GUEST POST: Keep calm and go shopping

Source: FastLoanTree.com

GUEST POST: Expressing love

Hi evryone, I hope you enjoyed the last post :)

Today I am sharing a lovely article by Catherine

It is lovely and sweet.....and just perfect for the holidays....Do give it a read

Ways to treat your girlfriend

Sometimes it's nice to treat your loved ones to something a little special, just to remind them in turn of how special
they are to you. Here we've put together a few bright ideas for gifts and goodies guaranteed to bring a smile to her
face.

What girl doesn't love to be whisked away for the weekend? Few things are more romantic than some intimate time in
a cosy cottage getaway, or for a more metropolitan break a glamorous city hotel could be just the trick. If spontaneity
is your thing then how about grabbing a last-minute bargain with your Aeroplan card from American Express, taking a
short-haul trip to a culture-soaked European city and earning great credit card rewards whilst doing it?

Fashion is never far from a girl's heart and so make a mental note of her tastes. When you want to pick up a little
something you know she'll love, it'll be much easier to find the right present if you can pop into her favourite shop, or
at least choose from her preferred colours. Handbags are guaranteed to please and make fabulous gifts, and no need
to worry about sizing! Of course she'll be just as pleased with a voucher for her favourite brand of clothing, allowing
her to choose her own perfect item.

A classic, timeless expression of love is a box of top-quality chocolates, preferably from a delicatessen or chocolatier.
There are high street shops which provide personalised chocolate gifts, ideal when you know what you want to say
but need your gift to do the talking! For those who don't care for chocolate perhaps a luxury hamper of fine cheeses
or fruits is something to consider - something a bit different and with thought behind it will win her heart without a
doubt.

And don't overlook a trip to the beauty section of your local department store. All women love to be pampered, and
some fragrance or some beauty treats are a fabulous way of spoiling that special someone. Beauty gifts will not only
let her know how much you care for her but will make her feel great too, so she's sure to be delighted.

Of course it's the thought that counts, so make sure you show how much thought you've given to her gift, and splash
out on something she'll really treasure.

I love the ideas that she shares...

What do you think?

GUEST POST:Over-sized and eco-friendly: Chanel’s new message

Hi all, hope you had a great weekend. Today I am really excited to share Catherine's work on my blog.

Here is a really interesting article she wrote....do give it a read!! :)

 With the runways of Paris Fashion week cleared for another year, it’s time to

take in the lessons of haute couture from France’s crème de la crème, the

House of Chanel. Set in the exceedingly grand interiors of the Grand Palais,

Chanel’s ready to wear spring/summer collection definitely lived up to its

surroundings by offering a show of epic proportions.

Perhaps one of the most iconic pieces of this year’s entire fashion show was

Chanel’s enormous hula hoop beach bag. This used the simple, traditional

quilted design of classic handbags, but encased it in two hula hoop handles

large enough to make you rethink taking the bus!

“It’s for the beach”, Lagerfeld explained to reporters after the show. “You need

space for the beach towel, huh? And then you can put it into the sand and

hang things on it.”

It wasn’t just the beach bag that was over-sized in Karl Lagerfeld’s collection:

there were enormous pearls, wide stretching sun hats and 19-metre high

wind turbines. Yes, 19-metre high wind turbines; Chanel, along with other

top fashion houses, is on a drive to promote sustainability and eco-friendly

fashion on the catwalk and red carpet. The runway itself was installed with

solar panel grids and 13 huge revolving wind turbines. Models wore dresses

with solar panel motifs, and the pearls worn around their necks were not the

white pearls synonymous with House Chanel, but silver to represent beads of

mercury from a shattered thermometer.

Sustainability of the planet aside, the consensus is that Lagerfeld boldly

showcased the simple elegance of the brand imparted to him, keeping close

Coco Chanel’s own mantra that ‘simplicity is the keynote of elegance’. From

its origins as a millinery shop, opened by Coco Chanel in 1909, to ‘the Chanel

suit’ and the ‘little black dress’, the Chanel brand has its own historic success

story to tell. If Paris is anything to go by, that story is very much far from over.