Hey everyone, well January is nearly over. 2017 is a big year for me for a number of reasons. Saturday 28 January was a fab highlight for me; getting everyone together at the first #LuckyThingsMeetUp of 2017. This time, the Lucky Things Meet Up took place at The Folly in the City of London. About fifty people came along (it was a sell-out which was amazing). We had a great afternoon and so here’s a quick round up of my personal highlights and what I learnt on Saturday… Continue reading
Author: Sunita
Mindful shopping – guest post by Antonia, Tinker Tailor Online
This weekend we have the first Lucky Things Meet Up of 2017 where Dr Tamara Russell is chatting about mindfulness. I didn’t realise that we could practice a bit of mindfulness to so many everyday things. As Tamara says, it’s not about going off and meditating on a mountain. So I asked Antonia from the lovely lifestyle blog Tinker Tailor Online for her views on how we can be mindful when we’re shopping. The sales are still on so I’m sure a few of us are still on the look out for some last minute bargains. So over to Antonia…
Mindful shopping
I really enjoyed catching up blogs and social media over the Christmas holidays and I spotted a common thread: to buy better, to support small businesses and to make more considered purchases. It got me thinking about my own shopping habits and how January is traditionally a month when we all tighten our financial belts.
Since we’re talking shopping habits, resolutions and money I’ll come right out and tell you that I am a compulsive shopper, I am extremely suggestible and delighted to be swept up in any retail experience. It gives me a real buzz!
Shopping is a very physical thing for me. I feel a heady excitement when I enter certain shops or spot an item that I love, I make snap decisions then gleefully head to the cash desk without giving my shopping list or my budget a second thought. If you are anything like me the festive season can leave you with a bit of a financial hangover come the new year.
Those of you who regularly read my blog Tinker Tailor Online will know that I took my first steps towards practicing mindfulness this year and whilst I am no expert, I do believe that the practice helps to improve your quality of life so I do my best to spend a few minutes a day with my mindfulness app. Mindfulness helps you to experience the moment, to be aware of what is actually going on and to see the bigger picture. It is the opposite of being on autopilot which incidentally, is exactly how I shop.
There is some evidence to suggest that mindfulness training can be an effective tool in combating the compulsive shopping behaviours that lead to overspending. I would definitely benefit from being more in control of my emotional shopping habits so I spoke to mindfulness expert and founder of No More Shoulds, Amy Malloy who identified being on autopilot as the principle cause for some of the challenges that lead to overspending. Between us we put together some simple and helpful tips on how to be more mindful when shopping and how to make considered purchases that will help you to stay on budget and potentially save you money.
Lucky Things Style: Sale shopping and how to add wearability value to your wardrobe
Blogger: What brands want from blogs? Seven top tips from the Mothers Meeting
So last week’s Mothers Meeting Confidence Conference was jam-packed with advice and top tips. This time it was about how bloggers can work with brands and PR agencies. The crowd was fab and it was a full house at the Town Hall Hotel in Bethnal Green. Love it how Mothers Meeting hold their events in the Old Court Room – it makes us all feel very grown-up.
We heard top tips from a fab panel of brand experts (left to right in the below pic)…
- Alex Holder, Content Director, Elle Magazine
- Holly Eddleston, Director of Influencer Marketing, Exposure PR
- Noella Dixon, Head of PR, Mothercare
- Jo Jackson, Global Head of Content and Creative Services, Diesel (and her baby)
Lucky Things Style: Seven reasons why you need a cross-body bag in your life
Hey there. Well us ladies love handbags don’t we? The world of style has created a separate fashion industry just for bags. When did I first caring so much about handbags? I think it was actually in my early twenties when I started my first proper office job.
One kind of bag that I’ve loved for a long time is the cross-body bag (what I call the CBB). Way before mummy days I’d always have a cross body bag. I think back then it looked kind of geeky. It felt safe on the streets of London. Nowadays cross body bags are everywhere. Along with it’s cousin the backpack, it’s a practical stylish accessory. I’ve recently discovered the cross body bags at Tu Sainsbury’s. Here’s seven reasons why every lady needs a cross body bag in her life… Continue reading
Seven things I learned about brand – from Linzi Boyd at the Mothers Meeting Conference
Last week I went to the Mothers Meeting Conference to hear Linzi Boyd chat about all things brand. She set up the BOB School (Business of Brand). Linzi shared some gems on how to get everyone talking about your business. It didn’t matter that lots of us were at different stages with our projects and adventures. It was also cool hearing from Jenny Scott who founded and runs Mothers Meetings. About eighty of us gathered in the beautiful Council Chamber at The Town Hall Hotel in Bethnal Green.
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Wellbeing: Seven things I love about phone calls with friends
Who did you last call? The other day I called a friend and she was really surprised to hear from me. Maybe because she lives around the corner, we message on WhatsApp during the week and even share train journeys into work. It didn’t matter. I just fancied a chat. Last Saturday I called my dearest cousin K. We had a good old chat. In our thirty-minute call, we covered so many areas of our life from career to house renovations to parents to our fabulous cousin day out in two weeks’ time and what are we going to wear?
Both calls made me realise how phone calls with friends are becoming more and more rare these days. It’s so easy to stay in touch online now. As well as WhatsApp, we’re following each other on Instagram, Facebook, Snapchat, Pinterest and even Twitter. There’s no need to ask what someone has been up to recently. We can see from their social media. At the Sorting Self talk on blogging, I also reminded everyone about the importance of having face-time and speaking to people rather than just focusing on social media.
Lucky Things Blogger: Why blogging makes me smile?
My close ones know how much I love blogging. It’s a great hobby for me and suits my creative side. So far it’s been a great experience. I loved talking at the Sorting Self event on the Beginner’s Guide to Blogging at the start of October. Cat who runs Sorting Self researched what people wanted to hear about at her events and blogging was one of the top topics. We had a full house and they asked me and Vicki from Lifestyle Maven some great questions. Another post on the top tips from this bloggers’ event will appear on Lucky Things soon.
I’m so excited about the first Lucky Things Meet Up. I’ve arranged this London event for InstaLadies and bloggers in October, where I’ll be doing a talk on confidence. Talking about my own blogging advice at the Sorting Self gathering also reminded me why blogging makes me smile… Continue reading
Lucky Things Inspire: Cat & Gayle from Hustle+Fox
What can I say, these ladies rock. Plus they’re helping other peeps and entrepreneurs to rock too. It’s really lovely featuring Cat and Gayle from Hustle+Fox on Lucky Things. I first came across them on Instagram and kept seeing their names pop up more and more. Their energy has inspired me in a number of ways. Read on to hear what they have to say about killing people with kindness, Prince and a bit of rum…
7 top tips on dealing with fussy eaters – from Sam at Happy Eaters (part 1)
I met Cat from Sorting Self for a coffee back in August. Cat told me more about her Sorting Self events. They’re a chance for ladies and mamas to invest spend them time in themselves whether it’s learning new skills, being the best version of themselves or feeling equipped with top tips to manage everyday life. Oh and not forgetting her regular book club (where you don’t have to be reading the book to hang out and chat). We then chatted about the schedule for Sorting Self.
Cat mentioned the September event led by Sam from Happy Eaters. A talk on how to deal with children who are fussy eaters. Cat, count me in, I’m there! That’s exactly what I need to know about. Sam is like a down-to-earth super-heroine, busting fussy eater myths and the high expectations we have of ourselves as parents trying to feed the whole family. Sam covered so many great tips, they will be appearing on Lucky Things blog over a few posts. Continue reading