Next Home Haul

I love reading blogs finding out what other people have been buying.  It's a great way to discover what goodies are out in the shops to buy and the trends people are picking up on.  I love the feeling when I've found something I think is a fantastic find so I thought I'd extend my retail pleasure and share my recent purchases with you!

I've been lusting after so many Next pieces since they first set up their autumn window display showcasing a gorgeous fruity colour palette of complimenting items.  Canvas art of pick your own raspberries, cosy leaf green blankets and quirky candle holders in the form of giant yarn reels.  I'm updating the house and already had the theme plan for mossy greens, berry reds and aubergine purples so Next's display was exactly what I was looking for.

I had £20 in vouchers burning a hole in my purse so I went into Next today.  It was quite a task deciding what to spend it on because everything was so appealing.  I would actually liken it to the feeling I used to get in my local shop when I was little, looking up at all the jars of sweets.  Yes, it was pretty pulse racing stuff!

This is what I bought - 

Meet my ceramic owl ornament!  He's a huge 19cm high and cost £8.  I noticed the owl theme ran through the collections including a smaller owl with a tea tight holder on it's head, two small owl salt and pepper pots, an owl mug and an owl dish.  Phew!  You'd be all owled out!

I also bought these - 

These coffee, tea and sugar canisters are sold individually for £5 each which I think is a really great price. They're weighty little things painted in a ecru coloured high gloss with cute sayings etched into each of the lids.  The sugar canister is a berry pink shade with 'cute as a button'.  The coffee - a lovely sage green depicting 'a stitch in time saves nine' and the sugar - a salmon pink - 'sew a little happiness'. 

I have a necklace which my parents gave me a few years back which these pots remind me of.  It's a silver button necklace which says 'cute as a button'.  Funny coincidence!

I love how these canisters are so unique and give off a cosy feel.  I'm an avid cross stitcher so appreciate the sewing connotations on another level too.  Three unbelievably adorable little pots will sit all too proudly on my kitchen counter!  I'll be replacing my stainless steel Brabantia set so this will be a totally new look.  

The shopping experience within the store wasn't as appealing.  Wherever I was and whenever I tried to look at something the same two members of staff would be there, not giving two hoots (owl. ouch) that I was stood there.  I thought they were pretty rude to be honest, that they felt it was so well mannered to not even acknowledge a customer, even go as far as prevent me from looking.  I know staff have a job to do but there's a way and means to go about it.

When I came to buy my purchases I was told that the canisters were proving a popular seller and informed me that they'd sold twelve sets already.  That kinda made me feel like my sale wasn't anything special which put a dampener on my glee.  Then I was told they'd ran out of wrapping material and bubble wrap so I had to have my purchases put straight into the carrier bags.  I thought this was really bad.  If the store knew they were running out could they not have popped into the WH Smith opposite them and picked something up?  Shopping these days has become a luxury and being a customer of Next you come to expect a particular service.  Amazing products.  Really poor service.

All in all, I'm really chuffed with what I found today.  There were so many things I could have bought too and everything seemed to be decently priced which surprised me.  I think I've found my excuse to add to my fruity autumn theme!

Becky x