Blindingly Beautiful Bijoux...

As I have mentioned a few times now (!) a couple of weeks ago, I celebrated my Birthday. Another one … sigh! I was showered by my gorgeously generous friends and family with many beautiful and thoughtful gifts - take a deep breath and here I go… English Pear & Freesia Jo Malone room diffuser plus Red Roses Jo M perfume, Charlotte Tilbury beach stick for lips & cheeks (swoon), Diptyque's silky satin body oil, THE gold Monica Vinader necklace of my dreams  … the list goes on, and on, and on. Spoilt princess springs to mind!

There was one pressie however that is going to get a separate shout out, courtesy of Mini Mouse. A dainty, oh-so-brilliantly-gold bracelet from Gas Bijoux. A French jewellery brand born in the 70s on the beaches of Saint-Tropez. Like the sound of it already? Well, wait until you see the vintage inspired, bohemian-fabulous pieces. Utterly stunning. 

Let’s start with my present – a delicate gold plated bangle with an adjustable fastening featuring a sweet gold star charm. I know you should never look up the price of presents given to you, but I had to on this occasion for blog research purposes! I couldn’t believe my eyes when I saw how much it was - £52 - you have to see the piece in the flesh to understand how delicately intricate it is – it seriously looks so much more expensive than its price tag… 

The reason I’ve singled this pressie out is because I feel I've been missing a trick for years not knowing about this particular brand. It's slipped under my radar and I want to make sure it doesn't slip under yours! You can shop on Gas Bijoux’s website but Mini Mouse actually spied my bangle in Fenwick, somewhere I never normally shop, but will be making sure that I hot up regularly from now on!

More Gas Bijoux pieces I have my magpie beady eye on are...

Happy shopping Bijoux buddies! #youarewelcome

Rats! The 3BM iPod Has Been Hijacked...

3BM blog alert! Our first ever male guest blogger - the one and only Bad Rat! Take it away Mr Rat...

It was Ernest Hemingway who once said "Always do sober, what you said you would do drunk. That will teach you to keep your mouth shut", and it is following the bearded writer's advice that I find myself penning this entry for the Mice. I was lucky enough to have the two smaller Mice over for dinner a couple of weeks ago and after a few too many glasses of red, I announced that I would be more than capable of writing a blog entry for them reporting the highs and lows of the fashion and lifestyle world. Fortunately for you dear reader, I won't be sharing my thoughts on this season's must have bras. Although I do have opinions on that, please feel free to message me...

Today's post is about music - it's a tricky topic to write about, people have their own opinions and preconceptions about what they like and what they loathe - there rarely seems to be a middle ground. I appear to spend my time listening to unusual artists and obscure remixes. My teenage sister laments that I have never heard of anyone that is cool and am clearly about as edgy as a bowling ball. Do I do this because I find much of the charts over polished and overhyped? Is it because I like being different - not different in a Vivienne Westwood or current-Shia LaBeouf way, but more that I like being able to name obscure bands and remixes that people won't have heard of as it gives me that impression of edginess I crave? Or is it because, just occasionally, I get to introduce someone to something that they haven't heard before that they love. The gift that will last. (Much like orchids, which are the best flowers to buy a girl.) The answer is probably a mix of all three.  

On that basis, I have included a few songs below that I think are worth checking out, hopefully you'll find something you love, something that makes you replay it over and over again like a teenager, something that lifts the spirit, something that reminds you that music can sooth the savage soul... or failing that, something you can namedrop next time you get stuck talking to someone with edgy glasses and an "ironic" haircut.

Something easy to start with, those of you who haven't been hiding under a rock for the last few years will remember Foster the People and their hit "Pumped up Kicks", they have returned with something very easy to like and get into, its got a slightly indie vibe smothered with a thick sugary coating of pop...

Foster The People - Coming of Age

Do say: "A nice sophomore effort, shame it wasn't released in summer"
Don't say: "This is my favourite song by Empire of the Sun"

With his high pitched voice and soaring strings, JVMcM could be confused with Enya. Well alright not really, but the man can write a tune and this one is bound to be used in an advert or two when it hits the mainstream, get it while its hot...

James Vincent McMorrow - Gold



Do say: "I have trouble understanding the lyrics, but my, what a tune"
Don't say: "I miss Enya". Ever.

A recent scientific study showed that if you don't like Marvin Gaye then you are in fact not a complete human being and even your parents aren't sure they like you. As a result, its a given that you will like this remix of one of his finest tracks, "Grapevine". Autograf is definitely one to namedrop in edgy company...

Marvin Gaye - Grapevine 



Do say: "It's called a remix Auntie June, no, its not the same as the original"
Don't say: "I don't like Marvin Gaye. Why don't my parents like me?"

Following the theme, here is another Marvin Gaye remix, but this one is interesting both for the tune and the person responsible for its current incarnation. Kygo is a Norwegian DJ who seems to have a gift for redoing classic songs and very gently, updating and improving them. I can pretty much recommend anything by him, and the best part is that he is friendly to both your mother and your weird co-worker who talks about raving every weekend (i.e. talented and still relatively obscure). I predict him to be the new Klangkurussell. (In case you missed them please look here)

Marvin Gaye - Sexual Healing 



Do say: "That little Norwegian wizard has done it again!" whilst pointing to anything on here"
Don't say: "I still don't like Marvin Gaye. Why don't I have any friends?"

The final one from me is a link-back (I think that's what those in the blogosphere call it) to a previous post by the Mice themselves. The ladies were extolling the virtues of the talented Lorde and while I cannot disagree, sadly the New Zealand under-age songstress has now become a little mainstream for my attention and so I give you a cover version...

The Kite Spring Tangle - Tennis Court



Do say: "Lorde is indeed "moody, complex, mystifying yet still managing to be addictive" as the Mice said, but this cover version by an unknown band volleys her song into a soulful ode...so take that you pretentious tool"
Don't say: "What's with all the black? I wish she would cheer up. Pink is in this season"

So in conclusion, perhaps, by following Hemingway's advice I have taught myself a lesson about bragging whilst intoxicated, but then, one must not forget that this was a man who shot himself in the leg while attempting to shoot a shark from his boat. Let the bragging continue. Thoughts and comments below please.

Bad Rat x

My Sunday Funday...

What a spoilt mini mouse - my birthday celebrations are still in full swing and will continue into next weekend! My amazing Sunday in pictures below...

Choux peanut butter and salted caramel bite sized pastries...

A trip to Whole Foods, Camden to buy a scrumptious feast for a belated birthday lunch..

All washed down with ice cold Moët and a girly gossip...

Rounded off the day with a spot of Olympics 2012 - Bolt struck again winning gold with 9.63 seconds...

This Week The Mice Have Mostly Been...

Well this week has mostly been all about MINI MOUSE! Incase you missed it she turned the grand old age of 27 on Monday and has managed to stretch out her birthday celebrations for as long as humanly possible. She has been showered with the most gorgeous presents including the scrumptious Tom Ford Neroli Portofino body oil, limited edition Missoni Havaianas and Iosselliani amazing stacking rings to name a few... 

Images via www.galvante.com, www.stylenest.co.uk & www.my-wardrobe.com

She was also lucky enough to receive a pair of the most recent must-have Zara ankle boots embellished with a smattering of rock star gold studs. They were actually featured in this weeks Stylist magazine so no doubt they will sell out quick sharp! Check them out below - lush or what...

So what else have we been up to? This week the Mice have mostly been...


Fully immersed in all things Olympics. What a week for GB - 5 golds, 6 silvers and 4 bronze so far and still a week of competing to go! I have to say I wasn't overly fussed or excited in the run up to the Olympics (bad Brit) and as a result didn't purchase any tickets, a decision I now greatly regret. So now i'm having to live it through my TV and sifting through imagery shared online. Saying that, there has been some seriously fantastic photography showcased online, especially through the Telegraph and Independent, see some of my Olympic favs below...

Image via www.independent.co.uk

Image via www.independent.co.uk

Image via www.telegraph.co.uk

Image via www.telegraph.co.uk

Stuffing our faces at East London's Brawn restaurant on Columbia Road. A real mish mash of top notch food ... perfectly cooked quails eggs, hand chopped Tuscan beef, and popping purple beetroot with toasted cumin and creme fraiche - superb! My only word of warning is to steer clear of the pig's trotter, it resembled a plate of wobbling animal fat jelly - yuk!

Image via www.brawn.co.uk

That's it from us fellow mice buds! Have a cracking weekend - we plan to! x

Frost yourself with Stella & Dot...

This weekend I spent my Saturday with all my favourite girlfriends in the comfort of my flat, sipping glass after glass of bucks fizz whilst casually browsing and purchasing gorgeous Stella & Dot jewellery. Perfection!!!


So onto how this all came about ... my lovely friend Emily has recently started working with San Fran based Stella & Dot company as a jewellery stylist. She essentially looks to work with women who are keen to host their own at-home jewellery trunk shows and then once arranged she pulls out all the stops in the style advice department! So Em asked if I would like to play hostess for the day and of course I accepted. It was really simple, I sent out an email inviting friends and then Em arrived on the day half an hour in advance to set up and display the jewellery. Once everyone had arrived we spent the afternoon chatting, trying on jewellery and generally having a super time. Everyone bought something and with the hostess responsibility comes rewards in form of jewellery credits - I'm hoping I might have enough credit to get myself a pair of these stunning gold studs - we'll see! 

The Stella & Dot jewellery has been featured in an impressive amount of fashion mags including Glamour and InStyle. Gossip Girl's Leighton Meester, otherwise known as Blair Waldorf has been spotted wearing a Stella & Dot antique embellished cuff (see below) and apparently Jennifer Anniston and Penelope Cruise are also fans!

Image via thebudgetbabe.com

I am majorly crushing over the following designs - pay day can't come soon enough! 

I heart this Mawi inspired statement necklace - aqua green and gold is a winning combo in my opinion...

The collection boasts a gorgeous array of delicate necklaces that the girls were really smitten with...

My lovely friends, Nikki, Charlie and Mo adorning themselves with the beautiful jewellery... 

Mini mouse and I being the thoughtful hostesses that we are, also put on a scrummy spread to soak up all the bucks fizz. The bite sized M&S carrot cakes were my fav!

Stack those bangles up, the more the better...

To host your own at-home Stella & Dot trunk show simply contact Emily Taylor here where you will find her details. It really is a great way to get all the girls together and do the thing us girls do best ... SHOP!