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Friday 12 December 2014

Happy, Happy Christmas!

Guess what? It's FRIDAY! And if you're as Office Christmas party jaded as we are, you'll be delighted to hear that a couple of alarm-free days lie ahead...

So, we're here to wish you one final Happy Friday before we whizz off for a well-earned Christmas break!



We hope that you have the most wonderful festive fun-filled few weeks with lots and lots of this...


...an enormous one of these...



... a massive heap of these (tagged of course with lots of these gorg free printable A Pair & A Spare x Jasmine Dowling tags)...


...and fingers crossed a flurry of these...


We're taking a bit of an extended break but we'll be back next year (Monday 5 January 2015 to be precise) with a whole host of new year love for you lot!

Until then...

Merry, merry!
x
The Mice

Thursday 11 December 2014

All I Want For Christmas : Mini Mouse...

HK Mouse kicked off earlier this week with her Chrimbo wish list so I thought it was about time I put mine together and got it circulating! After all it is only 14 more sleeps until the day itself...oh good God, I must go shopping immediately!

Here goes...

I never leave the house without a fistful of rings or a necklace or two layered up, so it's no surprise that I've spied a gorgeous newbie which I need to be part of my morning outfit build! What's even better is you can not only get the pendant inscribed with your initials but customise it with different chains and charms!!  


Monica Vinader, my perfect combination below £290...



Early morning commutes are bad enough, but they're even worse when the bitter cold engulfs your little hands and tootsies! As you'll soon see, the new theme in my life is how to be as snug and warm as humanly possible! To kick this off I'm loving these cute and cosy mittens...


Topshop, £20


After practically wearing my H&M Isabel Marant suede and leather fringe boots to death, I feel I need to give them a well-earned break and attach myself to a new pair of boots....for the time being anyway! The new apple of my eye...

Iro Boots, £485



Winter has taken it's time rocking up for 2014, so I've done exactly the same in terms of picking my winter coat. So far I've made do with a Whistles number from last year, however I'm ready for an update and this Topshop long line bomber hits the spot! Sport luxe at it's best...

Topshop Bomber, £110



Anyone who has spent even a few minutes with me at Mouse Towers will know I'm one for comfort! My hair is instantly wound into a bun as I walk through the front door whilst simultaneously pulling on my cashmere track suit and removing every scrap of make up. What's missing...a super snug pair of slippers of course!!! 


John Lewis Slippers, £55



If you hadn't guessed already, all three of us have a minor obsession with everything Charlotte Tilbury! Being the mouse with the lowest quota I think I need to up my game and make a few more purchases! I have my beady eyes on practically everything she has ever created so there isn't much that could disappoint!!! 


Charlotte Tilbury 'Can't Live Without It' kit, £99

One item I'm definitely short of in my wardrobe is bracelets, since borrowing a few from Middle Mouse's treasure trove recently, I've decided I need to inject some arm candy into my life! Whilst perusing my favourite lunchtime haunt, &Other Stories, I came across this little beauty...

&Other Stories, £17



Ever since reading HK Mouse's post on the fabulous initial Burberry blanket wraps, I mentally added a Burbs Blank to my ever rolling wish list! However I'm thinking something more in my price range...cue ASOS! I'm loving this two tone colour block fringed number - perfect for both day and evening as a snugly cover up! 


ASOS, £25


Something that will ALWAYS feature on my wish list has to be the ever so beautiful Valentino tote...I know, I know - I can keep on dreaming! Although surely one of FC's little elves can knock one of these bad boys up in his workshop?!


Valentino, £1,995




And last but not least, my knitwear obsession continues and doesn't show any signs of letting up! The piece I'm loving right now and haven't yet snapped up? A cute sleeveless turtle neck from Warehouse. Easy, comfy and the perfect layering staple...pair with skinnies, heels and a statement necklace and BAM office to bar sorted! 
 

And that's all I want, not much to ask for really is it old Father Chrimbo?!

MM x

Wednesday 10 December 2014

Stocking Filler Fixers...

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas fellow mice! The countdown is on and I for one can't bloody wait! 

In the Robbo Mouse household, Christmas starts when the tree is up! Laden with tartan ribbons, wooden carved hearts and stars, decorations we made when we were teeny tiny mice and that all important fairy in pride of place watching over us all. Something a little like this...


Well until that tree goes up, we'll have to start the festivities with a spot of present buying. Our gift traditions on Christmas Day always go the same way ... we all emerge from our childhood bedrooms, blurry eyed at around 10ish in our matching Xmas PJs (new ones purchased every year). We hang our stockings the night before so they're ready and waiting for us to snatch up the next morning. We then pile onto the foot of our dad's bed and take it in turns to open one gift at a time! Although I absolutely adore the tradition of stocking gifts, I do also find them the most difficult presents to buy. We have a strict budget of £20 so the knack of it is to splurge on one or two treats and fill the rest of the stocking with cheap and cheerful goodies like a Malteaser Reindeer or chocolate coins and not forgetting the obligatory clementine in the toe of your stocking along with a few shelled nuts! 

In the spirit of Christmas, I thought i'd share my top picks of the best stockings fillers around this year but before I do ... Hong Kong Mouse and Mini Mouse avert your beady eyes NOW please as Father Christmas might or might not have got you some of the following!!! 

OK so starting with the cheapest first at £3.49 and then accelerating to blow the budget what-the-hell it's Christmas options...

Hope & Greenwood Salt Caramel Fudge - £3.49 - when it comes to sweet treats there's nothing quite like salted caramel laced goodies. When you pair that with crumbling met-in-your-mouth fudge you're onto a winner i'd say! 


Essie nail varnish - £7.99 - everyone needs fancy nails at Christmas and when it comes to colour-popping varnishes Essie fights a good fight. Keep it bright, cheerful and fabulous - that's our Mice motto!  
 
 
Coconut Melt - £10 - lip-smackingly good balm that taste as good as it smells!


The White Company Winter mini candle - £10 - the smell of Christmas ... cinnamon, clove and orange!



Le Couvent des Minimes Set - £10 - a French beauty brand i've recently been introduced to and am now slightly obsessed with! This cute little set boasts four of the brands botanical best sellers - cologne, shower gel, soap bar and hand healer. Each product smells deliciously fresh and quite frankly I can't believe you get so much for such an affordable price tag.
 
 
L'Occitane hand and feet duo - £16 - quite possibly THE best hand and feet shea butter moisturiser a gal can own. This limited edition set is made for
Christmas stockings plus the perfect handbag size!
 

La Montana Winter Oranges candle - £35 - continuing the orange theme, this time a tad snazzier - Valencia oranges with cinnamon, clove and some red apple thrown in for good measure! Divine...
 
 
Melvita shower gel - £14 - and Bio Extraordinary Oil - £27.50 - nutty and luxurious this duo offers the perfect in-shower / after-shower silky soft skin solution...

 
And top of the Christmas pops is L'Occitane's Arlesienne Eau de Toilette - £39 - and the matching shower cream - £14 - maybe a tad expensive for a stocking filler but hey ho ho ho we just had to include because both smell so sensationally good!



Tuesday 9 December 2014

3BM Kitchen : Double Chocolate Walnut Brownies...

I don't know about anyone else but now that winter has officially rolled in, I'm finding it practically impossible to lead a healthy life! With dark frosty mornings it's hard enough to peel myself out of bed let alone contemplate an early morning jog or gym visit and after a long day in the office and freezing commute home, a salad is the last thing I'm craving...more like a bowl piled high with carbs!   


There's only one thing for it...if we're going to be bad let's be really bad and do it properly!! All I can say is thank God it's the season for cosy dressing...kick those crop tops to the curb and grab that over sized knitwear! 
 
So let's kick this sinful season off with a corker...double chocolate, nutty, gooey brownies! 
 
I blogged a few weeks ago about my November Flavour Full Stop box which opened my eyes to Doorstop Baking. To you and me, that's a glass jar with all the essential ingredients ready for you to assemble in a matter of minutes and devour! Saves you having to lug heavy bags of flour home from the supermarket and you can do away with weighing scales painfully converting grams to cups, spooning and measuring! 
 
All you need are the wet ingredients (which obviously wouldn't be too pretty in the jar) and are fridge staples anyway - eggs and butter - throw all together and hey presto you're done! And what's more...they are D.E.L.I.C.I.O.U.S! 
 
This is how...
 







 
If brownies aren't your thing then there are many others to pick from...American Pancakes, M&M Cookies, Chocolate Orange Muffins...I can already feel the pounds piling on just typing those words...!!

 
Monday 8 December 2014

All I Want For Christmas: HK Mouse

Christmas is coming, our wish lists are getting fat... so, we thought it was high time to drop some not so subtle hints to anyone whose present list we happen to have made it onto this year, while also giving anyone generally lacking in gift-spiration with a couple of bright ideas. Here with part one is Hong Kong Mouse...   


This year I'm just so super excited to be zipping home to London to spend Christmas with the London Mice that I'd honestly be happy even if there was nothing under the tree with my name on it on Christmas morning. But, if you twisted my arm, these are the things topping my Christmas wish list...

Smythson 2015 Panama Diary
£70

Despite loving my iPhone, I always like to keep my diary in paper form. I've had a Smythson Panama diary for as long as I can remember and I love 2015's berry version.



Ploh Plush Robe
US$174

Ever since my trip to the Cambodian Private Island Paradise, Song Saa, I've been obsessed with getting my hands on one of the cloud-soft dressing gowns that you get to loaf around in there. I looked at the label before I left and Googled the brand as soon as I got home - Ploh is the answer to all your bathrobe dreams.



The Little Black Jacket - New Edition
£45

I loved the Karl Lagerfeld & Carine Roitfeld photo exhibition featuring celebrities in Chanel's classic little black jacket. I loved it so much that I went twice, once in Hong Kong and once in Seoul. This reissued version of the book that accompanied the exhibition features even more photographs than the first and is perfect for anyone who failed to snap it up first time round.



£130

My absolute favourite perfume ever! I ran out of my last bottle back in October and haven't been able to replace it as I can't find anywhere that sells Byredo over in Hong Kong.


HK$1,050

I've loved Hong Kong brand, Mischa, for years and have been lusting after this Camo version of the classic Mischa CDG pouch all season. One with my initials on would be too awesome for words.



Garance Dore 2015 Les Femmes Calendar
US$25

I've always adored Garance Dore's illustrations so was super excited to discover that this blogger/photographer/illustrator extraordinaire has created a 2015 calendar. A daily dose of Dore for your desk.



Alex Monroe Enchanted Twig Initial Necklace
£375

I've always wanted an initial necklace but have somehow never had one. I love this beautiful Alex Monroe version.



Cire Trudon Giambattista Valli Positano Scented Candle
£70

This is so ridiculously expensive that I'd never buy it for myself, but it's just the most gorgeous scent in beautiful packaging and would definitely brighten those dark, dull January evenings ahead.



Zara Buttoned Cape Coat
£108


I've been on the hunt for the perfect cape for as long as I can remember. This Zara beauty ticks all the boxes and would be the perfect piece for swishing around the city in.


Charlotte Tilbury Beach Stick
£30

Absolutely every single piece of Charlotte Tilbury make-up I've ever owned has become a daily staple. I suspect that one of these brand new beach sticks will prove to be nothing less...


Porter Subscription
£17

Magazines have always been my guilty pleasure and this year saw the launch of Net-a-Porter's brand new bi-monthly fashion and lifestyle tome, Porter. A year's subscription to this style oracle would make me one very happy girl.



Untitled & Co As If Sweatshirt
£65

I'm loving all the Untitled & Co sweatshirts in Net-a-Porter's new Finds section. I particularly want this 'As If' one which takes me back to the nineties when Clueless' Cher & Dionne were my idols.



Frends Rose Gold Taylor Headphones
£180 

Beautiful and practical these rose gold bad boys would come absolutely everywhere with me if I got my mitts on a pair.



House of Hackney Palmeral Notebook
£22

I'm always looking ways to brighten up my work day and what could be better (or more useful) than a beautiful notebook to write all those meeting notes in.


Real Techniques Core Collection
US$18

I've heard beauty bloggers galore waxing lyrical over these super affordable make-up brushes. So I'd love to find this core collection under the tree to try out for myself.


So Father Christmas, hope you got all that... 

x
HK Mouse