Flamingo Gifts {Review & Giveaway}

I have a  gorgeous new 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 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!).

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.

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.

Look 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)

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.

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!

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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.