SO girlie....

www.carlashes.com
Brilliant if you share your car with a big burly man....
XX Jo.

Christmas is coming. No, really, the shops are full of it already....

So, are we all ready (already) for the sparkly season to arrive?
I say this through gritted teeth as the thought of all that organising, stress and cost does not exactly fill me with glee, but apparently there are only 100 shopping days left to go until the big day!
Of course, there are rather more online shopping days, no doubt, but I do think we ought to get started.
So I am just about to launch this year's Christmas Gift Certificate Offer, I think we'll call it our "Christmas Hurrah!" Keep an eye on the website for full details, they should pop up shortly, and I'll pop a link on here too, of course.
So, get your lists of F&F done pronto and see how many would like the chance to gush over Gucci, pore over Prada or even moon over our Mollybag....
XX J.

****Here you go! http://www.handbaghirehq.co.uk/gift-certificates.asp ****

3....2....1.....

......We are about to draw the winners of the Take A Break Summer Special Giveaway!
Good luck to all those who entered - keep an eye on your postbox to see if you are a winner.
XX Jo and Kerry XX

It's the ELEVENTH!! Let's celebrate.......

OK, so it being the ELEVENTH of the month might not be really THAT exciting. I mean, it's a long way till pay day and a boring old Wednesday night. Even Corrie isn't on because of flaming football.
So, what can we do to cheer everyone up? BY GEORGE, I'VE GOT IT! As an extra special gift for our lovely blog readers, please treat yourselves to an 11% discount on us. Go on, let's celebrate the elevenliness of August the 11th. Why not?

To take advantage of your 11% hire discount, simply pop the code BLOG11 into the Discount Box as you go through the checkout procedure when you hire one of our lovely bags. Easy peasy.

Enjoy - and don't forget - Happy Elevenses!!

Jo. P.S. This code will work every day until the end of August 2010. XX.

ANNOUNCING!! Our Inclusive Annual Memebership Packages!

Hello World,

There's been a huge, sparkly buzz going around the HHHQ office - we are delighted to announce the arrival of our DIAMOND and PLATINUM memberships! Now, for the very first time at http://www.handbaghirehq.co.uk/ , we are offering not one but two annual membership options.

Our DIAMOND MEMBERSHIP includes membership and hire of any of our bags at any time throughout the year, which means you could have a different bag every week, fortnight or month – it’s up to you. You can only have one bag at a time and you do still pay £9.95 for postage each time you hire. With a one-off payment of just £500, this incredible package could save you a total of £1320 in bag hires alone!

If the prospect of paying for postage each time does not appeal, we are also offering our PLATINUM MEMBERSHIP. For £750, Platinum Membership allows all the benefits of Diamond, but with outward and return postage included for each hire. If you were a Platinum Member and hired one of our most exclusive bags every week for a year, this would save a further £267.40. Add that to the £1320 and the £90 membership and it suddenly becomes a saving of £1677.40!

There is no obligation to extend either package beyond a year. All new members and existing members who have not hired within the last three months are required to complete our security procedures. The minimum bag hire period is one week; hires can be extended upon request, subject to our Waiting List commitments.
To join Handbag Hire HQ as a Diamond or Platinum Member, please contact Jo at jo@handbaghirehq.co.uk or telephone us on 07771 741576 / 01522 869444. If you would like to purchase one of our annual membership packages as a Gift Certificate, we will tailor-make your gift for an extra £10 to include a gift box and your own personal message.

HOW EXCITING! Now we've just got to design some suitably gorgeous Diamond and Platinum membership cards! How much bling can we possibly get onto one little plastic card?

Bye for now and happy browsing,

Lots of love,

Jo and Kerry XX.

So I have been terrible not updating the blog… but have been so busy …. Please catch us on twitter @kerrysambridge I have some great offers posted now and then on twitter and its good fun to have a gossip.. – Today the sun has finally come out and it’s been glorious have got the bikini out and tried to get a little bit of colour…….. Hmm well tried so have faked it a little bit!! Nobody will know!






The latest trend which is really awful is men in plimsolls oh dear it is just so wrong …. Please guys it looks terrible!!!!!!! Do not wear them!! :)







Jo came round to mine and I ended up pretending to be a beauty therapist and waxing ……….. Jo has said that giving birth to twins was less painful. My career as a waxier is over ha ha well I tried!!!


So on to handbags >>. I have seen the Gucci Hysteria being used by Rhianna and Alex Curan aka wag of the moment!! It’s so roomy and is so in for summer. Alex Curan has the black clutch which has a small strap and a larger one if you want to use it as a bag rather than a clutch, there is loads of room inside great for all the junk and makeup us girls take on a night out!!!! . http://www.handbaghirehq.co.uk/eMerchantPro/pc/viewPrd.asp?idcategory=4&idproduct=3



Another one of my favourites for this week is the Balenciaga handbags
This brand is probably one of the most often worn by celebrities, http://www.handbaghirehq.co.uk/eMerchantPro/pc/viewCategories.asp?idCategory=6

Nicole Richie is more often that not photographed with one of her balenciaga handbags on her arm, and even more so since she had her daughter. Her black Balenciaga handbag goes everywhere with her, most likely due to its versatility and space to hold baby accessories while still being stylish my favourite is the Balenciaga Giant Stud handbag

http://www.handbaghirehq.co.uk/eMerchantPro/pc/viewPrd.asp?idcategory=6&idproduct=71

The Balenciaga Giant Stud handbag, fresh from the Spanish fashion house. Soft leather meets the gold-tone diamond-etched studs. Inside this big bag is the Balenciaga tasselled mirror/cardholder, black lining and a zipped pocket. A large, statement piece.
Dimensions:

Width18 / 46cm
Depth4 / 10cm
Height14 / 36cm

hope you have enjoyed readiung this catch me on twitter or leave your comments

bye for now

kerry xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Its Kerry here hello all !!!!!!!

Hello all I would like to introduce my self. I will be updating the blog on handbags for hire hq for Jo, I am a self confessed fashion addict age 31 and simply adore handbags and shoes ….. I am obsessed with all the latest trends and will certainly keep you updated with all the latest gossip and celebrity who’s wearing who and how to where it !!!! I will also add you into my little world and my daily life and my friends …. Hope this will the exciting start of something good … welcome to my blog !

This weeks top look is ZEBRA !!! I am going to be using the Ri2K Dulcie

http://www.handbaghirehq.co.uk/eMerchantPro/pc/viewPrd.asp?idcategory=71&idproduct=53

A very stylish day bag in exciting limited wild zebra print with black leather trim. This stunning day bag will definitely make an impact. It has a detachable shoulder strap as well as the top handles. Inside is gorgeous red lining with a zip pocket and a mobile phone slip pocket. This bag screams quality. Usually costing around £200 pounds this bag is on hire for a mere £15 a week

When it comes to their handbags, these celebs like to take a walk on the wild side...the last few seasons, animal print bags, shoes and accessories have been super hot. The "it" bag of the moment has to be zebra print handbags.

As Halle and Heidi show us, you don't have to wear boring tops with your zebra print handbag, as long as your colour palette is neutral. Shiny tops, greys, black and white are perfect when paired with zebra, but you should avoid bright colours unless you are going for an early 90's look

feel free to post your comments and reviews of any handbags you would like to hear about ..... love to hear from you all xx

kerry xx

Hot off the Press!

Exciting times at HHHQ - first of all we will be introducing our new blog lady, Kerry. Kerry is going to sample each of our bags and give us her opinion. Watch this space as it promises to be honest, amusing and no doubt very interesting as our Girl About Town tries out our gorgeous arm candy.

Secondly, two of our members have just today decided they can't bear to send back the bags they have hired and so have asked me for a purchase price. They are now proud owners of their favourites and I hope they'll be very happy. It's a lovely part of my job, uniting people with their heart's desire.

So, we'll need to shop soon to get more bags on the site for you to hire. As usual, I'm open to suggestions, so please let me know your perfect bags at jo@handbaghirehq.co.uk and we'll crack open that piggy bank....

Bye for now, glamourpusses,
Jo. XX.

M Andonia Daisy Kiss

One of our lovely members has just returned the M Andonia Daisy Kiss and it prompted me to give it a trial. So how did it go?
Well, as soon as Twin 1 saw it, she gushed, "Oh Mom, that's my favourite bag ever...." and Twin 1 prides herself on being a tomboy and not girlie at all, but I think it really brought out her inner laydee. Anyway, the only problem our esteemed member encountered with the Daisy Kiss was that it was too small for all her everyday stuff. I have been using it for about ten hours now and I have to admit I agree.
I took it shopping today, with the children, and I have to say, once Twin 2 got fed up with her DS and dumped it on me (occupational hazard), it joined my purse, phone and car keys and then the MADK was about as full as it could be and still be able to be clipped up. I really do love the look of it, though.
I think perhaps it's for someone far more ladylike than me. Like Lily Allen when she's in one of her Audrey Hepburn moments. Or Audrey herself. Anyway, someone who can cope with form more than function.
Today I'm enjoying playing lady of the manor. But I fear tomorrow I'll be going back to being practical. Though the Fendi B Mix is calling, so I won't sink into the pits of depression just yet....
Bye for now and happy browsing,
Jo.
XX.

Doncha wish.....

A snippet from Amanda Plattell's page in the Daily Mail at the weekend:

"Lewis Hamilton has managed to woo his pop star girlfriend Nicole Sherzinger back after they briefly split up last year. Ever generous, this multi-millionaire tax exile is already moaning about his little songbird's taste in expensive designer handbags. 'The best thing to do,' he says, 'is when you go to China pick up a whole lot of stuff - they'll never know the difference.' Silly Lewis. If you're a sportsman, you can cheat on your girlfriend with another woman, but never with a fake Louis Vuitton."

Ab-so-lutely.
XX.

It's all happening here.....and Burberry Verdict!

Yes, we're having busy old time here in Handbag Hire HQ World. Well, I suppose I should say Handbag Hire HQ HQ, but that sounds a bit odd....

Anyway, not only have I been trying out our lovely Burberry Hobo (more on that later), but I have gone even more girly than I was already by becoming a Vie at home consultant. Why would someone devoted to the sharing of handbag-love be diversifying in such a way? Well, lots of reasons really, for a start I love the stuff so it's a good way to get my mitts on it (tsk), but also as a mum of 3 with an internet-based job, I have to say sometimes I feel the need to have actual real-life-in-the-flesh conversations with grown ups who I'm neither married to nor accepting post from. Not saying that I have no friends or social life of course, but let me refer you back to the 3 small children bit....

So, I promise with hand on heart I won't be carrying Vie at home samples around in our gorgeous HHHQ bags, so don't worry about spillages, but there's a very good chance I could be showing the bag I'm currently trialling to the guests at the parties, so that I can write a more balanced review, because, lets face it, I'm a leeetle bit handbag-obsessed so I might be prone to adoring everything! (Though I do try to be open-minded.) Anyway, at the first Team Meeting I had to introduce myself and it did feel a bit "My name's Jo and I'm a Bagaholic." But I'm settling in and if you would like to have a look at my online shop, it's available at www.my.vieathome.com/jotrafford

Onto further news - for all those who remember my "performance" on the Weakest Link last year and who fancied having a go themselves, I had a phonecall from one of their researchers today and they would like to have more 30-something females on the show. So if you would like to find out more please email me at jo@handbaghirehq.co.uk and I can put you in touch with her. I had a brilliant time doing the show so come on ladies, don't hide your light under a bushel....

At last, I come onto my review of the Burberry Hobo. It is one of those bags that people notice, but it's not over the top. I was a bit daunted by the Burberry Check - was it a look I could pull-off, especially this time of the year when I seem to be all in black or dark plum, but the contrast worked really well and I have enjoyed using it. Of course it's not exactly massive and downsizing is ALWAYS a challenge for me, as my regular readers will know, but the open-top design, whilst not exactly suitable if mixing in light-fingered company, does mean you can slot plenty in. It also makes FINDING things easy, which is a bonus.

The magnetic fastening is really strong, which means you only need to throw the strap over and it latches on very easily. I loved the length of the shoulder strap - it sat neatly under my arm. I also loved the pale brown lining - its simplicity compared to the outside check was greatly satisfying. My final plus - like the Louis Vuitton canvas, the Hobo is made from a strong, hardwaring and waterproof material, so I didn't feel scared to plop it down on a table, etc. So, although it is a light colour, it is supremely practical.

To sum up, I thoroughly enjoyed sporting the Burberry Hobo, though long-term it would probably be too small for a clutternut like me. I had lots of favourable comments from friends and strangers alike and no negative ones.

Now, that's my lot for today. Remember to let me know what bags you'd like to see on our site, and also if we can pop you on our Waiting List for any of them.

Bye for now,

Jo. XX.

Checking. Me. Out.

New trial: Burberry Hobo. Watch this space....
XX.

Me and My Bag We Got Issues....

....I just can't find me my tissues.

Well, I've been using and a-testing the LV Neverfull and it really is a whopping great bucket of a bag. Now, it's lovely and a truely recognisable piece of arm candy. A very stylish business associate of mine cast a loving eye over it and I felt a pang of pure love for it right there and then, but the problem is that it's such a spacious thing that I can't help just chucking stuff in there. I'll give you an example, at the till at the supermarket, the very helpful check-out lady asks if I would like a bag, my response: "No thanks, I can just pop it all in here." Easy as. The thing is, I just don't know when to stop.
I've ended up with countless DS's and DS chips from the children, enough make up to buff up all the actors on a mini-series, a money box in the shape of a pink stilletto boot (this belongs rather worryingly to my son and is full of coppers and silvers!) and at least one diary. Amongst all my other stuff, please check previous blogs for full list. There's no kitchen sink as yet but just watch this space.

My Virgo instincts tell me to go for a mini bag and live life in the ultra 0rganised lane, but it is just SO easy to keep plopping stuff in the Neverfull. It just carries on looking so lovely and really doesn't give away the total chaos going on inside.

Ah. So I continue to fool the outside world that I'm stylish and orderly. And inside I'm a mish-mash. C'est la vie.

XX Jo.

Introducing Quute Illumina and Sade

Here at HHHQ we have had a very exciting delivery - two exquisite Quute Illumina clutch bags. Designed exclusively by the lovely Sade, these beauties have a very, um.... illuminating.... innovation - open them up and a delicate (yet surprisingly powerful) row of lights switch on automatically, so you can check your make-up, find your keys, pick out a pen to write down that all important phone number....
Sade has been nominated for the coveted British Female Inventor and Innovator Awards. See her website at http://www.quuteillumina.co.uk/ for her full story.
We are delighted to introduce two of these unique bags to our site. We have the red and the black. No prizes for guessing which is my favourite*. I'm sure all our members will love them. Both clutches are 13.5" wide - a similar size to the lovely Gucci Hysteria Clutch, so you can pop plenty in there on a night out, without resorting to a day bag.
With Valentines Day coming up, which one of our faithful members will be trying them out first?
Bye for now and happy browsing,
Jo. XX.

*The black, with the red, oooooh.....

Peace Reigns Supreme

The Guess Peace, that is.
I have been using this purple beauty since my last-but-one blog and had lots of lovely comments. The general gist seems to be that it's a lovely colour to brighten up this time of year, and I'm inclined to agree.
Also, it's a really good combination of medium-to-large capacity without being heavy enough to give you an RSI. Guess bags traditionally have a lot of inside pockets, but to be honest I didn't really bother with them. I did, however, use the shoulder strap when my hands were full, though it definitely looks better held in the hand.
It's not as "blingy" as Guess bags can sometimes be, which suits my rather straightforward wardrobe.
I'm not sure where I'm going to go after this one, the Speedy is home and it's calling my name, but I feel a bit adventurous and now I've flirted with colour I think I like it.....

Til next time,
Jo. XX.
P.S. I just took delivery of hundreds of sweet little chocolate hearts, so next time you hire enjoy a nibble on us!

Only 2 more days to go!

Lookout! There are only two more days of our "BOGOF" offer on our Gift Certificates. Until midnight on Sunday, if you buy one of our exquisite Gift Certificates we will double the membership length free of charge. Have a look..... XX.

I'm back, oh yes, I'm back.

Hello! Now, regular readers may have noticed a distinct lack of blogging of late. Apologies dear readers, been a busy lady, but now I'm back and fully on the case after having my head lost in the clouds....

OK so I stuck with my old friend Prada, coupled with a Bagatidy for good orderly measure. I've been methodically collecting bits as I've gone along and now Prada is so heavy I can barely lift it. Actually, I had a swine flu jab today and Nice Nurse said my arm would be a bit stiff the next few days and, while she did ask me which hand I write with, she didn't think to ask which hand I carry my bag with (which in my view is a far more pertinent question....) so my bag-carrier-side will be suffering a bit by the sound of it. So, I'm going to downsize and go light-weight for a while. I'm considering the Guess Peace for a couple of reasons, though the Gucci Hysteria is in the running. Both are roomy yet light-weight. I think maybe the Peace at the moment because life in Jan/Feb can be a bit gloomy and a slice of jolly purpleness might help me so much more than a SAD lightbox ever could. Time for a bit of frivol.

Now, beyond my own bag musings, we have some very exciting plans for HHHQ in 2010. We are starting with something of a lightshow. Where is Jean Michel Jarre when you need him?

Keep checking our website http://www.handbaghirehq.co.uk/ for details, and always always keep an eye on here, dear reader, so I can keep you up to date, though I'm not saying any more just yet! XX.