Sunday 27 July 2014

#MCRBloggersMeet

This weekend I attended the Manchester Bloggers Meet which was organised by fellow blogger Lucy from Pretty Little Things & The Cotton City for 30 fashion and beauty bloggers to get together and chat, network and generally have a good time!

The event was held at The Milton Club which is on Deansgate in the centre of Manchester. It is an exclusive members club with an amazing interior created by designer Bernard Carroll - sophisticated, elegant, and luxurious. I've been to an event here before and I loved it, so I was excited to hear that this event would be held at this venue.




We were all given name tags once we arrived and were encouraged to play 'Bloggers Bingo' which enabled us to mingle and chat to other bloggers that we hadn't met before. Two of my blogger friends were at the event - Anoushka from Anoushka Loves and Jess from Forever Miss Vanity -
I hadn't seen them for ages and it was lovely to catch up with them. There were cupcakes and sweets for us to eat whilst mingling and the freshly made cocktails at the bar were extremely popular!


Lucy had invited several local Manchester based companies down to the event to introduce us to their brand. 

Didi's Boutique were there with a selection of their gorgeous clothes for us to try on and purchase with a special blogger's discount. 





I was first introduced to Didi's at Manchester Fashion Week when I fell in love with their gorgeous collection on the catwalk. They were by far my favourite brand that evening and I have since popped down to their showroom a couple of times which is based in Altrincham. I will be doing a more detailed blog post on Didi's in the near future so keep your eyes peeled for that!

Fashion Feed were also at the event. They are a newly established platform which connects designers to consumers. They support new and emerging designers and this is the place to come if you want a one off bespoke piece designing for you. Fashion Feed aim to put you in touch with the right designer to fulfil your needs and create the perfect outfit for you.

Next up was Rock on Ruby - a Manchester based company that designs bespoke slogan tees and vests. This is a trend which is hugely popular right now, especially with bloggers, and it was great to meet Holly from Rock on Ruby and hear more about them. I'm really tempted to make a purchase from the website now myself! 

Rock on Ruby was the inspiration behind a game that Lucy had organised for us to play. We got into teams of six and were given a plain white T-shirt and coloured markers and had to design our own slogan tee. Our team were the winners and here was our winning design -




We all had a great afternoon and I'd like to thank Lucy for all her obvious hard work and effort in organising this event. We also got a fabulous goody bag to take home which contained lots of lovely items from some of the brands that attended as well as goodies from Skinny Tan, Primer Spa Shop, Lylia Rose, Eldora Lashes, W7 Cosmetics, Kiss Nails, Benefit and Lymehouse Jewellery - keep an eye out for some blog posts coming soon!



Primer Spa Shop

I had such a great response to my post 'Do You Really Know What You're Putting On Your Skin?' and shortly after it went up on my blog I was contacted by a local Manchester based company called Primer Spa Shop who liked my post and sent me some natural skincare goodies to try. This was the first time I had heard of the company and, after having a peek at their website, I was intrigued to try their products.





The first thing I noticed when I opened the package was the amazing smell - a mixture of lavender and rose escaping from the box - gorgeous!

The Cashmere Caress Spa Soap Bar With Lavender*

Made with avocado oil, aloe butter, shea butter, castor oil, argan oil, rosewater, dead sea salt and Himalayan pink salt, this soap bar is made with all natural ingredients with no hidden nasties. It exfoliates and cleans the skin leaving it feeling lovely and soft. The bar lathers up well and can even be used to wash your hair with (although I didn't try this). I really like this soap and it makes my bathroom smell gorgeous when I use it! One of these soap bars costs only £6 from the website.

Merino Caress Body and Facial Cream*

This cream is made with rosewater, OliveM 1000, evening primrose oil, calendula oil, aloe infusion, jojoba wax, vitamin E, lavender EO and rosemary oil extract. These ingredients have been carefully selected and blended together for their benefits for dry skin conditions, general skin recovery and maintenance. This cream has a more subtle lavender smell than the soap bar and it has a lovely rich texture which, when applied to the skin, turns to a more watery texture which instantly soaks in and doesn't leave a greasy residue - a big plus for me! The label states that it is recommended this cream is kept in the fridge - I love this because when I then applied it to the patches of eczema I have on my legs it cooled and soothed the area straight away -  something which I haven't yet found with any other creams. It has certainly helped with the dry patches and I would recommend this to anyone with the same complaint. A 25ml jar of this cream costs only £4 - bargain! 

Primer Spa Shop also sell aromatherapy candles which are made from soya wax infused with 100% essential oils. I was also sent a selection of these to sample but I was that excited to try them out (I am a bit obsessed with scented candles!)  that I forgot to photograph them before I used them all - oops! They are really good quality candles though and the scent fills the whole room without being overpowering. In fact, I much prefer these to other more well-known brands I have purchased regularly. 

Overall I really like these products. In today's world where people are constantly busy and rushing around I think it's great that the team at Primer Spa Shop help to bring a little bit of the spa experience to your home to make sure you get that little bit of 'me-time'. All the products are made from only plant-derived oils and naturally occurring minerals, and they are never tested on animals. You can purchase their products directly from the website www.primerspashop.com or at several handmade craft fairs around Manchester (see the website for details and dates).

What do you think? Would you use these products?

Friday 18 July 2014

Fuschia White Online Boutique

If you turned up at a party or an event and spotted someone wearing the same outfit as you, would it bother you? I think it would make me want to go home and get changed (especially if they looked better in it than me!!) There's probably a good chance of it happening if everybody shops at the usual high street stores, and that's why I'm so glad to have been introduced to boutique clothing website, Fuschia White. Rather than offering the same styles that can be found everywhere else, Fuschia White concentrates on providing customers with something a little different, without breaking the bank or compromising on quality.

The Manchester based boutique is run by sisters, Lubaina and Lamya Karimjee, and is already proving to be a hit with celebrities who have been spotted wearing the designs on the red carpet.

Dress - Fuschia White*
Shoes - Next
Bag - Accessorize

Whilst browsing the website I instantly fell in love with the Aria Jewelled Dress*. The colours and detail round the neckline just stood out straight away and I knew that this dress would make me stand out from the crowd whilst wearing it! It's perfect for a party or a night out on the town with the girls! 


 




The dress arrived beautifully packaged up and, upon opening it, I could tell the quality of the dress was of a really high standard.

I teamed it with my pink heels from Next and clutch bag from Accessorize which I think are a really good match for this dress!





I really recommend you check out fuschiawhite.co.uk if you're looking for an outfit and want something that little bit different. The prices are very reasonable and there are so many lovely items in the collection.

What do you think of the Aria Jewelled Dress? Have you ordered from Fuschia White before?

Monday 14 July 2014

Shine Like A Celeb - Meet The Competition Winners!



Last month I teamed up with beauty brand 'Shine Like A Celeb' for their huge competition which was all about confidence. Participants were asked to tweet a selfie and explain what confidence means to them. Two winners were picked to win a bundle of prizes including a gorgeous jar of limited edition pink shimmer body cream, cash, jewellery and to be featured on various blog sites. Here are the two lucky winners:


Mary Brothwood

What does confidence mean to you?
Confidence is extremely important. Encounter every new day with a smile on your face and your best foot forward, and you can’t stray wrong. If something knocks you down, you pick yourself up, dust yourself off and start afresh.
Confidence in yourself is what gains your achievements in life – your friends, your job, your partner – and your future. It’s what keeps you smiling :-)

Which celebrity inspires you and why?
Oprah Winfrey inspires me. She had a hard start in life and suffered a lot of tragedy. She worked hard to achieve her career in Communication and now hosts one of the most successful talk shows in the world. Sheer determination, confidence and her honest and likeable nature have turned her life around. She is extremely inspirational.

Who in your family gives you inspiration?
My mum is my ultimate inspiration. She cares full-time for my step sister who’s 35, who has epilepsy, severe learning difficulties and struggles to walk. My sister Heather is completely dependent, and my mum has been by her side through everything, with my dad strongly supporting them both. Even during the hardest struggles, when my sister has been at her worst, my mum has been a confident, positive rock that has taken the world on her shoulders. She has and always will be to me, the most beautiful woman on the planet. Inside and out.  

What does "shine like a celeb" mean to you?
It means letting yourself be as confident as you possibly can be – a celebrity without the celebrity status. Trying to look your best and feel your best. Letting your confidence shine through to all those around you – smile and the world will smile back at you.

What's the one message you would like to give to the readers?
To always be yourself, and be confident with who you are. As individuals we are all beautiful, and we have the power to make not just ourselves happy, but the world around us too.
Live every day as though it could be your last – and shine to all those around you.

Tell us a bit about yourself and what you’re currently doing -
I work full-time for a Building Maintenance company, so I work with a lot of tradesman! Confidence is important for this as I have to know my job inside out, and be confident enough to resource my tradesmen effectively. I have a gorgeous family – my partner and his son Lucas, who’s 5. We’ve only been together for 2 years – but I couldn’t imagine life without them! :-)


Katie Watkin

What does confidence mean to you? 
I think confidence is very important to everyone. Everyone should feel good about themselves when they go out in public. People without confidence need to build it back up and make sure that they feel good, because everyone can. 

Which celeb inspires you & why?
Beyonce, she just runs the world!! She's an inspiration to all girls and how all girls should follow.

Who in your family gives you inspiration?
My mum gives me the most inspiration in my family, she's an amazing woman! She does everything for us children. She's full of confidence and always tries her best at everything, whether people care or not, she'll do it.
 
What does "shine like a celeb" mean to you?
"Shine like a celeb" comes across to me as someone who shines 24/7 like a celebrity, someone who's very genuine and not too confident, a nice confident.

What's the one message you would like to give to the readers?
Always be confident, wherever you are in the world, whoever you are with, and whenever. Be confident in your own skin and shine wherever you go!!! 

Tell us a bit about yourself and what you're currently doing -
I've just finished school, I'm going onto college in September to do Health and Social L3 course. I enjoy socialising with my friends and will miss them when I'm in college, but we live close to each other so I'm not too worried. I work in a restaurant as a waitress. I enjoy waitressing, instead of being bored stuck at home, because my family are still in school/work so it's nice to get out of the house and earn some money.



What does confidence mean to you? What makes you feel confident?

Wednesday 9 July 2014

Essence Cosmetics UK Launch Blogger Event

A couple of weeks ago I attended a blogger event for the UK launch of German cosmetics brand, Essence, in Manchester's Northern Quarter. Having never tried any of their products before, I was excited to see what the brand had to offer and possibly sample some of the products. It turned out to be one of the best events I've been to so far!


Firstly, the Essence team (who had jetted in from Germany) gave a short presentation introducing us to the brand. Essence launched in 2002 and since then has ensured that their products are of the highest quality for such amazing low prices, with prices starting from around 99p up to about £6. Essence prides itself on the fact that none of its products are tested on animals and they adhere to cosmetic quality standards - also going that extra mile to exclude any ingredients which are known to increase the risk of allergy. Essence is already Europe's number 1 cosmetic brand and now it's set to be launched in Wilko stores across the UK, along with stores in Westfield and Manchester Arndale.


After the presentation we were invited to visit the several tables that had been set up to try out a large selection of the products Essence have to offer. Everything had been really well thought out and there were tables set up with products specifically for 'Eyes', 'Lips', 'Face' and 'Nails'.


We were given a great goodie bag with lots of Essence products to try at home and then were also told to help ourselves to anything on the make up stand! I still can't believe how generous they were!

I had a really nice chat with one of the ladies from the Essence team from Germany (I can't remember her name but she was lovely!) who was so passionate about the brand and told me how they like to offer products that are unique as well as the usual cosmetics - things like a handy nail polish corrector pen with refillable cotton buds and a little plastic invention that helps with painting the tips of a french manicure!




There was a make up artist and nail technicians on hand for make overs and manicures so we could be pampered whilst mingling with other bloggers and members of the Essence team and, as if spoiling us with an abundance of cosmetics to take home wasn't enough, we were also treated to a delicious afternoon tea filled with sandwiches, cakes and tartlets!




After the event we were taken over in small groups to the Essence store in the Manchester Arndale to meet the team there and have a browse of the selection on offer. The first thing that caught my attention was the huge nail polish bottle made out of a display of hundreds of small nail polishes! It's very impressive and will certainly catch the eye of shoppers passing by.




I think Essence will really appeal to younger girls and teenagers. It reminds me of brands such as Miss Sporty, Barry M and 17 - trendy, colourful, fun and bright! The prices are super affordable without compromising on the quality and I think will also add to the appeal. 


I'm really looking forward to trying all these lovely products soon so expect some reviews in the near future! 

All that's left to say is a huge thank you to Essence and Heidi from Flipside PR who all put on such a fantastic event and one which us Manchester bloggers won't forget! 

Have you tried any Essence products yet?








Friday 4 July 2014

OOTD - Florals & Statement Jewellery


Floral trousers - Primark
Vest - Primark
Cardigan - New Look
Shoes - New Look
Necklace - Spanish market stall
Bangles - Spanish market stall
Bag - Spanish market stall
Sunglasses - Karl Lagerfeld 


One of my favourite outfits I wore in Spain on my recent holiday was this one. I think the floral trousers are a real statement piece so all that was needed was a simple black vest and some statement jewellery. I'm loving the floral trend at the moment and as soon as I spotted these gorgeous trousers in Primark I just knew I had to have them! Best of all they were only £11...bargain! I think Primark has got some really lovely items in at the moment and I think the quality has improved compared to previous purchases. 

I wore this outfit for a meal out one evening - at first I thought the trousers may have been a little loud but it ended up being my favourite evening outfit of the holiday. I loved all the statement jewellery bargains I picked up from the local market - the necklace was only 2€ and the multicoloured bangles were 3€. I also picked up the cute little cross-body bag for 5€ from the same market and it's the perfect size to pop in my phone, money, keys and lipstick!


What do you think? Have you been wearing floral pieces this season?
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