Birmingham Summer Blogger Meet Up 2014

Hello lovelies! 1st June finally came around Sunday, it felt like I was waiting for Christmas but now its all over, I was so lucky to do a meet up with my best friend Jess, we were both so anxious and nervous about meeting everyone and fitting everything into the place but it was all worth it 100%. I am so glad I asked Jess to do this with me so I could meet all the lovely girls I speak to a lot over Twitter, it was amazing to put names to faces finally! Me Jess and our friend Tal caught the train to Birmingham in hand with two suitcases full of goodies for our bloggers, we luckily got some help from our friend Tal who helped us find our venue, we were so clueless but she got her google maps out, thank god for technology ay.

Once we finally found our venue 'Ming Moon' we quickly set up all the goodie bags for everyone before we had to meet them all at the Bull right by the Bull ring.

We walked to the Bull to find a lot of bloggers waiting for our arrival, I was so overwhelmed because when you are a worrier and anxious you do think will anyone turn up but they did thankfully! We rounded up the troop and made our way back to Ming Moon, once we got there Kirsty Lo (Take me out star, model, presenter, motives representative) was waiting for us looking absolutely stunning if I may add, pins up to her armpits in some sparkly shoes which I was lusting over, she shook all our hands and we made our way to the VIP sweet Ming Moon very kindly offered us. We all sat around this table and got a talk about the top 10 motives products, Kirsty was brilliant she really grabbed my attention and gave me more knowledge about Motives as a whole, I now want a few products my self, she did an amazing job. Then before we tucked into some amazing food, it was so scrummy I thought for a great ice breaker I would get everyone to pull a silly face to win a prize from a spare goody bag...

They are going to kill me aha! But from top left to bottom right -

Amy, Sarah, Rach, Hayley, Sophie, Sarah, Sam, Kirsty, Kirsty, Vanessa, Clare & Amie 

Tal was the judge to make it fair and she said it has to be Hayley! I think you're all still beautiful aha, life's too short to be serious! After some seriously cray cray selfies and filling our guts we all had a lovely picture taken together and did some serious damage in Selfrides!

I purchased some Mac bits and my first ever Kiehls product, a few bits from Superdrug, something for Oscar in the Disney shop and some Lush bits but I will do a separate post of my haul. After we was all shopped out we made our way to a Lush lock in at 5pm.

The Lush gang greeted us all with bucks fizz and strawberries, alcohol and lush what more does a girl want in life aha? They were more than friendly, bubbly and helpful, they took us a tour around the shop and focused on certain places in the shop to explain to us a bit more about certain products we were unsure about, I mean I am a pro when it comes to bath bombs and melts but I'm quite new to everything else only trying bits thanks to a Lush legends gift a year back. Me and some of the girls started at the emotional brilliance stand where Claire talked to us all how it worked, what products where what and Aimee volunteered for her free therapy session as Claire said aha, everything she chose was completely correct, definitely strong and powerful, Aimee is such a beautiful person inside and out I am so glad we met each other, I feel I have made a friend for life there a long with a few other of the girls who I had a good chat with. I now also have my eye on a few lipsticks because there so versatile you can use the products for all over your face.

I then got a lovely arm scrub/massage of Claire of a product I had never tried 'You Snap The Whip' an exfoliating body butter, which I instantly bought afterwards as it had my favorite scent from the Comfortor bubble bar and made my arm feel so smooth AND I am such a lazy moisturiser body wise and this has everything you need in one, it exfoliates and moisturises. 

I then just took a wonder around the shop and picked up some products in my basket and took a few pictures, Lush seriously is one of my favorite shops and I just want one of everything every time I go in there, if only money grew on trees.

It was then sadly time to go home after a few cheeky purchases and hugging everyone good bye also Lush gave us an amazing goody bag full of three full sized samples, then me Jess and Tal made our way to the train station after making a quick stop at McDonalds, we were all a bit peckish, we munched on the train and told each other what we got, I am so sad it's all over and want to meet them all again already. They are all the loveliest bunch of girls you could meet, I am so lucky if it wasn't for blogging I wouldn't have the opportunity to meet these gorgeous people and find people who love the same things I do, it's so nice to feel like you finally fit in somewhere growing up not feeling like you do fit in anywhere. I really hope we all still keep in touch and I have met friends for life with you lovely lot. 

What was in the goody bags I hear you say?

Jess did an amazing job of rounding up PR companies getting all these goodies for us, I had no hope at all, no one wanted to share with me aha, I was just fortunate enough to get us the Lush event thank fully! But we were very kindly gifted all this from these lovely companies -

Metcalfes, Macadamia Oil,Beauty UK, Benefit, Mememe, Nivea, ELF, Fruitbroo, Gosh and The Body Shop. Thank you so much.

And a huge thanks to all the beautiful bloggers who came to our event, I really hope you all had a lovely day I know I did, the best part was meeting you all and ok a bit of shopping also, you enablers you! I think me and Jess did a good job for our first time and I already want to do another one, I'm thinking a Winter wonderland in Birmingham next ladies?

What I've been loving this month.

Hello lovelies, I haven't been loving that many new products this month as I have pretty much been using the same things but these products have made me happy recently so I thought I would share them with you all.

Maybelline Lasting Drame Black Shock Gel Eyeliner -

I absolutely love this product, I have wrote about it already HERE but it just has tremendous lasting power, very pigmented and so easy to use. I'm not one of those people who can use the gel liner pots and have perfect lines, no that takes years of practice right? Some beauty blogger ay but this has everything you need in a pen form and affordable. 

One Love Organics Skin Savior Waterless Beauty Balm - 

This cleanser is absolutely gorgeous on the skin, it feels like a butter which is full of plant oils and natural oils, no nasties so great for your skin, it moisturises, hydrates and can even be used in conjunction with your foundation to make it look nice and dewy, if thats the complexion your after ofcourse. It smells divine, very citrusy and fresh. You can use this as a cleanser or moisturiser, I tend to use it more for a cleanser as it wipes my make up of so easily with a muslin cloth and makes my skin feel super clean and soft. A little really does go along way with this so £30 isn't too bad of a price for a full size tub. 

Body Shop Cucumber Concombre Freshing Water -

Sorry but this has actually been discontinued but I have been loving this especially as its getting hotter outside as it is super refreshing on my skin and really helps to cool you down. I have put this in an empty lush toner bottle as it has the spray applicator so not only do I use this as a toner in my skin care routine I have it for spritzing when needed during the day to cool me down. 

Rimmel 60 seconds Rita Ora's range polishes -

You may already know that I have a soft spot for these beauties, I love pastel shades all year round but there just so well suited in spring and I have adored wearing these on my nails I have mentioned them a little HERE and featured them in my 'whatsonmynailswednesdays' which is going really well so far, they just come in a great range of shades, fast drying and they're not easy chipable AND so cheap.

Bourjois Rouge Edition Velvet - 

I think this was in my previous what I've been loving but this is my go to lipstick all the time at the moment as I never have time to keep re-applying lipstick through out the day or quite frankly can't be arsed when the only person who sees me is my son and I'm sure he doesn't care what lipstick I am wearing that day and I only really make an effort if I am going somewhere nice so these are perfect because they last all day, super pigmented and they feel great on the lips.

The Balm How 'Bout Them Apples Cheek & Lip Cream -

It is very rare that I ever use the lip & cheek combo's, I only ever use them for one or the other but I actually love this both ways, it is a very versatile product and can even be worn both at the same time! It is very subtle but can be buildable to the intensity you like. I quite like a subtle wash of colour on my cheeks and more vibrant on the lips, it feels so lovely and soft on the lips and quite nourishing, plus this size is perfect for your make up bag and great for two uses which means you don't need extra products in your bag, winner.

Non beauty favorites -

Blogs I have loved this month: And beauty or something, Miss Make Up Magpie, Buttons Blog, Coffee & Cosmetics  & Strangeness and Charm. All these blogs I have been catching up with this month all amazing bloggers and people various beauty and fashion posts mainly, Jess is in there again because since she has come back to blogging without long breaks she has really upped her blogging game, I always look forward to her new posts, go check them all out they're all wonderful.

I haven't really been keeping up with any Youtube video's lately but have been stalking/browsing on Instagram and have been loving these three Instagramers -

@sianmabbs - If you love vintage, Cath Kidston, girly, floraly type things you will love this lady's instagram. I just stare at all her beautiful pictures and lust after more Cath Kidston products, she also up cycles objects and makes them pretty and her own, she has lots of gorgeous dresses and evidently is a vintage queen. 

@ellieeveleigh - This girl has such beautiful pictures, she makes a fruit bowl look pretty and inviting, makes you want more make up in your life the way she presents them, not like you need arm twisting in mac stores and she also blogs which I have only just noticed over at Ellieeveleigh mainly about fashion and beauty.

@theillustratednail - I adore this instagram, whenever I am running out of ideas to have a little play on my nails I instantly look on their page for inspiration, they have a whole range of nail art on there for all types of people and tastes. Whoever is behind the nail art is super talented and I would love to get my nails done by them, they also have a super pretty tumblr page too here. 

I am still loving Breaking Bad and nearly near the end of the series, I am going to be so sad and won't know what to do with myself when its all over, me and Dan have also been loving Jamie Olivers 30 minute meals even though were both convinced it take's him longer but you know, great idea's and Dan wants to start cooking as soon as it's over, thanks Jamie! That's pretty much all I've been watching really I hardly watch much TV anymore not even the soaps, what's happening to me. I would love to know in the comments below what you have been loving.

Mummy Monday - Arts & Crafts.

Hello lovelies, when its raining heavily outside I am always stuck on ideas on what to do with little man, we usually get bowls of healthy snacks and watch a couple of Disney films but I thought today we would get our arts and craft on. We failed to begin with as Oscar was eating the printing product ( the orange) even after I got his snacks sorted grapes, strawberries and a bit of chocolate, kids ay! But after that incident we had lots of fun with play-dough, paints, feathers, crayons and all sorts with a lot of mess too. Sometimes it is nice to just stay in doors and play around with stuff you already have in the home, you could do some DIY, play with toys, read books, all sorts your children only want to be interacted with, I love nothing more than seeing a smile on his face.