Gifting Guide: Ask Her Friends


Sorry folks, I’m afraid it’s that time of the year when I start getting organised and planning some posts to help solve any Christmas shopping problems you may be facing. I’m kicking off by introducing you to a fab little website that was bought to my attention a couple of weeks ago…

Ask Her Friends

“An end to gifting disaster

Are you a girl who is bored of receiving the same “practical” or “interesting” gifts from the guy in your life? Do you wish he would be a little more imaginative or romantic? You aren’t alone with a massive 40%* of women claiming to have been disappointed with gifts last Christmas. This is where AskHerFriends.com comes in, aiming to decrease this percentage and increase female happiness.

A brand new, online gift-giving experience that helps guys finally get it right with gifts for their special ladies, AskHerFriends uses social media to rally together those who know her best and turns them into his own personal team of advisers. It’s simple ?he signs up, chooses from a wide variety of gifts and experiences on offer and puts them onto his Advice List, which is then sent via e-mail or Facebook to her friends. They can then rate and comment on his choices, thereby deciding which of them she will love the most. He has the confidence that she’ll love what he has chosen and she’s delighted with her new gift.

Specialising in beautiful, unique products from cool boutiques such as Coulson Macleod, Tatty Devine and Milli Millu, AskHerFriends ensures that she gets something truly special but it’s more than just another online shopping service. AskHerFriends also helps spark inspiration with the Experts’ Blog, featuring ideas and tips on gift-buying as well as stories about the best and worst presents ever received! Even if he’s completely clueless, the Idea Map can guide his thoughts in the right direction.

AskHerFriends is the creation of founder Ben Blomerley, who set up the site after far too many gift disasters. He says: “I started asking my girlfriend’s mum and friends for their advice, and they were really helpful. Then speaking to my mates I came to realise that I wasn’t the only one getting it wrong in the gifting department. So I decided to bring all that together with AskHerFriends.com, and make the whole gifting process as easy and hassle-free for blokes as possible. Because when you do surprise your partner with the perfect gift, it’s the best feeling!” An AskHerFriends app and sister site, AskHisFriends are also in construction.

*Survey of 139 female website visitors conducted between 11 January 2012 and 20 January 2012″

With the fast impending festive season and a couple of special Birthdays on the horizon I’ve been having a play around with the site and well, it’s pretty damn great! You can really personalise the search to your exact limits and the gifts it comes up with cater for all tastes and budgets. I usually enjoy searching for the ultimate unique gift myself but sometimes you need a helping hand and I have Ask Her Friends at the top of my favourites tab for a quick bit of advice and inspiration.

Have you tried the site yet? I’d love to know what you think and how you over-come shoppers block.

xxx

Ultimate Accessory?!

Well, I’ll admit that once upon a time I thought crutches might be fun. One day in and I’ll be glad to see the back of them…nobody told me to expect my entire upper body to hurt from using long forgotten muscles (that, or I’m a super weakling) or to expect attractive bruising around both inner elbows. Still, on a plus side, my foot feels loads better from not constantly walking on it.

Dug out my favourite Matalan jumper dress that I got for super cheap last year. I did have Toms on my feet at one point…the shoe situation is dire, the hospital warned me it could be 6-8 weeks before I can get my feet in to anything but flats/low supportive boots, shoe ban aside I am so buying a new pair once I can wear them!

Also wanted to add in a quick shout-out to the Bristol Royal Infirmary. A&E gets a bad rep but I couldn’t have asked for quicker, more efficient service there or a lovelier nurse. They already won me over by taking such good care of my Nan when she spent some time in there, well done NHS, well done.

Anyone got any tips on how to make these things more capable? Tell me about your oddest accidents.

((Totally milking this for all it’s worth, tea on demand, doors held open…YES PLEASE!))

xxx

P.S. don’t forget there are two giveaways happening…here and here.

Win with Caseable

Following on from the fabulous feedback on my Caseable post the other day I’m delighted to be able to offer you the chance to win $50 to spend creating a custom case of your very own,
To enter you just need to follow the simple steps below…Good Luck, this is a great prize and I want to see whatever the winner creates.

If you can’t wait to see if you are the chosen one, or fancy a treat then Caseable are offering all readers of the blog a 15% discount on all orders placed between now and October 31st (also closing date for the giveaway). To get this you just need to enter lauraforcaseable at the checkout.

a Rafflecopter giveaway xxx

Fantasy Shopper

This isn’t the first time I have featured the website Fantasy Shopper on the blog, I gave it a mention when it first launched and I think it’s about time I re-visited.
I admit the site kind of fell off my radar for a little while, life got in the way and as much as I enjoyed pretend shopping and putting together outfits I didn’t really have time for it. A few weeks ago the folks behind Fantasy Shopper sent me an e-mail and this prompted me to take another look and WOW things have changed. The site looks cleaner and fresher and has far more to it than six months ago. Signing up is free and simple and once registered you can get straight in to the shopping; building up a dream wardrobe from a huge selection of our favourite highstreet retailers. You can also pop together outfits- either planning for a real life event or just for fun, discover new trends and create endless wishlists!

Everyday Fantasy Shopper holds a new event during which they give a theme that you then create an outfit for. There are prizes up for grabs; vouchers and clothes and a sense of fun and indulgence.

It’s really dangerous that I’ve re-found my love for this website, hours slip away caught up in a whirlwind of free shopping and creating outfits. My real life wishlist is growing by the day and I’m getting less done than ever. Fantasy Shopping indeed.

Have you tried the site yet? If not, why not? Give it a whirl and let me know what you think. I hope to connect with some of you on there, as if blogging and twitter weren’t enough!

xxx

Cat lady v.247

How many cat jumpers do I own now? I’m not 100% sure to be honest but my Mum treated me to this beauty from ASOS when it went in to the sale, I love it! I wore it on Sunday with my Matalan skirt and Georgia Rose boots from Sarenza to limp around town with my lovely Ellie. Our Sunday adventures seem to have taken on a painful theme; piercings, tattoos and most recently eyebrow threading! I’ve watched her have hers done a couple of times and decided it brave it for myself this time…for £7 I’m a convert, I’ve never had such a thin brow before but I love it and will be keeping it up (yes Mum, I’m finally a proper girl!)

Thanks for the foot well wishes, took a speedy trip to A&E with best.friend. yesterday afternoon (less than an hour!) They confirmed no breaks but I have torn the ligaments under my toes and am on crutches for the next three weeks, oh my…I think this could cause MORE accidents!

Happy Wednesday folk, I’m off for my early shift at work and shall be demanding tea and sympathy all morning.

xxx