the day, which seems a particularly nice touch for hen parties or birthday celebrations.

You can take a look at their website *here* and also find their beautiful sample menu which has me feeling envious *here*

Annie xx

Managing Stress and Depression: Adult Colouring Books

I've written before about my long term battle with depression. Unfortunately, I just happen to be one of many people who are affected by the condition. Part and package of dealing with life these days seems to be a large amount of stress for everyone, especially when also trying to manage a mental illness that causes a large amount of anxiety during, what many people would consider, everyday tasks. I've always found activities such as drawing, colouring and painting relaxing and a great distraction from the real world and it seems that a lot of people are beginning to agree. In fact, the influx of art therapy colouring books targeted to the adult market that have hit the shelves within the last 6 months is astounding.

 I first came across the concept of adult colouring books around a year ago when, as part of my job working with adult learning, I assisted with an art therapy course being run with The Stroke Association. One of the learners who had a lot of issues with communication and expressing himself, brought in his copy of the book photographed above to show us. As I flicked through the pages and saw beautiful pictures filled with patterns and intricate lines I could see exactly why he loved this book.
The reason art therapy and adult colouring in particular are so effective is because they allow you to become completely immersed within the activity. Colouring is something that you do quietly that requires no thought other than which colour you might use next. Although you may not notice it happening at the time, this allows your brain to take a deep breath. Simple tasks are one of the most well recognised ways to achieve a calm mind as they stimulate the brain enough to keep it from wandering to things that you don't want to dwell on, yet don't over stretch your mental capability. Interestingly (or at least, I find it interesting!) Tetris is also used in a very similar way to help those dealing with extreme trauma. Combining this calm with the satisfaction felt at creating something beautiful, you have the recipe for a very healthy mind state.

You can now buy colouring books covering a wide range of subjects such as birds, flowers, animals, mandalas, stained glass windows, scenery, insects and make believe worlds so it is totally possible for everyone to find something that they are drawn to.

Of all of the books that I have seen, my top recommendations would be the Art Therapy book photographed above *find here*, the Colour Therapy book *find here* and the Creative Therapy book *find here* all of which contain beautiful, specially designed pages to colour and doodle without feeling remotely childish.

Have you tried any of these books? What are your thoughts on Art Therapy? Would you give it a go?

Annie xxx