#MondayManicure Gel Nails & Minx Mix

Just had to share with you beautiful lot the results of me playing and pampering a lot yesterday, this is my Manicure Monday! I love it I keep looking at my super bright shiny nails and smiling!

So these are OPI Gelcolor Nails mixed with Minx both a professional only product, I’m fortunate to have trained I’m both. The gel colours are Pink Flamenco and I Carol About You and the Minx is Gotcha designed by nail artist Limit Kyees, it’s one of my absolute Favs!!

What do you think? what nails you rocking this Monday gorgeous?

All That Jazz, Nail Polish Review

Morning!! So my youngest had me up at 5.30 this morning so I thought what better time to paint my nails and try out the new All That Jazz Nails polish I got from the pick and mix at the Antonia Mariconda workshop a few weeks ago.

I am always sceptical of new polishes the last one I tried I couldn’t even blog about it was that bad I ended up painting my toes as well as my nails it was so gloopy (and I’m a professional!). So I was over the moon when this beautiful glittering purple shade called Montanas-Jealous of My Clique? gave beautiful results and a nice even coverage after just one coat.

I don’t know why I expected anything different the founder of All That Jazz Nails is Jazz Smedley, her mum George Smedley the director of Nail Harmony and one of the elite professionals in the industry, (I’ve been a model in one of her training classes so know the standards in which they set are high). Its clear to see Jazz has continued that elite, professional standard when creating her range of products.

I’m always hesitant of glitter polishes and some are super chunky meaning you have to work to evenly distribute the glitter.  This glitter did look really glittery in the bottle however is like a dusting of beautiful sparkle across the vivid purple, that is produced after just two coats. The polish is even and brush makes it easy to apply, no gloopyness or running although I did dash my toe slightly when my one year old tried to climb through my legs!

The finished result is beautiful I love this polish, there is a huge range of colours to choose from, and at £9.98 for a professional polish and result, you can purchase here. From nudes to neon they have nailed their colour collection and now have 38 polishes that match the nail harmony gelish range.

I now have a list of “I wants” from this gorgeous range. Have you tried All That Jazz polishes? What’s your favourite? I’d love to hear in the comments below.

Timeless Truth A Face Mask With a Difference

So the first product I tried from the Antonia Mariconda How To Be Your Own PR Workshop goody bags is the Timeless Truth Bio-Cellulose Apple Stem Cell Collagen Mask. A pure Beauty Awards Silver Award Winner, I was really excited to test and review this indulgent mask…until I realised the highly attractive pictures I’m going to have to share with you all for the full blog experience!!

The masks come in individual packets and the minute I tear the top off mine the smell of fresh apples hits me, gloriously crisp and fresh. You remove the meshy protectors either side of the mask and then begin to position from chin up. I did find it a little tricky but none the less a little repositioning and its comfortably in place all be it a little bumpy…

Note the excess rolled under my eyes actually goes over your eyes which is really cooling and something you don’t normally see with a mask I just couldn’t take a pic!

The Product Info
⭐Bio-Cellulose Mask Range – ultimate state of the anti-ageing skincare.
⭐Bio-Cellulose is a nano scopic fibre luxury mask, which for the wearer means it matches super close with the human body and can get deeper into the skin without blocking or making it feel suffocated.
⭐Apple Stem Cells work similarly to human skin cells which means they help repair any damaged tissue whilst stimulating and nourishing the skin.
⭐Marine Collagen -Reduces dehydration, promoting elasticity and a more youthful supple appearance. ⭐

My Thoughts
Well my 7 year old said “Mummy you look freaky” and my other half once he had stopped laughing quickly got his phone out to take a pic! For me the mask was a little tricky and as a therapist I think it would be a lot more enjoyable in a salon experience and having someone apply it for you whilst your laying down and nicely relaxed. I however was sat in front of a mirror with my son laughing, wearing a fleecey lounging jumper, trying to apply it myself with as few bumps as possible.

Once on it felt quenching, fresh and firmly in place, once removed and the excess rubbed in there was a noticeable difference, even to the point I ran to the other half after he had laughed at me and proudly said “Now feel my face”. He too could see a difference and all of a sudden took an interest in what I’d actually been using. My skin and complexion also looked brighter and more radiant.

I did notice a slight break out the next day but it’s been 2 weeks since my last face mask and having the time to pamper myself, so it’s probably to be expected. My skin does still feel super hydrated though.

I’ve been using the excess serum in the sachet (that I had wrapped & placed in the fridge) to massage in my hands and cuticles as I sit and watch TV. The coldness where it’s been in the fridge makes it feel even more crisp and fresh, now my hands are all pampered and smooth too.

The masks are available to purchase from The Beauty Mask website this particular one is £7.90 there is a whole range available and I think it’s definitely worth knowing what your skin needs before picking one for you. I am undecided on what one to try next either Herbal Rejuvenation Immortelle Mask or The Orchid Extract Replenishing Mask, my skin is tired the baby is teething and I’ve had early starts a lot the last few weeks so it’s all showing in my skin.

How To Be Your Own PR, Antonia Mariconda Workshop

Every so often someone comes along who inspires you, who pushes you and makes you want to strive for brilliance. That’s what Antonia Mariconda does to me, it’s just the effect she has, she makes me want to better myself, my blog and my business. Not to mention this ladies repertoire of experience and social media presence, if you want to see I think the basics are covered here.

Today I attended my second workshop led by Antonia and a team of experts. I wanted to gain as much knowledge as I could about How To Be My Own PR. I wanted to learn about being featured in the media – called on as an expert, I wanted to learn to build influential relationships within the industry, I wanted to find a way to share my passion and experience (all 11 years of it) with confidence and conviction. And I did.

I arrived slightly early at the Soho Hotel in London, it didn’t matter that I had been here before, I still got lost and walked round in squares on the London streets. If you haven’t been to this hotel my description of the decor would not do it justice it’s exquisite and I recommend you visit.

I got to sit at a table with some lovely ladies I already knew, which was nice particularly the lovely Emily Byrne of StyleImprint Blog. We had befriended one another at the last workshop and her bubbly personality made me feel confident and comfortable immediately today.

The workshop itself was 3 packed hours of knowledge, wisdom and expertise. I learnt about the core concepts of Public Relations, the importance of strategy when it comes to PR (not something I’d considered in my marketing plans), the different platforms – how they are driven and influenced, how to utilise them and knowing what ones appeal to me most.

I got to hear from other experts that included Charmiane Harris and Jenny Pabila. Both with a lot of klout when it’s comes to the beauty and pr industries, I loved having the opportunity to ask them specific questions and hear their stories and experiences. Then Antonia brought to the front someone like me, (well different story but same drive and passion) Melissa Foreman is a true example of a polished diamond who is really making it. Sharing her journey as a blogger, as someone I’d briefly heard chatting away at the first workshop I’m in awe of how her success has rocketed, she is still so kind and down to earth and was more than happy to help me and answer my questions when I made a beeline for her after the workshop had finished.

The biggest message that resonated with me and where I know I need to grow is confidence, polishing this diamond into something brilliant. I know going forward I need to first be more regular with my blog, Twitter and Facebook (I also really want to start a vlog but one at a time). I need to create a snapshot of myself and my achievements, to drive forward with strategy and opportunities allowing people to see my passion and conviction for an industry I love and most of all to get over that niggling fear of failure to push through and forward with my ideas.

Next blog… To tell you all about the amazing goody bags and the Beauty Pick & Mix!!

On my way to London for my second Antonia Mariconda workshop!

Been ages again right? Its all to do with rebranding and tons of work on my business but thats all to come in another post this week! At the moment im sat on the train heading into London wearing my happy face…

Im on my way to my second workshop with the jaw droppingly beautiful and hugely talented Antonia Mariconda, you guys might remember this blog from back in October where I attended the first of her awesome blogger workshops.

Today she is sharing her wisdom, running the workshop How to Be Your Own PR.  Having just renamed my business and really wanting to be in a position to share my knowledge and experience to empower women to feel beautiful, i really feel this workshop could give me the extra push i need to really get my brand out there and in a totally kick ass, wow kind of way.

I have tried not to watch twitter too much as i know there was a workshop this morning but there was a few little sneak peeks that got me my usual bubbly cheesy grin excited!

#WearItBeatIt OPI Red Nails to help fight for every heartbeat supporting The British Heart Foundation

I just wanted to shout about a fabulous Friday! Through my business Sweet cheeks beauty, I was able to paint nails red and support the British Heart Foundation in the #Wearitbeatit campaign at Gravesham Women in Business. With over 40 local business women attending hosted by Hatten Wyatt Solicitors & Bretts Business Recovery it was a great morning and £120 was raised for the BHF to help fight for every heart beat.

I used my collection of OPI polishes with over a hundred in my collection I had lots of reds for the ladies to choose from, supporting the charity by wearing red February the 6th and with a number of events going on throughout February 2015

Monday Motivation a chance to Thank Everyone for their Kindness.

Morning Beautiful people,
Yesterday was a shit day!! I went into my beauty room and found that over £500 of my equipment had been stolen, it really does suck for so many reasons;  Firstly gel Nails is my main business especially this time of year, secondly I’m just me a little sole trader trying to do the best I can, it’s a really rotten feeling made worse by the fact I’m likely to know who done it, you don’t expect anything like this, I’m not covered on my insurance because of the fact I trusted the community within the studio and I stupidly didn’t have a lock on the door within the building and so I am pretty much screwed.

If you are in the kent area and offered one of these lamps please message me o have my original box and serial number.

I know somewhere there is a lesson in all this and I’m trying my best to stop crying and get on with learning the lesson, the one I have seen so far is how many amazing people I have around me that have been so kind, supportive and kept me strong when I just felt like this was the cherry on top of a big shit cake of a month! And so that’s where today’s motivation comes from, be kind this week to everyone you can, people’s small acts of kindness for me yesterday made a world of difference to my feelings today. If any of them are reading this, Thank You.

xoxo

Week of Chaos here’s today’s face #FOTD

Sorry I’ve been quiet for over a week, I have had a whirlwind of appointments, meetings, networking, mummy stuff, me stuff and then I hosted my last event of 2014 on Thursday, leaving me totally wiped out yesterday and back and refreshed today.

So this evening I’m curling up on the sofa with a chick flick, indulging in chocolates and catching up on my blog. Think I have a couple of FOTDs to share, all about the event on Thursday and what’s coming in 2015, an experiment I’ve put my nails through and some fun little bits to share.

Anyways here is today’s face, although it looked better with my outfit for work rather than Dans bright red hoody!

Off to stuff my face with galaxy! Be back soon 🙂

A Week today until the next Pamper & Shop Event Gravesend

Its the afternoon and i still have no make up on so needless to say my FOTD is coming later, yesterday has totally wiped me out so ive been trying to get my brain working most of the morning, almost there!!

I spent this morning trying to pick a charity to support in the raffle and donations at next weeks event, this is always really hard and something that I sit and research personallly. Having read lots and crying reading all the ways people depend on charities for support, i picked Movember.

Firstly because someone who i know wouldnt want to be named but is close and special to me has prostrate cancer and its horrible and i hate it! but secondly because as much as Movembers all about supporting the Men, we are the women next to them suffering too, we are the daughters, the wives, the sisters, the granddaughters, the nieces, the friends who dont want them to have to go through this alone and through next weeks charity raffle, through donations from the tickets, through sales on certain stalls, through selfies and rasing awareness WE are going to JOIN IN, WE are going to make a DIFFERENCE, WE are going to show our LOVE & SUPPORT!

So come join me and over 20 LOCAL TRADERS & THERAPISTS, at The Clarendon Royal Hotel Gravesend at 7pm next Thursday 27th November.
There will be buy one get one free on cocktails, special Christmas goody bags, demonstrations, shopping, treatments, a truly wonderful warm friendly and fun atmosphere plus a special invitation and big reveal for 2015 ahhhhhhh …. not many people know that, im EXCITED!!

Whirlwind Wednesday #FOTD

Morning is it really only Wednesday?  I been up early today, the baby didn’t want to sleep.  I spent most of yesterday networking & in meetings, I  didn’t get chance to share about either or post about my make up, but I’m going to try and play catch up today between work, pole and paying a visit to Great Orman Street Hospital where they monitor and regularly check my baby boy. Anyone else’s days seem to be non stop?

Anyway here is my make up today, I feel so tired im surprised it doesn’t look like it’s been applied by a child!

xoxo