Dear Blog, I've been neglecting you and I'm sorry. I've just been so darn busy! Setting up as a freelance graphic designer is fun, it's exciting, it's something I've be wanting to do for the longest time, but, heck, it's exhausting! There isn't a day goes by when my emotions don't go from 'oh my god, what am I DOING?!' to 'this is where I belong'. For the last two days I've been at my desk from 7.30am - 11pm,  I have a crick in my neck from a bad night's sleep and I feel like I haven't been outside for such a long time. But, you know what? Today I'm loving it.

Dear Cast of The 39 Steps, Watching you in the Criterion Theatre at last weekend was so much fun. It was clever and witty and thoroughly engaging. I even got Mr WoJ to agree to come to the ballet AND an opera with me. I think he was swept up in the moment, so thank you, on all counts.

Any recommendations on what we should see?

Dear Sheraton Park Tower Hotel, You're good, really good. Shame my boyfriend didn't realise that the mini bar was automated and charged £22 to the room within minutes of arriving (a miniature bottle of gin and a jar of cashew nuts, in case you're wondering). But, hey ho, it was funny and we had a great stay, it was so nice to get away and spend some time together (not something we get to do very often).

Dear Weather, Seriously!!

Dear Sophie, Have you seen that BDIB is back? Yay! And although I only have one of this month's Scavenger Hunt photos I'm determined to get them all!

Dear Blog (again), This is the 300th post, time for a follower giveaway soon?

Linking up with Friday's Letters



I hope you're well, I'll be catching up with blogs and commenting over the weekend (fingers crossed). Can't wait to see what you've all been up to!

Love

Is it tacky to host a blog giveaway of unwanted holiday gifts? This was a poll run by IFB and it seems to be a close run thing (it was a 51% - 49% split when I voted) and, if you're wondering, I voted 'no'.

It is a fact that we sometimes receive gifts that are, for whatever reason, unwanted. This is not to say that they aren't appreciated, they're just not quite right. We've all had gifts like that.

What would you do with an unwanted gift? Donate to charity, sell at a carboot sale or on eBay, give it to someone else? That has to be better than leaving it in a drawer gathering dust surely?

I don't see how a giveaway really differs from donating something to charity, at the end of the day you're still getting rid of it. And it's better to get rid of something you won't use than have it languishing in a cupboard somewhere.

To my mind if someone enters a giveaway, they want to win what's on offer, so you can be sure that your unwanted gift is going to a good home, were it will be used and appreciated. On the flip side would you mind if your prize was an unwanted gift? And if you're giving away an unwanted gift should you declare it as such or just keep that detail a secret?

For me having things that you don't use / wear / love is a dreadful waste. Passing them on, however you do it, to someone who will appreciate them just seems like the right thing to do. Call it recycling. Does giving away a gift make you an ungrateful person? Perhaps.

I'd be interested to hear what you think? Would you give away unwanted gifts on your blog?

And, just to be clear, this isn't a sneaky way to find out your thoughts before I do a gift laden giveaway ;)

Love

Thank you to everyone who entered my giveaway, the winner is... Kezzie!





From your comments it seems that you all enjoy my wardrobe challenges, I'll be starting another one shortly - my biggest yet!

You may well have come across Harriet Kelsall Jewellery Design if you have thought about commissioning a bespoke engagement ring, which is what they are best known for, but I first came across them whilst researching bespoke jewellery designers. Sadly this had nothing to do with a hopelessly romantic proposal but research for a new bespoke jewellery website I was designing at the time. I was more than a little distracted by the gallery of bespoke pieces on the site - seriously I lost hours!
This is giveaway is open for the month of November. I will select five winners on December 1st 2011

Open to residents of the UK only.

Good luck!

I had 21 comments but I had to discount two as one was outside of the UK and the other was me.



The Winner of my Blog Birthday Give away is.... Lauren.
Now, Lauren introduced me to the VO5 Miracle Concentrate and Collection 2000 Cream Puff Moisturising Lip Balm so she has kindly suggested that I pick a second winner for those items.

Sarah was drawn...


Well done Ladies - I hope you like your bits and pieces.

Love

No. 45
My final piece of knitwear for the WIA challenge. This one was made with my own fair hands. I was fooled by the misty morning and spent the whole day uncomfortably hot! The bag is new from Zara and the boots, also seen here, are from Very. They go together beautifully, which was completely intentional (lie!).



No. 46
The first of my remaining dresses. I loved wearing this. I normally buy dresses imagining that I'll wear then with cute sandals or heels and light tan. Sadly this rarely happens (esp. the tan bit) so this challenge is forcing me to re-think not only how I wear dresses but how I buy them too.



No. 47
This on was a tricky customer. I bought this dress for a Christening but for work it was harder to wear. It has pleated cap sleeves and nipped in waist so it felt a little 'weddingish' for work. One long cardigan, simple shoes, a sleek ponytail and a chunky watch later I was satisfied that I had dressed it down just enough. I'm not sure this one will make the final cut...


No. 48
Whilst rummaging around in my wardrobe, trying to find something to wear with either my spotty or green dress, I found this - forgotten and not yet worn for my challenge - this is the 'perfect maxi dress for work' - so on it went with a sigh of relief that I am spared the hardest-dresses-to-wear-for-work-ever for one more day...

I'm not convinced the bag works with it but, in fact I KNOW it doesn't work. But I love the dress, my next task is to accessorise it for Autumn as this Indian summer is set to end soon.


Just two dresses to go...

Love






Don't forget to enter my Giveaway!

With renewed vigour I am tackling my Wearing it All challenge.

No. 43
Stripes never fail to make me smile. I tend to reach for this shirt if I have a meeting but it also looks fab with wide leg jeans. Today I'm sporting my latest purchase from Cherry & Joy - a stud bangle in sapphire. It is also available in dark coral (which may very well feature on World of Joy sometime soon...). 


No. 44
I woke up this morning and my view had been stolen by mist. I was able to wear two of my remaining items, a cardigan and a floral shirt. I'm told that the day will warm up, but until it does the cardigan stays on. It was freezing taking the second pic, but then I guess I'll just have to get used to that!




Here is a peak at what remains in my wardrobe challenge...


There is also a black shirt dress remaining. I need a slip to wear underneath it, which should be delivered next week, this piece will be a doddle to wear but the other dresses are going to pose more of a problem in that they are all summery. I should have worn them at the beginning of the challenge but I'm not organised enough to plan so far ahead. I'll have to view it as a good excercise in transitional dressing.

How do you tackle the change from Summer to Autumn?

Don't forget to enter my Birthday Giveaway, there are some really lovely bits and bobs up for grabs.
Love

For me September 27th seems to be a day when good things happen. On this day in 1986 I was a bridesmaid, for the first time, for my favouritest Aunt in the world EVER. 1998 was the year I left home. My cats, Socks and Tink, where born in 2007 and last year I published my very first post on this blog. Happy Birthday to me!

To celebrate the first year of World of Joy I'm having a Giveaway!

• 1 Nivea Hand Balm SOS for dry and chapped hands (50ml). Perfect for the colder months.
• 1 A7 notebook. A handbag essential.
• 1 pack of 12 snag ease, metal free, hairbands
• 1 Avon MagiX Face Perfector. This is my 'soft focus', I wouldn't be without this now.
• 1 Nivea Creme tin (12ml)
• 1 Green & Blacks Organic Dark chocolate 100g - another essential that no woman should be without!
• 1 Avon Super Magnify Mascara. I've mentioned this a few times, the slim applicator is perfect for lower lashes or a groomed barely there look.
• 1 Nails Inc nail polish in Saville Row, a lovely glossy plum colour - perfect for the coming season.
• 1 Avon Matte Nail enamel in Black as Night because sometimes only black will do.
• 1 Alberto VO5 Miracle Concentrate, intensive leave-in hair treatment. I tried this after a review by Lauren. Wowee indeed!!
• 1 Collection 2000 Cream Puff Moisturising Lip Balm in Fairy Cake (it certainly smells good enough to eat!), this is another purchase inspired by Lauren.
• 1 Accessorize studded cuff. An absolutely bargain and super stylish, I love mine - it is always invited to the arm party.
• 1 Stolen Thunder Red Love wish string. Gotta spread the love ♥

All items are chosen and paid for by me.

The rules...

For one entry
Become (if you aren't already) a follower of my blog through GFC and leave a comment saying that you would like to enter.

For a second entry
Follow me on Twitter (@very_hazel) and tweet 
‘I have entered the @very_hazel birthday giveaway at World of Joy'. Please add a link to the post and leave a separate comment saying you have tweeted.

The giveaway closes at 23:59 BST on 10th October 2011.

The giveaway is open to the UK only.

I will pick the winner via random.org on 11th October 2011.

Good Luck!