Jingle belles!

So Christmas is fast approaching, and the party season is in full flourish.  I have been whizzing around adding my own touch of Christmas cheer in the form of Christmas Make-overs for all in need of a lil summit summit for their Christmas party/ wedding or any event going.

Popular this season is old school Hollywood glamour, with smouldering eyes, bouncy voluminous hair and a signature berry lip.  Along with some  60s Bardot hints and romantic, messy chignons.

A few images of my fave doo's at the moment:

Hollywood Glamour Curls- Anyone can pull this simple, but sophisticated look off.  Keep is sleek with a slick side parting and waves falling shapely around the face.  Or add a bit of crown volume a la Bardot.

Or wear in more voluminous blow dried curls, adding sophistication and shapely bounce to your locks.

60's Sex bomb: Always an elegant style, wear it neatly preened or slightly distressed, either way this style is easy to achieve and 

a good go to style when you need a quick style to transform that day look into a sassy night one.

Just a few of the events of the festive season:

A lovely mother of the bride Anna and daughter Lydia, getting ready on Lydias' special day.

A few girlie's off on their works Christmas party.

 A Somerset wedding at Babbington House.  Pleasure to work at such a beautiful cosy country venue.

The lovely Helen, mum of the bride and Kim the bridesmaid, 

at Motley Abbey in Oxford.

 

Hope your all having a festive time, whatever the occasion.

Lx

Time 4 Tea.

Just the other week, I set up camp at Time 4 Tea's vintage event of the month.  We stepped back to the 1940's to showcase a selection of trades, including myself with on site vintage lashes lips and liner at the ready for anyone who wanted to really get into the vintage vibe.

Everyone was welcome along, and their was enough to entertain everyone.  The Chee Chee Gals were getting the crowds going, with moves on the dance floor, also blasting out some classic vocals.

All vintage needs were catered for, from the shopping experience through to the entertainment.  There was even tea and cake galore giving a real nostalgic vibe to the afternoon.

Time 4 Tea did a great job on arranging an afternoon of treats.  Not only restricted to fairs such as this, they cater for all your event needs.  Check them out at the below link.

http://www.time-4-tea.com

Lx

New team member...

Having recently joined the Paul & Joe family, over the Christmas season.  I was pleasantly surprised to receive a lovely bundle of goodies.  

After being talked through both the Make-up and Skincare by the lovely Jo.  I was then given a selection to trial out on my own time.  What really drew me to these products was not only the lovely packaging, which really does catch any ladies eye.   Anyone would be proud to whip a lippy out their bag, if it looked like this.   The beautiful bottles and elegant compacts, echo a Parisian, boudoir style.  Taking you back to a time when dressing tables, were an important household feature for any woman. 

skincare, glosses, lipsticks and liner galore!

The other attraction was the smell of these products, I love a scented product especially make-up.  Nothing too potent that can be quite overwhelming but a gentle scent, anything but that synthetic smell some products leave behind.  Paul & Joe maintains a subtle Orange flower scent through the line.  Gone is the hype of rose water, which can sometimes muster up sickly turkish delight memories.  Bring on the Orange flower, with its subtle not too sweet, not to bitter notes.  Not only the scent, but the fact other components, such as Jojoba oil, Mallow, Vitamin C and White lily are just some of the key ingredients making these super, at soothing, protecting and renewing the skin.  Originating from Japan, their general mantra behind these products, is to keep skin hydrated.  From your cleansing ritual, primer, through to your make-up application and there after.

I have been using the skincare ever since first laying my hands on it, and it has been dreamy.  I am cleansed and silky smooth, gone was any remnants of liner/mascara and I smelt damn good, even if i do say so myself.  Not usually one for a lotion and cotton pad cleanse, but this could possibly convert me.  Topped off with a few drops of the treatment oil, I am a sucker for a face oil, especially as a night time moisturiser.

I remember this make-up from years ago, as I always wanted their funky patterned make-up bags.  Back then their range had a basic selection of products.  Now! How things have changed.  There are a vast selection of products to suit a range of skin concerns.   Whether your skin is dry/ combination or oily you will find coverage to suit it.  Even the primers can be worn under makeup or alone as a tinted moisturiser.

Make-up product musts: Would be their protecting primer and blusher number 04 Cinema, I am a big fan of a rosy cheek blush and Cinema does just that.  Another fabulous product is their waterproof liner, which was still on my hand after testing a day later.  There is a huge selection to choose from and whatever your focus area base, eyes, lips and even nails.  I can imagine you will definitely find something to suit.

http://www.paul-joe-beaute.com 

Lx

Vintage inspiration….

Time 4 Tea anyone? @time_4_tea are presenting a vintage fair this coming Saturday.  Get your tea dresses on and roll up those victory rolls.  Because this is the perfect place to be mooching around and all for a good cause.

So, if you are having trouble getting motivated for christmas and you need a few quirky buys, or you just fancy treating yourself and embracing a bit of vintage.  Why not pop down?

Time 4 Tea has done an amazing job and covered all bases.  There will be afternoon tea, dancing and even the chance to be transformed in to a vintage beauty with Make-overs by none other than me.   Lashes, lips and liner await you and plenty more. 

Check out what Time 4 Tea do with a peek at their sight.

http://www.time-4-tea.com 

Lx

Remembrance reds!

With it being such an important time, having just had Remembrance Sunday.  I made sure I got my visit in to see the popular, Tower of London Poppies.  I timed it perfectly last week, with Remembrance Sunday fast approaching and the fact they are due to take the amazing sheet of red down shortly.

Having seen fellow face bookers upload poppy pics galore, I was keen to have seen them for myself.  Having made it, I was welcomed by not only an overwhelming sight of red poppies, but an overwhelming amount of visitors.

Clearly a popular attraction amongst the public, the poppies have held quite a sentimental place in all visitors hearts.  With them marking the 100th anniversary, since the outbreak of the events of the First World war.   I have visited the Somme, which marks events that took place in France, during the First World war, now acting as a physical memorial spot that can be visited allowing people to show their respects.  Now, the Tower of London with its' flourishing bright red creation, acts as the same purpose allowing visitors near and far to pay their respects, to those that were lost.

To mark the occasion I have picked a few appropriate reds, to arm your cosmetic cupboard with.

Topshops Lipstick, with its' smooth matte finish in Rio Rio, is bright with a orangey undertones making it an ideal bright red lipstick for those of us with a medium/dark complexion.

Prefer a stain?  YSL is the answer.

Yves Saint Laurent Rouge Pur Couture Vernis À Lèvres Glossy Stain in Rouge Gouache, stays put for hours, acts like a gloss, however works as a stain. This more berry colour might be better suited to a paler complexion, however comes in a variety of shades.

A staple in most Make-up artists kits, this is an appropriately named red.  Danger by Mac, is dangerously bright and poppy in colour, with a matte finish it is enough to take any day outfit to night.

  Pillar Box red is a rich, classy red.  Brighten that LBD with a flash of this on the hands.

War paint by Topshop holds coral hues, making it perfect as a fun daytime red.

Whatever your red, remember anyone can wear a red lip, it is just about finding the balance of whether you suit a more orangey red tone or a deep, richer red.  Experiment and have a play around until you get it just right.

Purchase that poppy and match it with your pout.

Lx

Mud machines 2014….

So…I'm doing Tough mudder!!

Finally the event of the year that I have been mentally and physically trying to gear myself up for.  Well not really sure why I bothered!  If I am honest, I am not sure anything could have really prepared me for this.  All the time I was worrying about the physical work needed for this challenge, when really just as much mental training is required.  I had been dreading it, I wanted to do it, I signed up for it and coaxed my fellow team mates to join me.  However, I guess having booked it in February, it was then very easy to push the October event to the back of my mind, only reappearing occasionally to keep me on the gym training straight and narrow.

Well October came….and with it so did Tough Mudder.  Training was upped and running outside was increased.

So we were all smiles at the beginning!  Myself, Best Friend Rachel, her Husband Sam, my Brother Adam  and his Girlfriend Sian are now the Mud Machines 2014….Adrenaline was pumping, nerves were definitely mixed in.  But things felt ok.  In fact we decided to sneak into the earlier wave we were that raring to go, or should I say raring to get it over with.  Off we ran to join the warm up, before passing cheerily through the start line to jump over a wall and join the Tough Mudder pledge.  Lots of rowdy hoo haaaaing and testosteronish-adrenaline, which genuinely does make you feel better.  I am not the biggest fan of rowdiness (Yeah I know what your thinking, why do Tough mudder??)  This was the only rowdy bit….where the newbies are down on one knee and the legionnaires are standing-(Legionnaires have competed in more than one tough mudder.)

One of the reasons I entered this challenge was because of the kind of event it is.  It is a team event, whether you are alone or actually in a team, everyone helps everyone.  No one is there to push past you and if they do an apology is shouted as they go.  

Before ya know it eye of the tiger is playing and you are all off jogging to the finish line.  Admittedly, mile 1 felt like forever and at that point I was worried.  I can run, 5 miles is ok….but these miles I swear were long miles.  I then had the sudden realisation there were 11 more with 23+ obstacle.  This of course was when I realised what a huge game the mind likes to play on you.

Having completed 2, Obstacle 3 was Walk the Plank.  I always said I  would attempt all obstacles, the fact of did I know if I would like them?  Well I have never put myself in a situation to know.  So there was only one way to find out.  Walk the plank, wasn't so bad.  Jumping from a platform into a pool of cold water was just a bit of a shock to the system.  However, it most definitely kick started the system.  After a while every obstacle where water was involved was quite a welcomed treat, despite feeling like I was being slapped with a wet fish, it kept the body numb for you to want to run to keep coldness at bey….well that was until the numbness fell away and you were left feeling the sensation that you had gained ten stone and had to run with that additional weight.  

The two obstacles I dreaded the most were Arctic Enema and Everest.  In actual fact, Arctic Enema was not as bad as I thought, what was bad was the fact every muddy mudder had dipped in and out having just done the mud mile…. I was essentially dunking in to ice cold, cow pat infused water.  So on emerging, I basically could only smell and taste cow poo. This really was the least of my worries, but I am just stating it was not my finest hour…..or 3 and half hours.

I attempted all but one obstacle, that was at about mile 9.  Where physically lifting my leg was out of the question so I offered to help get my team over the hero wall and passed it myself….my running had turned into more of a Quasimodo style limping/hobble…In my head I was running, so I was running!  Don't get me wrong at times I was walking….oh there was walking.  When I said you underestimate how much of this is based on mentality, 9 miles in is when the realisation hits.  It was at about 10 miles that I realised how much it did not actually occur to me, that my body may not actually want to help me out at all anymore.   This is where I feared I would not have any energy to run let alone gather speed for Everest.

Pre-Everest snap with the team, I could not focus for picture time…clearly my mind was busy scaling Everest.

 Despite shocking myself and managing the sprint up the wall and making it to grab the boys hands, i couldn't quite get my leg up and over…..I was prepared for them to let go, I asked them to let me go (bit like some kinder scene from saving private Ryan "save yourselves"), they didn't!  I hung there for a while trying to get my footing.  Eventually I was hauled up, in not the most elegant of ways, but I was up!  I took my place ready to help the next expectant sprinter.

All over Everest, and through the last round of Electro-therapy, which felt like a tea towel whip to the ass, and not a playful one.  Before making our way through to the finish line and claiming our well earner orange headbands and Beer.

A group hug and we were done.

Hitting the finish line to grab a beer, suddenly all my movement was restricted to hobbly pigeon steps.  Pain aside, I was proud, surprised and very impressed by myself and my team, who I most definitely could not have done it without.  And of course by the support of my Mum, Dad and Boyfriend who wondered the course taking snaps of our progress and cheering us on.

Of course the mudder finisher t-shirt will be my new sleeping and training attire for the next year ….just in case no one knows….Marc looks pretty bored of this breaking news already!!

P.s. Day 2 after completion and walking still has not resumed to normality and bruises are appearing left right and centre!  Which I wear with pride!!

Lx