This week, I work out how to save hours of Christmas preparations and bag some style at the Cambridge Satchel Pop Up Party.

Desk to Disco

The party season is upon us and it literally won't stop until 2015.

From the work Christmas bash to festive catch-ups with mates, December turns us all into social butterflies. The only problem is, fitting it all in… and managing to look mulled wine hot, whilst you're at it.

For the lads, that probably means little more than a wee bit of hair gel and a sqoosh of Davidoff Cool Water. For the ladies, however, it's a completely different story. A study has revealed that the average British woman spends a whopping 312 hours getting ready for the office Christmas night out! And, I'd bargain that Glaswegian lassies were up there with the top performers!

Personally, though, I think that's crazy; there's shopping to be done, mince pies to be eaten and 'Fairytale of New York' to be sung. So, I set myself a wee challenge, to go from my desk to disco-ready in just over an hour (with a little help from friends). I decided to base myself in the city centre, as that's where much of the yuletide fare is on offer and with the weather being as fickle as I am on a last minute Christmas shopping spree, I wanted to try and fit in as much as I could under one roof: meaning Buchanan Galleries was a good place to start.

As well as plenty of shops and late night opening hours, they also have several places that do last minute face fixers. My first party prerequisite was eyebrows, so I headed to Benefit in Boots. No amount of sparkle can make up for a good brow; quite frankly, I feel naked without them. Benefit is the best place for a strong shape in super speedy time. Brows done: 10 minutes.

My next stop was Bobbi Brown in John Lewis to get my eye make up sorted, many beauty counters will give you a makeover, however, Bobbi Brown is one place where the service it's completely free, you don't even need to buy one of their products. What's more, as they make you up, they also give you a tutorial, meaning that party touch ups on the go are surprisingly easy. Professional make up done: 15 minutes.

I could have stayed in the Galleries and checked in for a manicure at Manhattan Nails (25 minutes) or a blow dry at Super Cuts (30 minutes).However, I’ve been looking for an excuse to try the new spa that opened recently on West Nile Street. Pure Spa (there’s also one in Silverburn) has a range of fancy treatments as well as ‘express’ ones; such as mini manicures. In a bid to make sure my tootsies didn’t look like reindeer hooves, I signed myself up for a mini pedicure. Party toes: 30 minutes.

So, that left me 5 minutes to change into my party clobber and get my dancing shoes on, and I was Christmas disco ready! Saving me, och about 311 hours! I think Santa would be proud!

Pop Up Party @ 11 Royal Exchange Square

So, all glammed up and ready to party I headed along to the festive launch of the new Cambridge Satchel Company pop up in Royal Exchange Square. To celebrate the opening, plenty of sparkle was laid on as well as bubbly, mulled wine (my first of the season!), good tunes and nibbles.

The store marks a big step for the company that started out as an idea cooked up in a Mum's kitchen to make durable school bags for her kids like 'Harry and Hermione would have used at Hogwarts'. It's a modern day internet fairytale, that has already been featured in a Google advert. From the family kitchen, the satchels exploded into the 'it' accessory, and was dubbed the 'must have street style at New York Fashion Week'. Something fashionable that's seriously practical? Now that's special.

A couple of years and some serious investment later, the Glasgow store is one of the first for the brand. They've also decided to make bags that are unique to each city; this green and silver number is the 'Glasgow Satchel' and I'm a little bit in love with it!

As lovely as they are, they're not cheap but they would make a fantastic Christmas present and the kindly folk are offering free embossing and gift wrapping in store until December 14. I might just need to bag one myself: I think it has my name on it!

Wee Bird Recommends

Glaswegians like their coffee strong: apparently stronger than the rest of Europe. Aye, it's because we're made of girders. So, for all you caffeine addicts out there, Wee has just the thing. Tomorrow, the first ever Glasgow Coffee Festival will kick off in the Briggait at 10am, there'll be masterclasses, tastings and competitions, as well as the Scottish Heat of the UK Barista Championships. Tickets currently available online. The only question is: one cup or two?