Tuesday 29 April 2014

My Favourite Blog (#wonderblog competition)

You may have seen the fantastic competition that Currys PC World are running for bloggers at the moment to win one of two amazing desktop PCs - I just discovered it this morning and straight away I knew exactly who to write about in my entry post entitled 'My Favourite Blog'.



Just Julie is one of my favourite blogs to read and I always look forward to new posts. I love Julie's blog but, in the nicest possible way, hate it at the same time as I can't read it without wanting to buy what she's writing about! Sometimes I swear I can actually hear my bank balance quivering with dread when I click on a link to read a new post from Julie! I've started buying so many more beauty products since I started reading Julie's blog, but then I guess that just proves that she's a great blogger! For example:

My Real Techniques make up brushes.......Julie made me buy them!

My Garnier Micellar Water.......Julie made me buy it!

My E.L.F eyeshadow primer.......Julie made me buy it!

The list goes on! In fact, I think I might suggest she should change her blog name to 'Just Blame Julie'! 

I find that Julie's posts are really helpful when I'm looking for product reviews before I buy something as I trust her opinion and know that she wouldn't recommend something if it wasn't any good. I also loved her hair tutorial on how to get the perfect curls (very useful for someone with poker straight hair like me!), and her 'Make Up Mistakes I Used to Make as a Teenager' post had me giggling away to myself remembering what I looked like at school wayyyyyy back in the 1990s (coffee shimmer lipstick anyone?!)



Julie was one of the first bloggers I struck up a friendship with when I first started my blog and she has been my go-to person for any blog related help and advice - she's always just a tweet away! We both started blogging round about the same time and I think it's really nice how we've seen each other's blogs grow and evolve over the past few months. 

If you haven't read Just Julie yet, go check it out here ...you will love it!

I would absolutely love to win either one of the amazing desktop PC prizes from Currys as my ancient and extremely slow laptop is about to pack in any day and it would make my blogging so much quicker and easier - waiting 20 minutes just for the damn thing to switch on is not ideal for a full time worker who blogs in her spare time! Fingers tightly crossed!

If you would like to enter this competition too then you can find all the details and terms and conditions here .

Wednesday 23 April 2014

Shine Like A Celeb Diamond Sparkle Body Cream


'Shine Like A Celeb' is a London based company all about being confident and glamourous with an added bit of glitz. Their aim is to provide celebrity inspired beauty products so you can feel "confident in your own skin and be your own celebrity". 

I was kindly sent a sample of their Diamond Sparkle Body Cream* to review which I was excited to try - who doesn't want to feel like a celeb?!





The product is a nice light and thin cream that feels cooling and soothing when you apply it. The cream soaks into the skin quickly and easily and doesn't leave a greasy or sticky layer. It has a lovely sweet scent to it - it kind of reminds me of the Soap & Glory Clean On Me Shower Gel or Hand Food Hand Cream. It's not overpowering and really does smell devine!

Once applied, the cream leaves a sheen of glistening, luminescent sparkles. It's perfect for using across the shoulders and décolletage for a night out or special occasion. I think it also looks amazing applied as a highlighter along the top of the cheekbones. 




Apart from leaving you looking fabulous and smelling delicious, the cream has some brilliant benefits like helping to achieve a more even skin tone and boosting collagen synthesis to help prevent/fight wrinkles and fine lines. 

The Diamond Sparkle Body Cream can be bought directly from www.shinelikeaceleb.com for £38 or you can search the site for a local stockist.

Have you tried any products from Shine Like A Celeb? Would you buy this cream?


Sunday 20 April 2014

Manchester Fashion Week 2014



Last night I attended the second show of Manchester Fashion Week's three day extravaganza - it was everything I hoped it would be and more! There was so much to see and it featured everything from casual t-shirts to exclusive couture gowns. I was basically in fashion heaven!

The venue was perfect - the Halle St. Peter's in the Ancoats area of Manchester is a beautiful restored church with stunning stained glass windows above the catwalk, adding character and atmosphere to the setting. The show was a sell out and the venue was just the right size to seat everyone plus still have enough room for pop up stalls from some of the brands and designers featured in the show. 


(On the front row, waiting for the show to start!)

The show was quite long and featured a huge range of designers and brands so I'm going to keep this as short as I possibly can and share my highlights from the night.

First up, to open the show, was Sofia Dourvari with her stunning gowns and cocktail dresses. 




(My favourite dress from Sofia Dourvari - I love the detail and the shape of this dress is so me!)




Next up was 304# which showcased both male and female fashion with a casual, fun and playful look.






(I loved this cute baseball jacket from 304#)


Florina had the most unusual designs of the evening. Original and striking with dresses and two-pieces made from nature's resources such as moss, fern and acorn.






(Check out this wedding dress made from moss by Florina!)


Didi's Boutique was one of my favourite brands in the show. Founded in 2013 by a busy mum of two, their collection featured outfits for every occasion and every budget.


(One of my favourite outfits from Didi's Boutique on the catwalk)




(I loved this beautiful striped pastel skirt from Didi's Boutique)


(Absolutely stunning gown from Didi's Boutique)


Another brand I was looking forward to seeing on the catwalk was OMG Fashion after having attended their press party last month. OMG Fashion is run by a young couple who actually started out in my home town of Urmston in Manchester, and their collection saw cute summer two-pieces to sexy playsuits and plenty of celeb style dresses perfect for a night out!


(I loved this neon dress from OMG Fashion - I think I will be purchasing this for my Summer holiday!)



Clare Baxter showed off her stunning 'showgirl' inspired outfits and headdresses on the catwalk. The detail was amazing and there were lots of tassels, feathers and glitz!






Eustratia was another brand that featured unusual designs, focusing on latex fashion with a fetish twist.






Boda Skins showcased their amazing collection of classic and sexy leather jackets - a wardrobe staple with added luxury. The quality of these jackets was clear to see and the designs were timeless and stylish.






(My personal favourite from the Boda Skins collection was this beautiful blue jacket)


Lily Lulu Fashion are another Manchester based retailer and I was lucky enough to attend their press party last month to have a sneak peak of their clothing line. The collection on the catwalk featured pieces that are perfect for Spring/Summer - think florals and bright colours.




(I loved this playsuit from Lily Lulu Fashion)


Sve Fashion closed the show and they had an array of beautiful one off couture evening dresses designed and created by Sally Ellis.








(Amazing Asian-inspired finale dress by Sve Fashion)

I had such a great time at Day 2 of Manchester Fashion Week and I now have a wishlist that I want to purchase from brands I discovered at the show!

What do you think? Would you wear any of these?






























Sunday 13 April 2014

Fashion Targets Breast Cancer 2014

                     

Can fashion really conquer cancer? Well it's certainly giving it a go! Fashion Targets Breast Cancer is back, now in its 20th year, to raise those all important pounds and pennies to fund Breakthrough Breast Cancer's research. The campaign was founded in 1994 by fashion guru, Ralph Lauren, and launched in the UK in 1996 by Breakthrough Breast Cancer which funds 25% of the breast cancer research in the UK.

Let's look at the figures:

Approximately 50,000 women are diagnosed with breast cancer every year and 1,000 die every month - absolutely shocking statistics and that's why I want to do my little bit in writing this post in the hope that it raises as much awareness as possible. Cancer is a horrible disease which, unfortunately, affects far too many of us in one way or another. A friend of mine is currently undergoing intense treatment for secondary cancer, so this is a cause that's really close to my heart.

This year sees three new and stylish collections from top high-street brands Marks & Spencer, River Island, Warehouse, Topshop, Laura Ashley, Debenhams and Superga which are bang on trend for Spring/Summer 2014. These are:

Pastel Sundae

A gorgeous collection of pinks, corals and peaches which always look sweet and stylish on a Summer's day. Here are my top picks:

  
Warehouse Floral Two Tone Top - RRP £30


M&S Daisy Print Bandeau Swimsuit - RRP £35


Debenhams H! By Henry Holland Heart Broderie Top - RRP £20


On Target

Featuring the iconic monochrome colours of the famous original 'target' logo designed by Ralph Lauren, this collection is stylish and sophisticated and ticks the box for another key trend this season. Here are my favourites:


M&S Daisy Print Skirt - RRP £22.50


River Island 'One & Only' Print Oversized T-Shirt - RRP £15


River Island Fashion Targets Breast Cancer Bracelets - RRP £2 each


Breezy Daze

A casual collection of greys, pinks and light denim to see you looking fabulous for picnics in the park and Sunday afternoon strolls. These are the pieces that caught my eye:


Debenhams Red Herring Bikini - RRP £18 (top) and £14 (bottoms)


River Island Poppy & Leopard Print T-Shirt - RRP £18


Superga Begonia Superga 2750 - RRP £45

This year the campaign has some new celebrity faces showing their support, including Emeli Sande and Jessica Ennis-Hill CBE. These inspiring ladies have been chosen to front the campaign as this year it's all about British role models encouraging people to 'Wear Your Support'.





These stunning photographs have been shot by world renowned photographer, Simon Emmett, and will appear on billboards all over the UK to raise awareness for the cause.

In addition to the poster campaign, Fashion Targets Breast Cancer has teamed up with a host of celebrity fashionistas including Rosie Fortescue (from E4's Made in Chelsea), ex-Burberry model and photographer Morwenna Cobbold and stylist/TV presenter Brix Smith-Start. A selection of these ambassadors have modelled the new clothing range for the charity and these will be revealed tomorrow (Monday 14th April) on the Fashion Targets Breast Cancer's lookbook!

There are lots of ways you can get involved with the Fashion Targets Breast Cancer campaign this year. It really is so important to raise as much awareness as possible. If you're on Twitter please give them a follow @FashionTargets and use the hashtag #WearYourSupport to help spread the message via social media. You can also visit the website www.fashiontargetsbreastcancer.org.uk to find out more information.

To date, the campaign has raised over £13 million for Breakthrough Breast Cancer's life saving work, but so much more needs to be done to try and help put a stop to this awful disease. So get involved and #WearYourSupport !!!


(All photos provided by Fashion Targets Breast Cancer)








Friday 11 April 2014

Beauty FX Launch Party, Wilmslow

On Monday night I attended a launch party at Beauty FX in Wilmslow, organised by the lovely Stephanie at LedigoPR. The event was held as the salon has recently been taken over by new management and completely refurbished. I've driven past Beauty FX a few times but never been in for a treatment, so when I received the invite I couldn't wait to attend and have a nosey inside!








On arrival I was greeted by Stephanie, given a glass of champagne and was told to help myself to all the delicious chocolates, sweets and sandwiches on offer. I was then introduced to Charlotte who took me on a tour of the salon. Wow...what can I say about this place! From the immaculate reception area and treatment rooms, professional and well presented therapists, to the multitude of beauty products on offer, this is definitely a place you want to be pampered at! No wonder Coleen Rooney is a regular here! 















The salon has a lovely relaxing and welcoming feel to it, whilst looking extremely modern and up to date with all the latest equipment and technology. There is a huge list of treatments to choose from - everything from manicures and waxing to HD Brows and microdermabrasion facials. 

I love the new décor - the feature walls have been finished off with a coating of iridescent glitter which show off a subtle sparkle by the light of candles and lamps in each treatment room and it really adds to the relaxing atmosphere.


During the evening we were lucky enough to experience some of the treatments and I had the HD Brows which were done by Aimee. I'd never had this done before and was pleased with the finished results which were achieved by a combination of tinting, waxing and threading. I also got to watch one of the therapists demonstrating a Crystal Clear microdermabrasion facial (something which I'd love to go back and have done myself) and another doing individual eyelashes which looked amazing! 


The most popular treatment though was the pedicure, and once I saw the treatment room I could totally understand why! The fabulous cushioned chairs with built in massagers and foot bath with underwater coloured lights looked like pure heaven! I will be going back to experience this for definite! 



(The lovely Lily Kitten having her tootsies pampered!)


I had such a great evening, it was lovely to have a glass of champagne whilst being pampered on a Monday evening instead of the usual routine!


If you live nearby I highly recommend you book yourself in for some treatments. You can see everything Beauty FX have to offer on their website www.beautyfxwilmslow.co.uk or call them on 01625 549 551 to book an appointment.






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