Archive for the ‘Bargains & Markets’ Category
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Spirit of Christmas Fair ticket giveaway
It’s 6 November, which means Christmas is a mere 48 days away. If you’re a last-minute sort, Christmas shopping won’t have graced your retail radar yet, but if you’re someone who likes to get it done sooner (all the more time to quaff mulled wine, you see), your ship has come in…
Let the Christmas shopping commence
OolaMoola is giving away four weekend tickets to the Spirit of Christmas Fair in Olympia this weekend. The event has been featured in Home & Garden magazine and is stacked with gifts, glitter, and all manner of delicious Christmas treats.
The Spirit of Christmas Fair
Here’s what you’ll find at the Fair
This year, more than 600 companies will have some sort of food, drink, gift or service on display. The list of who’s coming features lots of local, ethical and handmade brands like Chameleon Earth Fair Trade leather goods, luscious Cowshed body products and Gwendolyn Carrie handmade shoes.
Even if you’re not up for shopping just yet, the Spirit of Christmas Fair is the perfect place to take in your first taste of festive spirit, with wines (mulled and otherwise!), chocolates and all manner of seasonal treats to be had.
Our tickets come courtesy of jewellery designer Kimberley Selwood, whose gorgeous new Plume range will be on display. Here’s one of her cuff bracelets — I think it’s really delicate and unique… something for the stocking, perhaps? (One can only hope!)
A Kimberley Selwood cuff bracelet
How to get in on the action
Tickets are valued at £15 each and are good for admission on Saturday or Sunday. We’ll give the tickets away in pairs so you can take a friend with you to soak up all the seasonal festivity.
To win yours, hop onto Twitter and be the first (or second!) to retweet our Spirit of Christmas Fair tweet. Good luck… and happy shopping!
Posted in Bargains & Markets, Uncategorized
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As good as new baby gear for a fraction of the cost
Most mums are familiar with the NCT (National Childbirth Trust), but how many are aware of the nearly-new sales that take place locally to them every 6 months or so?
Down our way, in the London mummy-ghetto that is East Dulwich, the NCT nearly-new sale is a hotly anticipated date that finds its way into the diary weeks in advance. I had been warned by a couple of friends that I should turn up early to bag the good stuff. I can’t usually be bothered to queue for anything, but when it comes to shopping for The Noodle, I’m a willing slave.
The queues were long and the morning so cold that I regretted my sweater dress and boots and wished for a ‘duvet’ coat - the kind you see Spanish tourists wearing in London whatever the weather. I froze for 40 minutes, whiling away the time on Google reader and surreptitiously sharpening my elbows.
At 11am sharp, the doors opened and the hordes rushed in. It was organised chaos, with mums just about managing to be polite to each other as they scrabbled over jumpers, coats, trousers, toys and even bigger items like a brand new Bugaboo. There really was some great schwag to be had.
I had set myself a budget of £40 and hoped to find some warm clothes and new toys for The Noodle. I’m pretty pleased with what I came out with:
1 pure wool Benetton cardigan (£4.50)
3 pairs of tights (£1.50)
1 wooden shape sorter (£3.50)
1 bag of duplo including a bendy caterpillar (£4.50)
1 pair of pompom slippers (£4)
1 pair of dungarees (£4.50)
1 sleeping bag (£2.50)
1 wooden bead puzzle (£2.50)
Total: £27.50
When I got home, I took real pleasure in hunting for the same articles online to find out how much money I’d saved. I discovered that the overall value when new is £174.00. Bargain! And I came out unscathed - all in all, a good morning’s bargain hunting.
Here’s a video of a slightly more spacious NCT sale than the one I went to:
To find out where the next NCT sale near you is, go to their Nearly New Sale Finder and put in your postcode. The added bonus is that most of the money goes to the charity to support new parents, so you can feel warm and fuzzy as well as a little bit smug.
Posted in Bargains & Markets, Family, Uncategorized
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The Wine Show two for one ticket offer
If you fancy swirling, sniffing and sipping wines from across the globe, then head down to the Business Design Centre in Islington from Thursday and enjoy the variety of great wines on offer at The Wine Show.
The show brings together wine makers, merchants, and industry experts for a four day tasting event, giving wine lovers the chance to sample wines and learn more about wine in every aspect - from the latest trends to wine and food matching and different grape varieties. There’s also the opportunity to pick up fantastic bargains on the day. Read full post
Posted in Bargains & Markets, Food
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Visit to the Covent Garden Real Food Market
The Covent Garden Real Food Market is in full swing. If you haven’t yet stopped by the West End’s answer to Borough Market or Broadway Market, get thee to the east side of the piazza, and soon.
The Real Food Market at Covent Garden
I wandered over to the Real Food Market last Thursday at about one-thirty. I planned to grade it on three criteria: selection, quality, and price of food. Here’s the breakdown and a few individual recommendations… Read full post
Posted in Bargains & Markets, Food, Uncategorized
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My search for the perfect maxi dress
This summer I’ve spent a lot of time searching for the perfect maxi dress. I’ve hit up the high street and poked my head into haute couture, I’ve gone in-store and online, and I’ve shopped as far afield as Amsterdam and Paris, but no joy… until now.
Just the other week, on perhaps my hundredth try-on, I finally hit pay dirt, and at the most unlikely of places. This is a tale of shopping redemption, dear reader, and if you happen to be on the hunt for a maxi dress, may my tips and travails redeem you, too.
Maxi dresses look really easy to wear – just throw it on and out you go. But they’re a lot trickier to fit than you’d think. A few gathers in the wrong place and you look utterly tank-like; a slightly busy pattern and you’re all the eye can see for miles; a little extra fabric and you’re being offered a seat on the tube.
Posted in Bargains & Markets, Fashion
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£50 free shopping at Abel & Cole, the organic food delivery company
Want to eat organic but think it’s too expensive? Perhaps surprisingly, organic fruit and veg boxes delivered to your door can be extremely good value, with prices often a lot cheaper than supermarkets, and of course, the food is fresher!
Right now, Abel & Cole, the yummy organic fruit and veg box suppliers, are offering an amazing £50 free when you sign up for a weekly delivery of £15 or more – choose the option ‘every week’ for your order frequency and after four consecutive weekly deliveries the £50 will be credited to your account.
For full details, visit www.abelandcole.co.uk. Officially, the offer ends on 26th July, but Oola Moola readers can take advantage of the saving until the end of August – just enter the code SUMMERSUB50 in the special offer codes section when you place your first order before 31st August 2009.
In case you don’t know, Abel & Cole deliver super-fresh organic fruit and veg to your door, direct from farmers and growers. Each week the box contains a variety of different fruit and veg making it really easy cook tasty meals using seasonal ingredients. The company source local British food wherever possible, so it’s nice to know you’ll be helping to reduce food miles, as well as enjoying natural food packed full of flavour.
Find out more about all things organic at www.organic.org, and if you’ve tried the fruit and veg boxes from Abel & Cole, please share your thoughts…
Posted in Bargains & Markets
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Notes on New Challenges: Catwalk Fashion
Burberry
Rachelle has send us a challenge, and Oola Moola is on the case! She’s asked Oola Moola..
“…to recreate a very now on trend look straight from
the catwalk using pieces sourced only from charity shops … good
luck! x”Straight from the catwalk… hmmm, maybe I’m being a bit of an optimist…(& a fabulous copy cat!), but … Read full post
Posted in Bargains & Markets, Fashion, Vintage
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Make your own pottery for £12
Make your own pottery from OolaMoola on Vimeo.
My parents have been visiting the last two weeks to help me move. I needed to find something fun for us to do together as a family to thank them - the typical dinner out didn’t seem very creative (or affordable!). So when I came across Merton Abbey Mills‘ weekend market and learned about the £12 pottery classes in the Wheelhouse, I could not help but eying a massive opportunity to kill ‘three’ birds with one stone: Entertain the family, learn something new.. at the same time as adding some beautiful pottery to my glass cabinet.
Some of the beautiful pottery at Merton Abbey Mills
The classes are run by Stephen Llewellyn and cost only £12 per person for a 45 minutes session - this includes using the wheel, clay, as well as Stephen’s wonderful tutelage. As if that’s not enough, at the end of the session you’ll get to pick one of your masterpieces for firing and glazing, ready for pick up about 4 weeks later.
Pottery wheel
That’s me trying to shape the clay into something usable - with Stephen’s help. There’s a technique (or science?) to this - pressing the clay from the inside will force the clay to widen outwards, while adding pressure from the outside will make they clay rise upwards. Also - you’ve got to keep a very steady arm, using your right hand to shape the clay while your left hand should only to support your right hand so it keeps steady.
Mr. Teen gets help to shape the clay
Let me tell you - pottery is so much fun but it’s not easy at first! I find the whole concept of not using both hands very confusing, so I learned the hard way…
Doing it right - Doing it wrong..
The atmosphere in the Wheelhouse is historic and relaxed - dating back to 1885. Stephen was an amazing teacher, letting us know when we did well, and telling us not to worry when it all went awry: “It’s just a piece of clay,” he said with a smile as I tossed my fifth vase attempt in the recycle bin. Ay.
We had so much fun on our session. We even got to bring Flint The Wheaten to the session which was an added bonus to the family experience. My parents and Mr. Teen enjoyed themselves and they’re really excited to see the fnished result of their efforts when the clay has been glased and burned. Moolah well spent - so much better than a dinner out!
Below are a few of our finished pottery pieces that we get to pick up in about four weeks time. Don’t worry if you can’t choose just one of your beautiful creations though - you can have your other pottery glazed for only £3 per piece.
The results of our 45 min workshop!
I plan on going again soon - this is a great way to stock up precious Christmas presents (it’s never to early, is it?). And if you don’t want to bring your family around - it’s also a great start to a girl friend’s night out - or you can even bring a special date… there are excellent bars and restaurants in the area to visit afterwards.
Tip for you Londoners: There’s a festival in Colliers Wood this weekend. Get in line for a free ticket to try the pottery wheel this Saturday - show up around 10 to be sure you get on the wait list!
The Wheelhouse
Merton Abbey Mills
A24 Merantun Way (behind Sainsbury’s at Colliers Wood).
0208 647 0076 on weekdays/ 0208 543 6656 at weekends
Individual tuition is in a small group of up to four people. Classes are held from 11am to 3pm on Saturday and Sunday, and at other times by arrangement.
The Wheelhouse accommodates only 4 people per session, so don’t leave the booking until it’s too late - two weeks in advance is usually enough time to get your reservation in.
http://www.stephenllewellynpottery.co.uk/
Posted in Bargains & Markets, Beauty, Crafting, Entertainment, Family
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Beauty on a budget: where to get the cheapest treatments in London [Part 2]
I’m back with groomed brows, dark lashes and baring only a slight resemblance to a Jim Henson muppet (only kidding.) Actually, my brows are probably a wee bit darker than desirable but I totally hold myself responsible as I requested that they leave the tint on for longer than usual. Anyway…
My experience at London College of Beauty Therapy’s salon was actually overwhelmingly – and surprisingly – positive. After checking in at reception, I was taken through to my own private treatment room within the dazzlingly white, chandelier-bedecked professional salon.
As I was having the “trio” of treatments: eyelash tint, eyebrow tint and eyebrow shape, I was allocated three separate therapists. One for each treatment. Just a tiny departure from the usual salon experience. And I had to sign a helluva lot of disclaimer forms. Which isn’t so unusual. And although it did take slightly longer than usual, I was too busy saving money to really care.
At the end of the day I really couldn’t fault the standard and quality of my treatments. In truth, I’ve paid a whole lot more for worse. The students were extremely conscientious and a supervisor checked in at the end of each treatment to ensure I was happy and each procedure was performed correctly. And I was asked to give each student a score. If only every beauty salon in London was as interested in customer feedback and satisfaction…
Total spent: £15
Cost of treatment at usual beauty salon: £60
Total saved: £45Posted in Bargains & Markets, Beauty
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The Big Move
I’m moving! The credit crunch is finally working to my advantage. It is definitely a renter’s market at the time and by moving I’m making a huge savings in rent - £2400 per year! Council tax is also less, which adds around another £360 to my annual savings. You might think I’m sacrificing space for this deal, but I’ve been very lucky. By moving just slightly out of the posh area I’ve been in the last few years, I found a place three times as big as my old one, and with a lovely back garden!
Too good to be true? Well, yes, there’s a hitch. It’s unfurnished. All I’ve managed to accumulate in my adult life is … uh-um, a dog, heaps of books, handbags, dresses and shoes, a teen glued to a PC, and some very, very precious wine glasses. That’s about it, I think…
So what do I do? My family lives overseas, which means no leftover stuff from mum and aunties this time over…
Some of you have already tweeted me some good advice:@rachwarwick, @mattwilliams, @beckyportsmouth and @planbstudio all swear by Freecycle as a great source of free stuff. @beckyportsmouth also had a great idea - set up a Facebook page with a list of what you need and get your friends and family to contribute or sell stuff to you for cheap. @love_little suggested having a look at what people toss out, hunt in junk yards and antique places.
I’m going to try all of that (well, maybe I’ll give the junk yards a miss..). Getting the keys to the place this weekend so stay tuned for a video tour and my facebook page. In the meantime, if you’ve got any advice, have a great blog for furniture or design tips I should follow, catch me on twitter or leave me a comment - much appreciated.
Posted in Bargains & Markets, Decor, Gifts, furniture
