Buy me! I will change your life!
Life-improving buys that inspire action.
This week I was charity shop hunting with a friend and she managed to pick up the most beautiful pink linen tablecloth, a set of brown and pink seersucker napkins, six wooden napkin rings and a vintage bundt tin, all for less than £20. Not only was it a complete steal, she went home feeling inspired to host a dinner party - with a beautiful bundt cake for pudding of course.
I love this sort of shopping, when you find something that is almost a prompt to action. An object that inspires you to try something new, or makes you want to throw a tea party or become the next Betty Crocker (my £20 vintage kitchen aid mixer - a village fete bargain - made me feel like this). These sorts of finds might happen when you are least expecting them. You probably don’t need them, but they might just bring a little bit of unexpected joy to your life.
But equally, there are certain things that I look out for when I need that little boost and some interiors retail therapy. Usually bits and pieces for the kitchen that will make me cook healthier food for my family or do better with meal prep. Or anything that will make me feel more organised and like I am winning at life - for this reason, I love storage solutions with a passion.
So this week, my edit is all about finds that prompt action, whether that is hosting, making a new cocktail, having a more beautifully organised fridge or arranging some flowers from the garden. Little things (mostly!), that I hope might bring lots of happiness. And isn’t that really the reason we buy anything - because we feel like it will somehow improve our life or make us feel something we want to feel.
1. The cute vase, Ferm Living, £29
The positive action: Arrange some summery blooms! I love buying vases in all different shapes and sizes. If I just have ten minutes spare and I want to prettify the house, a little trip outside with a vase and my scissors feels both creative and calming. And the result is that my kitchen table or the coffee table looks just a little bit more charming.
2. The Cocktail -ready glasses, Not Another Bill, £42 a pair
The positive action: Host cocktails on the terrace with the girls. I’ve recently got very into negronis. And each summer I find there is some culty new cocktail riff that I want to try. But you need the right glasses for the job! So I’m always on the lookout for both new and vintage glasses that will make me want to invite some friends over to enjoy an early evening apero on the terrace.
3. Chic Fridge storage, ceramic crate from Dunelm, £6
The positive action: Set yourself up for hassle free and healthy week. I’ve always loved fridge organisation - you’ll catch me watching ASMR style restocks and TikTok vids on fridge-spiration when I’m feeling blue. A lot of the containers that content creators use are a bit plastic and boring. So I’m into these ceramic ones. Imagine them filled with berries and fruit for the week. You’d feel so extra.
4. The boules set, Smallable, £28
The positive action: Play lawn games with family friends. I like to have an outdoor game ready for when friends with kids come over, or for taking in the car to the beach. You cannot beat a simple game of boules, a staple of my childhood holidays in France. This set comes with an adorable basket too.
5. The fancy soda maker, Smeg, £149.95
The positive action: Make fun drinks for the kids. I’m such a bore as a parent sometimes (kids: “Can I pleeeeeeeeeease have a drink?” Me: “Yes, water.”) I don’t want to be like that this summer. I feel like this snazzy soda maker might make their fizzy drink dreams come true, without me resorting to sugary cola etc.
6. A Cookie jar, HK Living (via Folk Interiors), £55.30
The positive action: Become a cozy host: I love it when people drop in for a cup of tea. I feel terrible when there is nothing to dunk into the teacup. The solution? A biscuit jar of course. It’s just so homey. Why do we not have one?
7. Peg rail and shelf, GLTC, £28 (in sale)
The positive action: Be more like those insta-mums whose kids hang their stuff up when they get back from school. I hate the after school bag / sock / shoe / water bottle pile up that is a daily feature of our hallway. Whilst I am muttering under my breath about “helping Mummy”, I do realize that the problem is really that there isn’t a decent place to put anything. I shall change this before the next academic year. Remind me!
Until next week! Please click on the little heart if you’ve enjoyed this week’s newsletter. V x