the gifted penguin blog

Shoes this, shoes that…yes they might look pretty on Sarah Jessica Parker but for us stiletto-wearing amateurs the picture isn’t quite so perfect. Don’t get me wrong, I love shoes as much as the next girl but oh goodness do they cause me pain?!… So I tend to opt for the bag department. Bags give me very little grief, they don’t hurt, they don’t give me blisters they don’t see me through the day and then to A&E, they are just fabulous. And yes some may argue that bags can trouble your back and shoulders but I don’t have that worry, my purse isn’t quite heavy enough to cause such kind of bodily damage.

So I’m on ‘Team Bag’, sorry shoes. The quirkier the bag the better, dull lifeless accessories might look ‘fine’ and serve their purpose but ‘fine’ doesn’t really accessorise your personality. Not that I’m the next Kate Moss or anything but I’m pretty sure she would back me up on this one…colour and character makes a bag worth buying, isn’t that right Moss? (She agrees).

You’re going away for the weekend, spending some time in the city and you need the perfect bag. Sometimes practicality and style don’t easily go hand in hand…but not to worry, I’ve found just the gem! A bag that not only ensures security and space, but is also chic, stylish and quite simply divine! The Paper Plane weekend travel bag is a must-have favourite, with its faint map feature and airmail envelope detail reading ‘Something for the Weekend’ it makes the loveliest of gifts for your bag and city loving friends.

Perhaps you’re a self-confessed shop-o-maniac and need a bag to assist your craving? No problem. At the gifted penguin, you will find a gorgeous range of shopping bags; each bag unique with a vintage vibe, all you have to do is ‘keep calm and carry on shopping’.

So, next time you’re looking for a bag online (which, if you’re anything like me will be roughly every thirty minutes) then make sure you tap your typing fingers to the giftedpenguin.co.uk. Whether it is a gift for a friend or a sneaky treat for you, these bags are little beauties and just a little bit irresistible!

Forget the shoes; it’s all about the bag.        

If time belonged to a zodiac star sign, my odds would be on Gemini. Why? It’s dual-natured. Not just by day and night or hours and minutes but by good and evil…a common chameleon. The concept of time, like the qualities of a Gemini, can be kind and generous; when we’re desperate for 5 o’clock to come around every weekday or when the holiday we’ve had booked since January finally arrives in July. But similarly,  the speed of time can be deceitful; when we look in the mirror and are reminded that our youth is fading…when we’re no longer in our early twenties sipping cocktails in trendy bars, rather our late thirties entertaining the kids and hosting Saturday coffee mornings. Eurgh!

The point is… time is out of our hands; an element of life that will quickly tick away regardless of whether we want it to or not. Our diaries are packed full of time deadlines, meeting/appointment times and so on, and as much as many of us would prefer to live life by our own adaptable time machine, the truth is we can’t.

So on that note, let’s talk clocks! Yes they have their main (not-so-desirable) practical purpose (they remind us that we have just wasted yet another hour of our life ageing rather than living) but on a brighter note, clocks have an inspirational purpose too. Designers such as Karlsson have created contemporary and quirky time-tellers, each and every one with an edge and uniqueness that makes them more of a modern feature than a simple necessity. A single clock can bring life and character to your room; take the Karlsson family time photo frame clock, with twelve small frames to hold your personal memories, your clock can tell a memorable story, as well as the time.

Or perhaps your room needs a little colour and excitement? The Karlsson multi coloured spider wall clock, with its trendy and futuristic vibe can give the dullest of rooms that little lift it needs! Then there’s the Karlsson Timezone contemporary wall clock for all you aspiring travellers or for those who have relatives in different time zones (perfect gift idea by the way). All in all, the range of clocks available is huge; whether it is a kitchen, bedroom or living room clock you’re looking for you are sure to find something special with Karlsson.

So what makes you Tick? Take a look today and make sure time stays on your side!  

Going someplace nice this summer? A fortnight by the beach, a long weekend in the city or is it a 6 month stretch of the latest trendy traveller’s spots; Thailand, Australia etc? Regardless of your destination you need to be prepared. Yes you need the basics; passport, sun cream, a bikini and so on but what about the little extras?

Okay so you’re travelling the world, embarking on a lifetime experience…you encounter an astonishing amount of life changing moments and you want each and every one to be treasured. You need to prepare for these moments but how do you that? A travel journal perhaps?

For the little space a travel journal takes up in your luggage, it’s beyond worth it. Make notes of your lazy days, your exploring days and your ‘oh my gosh I can’t believe what happened today’ days. Make doodles and scribbles, report funny stories, interesting details, anything at all to make sure your memories are never lost. Your holiday doesn’t have to end at the airport…Look back in years down the line and reflect on these times, share them with your children, grandchildren, and giggle with your old holiday friends…Invaluable.

From travel journals to travel clipping files, a place to store your holiday moments will make the ideal keepsake for all you jet-setting travellers.

Memories are precious, priceless in fact so make sure you keep them, not for a week, a month or a year but for the rest of your life.

How about a romantic summer getaway to a blissful country cottage? Gorgeous idea. A reservation at that swanky hotel in London where the menu provides little more than Patagonian Toothfish (posh name for sea bass) pea puree and black rice? Exquisite idea.  Or even a pair of Tiffany’s 20 carat diamond drop earrings, to “bling” up her outfit at the annual summer ball? Fabulous Idea!

Right now let’s wake up! The reality is in fact far from the dream (for most of us anyway!) Yes, summer is the perfect season to bestow our friends, families & loved ones with magical and meaningful gifts but this doesn’t always have to come at an extravagant cost. Quite often the most magical gifts are those which reflect the meaningful memories of summer time. Picnic hampers, garden deckchairs and summer outdoor cutlery sets are just a few gift ideas which highlight summer at its very best.

For the sun goddesses of this globe, why not consider a little holiday gift? A beach bag for example? Every committed holidayoholic needs a beach bag to hold her Adele Parks chick read, sun cream, camera, iPod (with Justin Bieber on, shssshh!) & towel. Cath Kidston offers the loveliest of polka dot and floral velour beach towels sure to provide little miss sunshine with that sun-worshipping perfection she dreams of.

As for those who enjoy hosting summer garden parties and bbqs, perhaps a range of contemporary serving utensils would make the ideal summer gift; serving trays, salad bowls and the likes. (You wouldn’t believe how happy mums can get over a plastic bowl filled with colourful nibbles of goodness!)

Cath Kidston Polka Dot Beach Towel

All in all, the options for summer time gifts are endless (without taking out a bank loan!). Don’t get me wrong, one day we will get to that country cottage, the swanky city hotel and restaurant & will also afford to buy a piece of Tiffany’s jewellery! But for the minute I’m thinking a little sentimental summer gift? Perfect idea!

The special day for Dads was founded by Sonora Smart Dodd, having been raised by her Father she took it upon herself to create a day dedicated especially to doting Dads. This was approved by the American President Calvin Coolidge in 1924 and that was that, Coolidge proclaimed the third Sunday in June as Father’s Day.

The Father’s of this world therefore have Miss Sonora to thank for the whole 24 hours of their year when an invisible conveyor belt providing endless cups of tea appears, they get to watch football, cricket or whatever they fancy and last but not least they may not have to foot the bill for Sunday lunch (please acknowledge the use of the word ‘may’!)

So, what do you buy the man who has almost everything? For Mum’s we encounter no gift hindrances whatsoever; flowers, chocolates, Chanel perfume and that’s just to mention a few. On top of the ’usuals’ Mum’s love pamper days, afternoon tea trips, tickets to see Michael Buble… totally spoilt for choice.

Why can’t Father’s day gift buying be so stress-free? The answer is it can! Aside from the bottomless kettle, the remote control allowance and the “this one’s on me, Dad” line at the pub… there are in fact a whole host of other men’s gifts to treat our Dad’s to. How about a sentimental lifetime journal book? Memories after all are the most priceless possession…Or perhaps a garden deckchair, what man doesn’t enjoy relaxing in the garden; Sunday paper in one hand and a beer in the other?

With only a couple of weeks to go before Father’s day is here, it’s time for you to start browsing the hundreds of men’s gift ideas online. With an outstanding range of Father’s Day gifts to choose from you will be sure to find the perfect, memorable gift for your Dad.

Dear Dad Lifetime Journal