Mustard Loves: A Lunch Box That’s Fresher Than New Socks…

There’s no denying that lunch is the best part of the working day.

From Moroccan flatbreads and Greek salads to pasta pots and last night’s leftovers, as much as you might enjoy your job, there’s nothing that gets you through the morning quite like the promise of a 10/10 lunch.

Seeing as you’ve spent all that time and effort making sure your taste buds have something delicious to enjoy once one o’clock rolls around (though admittedly that home-made sushi was a lengthy mistake), it only makes sense to nestle your lunch in a bento box so cool it basically deserves its own star on the walk of fame.

Mustard’s T-Rex Lunch Box is a punchy lunch box that’s sure to turn heads in the office. Featuring a pop-art inspired T-Rex (who incidentally happens to be top of the dino food-chain), this bento box comes with dual compartments ideal for storing all your brain food.

Gone are the days of sticking passive aggressive (and aggressive aggressive) notes on your food to keep your colleagues at bay; this Tupperware has such a fearless design that all would-be food predators will be totally deterred. Your vegan shepherd’s pie can rest safe.

Microwave safe (excluding lid) and BPA free, our T-Rex Lunch Box is fresher than new socks (and that’s really saying something). Shop the look here and get free UK delivery.

Eat happy!

Why The Time Is Ripe For A Banana Pencil Case

You can smell it in the air and feel it in your bones: summer. From picnics in the park to sweating it out on public transport, you’re greeted with all the familiar features of the season i.e. the parsley aroma of Johnson’s Holiday Sun and a few too many Magnum ice-creams after work.

However, summer isn’t only great because of the aforementioned; it’s also the time when you get to bounce around in colour heaven thanks to all the bright hues that trend alongside the sunshine.

Generation Z yellow is hot stuff, but it’s not the easiest colour to pull off and often works better as an accent. Cue Mustard’s Mini Banana Pencil Case.

Featuring a fruity bright yellow banana design and a contrasting cyan blue background, it’s stationery that just screams summer (or, you know, SUMMER). Not only does it have a cute banana charm zipper, but the zingy yellow elastic band means it can also be attached to your notebook or planner and taken on the go.

And if you’re more ashamed of your handwriting than the state of your bedroom floor and just don’t see yourself needing pens and pencils, our Banana Pencil Case also doubles up as a punchy make-up bag.

Who would have thought stationery could be so bang on trend? The time is definitely ripe for a Banana Pencil Case.

Work happy!

A Marble Laptop Case More Mouth-watering Than A Marshmallow

If your most prized gadget isn’t your phone then it’s your laptop. Necessary to work and play (those Game of Thrones episodes aren’t going to watch themselves), laptops are a possession that the majority of us like to keep safe and sound – and not just because the feeling of breaking one is worse than some actual relationship break-ups. Sorry, Kevin.

However, sometimes the need for protection can lead to your beloved laptop being carried around in a clunky laptop bag that looks like it belongs to your best friend’s ageing uncle. Not great.

Luckily for you and your laptop, here at Mustard we’ve been able to strike the perfect balance between style and practicality with our Marble Laptop Case. Made from Neoprene and featuring a plush aqua lining to protect your laptop from scratches and dust, it’s the ultimate way to transport your most hallowed gadget from A to B. Compatible with most Macbooks and 13″ laptops, you can also slide your important documents into the case (/ ASOS’s latest magazine).

Not only does our Laptop Case stand out during commutes thanks to its pastel pink and turquoise pattern, but it’s also a head turner when it’s sitting pretty on your desk or coffee table. If you don’t fancy lugging around your computer or you’re more of a home worker, our Marble Case can also be used to store your laptop – sort of like a super snug (and stylish) sleeping bag for your tech.

Work happy!

Mustard Loves: Rolling Out The Retro With Rio Roller…

Retro is trending in a big way. From 70s flares and Nintendo gaming to 90s slips and chunky trainers, the blasts from the past are certainly going strong. At Mustard we love a throwback (excluding the ones our parents’ do on Facebook), and skating brand Rio Roller are certainly ticking all the retro boxes.

Designed in the UK, distributed worldwide and using the tagline of “we been rolling since the 90’s”, Rio Roller are a skating brand with a fashion edge. With appealing collections such as their Milkshake range (something straight out of all your pastel dreams) you can now achieve the ultimate combination of skating and shaking at the same time.

However, their rollers aren’t just about style (although they do have a lot of it), with every skate putting comfort and performance at the forefront.

So, whether you’re a newbie or a seasoned expert, grab your skates – and a few knee, elbow and potentially chin pads (safety first)- for some summer rolling.

Have a browse here and check out Rio Roller’s Instagram for more of their retro cool vibe.

Happy rolling!

Images via @riorollerofficial Instagram / rioroller.com

If you went around your office with a clipboard (or a tablet – it is the 21^st century I suppose) and made note of who managed to get their recommended 30 minutes of exercise five times a week, we’re guessing you’d be as concerned as Jamie Oliver was when he saw the state of school dinners.

Now we’re not suggesting that you do a Jamie and start banning turkey dinosaurs and other delicious (albeit hugely unhealthy) snacks, but we do recommend encouraging some simple desk exercises that can be done in the workplace. Our 3 Desk Exercises You Never Knew You Needed are quick and easy routines that can be done at work to try and counter the effects of sitting down all day.

(You might need to check with your doctor before you start these exercises)

3 Desk Exercises You Never Knew You Needed

1. The Magic Carpet Ride

If you think killer abs can only be obtained through a strict regimen of kale, fat-free yogurt and sit-ups then think again. It turns out you can work your stomach while in your office with a desk exercise called ‘The Magic Carpet Ride’ (Aladdin spring to mind for anyone else?).

To get started simply sit on your chair with crossed legs and place your hands on the armrests. Then slowly suck in your stomach and raise yourself an inch or so above your seat just using your belly and hands. Hold for 20 seconds, rest for 30, repeat five times. Easy.

via GIPHY

2. Stretch It Out

Sitting in more or less the same position all day (hunched over your computer screen like a gargoyle) is going to make your body tighten up. To prevent you from leaving work looking like you’d be more at home swinging from the tops of Notre Dame, try stretching out your body while at the office.

This desk exercise involves a number of different stretches to target different parts of your body. For the classic “let’s get down to business neck stretch”, touch your ear to your shoulder and hold it there for a few seconds before moving onto the other side. To loosen up your chest, stretch your arms behind your back and imagine squeezing a pen between your shoulder blades, and to give your back a nice old arch, stand up holding onto the back of your chair and bend backwards.

3. All About The Base

When you’re hankering for “leg day” this ‘All About The Base’ desk exercise is the routine that you need. Sit in your chair while extending one leg straight in front of you and hold it for three seconds before raising it as high as you can (or as high as your desk allows) and holding it for another three seconds. Repeat the leg lifter on each side 15 times.

Hydrate Away

Alongside desk exercises, it’s also vital to stay hydrated throughout the day, which you can do with our stylish and cute T-Rex Water Bottle. Magenta pink and featuring a pop-art inspired dinosaur, this Water Bottle can easily slide into your bag or rucksack thanks to its square shape. With a combination of hydration and these quick and easy desk routines, you’ll be feeling more energetic and more productive (with a whole lot less back pain) before you know it.

Work happy!

Images via GIPHY 

Mustard Loves peeling the positivity with our banana cup…

Nothing encapsulates the feeling of summer quite like a fruity drink. From Capri Suns, smoothies and the now amended and less addictive Sunny D (tastes a lot worse but at least children aren’t turning orange anymore), the sunshine calls for refreshing and tangy beverages.

While you could sip your thirst quencher of choice from a run of the mill drinks bottle, we think that fruity drinks call for fruity cups – and our Banana Straw Cup is fruiter than most. Featuring a colourful banana print, this cute and vibrant cup is the perfect summer picnic pal.

What makes this cup really stand out is the straw feature. Not only does sipping from a straw make whatever drink you’re enjoying feel infinitely more fun, but it also makes a satisfying noise when you reach the end of your refreshment. Plus, this straw is reusable meaning that any moral panic over clogging up the world with disposable plastic straws can be soothed. You can sip away with your principles still in tact.

Easily taken on the go, our Banana Straw Cup is just the thing to get you out in the sunshine this summer.

Live happy!

Mustard Loves Desk Goals On Pinterest…

Ah, Pinterest. The place of motivational quotes, healthy (and not so healthy) recipes, “upcycling”, and – most importantly for us – desk goals.

If you’ve ever spent time searching for some good old desk inspiration on Pinterest then you’ll know that, much like eating Pringles, once you start you just can’t stop. What begins as an innocent search for desk goals (#deskgoals #deskenvy #deskinspiration) ends up with you blinking in surprise as you realise it’s 2am and yep it’s really time you got off your phone and went to sleep.

It’s not that your current workspace is particularly tatty, it’s just that Pinterest is so full of brilliant ideas it would practically be rude to not to check them out. We wouldn’t want to promote the notion of the “grass is always greener” as a rule, but when it comes to sprucing up your desk, a little bit of extra colour here and there, another cute and quirky Pen Pot from Mustard, or maybe a new (/alive) desk plant really isn’t going to hurt.

Our advice is to indulge your wondering eye and have a search for desk goals on Pinterest – you never know what interesting workspace ideas you might find. And, while you’re at it, you can also check out Mustard’s Pinterest page. If you’re a fan of stationery, lifestyle, and all things colourful then it’s definitely worth a follow!

Work happy!

Music helps us work that bit faster and brainstorm that bit better.

While we all like to think that we’re ready to go 24/7, sometimes we need the little extra push that a well-timed power tune can provide. From Justice Vs Simian to the Spice Girls (no judgement here), music can make or break your weekday motivation.

Although it’s tempting to blast your motivational playlist of choice from your desk like some Berlin-based DJ, this tactic isn’t always appreciated by the rest of the office – unless, of course, it’s a Friday afternoon.

For those in need of cool and cute stationery to solve such a conundrum, Mustard’s Banana Audio Splitter is the perfect way to provide inspirational songs for you and a friend without subjecting the whole office to ‘Wannabe’ (again, no judgement here). Simply insert the Splitter, select a mind motivating tune, and stay sharp all day long with Mustard’s quirky and colourful desk accessory.

Whether you’re burning the midnight oil, trying to crack that report, or just wanting to start the week right, here are Five Songs To Listen To When You Mean Business. 

Basement Jaxx – Do Your Thing

When deadlines are looming and you’re in need of a soundtrack for greatness, look no further than Basement Jaxx ‘Do Your Thing’. With a fast, positive beat and the kind of nonsensical yet catchy lyrics that will motivate but not distract you, Basement Jaxx will truly let you Do Your Thing.

La Roux – In For The Kill

Go In For The Kill with La Roux and finish your work in style. While we can’t all rock a flame coloured pixie cut, we can all use Mustard’s cool tech accessories to approach our work with La Roux-esque fearlessness.

Spice Girls – Wannabe

Yes you know it’s cheesy and yes you know it’ll do nothing for your office rep, but sometimes we all need a bit of Girl Power – and a leopard print catsuit. A song to be heard by you and your Audio Splitter companion exclusively…

Justice Vs Simian – We Are Your Friends

Forceful synths plus stirring lyrics? ‘We Are Your Friends’ is a productive power tune at its finest. Your work may not be your friend at the moment, but by the time Justice Vs Simian are done you’ll be ready to tackle it head on.

Toto – Africa

More of a Friday feel-good vibe than a Monday motivator, Toto’s ‘Africa’ is a tune that will having you ticking off tasks for the weekend. And yes, when it comes to Africa, you have permission to crank your speakers to full volume and let the whole office in on your jam.

Work happy!

Images via YouTube

Mustard loves…

Whether you’re hopping on a tube, hailing a bus, or walking into work, disposable coffee cups no longer have a place in our commuting caffeine fix. Largely unrecyclable and often turning pretty soggy pretty quick, it’s time to ditch your disposable coffee cup and bag yourself a reusable travel mug like Mustard’s retro Wink Double Wall Mug.

Featuring a chic eye and lip print, our colourful travel mug proves that being environmentally friendly and stylish needn’t be mutually exclusive.  Not only is the mug BPA free, but it’s also double walled to keep hot drinks hot and cool drinks cool, making it ideal for taking your beverage on the go.

So next time you’re ordering your almond-milk-flat-white-“extra-hot”, instead of opting for a wasteful one-use coffee cup, present our reusable Wink travel mug instead. Not only will you get a kick out of doing your bit for the environment, but you’ll also get to sip your caffeine out of an on-trend cup that looks great on your commute and sitting at your desk. A win-win!

Drink happy!

Mustard Loves…

From the catwalk to the high street, dinosaurs are far from extinct when it comes to fashion. 

Retro, wacky and fun, our prehistoric pals are the trend to be touting at the moment, with the top dino pick of the fashion food chain being none other than Tyrannosaurus rex. Starring on Coach jumpers and adorning Paul Smith Shirts, they’ve even made it onto Topshop t-shirts. T-Rex – now just as much as 66 million years ago – remains alpha.

Thankfully, T-Rex needn’t just be a feature of your wardrobe. Mustard’s fun and cool T-Rex collection contains all the quirky stationery you need to bring him (or her) to work.

With a pop-art inspired range of accessories to choose from – including lunch boxes, water bottles, page markers, and highlighters – our retro T-Rex collection is sure to make your desk dino-mite. While it might be doubtful whether or not T-Rex can ride a bike a-la our Memo Block considering they can’t even high-five, the collection is a quirky stationery edit that’s perfect for gifting (our Magenta and Lime Highlighters are the ideal stocking fillers) and even better for keeping all to yourself.

Work happy!

Here at Mustard, we love a good bullet journal binge (who doesn’t). However, looking at bullet journaling online is a bit like entering a black hole. Once you start perusing one pretty page, suddenly it’s 7 hours later, it’s dark outside and you’ve started thinking in square boxes and super thin coloured pens.

While you could spend your Friday evening trawling through social media in search of spicy bullet journal accounts, we think you just might have other plans (social ones potentially, but not necessarily; re-watching Pulp Fiction on your lemon wouldn’t be half-bad).

With this in mind, we’ve done the hard work for you and have created a short list of our favourite bullet journal Instagram accounts. Check out our 5 Instagrams To Follow If You’re Bullet Journal Obsessed.

Boho Berry

I know you’ve all been waiting for this one! I’m moving into a brand new notebook and starting fresh for June. – Watch the video on my YouTube channel now ?????? – #bohoberrytribe #bulletjournal #bujo #wearebujo #creativitytakescourage #pentelaquash #leuchtturm1917

A post shared by Kara ? Boho Berry (@boho.berry) on May 26, 2018 at 12:57pm PDT

Ryder Carroll

#Repost @craftyenginerd with @get_repost ・・・ I’m still trying to find a way that works best to separate work and personal tasks. Despite the unorganized tasks, I did have a successful work week! Have you started planning for June? #bulletjournaljunkie #bulletjournaljunkies #weeklyplanner #bujoweekly #bulletjournalcommunity #bulletjournal #bulletjournals #bulletjournaling #bujoaddict #bujolayout #bujoinspo #weekly #bujofitness #bulletjournalweeklylog

A post shared by Ryder Carroll (@bulletjournal) on May 19, 2018 at 12:11pm PDT

Pages 2 Plans

 

 

There’s something about Spring that has me feeling motivated and ready to get back on track! I’ve got a bit going on at the moment and needed to sort it all out, so I’ve used this handy tool I learnt from @iamlisajacobs. Rapid log on the right first then sort priority tasks into the sections on the left (finish, do, celebrate, study & start)✨ . Also, I’ve had a huge influx of new followers over the past 48 hours! Hello, welcome! ☺️ Curious to know where you’re all from & how you found me?!

 

A post shared by Natalie (@pages2plans) on Sep 6, 2017 at 3:33am PDT

Roberta Ranieri

Promemoria del giorno. Buona domenica bellissimi! ?? . #qualcosadierre #bulletjournal #bulletjournaling #bulletjournalitalia #bujojunkies

A post shared by ROBERTA RANIERI ? (@qualcosadierre) on May 27, 2018 at 1:50am PDT

Show Me Your Planner

 

 

This is about as artistic as I get. I’m going to use my @hobonichi1101 to keep track of our Hawaii plans this summer. I had to white out a bunch of stuff for instagram, but here is what our first day will look like. I’ll have flight details, rental car information, condo, where to hit the beach, and of course, eat!⠀ .⠀ What I DIDN”T white out was all the smudginess of my stamps. I love this aloha stamp set from @sweetstampshop, but man, stamping is not easy for this newbie. Somehow I smudged the palm tree with my elbow. My elbow! #mistakeshappen. I wanted to leave that detail in to keep it real. ⠀ .⠀ The @sakuraofamerica koi brush pens are seriously the bomb. They’re smaller than tombow dual brush pens, but come in just as many amazing colors, and they’re super easy to work with. ⠀ .⠀ Any Maui travel suggestions for me? We’re taking everyone, so family-friendly spots are a must. Thanks!!⠀ .⠀ If you’re looking for these awesome planner supplies (and more!) click on the link in my bio to check out my new and improved Amazon store.⠀ .⠀ .⠀ #bujo #planneraddict #plannercommunity #bujojunkies #bulletjournaling #planwithme #journal #showmeyourplanner #bujoinspire #bujolove #handlettering #hobonichi #sakuraofamerica #sweetstampshop #showmeyourplanner #zenofplanning #immtribe #bohoberrytribe #handlettering

 

A post shared by IG account for Zen of Planning (@showmeyourplanner) on Jun 10, 2018 at 2:52pm PDT

Work happy!

Images via Instagram: @boho.berry / @bulletjournal / @pages2plans / @qualcosadierre / @showmeyourplanner