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!!

Monday Morning Motivation, It’s a Start.

Morning gorgeous people
I’m finding motivation hard this morning, I’m trying to juggle lots my boys need something  constantly even if it’s just the eldest announcing his going to the toilet, the baby needing to launch something at me or the man coming in to moan about something, they don’t need me for any fun stuff this morning! Then there is the housework a mammoth task I’m choosing to bury my head in the washing pile and ignore!  Mix that in with a whole lotta work and plans finding motivation can be tough especially when you don’t know where to start, which is why I thought this was perfect  & may help inspire someone else who isn’t feeling as driven and focused this Monday morning.

Whatever your doing have a fabulous one, Id Love to know what keeps you going and motivates you on days like this!
xoxo

My Sunday Signature, A bit about Me & My Business behind the Blog

Thought this picture sums me up as the quirky, crazy, passionate, enthusiastic  mumpreneur behind this blog I keep writing.

I know I blog about beauty a lot but it’s actually my business and a massive passion of mine.  I understand so many behind the scenes elements of the business behind beauty, through the brands I’ve worked with and running my own beauty room. Through intensive beauty training Im also knowledgeable on the products, how to use them, the ingredients and the benefits. I share this knowledge with my clients all the time when advising them on products, routines and treatments, I promise I’ll try and remember to explain my reasonings & choices more in my blogs because it’s normally on a knowledge basis and it’s good to know!

So what do I know & how do I use my knowledge other than blogging…
💋I worked for Estee Lauder & Christian Dior, I got some of the best make up training from the worldwide make up artists I got to work alongside, this was such a fun time in my career.
💋I have an ITEC Beauty Specialist qualification that’s recognised in over 33 countries  worldwide.
💋I have been on training courses with Fake Bake and am a recognised tan expert
💋I’m a Qualified OPI Gelcolor Technician
💋I run a beauty room located within Athena Fitness Gravesend thats open Tues-Sat
💋I have had several features writing the beauty section of Kent Women In Business Magazine
💋I guest speak (ramble-often) at networking events talking about different aspects of my business
💋I support school career projects. By giving my time doing talks and sharing my experiences
💋 I host princess parties (I’m trained in face painting) and I get to spend the whole time making little girls sparkle and we all get to wear tiaras!! I also host mummy & princess days with the support of some fab local businesses!
💋I host events where I support and work alongside as many local traders as I can squeeze in to offer guests indulgent Pamper & Shopping evenings that have the most amazing friendly, fun atmosphere, luxury treatments and tons to buy buy buy! Plus goody bags and we always support a different charity through our raffle!
💋I am about to launch workshops to share my knowledge and enhance women’s confidence in beauty and make up, I’m so excited about this.

I do all this around and with the love and support of my gorgeous other half, beautiful sons and a mum who is amazing & always on hand for nanny duties. But it doesn’t always come easy sometimes jugglers have to stop and take time out, and sometimes I just have to focus. I’ll be sharing with you more this week on the time I’ve had out to reflect whilst off on maternity this year, the people who have helped me and what is coming for the very near future …plus finally a new website!
xoxo

Sweet Cheeks Pamper & Shop Tickets

The tickets should be arriving today which makes me even more excited for this Thursdays Pamper & Shop Event.

At just £3.50 its a fabulous evening filled with loads that I already rambled about here. Plus you can see more over on the Facebook page.
xoxo

A WEEK TO GO Sweet Cheeks October Pamper & Shop IM EXCITED!!!

Just a week until the next event I start to get that butterfly feeling, I used to think it was nerves and fear but I’ve decided now to embrace it as excitement! Simply because when I worry it always turns out I was worrying for no reason and they end up being totally awesome, amazing evenings.

The nights are filled with traders I love to support and work alongside and include such a diverse list of therapists and stalls to shop! Some of the stalls you can browse include children’s clothes to ladies clothes, accessories, jewellery & handbags, home ware, handmade gifts, cards, teddies & plaques, candles & warmers, chocolates & cakes, beauty products, health & fitness. Then the therapists offer treatments at discounted rates that include hot stones, massage, reiki, Indian head massage, reflexology, gel nails, mini manicures, brow waxing and much more. Plus they are all really generous with their affle prizes, next week we are raising money for DGS Mind, click here to read my blog on why!

The gorgeous people attending help make the atmosphere, everyone is so chatty and friendly amongst themselves and with traders, and they all continue to return and bring friends, I’m so grateful they are all so supportive of the events.

With each one they get bigger, the stalls, the amount of people attending, the treatments, the prizes, the gifts! Ahh it’s crazy fun I’d love for you to share with someone local to Gravesend who would love an event like this, and if you can come BRILLIANT! The feedback from the last event was superb but I aim to get better every time.

For more info click the image below to be taken to the Sweet Cheeks Beauty Facebook page, click on the events tab and voila!

xoxo

Why I’m raising money & awareness for Mind at next weeks Pamper & Shop

Next week will be the second of this years Pamper & Shop events, last months was a huge success and I’m hoping they continue to grow from strength to strength. I get to work alongside over 20 amazing local traders and in doing so am able to pull us all together to make a little bit of a difference whilst spoiling women with treatments, shopping & an indulgent fun evening. At each event we hold a charity raffle, as well as a chance for me to shout out and rave about the businesses that are involved, I get to tell a crowd if people the difference a charities work can make and raise money to help in the process.

Next Thursdays event I’ve chosen to raise money for Dartford, Gravesham & Swanley Mind. As a charity they do amazing work but locally I know 5 people (plus myself) that they have provided help and support to in the last month!

I don’t hide my battle with depression, it’s been ongoing for 12 years, like many it hasn’t been one thing. It’s been the stress strain of everyday life, confidence and self worth battles, trying to find myself and ways I cope, it’s been really hard at times; when I have lost people or gone through trauma. There is a lot of shit that over the last 8 weeks of counselling sessions that I have been gaining power over and letting go. Im so proud of myself and how far I’ve come! I’m not there yet and I will still have days of what I call “Pity Parties” but the fact is, the help of my counsellor has made me able to manage those days, manage myself, take control over my mind and those nagging little voices of self doubt and shit stuff! Their resources are so over stretched they have so many people referring themselves and being referred to them plus they offer community services like drop ins and group sessions, housing, education, advise and care for people caring with mental health, I just want to do a little bit to help and show my admiration.

I’d love if you can be there, here are the event details Pamper & Shop October, if you can’t but want to donate to the raffle or buy tickets please get in touch, I feel really passionate about making a difference whilst providing people with a wonderful evening.

xoxo >

Septembers Sweet Cheeks Beauty, Pamper & Shop Event at The Clarendon Royal Hotel

Just realised i didn’t share last months Pamper & Shop event I hosted, with you gorgeous lot! It was a fabulous evening held at The Clarendon Royal Hotel Gravesend, there was over 20 superb local traders, goody bags, buy one get one free on cocktails and my gorgeous Nan & Aunt running the door. And we raised £72 to help mend broken hearts for the British Heart Foundation through the evenings charity raffle and donations from the kind traders working on the evening.

It’s best explained in pictures, all of which were snapped by my official photographer Carla Guest Photography (I adore this woman and her work!)

The next event is NEXT THURSDAY 23rd OCTOBER at Clarendon Royal Hotel, Gravesend just looking over these pics makes me all excited, more details can be found right HERE.

We will be holding a charity raffle on the evening for Mind I’m just posting a blog on why helping them is so important to me personally xoxo

My first Pole Fitness lesson and all the reasons I loved it…

Ok so you may or may not know my gorgeous Sweet Cheeks beauty room is located within Athena Fitness. A gorgeous tall, naturally lit studio that teaches Pole & Aerial Fitness. I watch these girls in absolute awe as I work away and have been itching to take part for ages, but what with pregnancy, work commitments and time, I haven’t had the opportunity to sign up for a course …until today!!

I’m fortunate to be a skinny cow and so I worry a lot about what fitness I do so as not to look like skeletor! I really do concentrate on things that provide me with some time out, work on my core strength, whilst working on all my body and that make me feel positive in myself. Pole does all of that and more. It not only guides us as women to look and feel a little bit sexy about ourselves but it has tons of health benefits too, many of which I didn’t even realise until I started searching the web, they include burning lots of calories, deminishes stress levels, feel more motivated, more flexible and limber, its good for your heart and blood flow and fab for kinaesthetic awareness, balance and centre of gravity (which in the long run could help make me less clumsy!!)

So Faye the owner of Athena Fitness has been training for 8 years and teaching for 7, she knows her stuff and demonstrates each move with calm and clear instruction, as she moves in a fluid like motion around the pole. Today there is me and 5 other ladies working through a selection of moves that all have pretty cool names, although I’m pretty sure I won’t remember them by next week. I know I learnt a lot of spins including the basics, fireman and attitude, a hook spin that went backwards I couldn’t quite master that, and some pretty spins including a frog & kiss (hehe that last bit sounds like a fairy tale!) Faye also made us have a go of climbing the poles (the ones in the studio are pretty epic, full competition poles that reach the very high ceiling!) and that’s when I snapped my first #AthenaPoleSelfie although I couldn’t grip with my thighs and failed miserably attempting the crucifix move that involved NO HANDS!

I’m buzzing from today’s class, I didn’t feel an idiot even when I couldn’t do bits, the other girls there all of different levels were so supportive and Faye on hand to advise me of the easiest and least painful ways of accomplishing each move. I honestly can’t wait for next week, maybe ill do you all a little update at the end of my course.

If you are reading this because you are thinking of trying pole, or coming down to Athena, do it! I promise you won’t regret it, I’m hugely conscious of my size (everyone feels comfortable digging out a skinny person) and today it didn’t even matter! I haven’t stopped smiling, I feel stretched, I’m pushing my body to be its best, I’m comfortable in me and it just makes me feel happy, whatever your size pole can make you feel fabulous and not more so then with the delightful teachers and members of Athena Fitness.

Catching up with Faye after I asked her what she loved most and what surprises people most about the sport? Her reply was “I love to see people fall in love with it, the pride when they master a move they have been working on for so long is always so rewarding for me as an instructor and I think what surprises people most is how much they like it, the confidence they gain on a personal level and how addictive it becomes.”

Keep up to date with Athena Fitness, free taster days they hold, demos, videos, pics plus all the amazing membership and packages through their website, Facebook Page and if Faye ever finds the log in details Twitter! Hehe

The next lot if courses start mid November why not come join in?

xoxo

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The October GlossyBox Sneak Peek

You all know I adore getting my GlossyBox through the door, well this month thanks to Antonia Maricondas Beauty Bloggers workshop I got it early! And this morning I have been having a play ..

Être Belle Cosmetics
This is one strange sensation it’s like having sugar on your lips from a doughnut and trying not to lick them. It almost feels like idealist micro-d exfoliator from Estée Lauder, like it warms on the lips in a similar way. Whilst strange to begin with, the after result is superb my lips feel silky and I keep rubbing them together where they are so smooth.

My lips aren’t something I really suffer too much with but even so the difference I think is clear in colour, lip line and the little dryness I did have eliminated, so I’m impressed.

The product says it delivers:
“Up to 54% more lip volume and smoothing wrinkles without injections.
Pure hyaluronic microspheres smooth quickly and effectively deep wrinkles around the lips and restructure the lip volume. The lip contour is replenished and redefined”
From my pics and how soft my lips are I would say its ticking all the boxes on an instant cosmetic basis, only thing I can’t find online or on packaging is how often to use, not sure if its too harsh daily maybe once or twice a week???

Nuxe Crème Fraîche de Beauté Mask
So I used this after jumping out the shower and left it on whilst I pottered getting bits for the day ahead ready.

On first application I’m not a lover of strong florals and I find the smell a little overwhelming and old smelling, but I soon adjust and enjoy the smoothness of application. I can feel my skin lapping this up and it is a far cry from the caked feeling of clay masks. It’s paraben free, with 90% natural ingredients including 8 plant milks, Aloe Vera Sap & salicornia (known for its antioxidant and whitening properties).

I’m not blown away but it’s a great product that i would recommend and a clear difference can be seen in my skin after its application.

Ciaté London Paint Pot in Talent Scout

I love the ease of application of this gorgeous purple shade, the brush makes it glide on easily and within two coats I have a gorgeous strong, rich and glossy colour. Very impressed with application and how quick it dries, I will keep you posted on its durability.

So Susan Flutter Mascara

I was all kinds of excited for this mascara as I love So Susan Blush, but as a mum I need a mascara that does it all thickens, blackens, lengthens, curls and lifts because if I’m in a rush I only apply 4 products and I expect them to all be make me look awake and ready to take on the world!

This mascara for my little lashes didn’t lengthen and curl enough, the colours rich and the brush is nice (although also coloured in my eyelids!) but it wasn’t ticking all my boxes. I did follow the directions of applying twice (ironically the second coats to lock in my curl) and I know I could curl my lashes but as above mummies need a multitasker not an extra job!

Rimmel London BB Cream Matt

Ok so what it says it does “The multi-tasking 9 in 1 perfecting make up cream” so I looked further into this 9 because to be perfectly honest I’m not that impressed. “Minimises the appearance of pores” yes it has done this “mattifies and controls shine all day.” No my nose is more shiny then my regular foundation and so far everything is what I use good primer for.
“Smoothes and soothes skin.” Could do but my skin is smooth and sothed after skincare anyway and again it feels the same smooth application of a primer.
“Conceals dark circles and helps prevent blemishes.” Haha I have some dark circles to beat my 8 month old baby is teething and night times are fun, but no I don’t feel my minor blemishes are covered enough and you can definitely see my bags! 😦

As for 9 in 1 couldn’t actually find the rest, I just got the quotes above from the descriptions on most shopping websites selling this product and I can only break it down to 7 at a push!

Yves Rocher Quelques Notes d’Amour l’eau de Parfum

I love the sample size bottle we have received of this lovely fragrance, I’m actually going to give it to my mum because it has my dads initial R on and my mum loves special little things like that. The scent itself a combination of romantic notes of Damascus Rose, Patchouli & GuaiacWood, it’s not to overbearing perfect for day to day wear, is distinctive and fresh.

So I got spoilt with a collectors edition Glossybox, 4 full size products worth a total of over £55 and two smaller testers too pretty awesome for £10 plus p+p a month, you can subscribe here to get delightful indulgent treats delivered to your door, monthly xoxo

The First Hugely Successful Build A Beauty Blog Workshop by Award Winning Antonia Mariconda & Inspiring Guests

Ever need an inspirational kick up the bum? (like a really big one). That’s exactly what I got today on The Build A Beauty Blog Workshop hosted by Antonia Mariconda, The Cosmedic Coach.

I haven’t posted in a while I’d lost my blogging mojo, my direction and if I’m honest, I’d lost faith in myself slightly. I felt frustrated, like I wasn’t getting anywhere and like I just wanted to give up. Then today as I sat in The Soho Hotel, tucked a few streets away from the main hustle and bustle of London, listening to Antonia, I realised just how hard she has worked to get her 20k blog followers over the last 6 years. I heard her tell tales of the times it had been testing, trying and even Antonia, (someone I aspire to) made mistakes and what’s more she was happy to share them with a room full of 40 bloggers, hanging on her every word so we could all learn from them. Of course there is a lot more good then bad when Antonia is involved; we talked about style, (she oozes it!) identity, incorporating social media, (she has 40k twitter followers!) being an ambassador, confidence, disclaimers, making money through blogs, and everything inbetween the 3 hours were packed full but flew past all at once!

She wasn’t on her own presenting the workshop she introduced us to the genius “Techy Guy” Mark Bugg who gave us all the best tips to master the behind the scenes tech and visual on screen importance of our blogs, I’m hoping to use some of his tips to make some tweaks for the better!

We also got to meet the articulately spoken (i could listen to her speak all day) Jenny Pabila of Niche PR, with a history working in PR for big brands. Now a Freelance PR who was able to give us insider knowledge and advice about making PR Contacts, the relationships between PR & bloggers (it’s not as scary as i thought) and how to make someone pick me as a blogger over the other millions out there! As well as that she added an inspirational twist that was right up my positive hippy street she talked about the power of smiling and she saw faith in all of us there “In ten years from now you will be the people who do things others want to”.

All of this awesomeness and I haven’t even told you about the goody bags …. OMG Like nothing I’ve ever experienced before, there is that much in THEM that its a whole new post, tomorrow, I promise.

For now I need to get some beauty sleep I’m a make up artist for a photoshoot tomorrow, 8.30 on a Sunday morning, lucky I love my job!

Have you been on a course or sat in on a speaker that really motivated you? I’d love to her about it in the comments below xoxo