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Goodbye From Thirtysomething Belle

Goodbye From Thirtysomething Belle

We all have them. Those friends and acquaintances on social media that declare: “I’m leaving! Goodbye forever…” and low and behold, they are back a few weeks later. Just to clarify, today’s post is not intended to resemble such drama. I just felt the need to explain the imminent departure, rather than simply vanishing without a trace. I’ve decided to quit the blog. I’ve allowed myself to get far…

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A little while ago, the British Acupuncture Council introduced me to their brand new ‘Back to Health’ campaign. The aim is to shine a light on the positive effects acupuncture can have on back pain.

I was curious about the concept of acupuncture, however I’m naturally very scientifically minded so was keen to understand the logic behind this treatment. I suffer from pain in my shoulders and put this down to bad posture. I have had physiotherapy in the past which proved rather unsuccessful; maybe it was time to try a form of alternative treatment?

On Friday night, I drove to the gorgeous village of Whitworth, in the heart of the Lancashire countryside to meet  Louise over at Valley Acupunture and experience this for the very first time.

Prior to becoming an acupuncturist, Louise worked for over 15 years as a nurse within the NHS, private sector and GP Surgery. She then became interested in studying acupuncture after personally experiencing the benefits.

In 2009, Louise gained an honours degree in Traditional Chinese Medicine (acupuncture) and massage from the University of Salford, where she studied both Chinese and western medicine.

As a fully insured member of the British Acupuncture Council, Louise abides by strict codes of ethics, safe practice and continuing professional development.

The British Acupuncture Council is a member of the accredited register scheme run by the government backed Professional Standards Authority.

So what actually is acupuncture? According to the Valley Acupuncture* website:

Acupuncture explained

Acupuncture involves the insertion of very fine single use sterile needles into the skin at specific points on the body which run along channels known as meridians. Needles may also be inserted into the ear otherwise known as auricular acupuncture. The desired effect is to regulate the flow of your body`s vital energy otherwise known as Qi, in order to help the body become rebalanced. Your vital energy can become disturbed, depleted or blocked due to long term illness, weather conditions, emotional problems, trauma, shock, incorrect diet or physical and mental overwork. The ethos of traditional acupuncture is to treat you as a whole, rather than looking a set of symptoms in isolation.

What to expect

At valley acupuncture I provide a relaxing environment for you to discuss your needs. When you attend for your first session I will take a detailed history about your past and present health, including information about any medication you take and your general lifestyle. I I may also recommend certain lifestyle and dietary changes based on the clinical picture. Subsequent sessions will involve re assessing your symptoms and discussing any new health matters.

Before treatment please ensure you have eaten something light and avoid vigorous exercise afterwards.

Number of sessions

Frequency and number of acupuncture sessions required is very individual and depends upon certain factors such as the severity of the condition, climatic factors, age and your lifestyle. Some patients can experience positive changes rather quickly with 1 or 2 sessions while other patients need more

  Louise was friendly and knowledgeable, putting me at ease straight away. We began the hour and half session with an in-depth consultation. Louise asked me questions, ranging from the basics (D.O.B, any allergies etc) to things that were a little more personal (medical issues, diet, menstrual cycle) but she assured me that this was all necessary and I never once felt uncomfortable throughout this assessment.

She then examined my tongue and the pulses in my wrists before making her diagnosis. I stripped down to my underwear as Louise left the room to give me a little privacy, lay down on the bed and preserved my modesty with a towel! When I was ready, we began my bespoke treatment.

This consisted of around 21 needles in total (to be fair, I wasn’t counting too closely…) inserted into various areas of my shoulders, the side of my hands and lower back/bottom area (!) The sensation was slightly bizarre; some needles went in seamlessly and I didn’t even feel them but one of two were a little bit sharp upon application; this soon settled though.

I lay still for around 30 minutes as Louise and I chatted and she worked her magic. I felt rather indifferent during this period however when it was time for me to get dressed again, I felt incredibly relaxed.

I was impressed at how professional the setting was; it was clear that hygiene is of paramount importance. Louise used fresh needles and constantly washed her hands throughout our session. The room was clean and sterile, whilst still providing a relaxing atmosphere.

That evening, I was uncharacteristically calm; I slept for a solid 10 hours afterwards! Have you tried acupuncture before?

*Source: http://www.valleyacupuncture.co.uk/your_treatment/

**PR Campaign 

      The British Acupuncture Council | Back To Health A little while ago, the British Acupuncture Council introduced me to their brand new ‘Back to Health’ campaign.

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Do you ever have those times when you find yourself feeling a bit..meh? Down in the dumps for no apparent reason? This is how I spent most of my weekend!

At around 8am on Saturday, I woke up to yet another grey and drizzly Northern morning, which put a dampener on my mood (pun intended) before I’d even dragged myself out of bed. It feels like the seasons simply pass by in a continuous grey mist these days, with the only slight variety being the temperature. I do miss sunshine and I’m very much hoping that the heat wave we’ve been promised materialises soon!

Our 3 cats have been acting rather oddly over the past few weeks; they seem to do nothing but sleep lately (standard cat behaviour I suppose..) Oscar has some major issues with this kind of weather. He will point-blank refuse to go outdoors in the rain, instead choosing to mope around the house, grumbling like a hormonal teenager. Lex is the most affectionate little guy in the world but even he has been snubbing my cuddles of late. Concerned that they were in some kind of depressive feline funk, I suggested to Adam that perhaps they needed to see the vet. He replied with a few bemused choice words…

I treated myself to an impromptu trip to the hairdressers as my poor locks have been rather neglected of late. My natural colour is a mousey blonde and in an effort to cling on to my childhood golden blonde hues, I need a little help from Mr Peroxide. My last visit was in April so this was long overdue! No dramatic changes were made, just a quick trim and banishing of my unsightly roots.

  With pennies being rather tight due to our impending wedding day, I tried to find a budget friendly way to fill our Saturday night. I used to spend most of my weekends in the kitchen but over the past couple of years, any cooking carried out has been purely functional. I donned my apron and decided to seek a few hours of solace amongst my estranged pots, pans and cake tins.

Accompanied by the musical offering of Oasis (the nostalgic albums of my teenage years) and with the occasional appearance from Lucie, I whipped up a Black Forrest sponge cake and my special homemade lasagna; this is one of my most popular dishes and contains the secret ingredients of white wine, milk and pancetta.

Emerging with flour in my hair, messy worktops and tomato puree on my jeans, I felt revived and my family were more than delighted with the results of this little culinary therapy session. The cake was a bit of a disaster, with the end result being sickly sweet (I may have used a little too much jam) but the process of baking it was good for the soul so it’s not all bad! I even pushed the boat out and treated myself to a gin whilst quietly remembering/raising a glass to my cousin, who should have been celebrating his 21st birthday last week but tragically passed away 5 years ago.

Sunday was family day. Lucie, Adam and I headed to Bury, Lancashire and enjoyed an early morning Costa coffee with my Dad and Uncle. After an hour and a half of natter, Lucie and I decided to disappear without the boys to do a bit of shopping. I have been on a mission to find my bridal shoes for a while now (the ones I had originally bought are too small!) but yet again, came home empty-handed. Seriously, how hard is it to find a pair of white leather peeptoe heels in a size 4? Pretty impossible it seems! We’re off to the Trafford Centre tomorrow night so I shall try again.

Lucie bought herself some new trainers, a school bag, a mermaid make up bag and several other bits. I picked up some nautical nail stickers which were pretty cute; anything featuring an anchor or blue and white stripes and I’m sold!

After tackling the obligatory household chores, Sunday night was soon upon us and it was time to set that dreaded 5.30am Monday morning alarm! Only 4 more days to go I guess. What did you guys get up to over the weekend?

*After writing this on Sunday night, I awoke to glorious sunshine on Monday morning. It was cold and the clouds were back by lunchtime, but it was sunshine none the less! 

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The Weekend Post | Kitchen Therapy Do you ever have those times when you find yourself feeling a bit..meh? Down in the dumps for no apparent reason?

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Manchester! Remember that ONE nice day of summer we had a few weeks ago? Yeah me too...*sobs*

We’re not fortunate enough to have much of a garden at home so on that rare, sunny evening, Megan, Adam and I decided to head out to our local park for an impromptu picnic and some quality time together.

I often forget that we are located in a pretty gorgeous part of England and breathing in the stunning local scenery made for a refreshing change. When the sun is shining over the mass of green hills, there’s nowhere else I’d rather be.What better setting than sat in the countryside on a picnic blanket, winding down after a day at work with my gorgeous family?

Now I’m not a huge drinker but do enjoy a large gin and tonic or fruity cocktail on occasion. The Soho Juice Co kindly sent me a sample of their signature cucumber drink, along with a few spirits so I was keen to try them out. With the weather being so lovely, it had definitely got me in the mood for a tipple!

There are various cocktail recipes on the Soho Juice Co website however I decided to keep it simple with a shot of gin, fresh mint leaves, a twist of lime and ice, all mixed together with my Soho Juice.

The juice has a subtle cucumber taste without being too overpowering. On the first sip, I wasn’t convinced – it reminded me of a salad – but as I worked my way through the cocktail, it grew on me! The tangy lemon and lime flavours complimented the gin wonderfully and the mint flavouring was enhanced by adding mint leaves. Fresh and distinctive, the Soho cocktail made for an ideal summer beverage.

I was kind of sad that I only had one bottle of Soho Juice as this little cocktail was right up my street – I imagine this would go down well on one of my Mexican-themed nights with nachos, tequila shots and good friends!

I think I’m going to try and freeze this mixture next time to make some cooling, alcoholic ice lollies. Maybe if I hide them with the frozen peas, Megan and her friends won’t notice them…

Do you have a favourite cocktail recipe? Feel free to share the love in the comments section below!

*Contains PR samples

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Summer Nights With Soho Juice Co | Review Manchester! Remember that ONE nice day of summer we had a few weeks ago? Yeah me too..

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Life After A Bereavement | Sink Or Swim? 

Todays post is a little different than ususal. It does contain a personal outlook on a very senstive topic so please feel free to skip it. Much love

Death. That one little word that sums up so many emotions. Heartbreak, love, memories, shock, injustice, anger, fear. For many, we cannot imagine losing the people closest to us. For some, it is a sad reality we have to brave. My fiancé died. There, I said it. Today should have been our 6 year anniversary. I want to give you an insight into this significant part of my life and the months that…

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Ladies, you know the drill; we walk into a shoe shop (Hello Kurt Geiger) and before you know it, you’ve fallen in love with a beautiful pair of 4 inch nude stilettos that you simply must have. You leave the shop in a mild state of euphoria and later that day, proudly slip on your new shoes, ready for night of dancing. The girls compliment your heels and you feel like a rockstar. Well, that is until you find yourself walking like Bambi on ice with some monster blisters forming!

I adore my heels. I have an embarrassingly large collection of them and, being just 5ft tall, they help to give me that much-needed extra height. Heels make me feel amazing, however there is just one problem…

Whether I’m spending the day at wedding, out for a nice meal with Adam or enjoying a lively night out with the girls, the inevitable always seems to happen. It starts of with a little rubbing on the back of the heels. Then comes the fire-like pains that begin shooting through the balls of my feet. By 11pm, I’m using my friends as a crutch and hobbling around, trying not to howl in pain.

I learnt my lesson the hard way on one particular night out a few years ago. I was out in one of my favourite (somewhat dubious) Manchester nightclubs when the familiar pain kicked in. As much as my rockabilly heels looked incredible with my outfit, I eventually took them off and carried on dancing to Mr Clint Boons DJ set. The nightclub security staff came over and instructed me to put me shoes back on. I reluctantly did as I was told – until they walked off and my shoes ended up in my hand. Repeat the process about six more times until it was time for me to leave.

Fuelled by too much gin, I smugly strolled bare-foot past the bouncers to my taxi…and straight over a pile of broken glass. Cue me crying in the car as the poor driver tried to stop the bleeding and remove shards of a beer bottle from my feet. True story…

After that malarkey, I tried to find a happy medium but let’s face it – who has room for an extra pair of shoes in their cute little clutch bag? Thanks to the guys over at Rollasole, we all do – hurrah!

The idea behind Rollasole sprang to mind in 2008 when Matt Horan decided there had to be a better way for his girlfriend to return home after a fun night out than the obligatory piggy back. Hands up if you can relate? From that moment on, Matt poured his efforts into developing and patenting the unique Rollasole shoes. Soon after, the first Rollasole vending machine appeared in Matt’s home town of Bristol and the rest is history.

Rollasole shoes are a borderline genius idea; a flat pair of pumps that fold up and fit into even the smallest space. I was kindly sent a pair of these magical creations to try out for myself and being a sceptic, wasn’t overly convinced that a fold up shoe could also boast a decent level of quality and style.

I have to stay that upon initial impressions, they were comfortable and durable. I look forward to making these a staple item in my bag from now on and I’m sure I will be more than grateful for my Rollasoles on my next night out!

My size 4 feet meant that I opted for the ‘small’ option, although they do have a medium and large on offer too. The fit was perfect on both width and length. In a modern metallic gold finish, these pumps will compliment any outfit. Adam and I are heading to New York soon so I will most definitely be packing my Rollasoles to use after a long day of sightseeing and a cocktail or six!

For the price of a couple of drinks, these shoes are very reasonably priced (from just £7.95) and fashionable, with a huge array of colours and styles available – you can find out more here.

* Contains PR samples

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  Rescuing Your Feet With Rollasole Shoes | Review Ladies, you know the drill; we walk into a shoe shop (Hello Kurt Geiger) and before you know it, you've fallen in love with a beautiful pair of 4 inch nude stilettos that you simply…

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Shoes

When it comes to shoes, I live up to the cliché. Heels, flats, sandals – I’m sold. My collection started on my 8th birthday. I clearly remember the flutter of anticipation as opened my surprise gift, tearing off the pink wrapping paper to discover my very first pair of ‘grown up’ shoes. They were white strappy sandals with a heel. A HEEL! Granted it was a 1.5″ one but I was over the moon. I wore…

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Boardroom Etiquette With Calibre Furniture

Boardroom Etiquette With Calibre Furniture

Office life can be a minefield. I have worked in several different areas over my 17 years of adulthood and the parallels of office etiquette can be vast! Recently, Calibre furniture asked me to get involved with their #BoardroomEtiquette campaign. This was ideal timing for me – having recently started my brand new job – so I thought I’d give you guys a few tips on how to handle those big,…

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Blogging | The Good, The Bad & The Ugly

Blogging | The Good, The Bad & The Ugly

Before I begin, I feel I should just clarify a few things. I am by no means a ‘pro’ or even particularly knowledgeable when it comes to blogging. These are simply a few observations that I’ve come to learn over the last 18 months or so. I still define myself as a content writer (the day job) and a slightly needy, rambling introvert rather than an actual, bonafide blogger. When I first started my…

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It seems like my handbag is THE place to be tonight... #silly #catsofinstagram #catladyproblems #coolcats #home #messy #life

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Eeep! What a lovely notification to come to after a day in the office. I cannot wait to get beautified by the lovely ladies at @thevintagebeautyparlour and share my new hairstyle with you guys! ❤ 💄🎉 #vintage #Hollywood #pinup #Rockabilly #pinuphair #classic #style #win #Audrey #Chorlton #glamorous #hollywoodwaves

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After a week of reflection, this kind of summed things up for me tonight #words #thoughts #grief #smallsteps #life #quote #chinup #positive

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If you’re fed up of me banging on about smaller, independent businesses, then…tough ;) I have always been a big supporter of natural talent and ambition so when I do come across these companies, one of the first things I want to do is share them with my lovely readers.

Let me introduce you guys to Charlotte; a fellow creative, crafter and all round awesome lass.

Having recently found herself in a less than ideal situation just 3 weeks before her wedding day, Charlotte dealt with this is a way that most of us would not. Instead of spending her days moping and crying at home, she brushed herself off, put on her thinking hat and soon, Bridal Box Studios was born.

  “Up yours! Corporate, power-hungry corporations with your ill-fitting suits and your over-done middle-aged women in too-tight dresses. I don’t need you anyway….” – Bridal Box Studios

  Charlottes wit, humour and talent as a writer also makes for some entertaining reading on the Bridal Box Studios blog, where you can learn all about upcoming projects, shows, exhibitions and the origins of the company.

When looking for accessories for our own wedding day, Adam and I were left frustrated and just couldn’t seem to find items that matched the visions we had in mind. I knew Bridal Box Studios were going to be our saviour when my husband to be spotted one of their quirky buttonholes and piped up: ‘Oooh I’d like something like that for when we get married‘. Bingo!

It then made sense to commission my bridal bouquet from Bridal Box Studios too. After chatting with them online, I’m confident that they have a good idea of what I would like and will no doubt exceed expectation (no pressure guys…) As 90% of our wedding attire and decor will be from independent businesses, I’m so very excited to be able to put together the wedding that we envisioned – without compromising on our personal, slightly offbeat style.

Whatever your personal style may be, the team over at Bridal Box Studios can help. From classic and vintage to quirky and eclectic, they have an array of items to suit. If you can’t quite find what it is that you’re looking for then they also offer consultations to create something completely bespoke to you. You can see more items on their Etsy page here.

  “Have you ever been shopping for a nice dress, or new pair of shoes, and you know EXACTLY what you’re looking for, but you just can’t find it? No matter how frustrating, and how much it just doesn’t make sense – (But all I want is a high-neckline black maxi dress with a lace trim. Jesus, how difficult can that be??) – the aforementioned item just does not materialise. And that is because it doesn’t exist.

Because you invented it.

Here lies the eternal struggle of the creative bride-to-be.” – Bridal Box Studios

  Being a newly-wed makes Charlotte the ideal candidate for relating to those of us getting stressed with the whole wedding malarkey. She offers support, advice and a wonderful insight on not only the products, but has plenty of tips and ideas to help the whole thing run as smoothly as possible, without tip-toeing into that dreaded Bridezilla territory.

All handmade in their studio and taking on board your own personal preferences, dislikes and ideas, you most certainly won’t find this level of service via high street suppliers. Whether you’re a bride or groom to be or simply want to support hard working talent, head over to the Facebook page and give them a like here.

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Introducing Bridal Box Studios | Wedding Decor If you're fed up of me banging on about smaller, independent businesses, then...tough ;) I have always been a big supporter of natural talent and ambition so when I do come across these companies, one of the first things I want to do is share them with my lovely readers.

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I completely forgot to share this with you when this little guy arrived a few months ago. Our very own memory bear made from Neil's favourite clothes ❤ #memory #memories #memorybear #sentimental

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When it comes to culinary requirements, I have to say that my girls have made parenting pretty easy in that department. They have always been open to trying new foods and flavours, which is wonderful as I like to experiment with a vast array of recipes!

I still remember my Mum’s despair when one of my sisters (you know who you are…) refused to eat anything remotely nutritious all through her childhood and my poor mother having to blend up vegetables to hide in other foods.

One of Lucies particular favourite cuisines is Japanese. From curries to sushi, she adores them all. So when Wagamama invited me to try out some of their best selling dishes, I immediately knew who I’d be taking along with me! It’s not often that I get spend quality time with Lucie these days so I hoped that the lure of Japanese food would be enough for her to keep me company for a few hours.

If you haven’t heard of Wagamama before, where have you been? I jest of course. With over 140 resturants in the UK alone, I think that gives a fair idea of just how popular this chain really is. In fact, when Adam and I were in Amsterdam last year and got tired of walking around in the vile rainy weather, we took shelter in Wagamamas, knowing that we could enjoy a bowl of warming ramen and a few drinks in a familiar setting.

A few weeks ago, the two of us arrived at Wagamama in Spinningfields, Manchester and were greeted by the lovely general manager, Zoe.

  After getting settled, we were handed a menu each and Lucie and I spent a fair while deliberating over where to begin! We sought advice from our super-knowledgeable server Damien. After a chat to establish mine and Lu’s tastes, preferences and dislikes, he gave us some sound recommendations. Here’s what we decided on:

Drinks 

The weather was a typical Manchester summers evening. Damp with drizzle yet muggy and warm. When Lucie and I spotted these fresh juices, we opted for them straight away. Lu went for the Tropical Juice, containing mango, apple and orange and I chose the healthy Repair Juice, containing kale, apple, lime and pear.

They were a world apart form the usual processed drinks and hit the spot perfectly. The apple and lime stood out the most for me, with the kale giving lots of healthy benefits, without an overwhelming vegetable taste!

Starters

We ordered a plate of prawn gyozas, chicken gyozas and a beef hirata steamed bun to share. The five prawn gyozas arrived fried with a dipping sauce whilst the portion of chicken gyozas were steamed.  These little tasty dumplings of goodness did not disappoint! Cooked to perfection and well-filled, they didn’t last very long.

The beef hirata bun was new to us. A fluffy, asian bun stuffed with korean barbecue beef and red onion, served with Japanese mayonnaise and coriander, I was unsure of what to expect. After the first bite, I knew this dish was going to be one of my future favourites. It was truly delicious! I (reluctantly) shared my hirata bun with Lucie, who also declared it to be ‘yummy’. So much so, that we may have ordered more…

We were left nicely filled whilst we pondered over our main courses. With so many lovely offerings, this took us around 15 minutes, however Damien remained patient and we never once felt rushed or pressured.

Main Courses

Once we’d selected our main courses, they arrived in record time and were both beautifully presented.

Lucie had the Ginger Chicken Udon; udon noodles with ginger chicken, mangetout, egg, chillies, beansprouts and red onion. topped with pickled ginger and coriander. She gave it a drizzle of soy sauce and tucked in with no complaints, using her chopsticks like the little pro she is! With plump, soft noodles and a nice mix of flavours, I had a sneaky taste of Lu’s dish and it was just as good as it looked.

I chose the Prawn Raisukaree; a mild, coconut and citrus curry, with prawns, mangetout, peppers, red and spring onions with white rice, a sprinkle of mixed sesame seeds, red chillies, coriander and fresh lime. With the curry surrounding a mound of steamed white rice, it almost looked too pretty to eat. Almost. I tucked in and the chillies began to work their magic. Giving a nice level of heat without burning my delicate taste buds, the blend was spot on. The prawns were a good size and plentiful, with nice chunky pieces of pepper and spring onion.

We thoroughly enjoyed the meals however ended up asking of we could take the remainder home after over-indulging on our extra starters; that’ll teach me to be greedy! Damien helpfully packed our food in easy to transport containers then asked if we would like dessert. Of course we had to take a look at what was on offer, despite being far too full!

Desserts 

In our family, dessert is a big deal. Us girls are all sweet-toothed and big, big fans of pudding, sweets and all things sugary. Obviously, our dentist loathes us! After scouring the menu and fawning over the mochi ice-cream (little balls of heaven ice cream wrapped in a layer of sticky rice, served with sauce) banana katsu (banana in panko breadcrumbs with a scoop of salted caramel ice cream) and more, we had to reluctantly admit defeat and decline another course.

I think Damien saw the sadness in my eyes as he brought us two natural fruit ice lollies to take home! Despite being a ‘consolation prize’, we ate these in the car on the way home and they were were honestly the tastiest lollies I’ve ever had. With chunks of fresh cherry and strawberry pieces respectively hidden in these bad boys, they were much appreciated!

So there you have it. Lucie and I had a fabulous time and the food, service and atmosphere have gained a 10/10 from us! I’m a little sad that we live in the middle of nowhere and can’t take advantage of the Wagamama take away service but for you lucky folk that can, what on earth are you waiting for?

A big thank you to Zoe, Damien and all of the staff at Wagamama, Spinningfields for a lovely Friday night.

*Our food and drink were provided FOC however all opinions are my own. 

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            A Night At Wagamama | Manchester When it comes to culinary requirements, I have to say that my girls have made parenting pretty easy in that department.

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What working from home with cats really looks like.. #cuddles #coolasfuck #writing #weekendwork #cats #catladyproblems

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When it comes to hair and beauty, I consider myself a novice. I can manage the basics but often find the world of cosmetics rather overwhelming.

I’ve been lucky enough to have my make up done professionally for photoshoots in the past. I adore the pin up look and have tried to recreate this myself on several occasions, however the end result is always less than perfect! The glamorous, full make up is ideal for pictures or a special night out, but my every day beauty routine is much more basic.

I have freckly skin and, although people often try to cover their freckles up, I quite like that natural look. Therefore, I tend to use a sheer BB cream as my base, to even out the blotches and give a very light coverage. I add some translucent powder, blush, mascara and kohl liner and I’m good to go.

Having such limited knowledge and skill, I decided that it would be best to hire a professional to do my make up for our upcoming wedding day. When the quote came back at over $450 for a two hour session, I was forced to start looking at alternatives.

A few days later, I received an invitation to attend a beauty taster class with The Training Room – perfect timing, eh?

I headed to Manchester to meet up with some fellow bloggers and get myself beauty educated. Most of us arrived a little flustered, thanks to the humid heat and notorious Northern rain. We got settled at the gorgeous Midland hotel and after a few quick introductions, our tutor Amanda began the class.

With over 28 years of experience under her belt, Amanda certainly knew her stuff! She talked us through a whole host of different topics, from eyebrow shaping to skin care. I was surprised at just how knowledgeable Amanda was and it was clear that she works to a very high standard.

My skin can be a little oily in places and occasionally flares up with pimples and blemishes. I was plagued with adult acne in my early twenties, after several rounds of hospital treatment and minor surgery sent my hormones in to a spin. Eventually, this was controlled by long-term medication from my GP and seems to fluctuate much less these days.

I do find the array of skincare options out there rather confusing and am reluctant to spend a small fortune on products that I am not familiar with. This means that my general skincare routine involves washing my face with a simple beauty soap and water then popping on a light, chemical free moisturiser.

I thought Amanda was going to faint when I disclosed this fact! She reiterated just how important it is to use decent quality products and take good care of your face. She also told me exactly what this soap is made of (animal fats, nasty chemicals and more) meaning my trusty bar went straight in the bin!

After doing some research online, I’m hoping to invest in a better skincare range soon and get myself into the habit of cleansing, toning and moisturising. As mentioned above, the overload of product information can be confusing and costly if you get it wrong, but I have found that Anoushka Loves, The Scientific Beauty and Loves & Loathes blogs offer some sound advice on where to begin!

Contouring is a technique that has become incredibly popular of late, however it often leaves me a little scared. It tends to conjure up images of Ru Pauls ladies and, as lovely as they may be, I personally prefer a more understated look!

Amanda demonstrated the perfect way to get a subtle yet flattering look using cream contours. The thick, dark line placed just under the cheekbone was initially alarming to say the least! However, this is where I learnt my first bit of beauty wizardry – blending is the key. As Amanda spent time slowly blending, this eventually gave a very natural look on her model.

She asked if we were all happy to remove our existing make up so we could practice applying products on ourselves throughout the class; the initial hesitance in the room was blatantly obvious! Isn’t it odd how vulnerable we seem to feel without our make-up on? It’s almost as if cosmetics have become a firmly integrated part of our identity or a mask to give us more confidence in public. We all obliged and got to work, practising the above contouring techniques.

Throughout the course of the afternoon, we also learnt how to clean our brushes, create the optimum eyebrow shape, shade eye shadow properly and much, much more. I left the course feeling enlightened, a little bit more confident and even tried out some of my new found skills at home.

My youngest daughter Lucie is a budding beautician and her skills have already far surpassed mine, thanks to plenty of practice and numerous YouTube tutorials! For those of you looking to change things up, take on a new hobby or even start a new career, then The Training Room may be able to help. Whether you’d like to work in spas, salons, on cruise ships or become freelance and build up your own business, this course can open up a wealth of opportunities.

The Training Room offer both part time weekday and weekend courses for you to take advantage of. They also offer a wide range of qualifications, which are recognised worldwide.

You can find more information here. A big thank you to The Training Room and the lovely Amanda Harewood for inviting me along for a fun, informative day!

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Beauty Lessons With The Training Room When it comes to hair and beauty, I consider myself a novice. I can manage the basics but often find the world of cosmetics rather overwhelming.