Sorry guys I know I have been quiet with my writing this week, it’s been a chaotic one, you see last Friday I threw the #SweetCheeksRelaunch party to return to the Sweet Cheeks Beauty room after maternity leave. It was amazing! So amazing that this blog is going to come in stages, so much went into the evening that I can’t long it all out in one post. So here is a quick sneak peek of what’s to come, photos by the uber talented Carla Guest Photography.
xoxo
Ok so I think everyone should go buy this months Glamour Magazine for just £2.00 it’s jam packed with inspiring stories, motivational women in the Glamour Women of the Years awards, fashion, love and amazing freebies!
You get an Eyeko London Skinny Liquid Eyeliner worth £12, having got the black one in a previous Birchbox I knew how amazing this easy to use pen style fine tipped liner was to apply, after some rummaging in the magazine rack I found a navy one. It is easy to create thick or thin smudgeproof lines of long lasting colour.
After playing around with the pen I noticed the navy wasn’t as fluid and flowing as my black one..
Here is a photo of my eyes with a simple grey and slim navy line
And here is a smoky blue with a thicker more prominent line.
In the magazine is also a sample of Hawaiian Tropic Satin Protection Ultra Radiance.
Yesterday was a super Sunny Sunday and so whilst reading Glamour in the sunshine, I made the most of this lovely little sachet. After rubbing in the shimmering beautifully fragranced cocoa lotion which made me feel like I was somewhere beautiful and deserted rather than by back garden in the sunny south east, the Satin Protection leaves skin soft and radiant. My other half was so jealous I smelt so good he wanted some…. I swear I didn’t know it had a gorgeous shimmer!!! Whilst I loved the application and the smell was simply gorgeous the whole day, I found as the day went on my skin did feel more tackier and sticky than normal. (Wasn’t helped by the fact the gas ran out when I was washing it off and my shower was FREZZZZZING!!!)
Finally not a full tester but enough to indulge me in floral notes of loveliness a cute trial of the latest Prada Candy Florale fragrance.
The only similarity with the previous two fragrances from the range is the iconic bottle and packaging the fragrance itself is completely unique, with the predominant fragrance being limoncello sorbet followed by the romantic scent flower of peony at the heart of the fragrance finished by the powdery base notes of caramel, honey and musk. I personally will stick to Prada Candy as I lover the stronger sweeter fragrances but this is a.must for anyone who loves a light floral to fragrance there summer days.
Well hope you all enjoyed, go out and grab your copy in newsagents and the like now! Be sure to share your comments below, I love to know you’re all out there.
xoxo
♥
I remember studying Marilyn Monroe for media studies, we had to analyse Diamonds are a Girls Best friend over and over! I think that’s when my curiosity, love and admiration for Marilyn began, although I can never watch that song without picking it’s meaning and connotations to pieces.
Well today’s her birthday and so I spent my morning cuppa flicking through the pages of Marilyn Rembered and smiling.
She remains featured on my dream boards today and this morning I’m sharing one of the quotes I love that resonates with me most…
Have a fabulous Monday may all your wishes come true!
xoxo
Okay so this Monday I’m focusing on how we inspire others, I spent last week housebound because my 6 year old had chicken pox. I did suffer a bit of cabin fever but overall enjoyed the time I got to spend with my boys and I noticed how much what I do inspires my eldest, Finley.
I have been planning how I will return to work and some new ventures I will be taking part in, its meant some time while the baby was snoozing working away in the sunshine at the table in the conservatory and it made me smile how much my son wanted to be sat colouring in or working away next to me. You see Finley doesn’t like writing or colouring much and his fine motor skills are below what’s expected in school, but what I love is when you spark a passion or interest in Finley he will try his hardest to draw or write about it.
We don’t just influence the young around us, this last week I have noticed how my business and what I do inspires others including people older than me, this makes me feel fabulous its great to spark off someone else’s passion. So this week thinks about your actions and how you may be inspiring those around you without even knowing it or intending to. Try and keep your thoughts and actions positive and have a fabulous week.
xoxo
Sometimes on my Monday Motivation blogs I get people express their dismay of how easy I make the motivation appear, but I’m human it’s not always the case!
Although I instead choose to focus on it as a commitment, meaning that by doing it, finding that motivation through the hard times and sharing it with others will make it easier to come by, easier to accept and more excitingly easier to share.
But today I’m going to share with you the reality, that as much as I want to motivate and inspire others as the sun beams at me through the window I have had what can only be described as a pretty shit morning! And if it makes you feel better and more human I’m going to tell you all about it and then finish with the motivation in its depths.
Ok so run through so far:
1. Having to walk to school because my car is at deaths door and has no tax or MOT – it’s going to scrap yard heaven today 😦
I’d like it noted this now means I have to walk, hold on correct that with less than two weeks until the baby arrives I’m waddling everywhere!!
2. It’s the first week of the month the bills are all coming out the bank
3. The local council are chasing a council tax bill of from over 10 years ago – I know I hoard shit but even my paperwork doesn’t go that far back!!! And when we go down there they say they can’t provide us with the proof we are asking for to email them – does no one work face to face anymore!! They also give me a list of numbers which send me passed from pillar to post hormonal and crying a little
4. HMRC have told me I was overpaid working tax credits by a couple of grand which amazes me as they are HMRC and so knew what I was earning down to the penny!! So I’m now having to try to understand their working out to know where my working out and what I received went so bloody wrong and I’m trying to understand numbers with serious baby brain!! So I go to the HMRC person at the local office and basically he can’t help either I have to talk to a million automated messages before I might maybe possibly find someone who can advise me!
5. I have now pulled my house apart so much in attempt to declutter my office for the nursery plus clear all my other piles hidden in nooks and cranny’s that I have lost the will at that last hurdle of stuff that has no home!!!
Next on my to do list is this, my motivational blog and that’s when I sat down and thought how do I conquer this today, how do I face it when I feel so challenged and I found just what I needed;
And that’s when I got my head together and turned the shitty day around:
1. Walking is good for me and Finley loves to ride his scooter to school, it wasn’t raining this morning and I stopped to see my mum too and made us a cuppa!
2. I wouldn’t have bills if I hadn’t received the luxuries of the items for which they are paying, here is what i mean;
my gas bill is paying to heat my home and for those gorgeous hot showers or deep bubble baths
the electricity is a bill for the luxury of light so I don’t have to try and read in the dark, so that I can make hot chocolate in the microwave
My phone bill pays for the luxury of being able to contact someone special straight away and write this blog on my phone right now!
And I’m fortunate that each month I manage to pay for these luxuries even if occasionally I do log into my online banking peeking through my fingers! 😉
3. I have done all I can I have spoken to all the “powers that be” to explain how we can’t disprove what they are saying but don’t agree and I have to leave that there, I can’t let that consume me or get me down it will get there in the end and until further contact is made on their part it’s out of my control
4. HMRC like to confuse me so I know I need to have every last figure down to the penny and be ready to ask them all theirs it’s hard to remember everything when your on the phone and they seems so scary (they’re not!) so I’m going to sit and run through it all myself and then tackle it head on, and ask for their help and explanations to go with it all just to try and understand how such a large error was made!
5. Decluttering has made me feel accomplished and content at home and seeing the final stretch I know once its done I can relax and get ready for baby’s arrival and just enjoying our home, for now the bin men hate me and the charity shop love me for the same reason they are both getting a mountain of bags each week! 🙂
Sharing this today has kept me smiling and lifted me when the reality is I’d like to bury my head in the sand and pretend its not happening but I also want to show the human behind the blog, the reality and say Thank YOU! I turned my day around because I wanted to motivate and inspire whoever is reading this.
Special Thanks Image use from the very inspirational Dr Steve Maraboli httpwww.stevemaraboli.com/
Happy Monday beautiful people I was blessed with a lay in bed this morning and my body clearly needed it, being in the last 3 weeks of my pregnancy is quite tiring even though my brain is still operating at 100mph!
Today I went for a simple motivation just to be happy, find happiness in the little things, share smiles, actually laugh out loud don’t just write it, share your happiness with others and watch as it comes back in abundance.
My Monday consists of seeing the midwife, spending a day with my dad and this continued “nesting” of getting my house in order before this little bundle of joy arrives! I’m excited about the time I have off now I have really been looking more into myself and my passions and thinking how ill be exploring those both in my time off and upon my return.
Ok so I done a quick post in bed this morning and told you all how I was off networking and just felt I had to share my own experiences with you.
This is the amazing group of women I got to have breakfast with, divulge business ideas and inspiration, learn about their amazing work & businesses and leave feeling truly uplifted & inspired. I also want to say a massive thank you to the 3 great women who organise the Gravesend Professional Women In Business meeting every month Jo Howe of The British Heart Foundation, Emma Harrenden of Hatten Wyatt Solicitors and Isobel Brett of Brett’s Business Recovery and of course not forgetting the wonderful staff and management at the gorgeous Gravesend Old Town Hall venue.
I have been working for myself for some time now and the fact is it can get lonely and you can become stuck in a rut of procrastination and doubt every so often. Attending networking changes that, don’t get me wrong it takes time to find networking that works for you I have been to so many groups but now only attend 3-4 that I know are actually building the network of inspiring entrepreneurs (and friends) around me.
So what are my key tips in networking;
1. Know what you are setting out to achieve.
For me it’s a few things, having people around me I can call when I am not sure what the hell I’m actually doing, extending the network and variety of businesses I work alongside, building up contacts I can refer, trust and recommend to my clients and most of all put a social bit of fun into what can sometimes be really lonely!
2. Don’t expect to sell to the people you are networking with.
It’s not about how much I sell or how many new clients I get from networking its about making the businesses aware what I do, how I do it and why I’m so bloody good at it! (Haha) I want to be the first business they turn to for beauty advise, for treatments, for events, I want to be the name they say with such enthusiasm when their clients are looking for the services I offer.
3. Give Give Give
I love helping other businesses out of a rut, giving ideas or feedback, or donating my time and services to be of benefit to others. Straight after I had a great coffee and catch up with another female entrepreneur who has also become a fabulous friend Sonia Hurren Parent & Teenager Coaching Specialist we were talking about our presentations what we like what we missed, our plans for the future, (they are exciting watch this space!) and also recommending people we should each reach out to and even though our businesses are completely different we were both able to GIVE each other SOOO much!
4. Build power connections
This is something I learnt from the Evo Girls networking I attend run by Rebecca Roberston (one of my business besties!) from Evolution For Women, the idea behind power connections is a person or business who works with the same client base as you, so where you can both offer your clients something amazing but you both offer those clients a different service or requirement.
5. Follow up
Networking will never come to fruition if you don’t hold the connections and follow up, they will just remain a collection of business cards sitting on your desk of names and numbers that are of no use to you. Get to know these people, chatting for a few minutes at a networking event is not enough make strong bonds, really understand one another’s business ethos, have a coffee and catch up regularly stay connected. Again don’t sell to each other build relationships they pay off in so many different ways in the long run. For me they mainly pay off by having a list of business buddies I can call during melt downs and who pick me up when I really think I’m not rocking my biz the way I should be and they know i’ll return the favour too, because it does happen to all of us. But obviously there are a lot more mutual benefits to staying connected!
Also one thing that I think is a major business rule anyway was said in the presentation given by the hugely inspiring Zoe Cairns of ZC Social Media, and its what I’m going to leave you with today that applies to all routes of life business, social media, personal contacts ….
xoxo
I have a quiet week ahead in the beauty room with lots of appointment spaces I’m sure I will fill but if I don’t its ok, because I have lots of preparation and work to be doing behind the scenes at Sweet Cheeks Beauty
I have lots of social media activity I need to plan, a web designer I need to speak to and Christmas appointment schedules I need to work out and put up as well as promote the start to my Christmas Coffee Mornings starting this Saturday at the studio.
So some Monday morning motivation to get us through the week I love this
Be sure to enjoy the journey whilst we all work so hard to achieve dreams, it is all part of the fun and the leaning curve 😉
This picture is courtesy of The Student Wellness Project, a student-led movement for Columbia University and Barnard College.
Happy Monday here’s hoping you all have a fabulous week, let me know what you’ve got planned in the comments below
xoxo
Life can be a bit of a whirlwind sometimes and as much as i love writing and sharing all my little moments, stories and updates with you it’s hard to keep it up when life takes hold.
As well as it being the summer holidays where I get to entertain and have lots of fun days out with this gorgeous little monster
I have also moved into my very own beauty room where my Sweet Cheeks Beauty business has gone from strength to strength and feel all my hard work building up a business that means so much is finally coming to fruition.
So going forward what does this mean? It means I’m setting aside some time to write up all different things relevant to my life not just my business. I’ll be telling you about beauty products, training and business in general, ill be sharing some amazing businesses I get to work with and ill be telling you all about my family, funny moments, days out and everyday funny tales of being an opinionated workaholic mummy who loves nothing more than time with her loved ones and like minded wonderful people. It could get emotional but I think it’s going to be fun, if you have any suggestions on what you want me to share please comment and I promise from now on I’m in this for the long haul.
xoxo
Sorry, I skived off yesterday did my smile challenge before going to bed but found myself smiling lots throughout the day anyway and I got to spend a few hours with my little man and the dog, we went to the local prom and had chips by the river, he played on the pebbles and then scooted through the park to the ramp where I sat and watched him, he makes me so proud, and the puppy was really well behaved too considering there was so many people.
Day 4 hasn’t been so easy, with life’s usual ups and downs smiling can be hard sometimes and it can be tough to keep your chin up when all you’re met with is challenges. I think I take this hard as I try to put on a brave face for too long when really I need to release and let go!
I have managed to do the challenge but found it hard today and stopped early because I was a bit blue and feeling quite judgmental of my appearance and my mood. Instead I used the time to go on ted and find some inspiration & motivation so today I share with you two videos;
The first One is relevant to the challenge and talks all about smiling I loved this is made me both smile and laugh and get myself into a better mood! Ron Gutman: The hidden power of smiling
The second from a woman who inspires me with her story, her courage and determination. Amy Purdy make me think of the saying “turn that frown upside down!” because when she is met with challenges she knocks them in all directions, someone who believes imaginations are endless and nothing is impossible to get motivated, inspired and make your heart melt a little with her passion watch this Amy Purdy: Living beyond limits
Happy thoughts, night night.
Stefani
xoxo
p.s Little man goes back to school tomorrow means I get extra me time between bookings may get to even get in a little meditation along with my smile challenge! #RoutineIsBack
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