Elizabeth's Kitchen Diary

fuel that adventure

Published on April 19, 2015 • Last updated October 30, 2015 by

I have a  gorgeous new Jan Constantine Romany satchel!

Jan Constantine Romany Satchel

I am not a beauty or fashion blogger. Don’t worry, I haven’t suddenly switched blog themes! I don’t follow fashion trends, I never have and I don’t intend to start. Getting dressed in the morning for me involves 1) checking the weather outside to see how many windproof/waterproof layers I’ll need and 2) is it clean? does it smell?

I kind of suck at being a girl.

There was one time it was suggested by an ex that I should make more effort to be feminine.  A brief stint at wearing pink high heels was soon given up on in favour of sensible hiking boots. Heels schmeels.

I am, however, a practical sort of person, so when the lovely PR lady at Flamingo Gift, a UK based gift company, contacted me and asked if I would like to review something, anything, from their website – I set to browsing.

Flamingo Gifts Kitchen

Flamingo Gifts boasts a wide range of products for every taste and style – even for those hard to buy for people like me. I headed to their home and kitchen accessories section first, admiring their quirky and unusual selection of products from Orla Kiely mugs and herb planters, to cake tins, wooden plaques and arty coffee pots.

There was plenty of things I liked, but nothing I really needed (see above about my practical trait).

What I needed was a new handbag.

I detest shopping for clothes, shoes and handbags. I would just rather spend my time doing something else, so I have a tendency to use everything until it quite literally falls apart before replacing it (that striped top you see me wearing in the photos – it’s at least 8 years old!). A trip into town with a specific intent at purchasing any clothing item fills me with dread and I want it to be over as soon as possible (I told you, I suck at being a girl!).

Jan Constantine Romany Satchel

Imagine my delight when I stumbled across the shoulder bags & satchels section of Flamingo Gifts and immediately found not one, but two bags I instantly fell in love with!

The first, a gorgeous Jan Constantine Romany Satchel in deep red faux leather. This gorgeous satchel has the Romany heart embossed on the flap in a darker red which matches the two pockets on the lower part of the front. The interior is lined in red cotton with the Romany and love design. There’s no shortage of practical pockets for storing things too: besides the very spacious main compartment and two pockets on the front it has a secret zip pocket on the inside and two other inside pockets. The bag is fastened by two buckles and has an adjustable shoulder strap.

Jan Constantine Romany Satchel

I love this bag so much!

The second bag I was sent was one by Gorjuss. I discovered Gorjuss while walking through the Post Office in the Toll Clock Shopping Centre in Lerwick, Shetland. They’ve had a display of various stationery products from this fantastic brand for years and I always slow down a bit to have a peek at the designs. I’ve never bought anything (none of it has been stuff I need, just stuff I like) but when I saw this Poppy Wood Saddle Bag I instantly fell in love.

Gorjuss Poppy Saddle BagLook at that quirky design! This saddle bag is much smaller than the Jan Constantine one, so it’s not as practical for someone like me who carries around several notebooks and assorted random bits and pieces (my bag is like Mary Poppins’ handbag!), but it’s a great day bag for going into town for a coffee.  It has a press stud fastening and zipped & velcro pockets on the inside to keep things safe. Lined with cream & black stripes, it also has a lobster clasp on the end of an piece of elasticated string so you won’t lose your keys.

Jan Constantine Romany Satchel RRP £43.99* (price taken from Jan Constantine website)

Gorjuss Saddle Bag – Poppy Wood RRP £45* (price taken from Santoro-London website)

Shetland pony
With thanks to my neighbour and her gorgeous Shetland pony for the use of her shed as a photo backdrop!

A note – I did not request both bags for review. I noticed that one of the bags was the last in stock on the website, so I suggested an alternative just in case it had sold. The lovely PR lady sent me both bags because, in her words: “I thought it would be nice to have a choice every day!” Over the moon, me! I’ve never had two handbags to choose from before!

I would urge you to have a peek at all the fabulous gifts Flamingo Gifts stock – they really do have something for everyone and every occasion, and their prices are notably cheaper than the original brand websites. The website itself is very easy to navigate, with clear menus in many different categories. You can also find Flamingo Gifts on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.

Flamingo GiftsOrla Kiely mugs

GIVEAWAY

Flamingo Gifts are stockists for the very popular colourful Orla Kiely range, and they have offered my readers the chance to win a random set of four of their china mugs! RRP £34* (price taken from Orla Kiely website).

HOW TO ENTER

For your chance to win four Orla Kiely mugs RRP £34 enter using the Rafflecopter form below. Come back and tweet about the giveaway every day for more chances to win!

TERMS & CONDITIONS

This giveaway is open to UK entries only. Entrants must be age 18 or over. The winner will need to respond within 7 days of being contacted; failure to do this may result in another winner being selected.

The prize is offered and provided by Flamingo Gifts. The prize is to win four Orla Kiely mugs RRP £34. There is no cash alternative and the prize is not transferable.

There is no entry fee and no purchase is necessary to enter this giveaway. The promoter (Elizabeth’s Kitchen Diary) reserves the right to cancel or amend the giveaway and these terms and conditions without notice.

Entry into our giveaways will be deemed as acceptance of these terms and conditions.

If you need some help using Rafflecopter, here’s a quick clip to show you how. Rafflecopter will pick the winner at random from all the entries received. I will be verifying entries and any automated entries or those who have claimed they have made the mandatory blog post comment and really haven’t will be disqualified. It’s mandatory!

Closing date is midnight on Monday 25 May 2015 (GMT) and the winner will be announced that day.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Don’t forget to visit my Giveaways Page for other fab prizes!

If you want to be kept up to date on my recipes, occasional craft tutorials, adventure stories and giveaways then please subscribe to my weekly newsletter; it gets sent out every Monday morning if there is new content. Your email address won’t be passed on to anyone, you will never be spammed and you are free to unsubscribe at any time, no questions asked. Make sure you confirm your subscription or you won’t receive the newsletter – if it hasn’t arrived check your junk mail folder.

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Elizabeth’s Kitchen Diary was sent a Jan Constantine satchel and a Gorjuss Poppy Wood saddle bag for review. All opinions expressed are our own. This is not a paid post.

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About Elizabeth Atia

Daydream adventurer. Expat Canadian. Foodie. Calls Shetland home.

Reader Interactions

Comments

  22. Kristy Brown

    Having one teen and another about to turn teen I would love the TEENAGERS… PLAQUE…..as they are driving me nuts!

    Reply

  31. Charlotte Hoskins

    I love the retro phones. Funny as when I was a child, was dying for my parents to get a modern one!

    Reply

  33. Oksana Fitzgerald

    I adore owl mugs. The thing is that my 2 year old is mad about owls. She absolutely loves everything owl related. And my 40 year old hubby broke most of the mugs in our house. Only 2 are survived. These owl mugs are so lovely and they would make all our family happy. I love the Orla Kiely mugs too. They will make mummy happy!

    Reply

  51. Leila Benhamida

    Love the Please Excuse The Mess Storage Box In Large will be perfect in my living room table as my kids enjoy playing around the house. When guest will come they will get this wonderful message.

     

    Reply

  58. Helen Thurston

    I’d have the rainbow overknee stripy toe socks – impossible to have a miserable day when you’ve got these on!

    Reply

  64. Laura Baker

    I would buy my sister the Nutella recipe book as she absolutely loves the stuff – and it might stop her eating it straight from the jar!

    Reply

  65. debbie smith

    i really love there selection of cushions such beautiful designs some fab gifts on there site fab giveaway x

    Reply

  112. lyn

    I am a total sucker for scarves.. i also think they make nice inexpensive gifts. The floral & robin scarf is lovely

    Reply

  122. Cat

    I’d offer my niece the inflatable massive t rex, just to see my brother’s face when it is set up in the flat.
    I love the forest tin set.

    Reply

  125. Maria Molly Taylor

    HORSE HEAD SQUIRREL FEEDER What a classic, I do feed the squirrels anyway so this will keep me amused

    Reply

  145. Caroline H

    I’d love someone to buy me the Toto Storage Box, Umbra as a gift – it’s a clever little storage box that would be really well used.

    Reply

  151. Julie Halpin

    My sister has recently bought a small flock of chickens and is quite literally chicken mad, so the Madeleine Floyd chicken mugs would make a lovely gift.

    Reply

  155. Leanne V Mckenna

    I can’t help but love the horse head squirrel feeder ha ha, but I don’t think I would actually use it. Love the VW camper tent!!

    Reply

  156. Catherine Ball

    I’d get my three-year-old the Gruffalo Melamine Divided Plate as she is obsessed with the Gruffalo and also hates her food to get mixed up on her plate (she’s a bit OCD about it)

    Reply

  158. John Tingay

    The “Futile Attempt At Organising My Life” is just the sort of gift my sister expects from me – and I am happy to oblige 🙂

    Reply

  172. Jayne T

    Wow, they have some great things to choose from. I’d love to buy the BE CREATIVE PLAQUE IN BLACK for our dining room.

    Reply

  191. Jess Mandeville

    I’d have the Gorjus woolen slouchy bag, Lost For Words. I’m a big fan of the Gorjus range but never seem to buy any because I’m trying to cut back on buying things I don’t need.

    Reply

  192. Brad Start

    I know my wife would also love that Gorjuss Saddle Bag…..Well that’s one birthday gift problem solved for me!

    Reply

  194. Tracy Nixon

    They have some gorgeous items! I love the VINTAGE MIRROR WITH GOLD CORSAGE FLOWERS and woul treat myself to it for my bedroom!

    Reply

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