Dizzie: The Online Refill Shop

I'm a huge fan of Dizzie (previously The Good Club), the online refill shop.

I place an order each month (I pay £3.99 monthly which gets me one delivery (and return) per month... it's £5.99 per delivery if you choose to place orders on an ad hoc basis), and my products get delivered to my door in a big green box (it's UK-wide carbon neutral delivery). 

Dizzie stock a wide range of refillable groceries, as well as other items. For the refillables, when my big green box arrives I take the refillable cartons and empty them out into my own glass jars (Dizzie sell glass containers too, but I also just keep a store of any glass jars at my house that I clean out and keep). The empties then go back in the big green box, which is collected from my door the day after my delivery.

Some of the items that I get from Dizzie are:

Bulk items:

• 5L shampoo
• 5L conditioner
• 5L shower gel / bubble bath
• 5L laundry liquid
• 5L fabric conditioner
• 5L all purpose cleaner

Refillables:

• Ground cumin
• Ground turmeric
• Ground cinnamon
• Ground paprika
• Sesame seeds
• Sunflower seeds
• Baking powder
• Pretzels
• Crisps
• Cashew nuts
• Muesli
• Porridge oats
• Pecans
• Bombay mix
• BBQ almonds
• Peanut D&Ds
• Pasta
• Rice
• Flour
• Caster sugar
• Dates
• Prunes
• Dried apple slices

Other groceries:

• Tins of chopped tomatoes
• Jars of pasta sauce
• Compostable bin liners
• Recycled kitchen towels
• Oat milk
• Dash water
• Oatcakes
• Olive oil

There are soooo many refillable products available - definitely worth having a look.

There is a special offer running right now, where if you enter the code REFILLER at checkout you will get a refill kit containing (2 x 2L jar, 1 x 1L jar, 1 x kilner funnel and 1 x Dizzie jar labels). You need to spend £20 to qualify, and it's whilst stocks last.

I also have a referral link, which is https://getdizzie.com/j/sarahseqtbm, and if you use this I get £10 off my next order and you'll get a free refill kit (as photographed below) and the reusable coffee cup.

Happy refilling!!

Sarah x

P.S. If you want to get my weekly newsletter, you can sign up here to get on my mailing list: www.sarahstewart.co.uk/newsletter

Christmas Shopping at Buchanan Galleries, Glasgow

This evening after I had finished work, I popped along to Buchanan Galleries to do a spot of Christmas shopping. I was on the hunt for some 'stocking fillers' or small gifts for children and of course with the huge selection of shops at Buchanan Galleries I knew it wouldn't take me long to get everything I needed! I managed to get parked on the street near the shopping centre, and with it being after 6pm I didn't need to pay for parking - an added bonus! I had also expected the shops to be super busy, but it was quiet and I managed to whizz round in an hour without any hassle.

I must admit that I've done the majority of my Christmas shopping online, but there is something to be said about going in person and being able to see and touch everything.

I started off in Lakeland where I bought a few bits and pieces for my children who absolutely love to bake and make sweet treats!

I chose some rainbow cupcake cases (£5.97 for 144), a smiley face chocolate lollipop mould (£4.28) and some lollipop sticks (£1.98 for 50). I also couldn't resist the Doughnut Making Kit (£11.99)...which is perhaps a little large for a stocking but I'm sure it could be squeezed in! We are huge fans of movie nights with 'special hot chocolate' (basically hot chocolate with squirty cream and marshmallows) and so I picked up a pack of three hot chocolate spoons (£4.98)... one for each of us!

Doughnut Making Kit

Next stop was The Entertainer. One item that I repurchase each Christmas is crayons or colouring pencils, so I picked up some Crayola metallic markers (£4) and a packet of Crayola twistable pencils (£3). We have been enjoying playing board games and cards, so I thought that a pack of Uno (£8) would be a nice gift that we could all use. I loved Uno as a child! Lastly from The Entertainer I chose two packets of Shopkins (£2.50 each) - who can resist the cute little Shopkins faces!!

Metallic markers

My daughter is still loving Frozen, so I had to get something along those lines for her Christmas. I found a tin of Frozen characters in Boots... a mini Elsa, Anna and Olaf for £15 in a reusable tin. This is rather pricey for what it is, but with the Boots 3 for 2 offer I decided to make the purchase anyway. Also in Boots I chose a pack of 6 mini lip glosses (£6) and a My Little Pony Rainbow Dash toy (£5).

Mini Lip Glosses

My final stop was John Lewis. I love John Lewis - just putting that out there!!

I picked up two packs sparkly hair bobbles (£4.50 for 3 bobbles), some animal nail art stickers (£3.50), two felt Santa letters filled with chocolate balls (£5 each), a fries and burger rubber and sharpener set (£6), a pack of 24 gel mini pens (£12), a pack of socks each (£6 for girls, £7 for boys) and the most adorable pair of slippers (£12).

John Lewis Kitten Slippers

One of my favourite items from all of the shops is the Customisable Cookie Stamp from John Lewis (£10). You can make your own messages on a biscuit stamper. I think this is such a cute gift for a family or even a friend who loves to bake. My son's reading is improving loads, and I know that he'll be excited to see his name on the biscuits he makes with me!

Customisable Cookie Stamp

I received a Buchanan Galleries gift card in exchange for this post. As always, opinions are honest and are my own.

Fashion - AW15 Wardrobe Updates

I recently bought a few things for my autumn/winter wardrobe that I thought I would share with you.

I'm absolutely loving these boots from Ted & Muffy. They were £170, but I didn't realise that if you shop online you can get 25% off your first order with the code WEL25. They are super comfy and I wear them to work with dresses or at the weekend with jeans. They're really versatile.

Ianthe, £170

I bought a couple of dresses for work from White Stuff and Sandwich at House of Fraser, including this Shaker Jersey Dress:

Jersey Dress from White Stuff, £59.95 at House of Fraser

I loved so many of the Gray & Willow pieces, and ended up buying a few staple t-shirts along with this gorgeous jumper. I do love a sequin!

Gray & Willow Disa Woven Trim Knit Jumper, £69 at House of Fraser

I wore this travelling to Portugal in the October holidays and had to go in the full body scanner at the airport due to the sequins which set of the x-ray machine!

After House of Fraser I went to Princes Square to Cos, a shop that I love, and my favourite piece that I chose is a belted blouse. Again, its a versatile item that can be dressed up or down. It's only downside is that it's dry clean only.

V-neck Belted Blouse, £69 from Cos

Next on my fashion shopping list is an outfit for my work Christmas Party... I can't believe we're in November already!!

Fashion - Mint Velvet

I love Mint Velvet. I was introduced to the brand at the end of 2011 by House of Fraser's personal shopper Jeanette, and it's now one of my go-to labels for when I need a new item to add to my capsule wardrobe. At the moment a number of my tops have become worn out through a few years of wear and tear. I could be done with another casual top for day-to-day so I thought I would do a bit of online browsing! 

Here's my top picks:

Grey Burnout Ombre Tee, £49

Grey Denim Shirt, £69

Black Victoriana Top, £69

I love the button detailing on the front and back of this shirt. Just gorgeous and I thought this would be a versatile piece that could be dressed down with jeans or equally dressed up for a dinner date :-)

Granite Shimmer Long Sleeve Tee, £49

There are quite a few different shimmer tees in Mint Velvet at the moment - I do love a bit of sparkle and sequins in my outfits! And I also spotted these fantastic trainers:

Charcoal Glitter Alice Trainer, £89

Current Skincare, Hair & Make-Up Favourites

Firstly, can you actually believe we're nearly at the middle of August?? The summer is practically over (what summer!?!) and the schools go back this week.

I had vowed to do monthly hair & beauty favs, but life is kinda busy and I've not managed to write these posts as frequently as I'd like. That said, I thought I'd share with you now my current favourite hair & beauty products. Maybe I should aim for these to be quarterly for the seasons, so this would be my "summer" edition!

First up is Origins Clean Energy. I've been really enjoying this oil cleanser. I use it in the evenings to remove my make-up ahead and surface dirt ahead of a second cleanse with Elizabeth Arden PRO Gentle Facial Cleanser. It's fantastic at dissolving eye make-up and I then use a warm flannel to remove it. For a while I was using baby oil over my eyes to get rid of stubborn eye make-up,  but this is a step up and it's just lovely and feels great on my skin.

Origins Clean Energy Gentle Cleansing Oil, £23.50

For hair care, it's got to be Ojon's Rare Blend Moisture Therapy Conditioner (turns out Ojon is now part of Origins!). This thick, luxurious conditioner is more like a hair mask than a conditioner and it's fantastic at injecting some moisture back into my hair. My hair feels immediately softer and sleeker after just one use. It smells slightly bizarre - it's hard to describe - but I actually quite like it.

Ojon Rare Blend Moisture Therapy Conditioner, £23 *

 
Finally for make-up my go-to product at the moment is the Smashbox L.A. Lights Blendable Lip & Cheek Colour in Malibu Berry. It's a great colour that works well on both my lips and cheeks. The stick is really easy to use and at the other end there is a little sponge for blending (I'm finding it super useful for when I'm on the go or travelling). It's all very casual and you don't need to be precise in your application. In less than a minute and a few swipes, I've got my lipstick on and a bit of colour to my face. The colour is probably more one that I would use in Autumn... it has a lovely warm plum tones... but to be honest, the weather has been so mixed here in Glasgow that it actually feels like autumn right now. I've been wearing my North Face parka throughout the holidays!!

Smashbox Blendable Lip & Cheek Colours, £25 *

 

* I received a selection of Ojon and Smashbox products to try, however opinions are honest and my own

 

 

Interiors - Light Boxes

I love browsing Instagram for interiors ideas and I've seen more and more light boxes popping up.

 

I spotted that Charlotte from Write Like No-one is Watching has one (you'll see it here) and I figured you must be able to get them in the UK. I then found them at Violet and Percy, yay!

I already have some letter banners from Violet and Percy and I love being able to create personalised messages around my house... we have "Good Vibes Only" in the hall and "Happy @ Home" in the living room at the moment. I can't wait to get started with the light box!!

Review - Dr Martens Back to School Range

This week the school's go back in Glasgow... the summer (if you can call it that!!) has flown by.

It's time to get organised with uniforms, school shoes, rucksacks for the new term.

We were invited along to Dr Martens to check out their Back to School range for kids. Being completely honest, I had never stepped into a Dr Martens store before (I didn't even realise there was one on Sauchiehall Street, right opposite The Body Shop) and I've never owned (or even tried on for that matter) a pair of Dr Martens myself.

The history of the brand really interested me. Dr Martens air-cushioned sole was designed by German inventor Dr Klaus Maertens and was created to meet the specific need or providing additional support and comfort for his broken foot. The Dr Martens boot with its trademark yellow stitch, grooved sole and heel-loop was manufactured by R Griggs and Co, British boot makers, as a boot for workers and was originally worn by postmen and policemen due to its comfortable, durable and lightweight design. A specific range of "Made in England" products are still manufactured at the Cobbs Lane factory. This is the home of Dr Martens where the first pair rolled off the production line on April 1st, 1960.

In terms of the children's Back to School range, there isn't a huge choice but that perhaps makes our job as parents easier as my little ones couldn't fuss over which ones to pick! I personally love the patent Mary Jane style for girls.

 

We tried a Chelsea boot style for my son (which doesn't appear to be on the website so I can't show you a photo), but it was unfortunately a bit tight around his foot so instead we chose the Velcro shoe, Jerry, which was much more comfortable for him. That's probably the only downside of these shoes - they are not available in different width fittings. However, huge plus point for me is the sturdy sole. These shoes are going to last well, plus when the weather turns and the pavements are icy the grip on the sole will be invaluable. Velcro closure rather than laces is also ideal for my son's age as I haven't attempted to teach him how to tie a bow yet!

 

We left the shop with him wearing his new shoes and despite walking around for hours in Glasgow's city centre there wasn't a single complaint of the shoes hurting - which I had anticipated given they were a brand new pair. Unlike the adult shoes, the children's ones are made with softer leather.

 

Which brings me onto the adult shoes... I felt that it was the ideal time for me to try on a few pairs.

 

Crikey, the original shoes were sore and certainly would have needed lots of breaking in!!

 

I then tried on a pair of Teresa boots, these have the air-cushioned sole, but it's slimmer in comparison to the original boots. The fit overall is a bit slimmer so the boots don't look as bulky as the original ones. I love the colour (cherry red high-shine rub-off Arcadia) and the strapping wraps around the back with the buckle gives a bit of extra interest.

 

 

I fell in love and ended up buying them for myself... and I have been wearing them every day since!!

 

I can dress them up with tights and a tunic for work, or dress them down with jeans and a jumper. They're super versatile and unlike the original shoes I tried, these didn't need breaking in (I have been wearing them with two pairs of socks as I've got cold feet all the time!).

P.S. Did you know that Dr Martens do clothes and bags too... I tried on this gorgeous cut out black tunic, but it was too short :-(

 

We received one complimentary pair of school shoes - thank you Dr Martens. Opinions, as always, are honest and my own.

 

Review - Disney Princess Palace Pets Minis

Regular readers will know that we love Disney! The littlest is obsessed with princesses at the moment, and she also absolutely adores pets! Despite this, the Disney Princess Palace Pets were a new concept to the Glasgow Mummy house * 

Each Palace Pet has been found and adopted by their respective Disney princess and each animal has a resemblance to their owner - either in appearance or the accessories. The pets we were sent are little 1.5 inch versions of the original palace pets and I have to say they are super cute!!  

Littlest showing off the packaging!

Disney Princess Palace Pets Mini Collectables, Windflower and Daisy - £4.99

Disney Princess Palace Pets Mini Collectables, Beauty and Petit - £4.99

The mini pets were a huge hit, with both my son and daughter. Their size is fantastic as they can be popped into little pockets for when we go out to the shops or for trips in the car. They're also ideal for little hands (they are recommended for age 4+). Even I had great fun making up voices for the characters and creating stories with the kids. At £4.99 for a 2 pack, I think they are great value for money.

* I've just realised that my son has Princess Palace Pet Treasure from Build-A-Bear, but I didn't realise it was a Disney Palace Pet!

We were sent two packs of mini Palace Pets in exchange for an honest review. Opinions, as always, are our own.

Some of My Favourite Instagram Accounts

The one thing that I struggle with on Instagram is the number of people I follow and I wish that I could create lists like I do in Twitter. I feel like I miss so many posts, and I have to specifically search users to catch up on their feeds. Anyway, I thought I'd share with you some of my favourite Instagram accounts so that you can check them out too. They inspire me to take better photos and fuel my shopping habits!

myluckyday.dk

amerrymishap

cococakeland

lovingthelittlethings

milka_interiors

What Instagram accounts are your favourites?

Fashion - Leopard Print Shoes

I'm a huge fan of leopard print... I seem to be drawn to all things leopard print when I'm shopping... I just can't help it! 

I used to have a pair of leopard print boots from Boden that I wore to work but they've now seen better days (my old colleagues used to say it was giraffe print anyway!) and my Boden leopard print gladiator sandals are also on the way out so I'm on the hunt for some other additions to my wardrobe!

Boden Cordelia Heel in Tan Leopard Pony, £139

Boden Alexis High Heel Boot in Snow Leopard Pony, £149

Dune Golled Slipper Cut Espadrilles, £41 in the sale at HOF

Mint Velvet Leopard Zola Sandal, £39 in the sale at HOF 

Dorothy Perkins Leather Leopard Print Sandals, £18 at Debenhams

And how cute would these be for the littlest!!

Boden Chelsea Boots in Leopard, £50