Summer Summary

Aloha Sprinklerinos,

To me, September symbolises the rise of Autumn and the fall of Summer and a happy transition from sandals to pumps to boots. Hurrah!

It seems that this weekend is firmly in the Summer camp with warm weather, the smell of neighbours BBQ's and the sound of lawn mowers lingering in the atmosphere.

I thought I would take this seasonal opportunity to sum up Summer 2012, tuck it into it's low tog bed and look forward to a time of orange leaves and cosy blankets. 

 May was a good month. I forced myself to take time out and be creative. I absolutely love crafting but all too often a million other things on my 'to do' list push it to the bottom on the pile and I never have a moment to whip out my needle and thread and enjoy it. As part of my '7 Things' series I challenged myself to create and made this very easy no-sew tutu. Yay.

June was a sunny month but not too hot, thank goodness. I made my Dad and Matt some arty-photo Father's Day gifts which they both loved. Aside from the usual things like seeing chums, spending time with family, playing with Baby Glitter and trying out lots of lovely beauty products, the thing I enjoyed most about June was mine and Matt's rather windy (the in-the-sky kind of wind, not the bottom kind haha!) patio date. It was just blissful to sit, eat and not think about the day to day gripes of life. We have been doing that more often and very much benefiting from it.

July was the month I went barmy and decided to write 2 blog posts a day. I kept it up for about 4 weeks but then I came to my senses and realised that although it was a fun short term challenge, it wasn't a realistically sustainable long term goal! This month I pouted away in Revlon's Just Bitten Kissable Balmstains and after having my Instragram pictures printed, made this huge framed collage for the landing.

August was my crazy-busy-don't-sit-down-for-a-second month! We spent a happy week in the North, greeting our brand new baby niece, shopping, mooching round museums, letting Baby Glitter spend quality time with her Grandparents and I took a little break from the internet. Then, after some relaxed family time it was all systems go and Zoe and I trotted off to London for 2 amazing days at Summer In The City (a rather fabulous YouTube gathering) where we were able to meet so many of our brilliant YouTube viewers and see our other YouTube chums and catch up on all their news. Lots of other things happened this month which you can see on my blog and channels but those were the two biggies and I won't bore you by going on and on. And on. And on. Etc. 

And here we are, September. A time of back to school enthusiasm, my wedding anniversary, blogger events, the dilemma of 'do I finally treat myself to some good quality boots?' and a whole heap of blogger motivation!

I feel like I am brimming with ideas and posts for the next few months and am itching to put finger to keyboard and get going!

How has your Summer been? What are you looking forward to this season?

Toodlepip!

xx

Google HQ and the TV Crew

Aloha Sprinklerinos,

A different sort of post for you today, although actually still beauty and baby related.

A little while back I was contacted by a TV station from France who asked me if I would go down to Google HQ in London to talk about what I do on YouTube and how it all happened for me. I was pretty apprehensive at first and the sceptic in me thought it might be a bit of a scam, because let's face it, there are FAR better YouTubers out there than me.

It was then explained that they were looking for someone who was growing fast but needed technical help (ie. is poop at the computerywizz stuff) and could be sat down with a YouTube Exec who would go through a few tips and pointers and then the viewers of the programme would also hear/see the tips and could use them themselves. Knowing my complete ineptness with technology, I thought this would really help me, so threw caution to the wind and said yes!

Unfortunately, I couldn't film whilst I was in there because Mr Google has pretty strict policies on this, but I did manage to take a few photos of interesting things, so I thought it would be fun to share them with you.

I know this isn't a beauty review or Baby Glitter update, but without those things and without ALL OF YOU, I wouldn't have Sprinkle of Glitter, and I wouldn't have had this fun day out. So as always, I big courtesy and bow to all of you readers, who enrich my life in ways you didn't even know you could.

*Dabs tears from eyes*

On with the show!

This is part of a double decker bus that Google built with spare parts and just have in the office, as you do. I actually instagrammed this picture so you may have already seen it. (Instagram name- Sprinkleofglitr)

Just a collection of old TV's from around the world. As you do.

My view of reception. The coffee table was a bath, with glass over it for putting things on (mostly tres serious international newspapers- no glamour magazines to be seen) and inside where random things and toys and globes.

To sign in, you do it all yourself on a touchscreen dodar which I thought was rather swish. I was also a bit mesmorised by the lava lamps. Mmmm laaaaavvvvaaa. And yes, that light fitting is a bowler hat.

Leave your iPhones at home- there is a Google phonebox on hand.

The French film crew- Pierre (how apt) and Aude. They were tres bon oui oui oh la la. (I'm practically fluent!).

If a double decker bus doesn't get your transport juices flowing (ew), then a rowing boat in an indoor park might. Claudine the PR lady (who was so on our wavelength, Sprinklerinos-you'd like her) said nobody really sits in it. Frankly, if I worked there, I'd have my breakfast, lunch and dinner in it, just because I could! hahaha.

The park was in the middle of level four, which is designed like a spaceship. It was trippy and this picture gives you a sense of that I hope.

Look closely at those books. No Sophie Kinsella or Bridget Jones for us! Haha.

Did you know, if you work at Google, you can bring your dog in? This makes me want to buy a dog, just so I can go there with it!

Just doing crazy clever computer work, in a deck chair. Lalala.

Boating Baby Glitter. She had such a fun day playing with everyone and soaking up the atmosphere. I'm so happy to take her along on all my adventures, she'll have some great stories to tell in the playground, won't she?

Not Smarties, oh no- Google Choco Bits!! I don't know why but that REALLY tickled my pickle. If you work at Google (or are visiting), all your food and drink is free. Now I've worked in offices where there were disputes over budget price teabags, so this was a refreshing change of play.

Types of computers with my married name (I still go by my maiden name online) at the bottom. Do excuse my goofy smile. I had lost all sense of reality by now, but so would you after being in an indoor park in the middle of a spaceship, with a rowing boat and free smarties google chocobits. ;)

My moment of filmy glory with Sara Mormino, Head of YouTube Partners.

She gave some cracking tips, which I was so grateful for. I'm fairly sure she thought I was a bit of a dunce and kindly suggested a beginners course in something for me, so I'm really looking forward to that. I have no shame in admitting I am a beginner in technology and am always really willing to learn and improve myself. I will let you all know how the course goes.

We had to do lots of filming of  'casual walking' and 'making smalltalk about YouTube' which was funny, because often we had to to quite a few takes so it felt weird saying, "Oh Hi Sara, fantastic to meet you" for the third time and really hamming things up. Hahaha.

All in all, it was a brilliant day and well worth the time and effort getting there. The documentary will be aired at the end of the month on a French TV station called M6 in a show called '66 Minutes'. If they upload it to the world wide web, I will show you it. If not, I hope my snaps have given you a bit of an insight into my adventure!

I can't think of a relevant question except- what was your favourite picture? Soooo, what is your best computer related fact?

Toodlepip!

xx

New CID Event

Aloha Sprinklerinos,

I was going to write a full length blog post today about the New CID Event I attended a few weeks back with Vixypops, but guess what?! Matt has surprised me and is taking me on a mystery day out for Valentines!! Exciting!

So I thought I would be a cheat and rather than do nothing at all, pop the video I made on it up here. I appreciate that some of you may have already watched it, but for those that haven't, here it is:

If you're more of a reading kind of a gal, Vixpo from VIPXO wrote a lovely post which is jam packed with pictures and you can check that out HERE.

I shall be back on with non cheaty posts tomorrow, right now though I'm off to be whisked away!

Do you prefer reading blog posts or watching videos?

Toodlepip!

xx 

Magic With The GlossyGirls

Aloha Sprinklerinos,

Last week, after a rather weird journey, Zoe and I hotfooted it down to Waterloo to board that most magical of wheels- The London Eye.

Having never been on it and wanting to for just about forever, I was almost delirious with excitement!

Playing with my new camera- slow shutterspeed, speedy hands, happy LouLou!

This was snapped by Zoe and her swish camera. She's a wizz!

Little Festive Market nearby- tres cute.

This snap and the one above are from the GlossyBox Facebook Page. Do go and say 'hi'. 

I won't write too much because I plan on making a video about this (just as soon as I'm not plagued by this awful fluey thing) and showing you all the footage from the evening. My photos didn't come out as well as I would have liked (I think I needed a tripod, but who lugs one of those around in their handbags?!), but I did do a lot of filming so if you keep an eye on my YouTube channel, you won't miss out.

I met some fantastic new ladies, caught up with old chums and had some really interesting chitchat with the GlossyTeam. I have to take my hat off to them, they are so lovely, so knowledgeable and knew all of our names! You might be thinking, "of course they know your names, you have blogs and whatnot", but I was pretty impressed. I was even asked about Baby Glitter, which I thought was very sweet.

We had champagne, canapes, two rotations and lots of talk about what's coming up in GlossyWorld. I'm pretty excited for the Men's Boxes. They'll be quarterly and contain 7 products. I don't know about you, but most the men in my life (oerr that sounds a bit wrong! I mean like my Husband, Dad, Brother's-in-law etc) like to look after themselves, so this will be a welcome product.

If you'd like to have a mosey around GlossyBox for yourself, HERE'S their website. (Defo have a look, I've just seen the male model for the men's box- hubbah-hubbah!)

Are you a GlossyBox Gal? Have you tried any of the other beauty boxes on the market?

Toodlepip!

xx

Blog Event :: Look Beauty

Aloha Sprinklerinos,

Last night I attended the super swishness that was the Look Beauty event. Do you want to hear about it? Then read on oh chummy.

The beauty brains at Look magazine have put their glossy haired heads together and come up with a fabulous beauty range, comprising of over 100 beauty products ranging from nail polish to palettes, lashes to lipstick duos. It has something for everyone.

We were all given fabulous goodie bags and I was mightily impressed with this cute card. Trust me to pick that as my favourite thing! Haha! No, no, my favourite thing was actually this popsicle pink lipstick. More on that later.

With 32 nail varnish colours to choose from, whether you're a girlie girl or a gothic girl, you'll find your shade.

I love this shade, it reminds me of an Illamasqua one from last year, except £4 is much more managable than the £13ish that one was!

A little snap shot of the very reasonable prices. Even the huge interchangeable eyeshadow palettes were only £15. Also, £2 from every sale (which is A LOT) will go to the charity 'Look Good...Feel Better'. This charity is for women fighting cancer and allows them the opportunity to learn how to apply makeup to suit their new needs. Ladies are taught by professional makeup artists how to do things like draw in eyebrows or cool down a flushed complexion.

I would have loved for my own Mother to have had such an opportunity before she passed away but sadly Look Good...Feel Better only came to England in 1994 (it began in America in 1989). It now has 64 workshops across the country and a vast variety of brands denote products to this very worthy cause.

If you believe in the afterlife, do take a little moment to say (in your head or out loud), "Hello Mummy Glitter, hope you're enjoying heaven". I do that quite often.

Hat's off to Look Beauty for being so generous. I think this is the best thing about the entire range.

If you're a blusher girl, you're covered.

I love these! I must admit, I was pretty pessimistic at first. I thought the clear plastic packaging was a bit poopy and that the colours would be chalky. I hold my hands up and take it back. The packaging has a satisfying chunkiness and the pigment in the colours I swatched was AMAZING. Seriously, please go to Superdrug and give these a little swatch, they are fantastic. Velvety and beautiful. We were told that wet they are superb too. EEEeeeeeexcited!

A quick swatch shot. Excellent colour pay off.

The lip range comprises of lipsticks, lipglosses and a duo that contains both. Liptastic!! I have my eye on that very dark red one and the nudey corally duos. Yum!

I didn't swatch these but the palettes have interchangeable segments, so when they bring out new ones, you can refresh your makeup and mix and match til your heart's content. I love things that you can customise so this is another winner for me.

As an eyelashaholic, this floats my boat. I wish I had picked this up and looked at it more closely. I'm intrigued by all the little accessories.

And here we have it, the goodie bag. OOhhhhh yyeaaahh!

My favourite goodie bag treat, the aforementioned lipstick in 'Rock Candy'. I love the names in this range. My coral lipstick is called 'Juicy'. Yay!!

As if all that wasn't enough, Look Beauty had also put on this very cool photobooth dealio which we could all jump in, pose and take the prints home. I thought it was sooooo much fun and suspect Zoe and I may have overdone it somewhat!

How many bloggers can you fit in a booth? Nine. I'd like to apologise now to Zoe for the slight dry humping situation, I don't know what came over me!

All in all, I had the funnest night in a long time. The products were brilliant, the booth was a hoot, but most of all, it was just smashing to chitchat to all the other bloggers. I had a particularly long chat with Milly and meeting Anna of Vivianna Does Makeup was also a pleasure. Lily looked ever the fashionista, Kate had some pretty insightful tips re PRs and it was lovely to catch up with Jen again. Emma has the snazziest spotty sheer dress with customised sleeves I ever did see, Lily Pebbles wins it for the shmexy sparkly top award (I emailed her and it was from Forever 21 if anyone was lusting after it as much as I was!), and Corrie was a second away from having me break out into Disney song! Most of all, the tip top gal of the night HAS to be my original chummy Zoella, who even went out of her to escort me on the tube all the way back to Euston- that's friendship for you. <3

A great big thank you has to go to Zoe of The London Lipgloss for setting this event up and being the hostess avec la mostess! Woop woop and a high five to you Zoe! Also (Gosh I feel like I'm at the Oscars trying to remember everyone) a little shoutout to Victoria who I like to call 'Vixypops' because after a bus/taxi/train fiasco she couldn't make it *blue face*.

What do you think of this range? I'm excited for it!

Toodlepip!

xx

Blogger Event: Illamasqua Theatre of the Nameless

Aloha Bloggerinos,

As you may have seen from my YouTube video, last month, I hotfooted it down to the capital, to attend the oh-so-fancy Illamasqua Theatre of the Nameless event.

Now, as we all know, I'm a bit behind and have been trying VERY hard to catch up, so this post was a long time coming.

Since it's so late and every beauty blogger and her dog has written about this collection (and very well I might add), I decided I'm not going to. Please don't feel like I am a cop out, I just want to get cracking with a lot of other posts, time is tres limited (I can now only really blog when Baby Glitter is in bed at night) and I have already made a video on the lovely day.

I do intend to do separate Lou's Reviews on some of the products I was generously given though, so not all is lost to sea. Hurrah huzzah! 

As you will have seen from other blogs, all the beauties were laid out for us to play with, photograph and swatch.

Oohhh Shmexy.

I have to say, the pure pigments (rrp £15.50 each) were by far my most favourite products to spring from this murky gothic range. From left to right is Zeitgeist, Berber and Beguile. I was given Berber in my goodie bag and I'm really looking forward to using it. It's actually named after the lady the entire collection was inspired by, so I think that makes it a bit special. I think Beguile is sensational. This would be something I would purchase and treasure forever.

My favourite things in life- Glitter and lashes. Mmmmm.

Zoe, myself and Zara posing with our Illamasqua bags. You know how there are just some people in life, who are effortlessly cool? Like they just seem to ooze 'lalala my hair is shiny and I don't look a sweaty mess with my clothes tags showing and one chipped nail'? This is Zara. Fact of the day for you there.

As you can see, I like to be sophisticated with Zoe at ALL times. This is the culmination of a big shlep-round-London-for-some-keys-drama, getting lost and a good smattering of excitement! It's frightening what this can do for a gal!

If you are interested in treating yourself to anything from this swish collection, clickedyclick HERE. It really is gorgeous and truly of excellent quality.

Keep your sparkly eyes peeled for proper reviews on Illamasqua products soon!

Toodlepip!

xx

PS- All of the photographs in this post were gratefully supplied by Zoe. My camera is a bag of kittypoop (if you can imagine such a thing) and so Zoe helped me. I have now borrowed a big beast of a thing from the Fatherman and I am slowly working out what all the bits and bobs do! Thank you Zoe you little cherub! xx

My Explosive Excuse for Missing the L'Oreal Event!

Aloha Bloggerinos,

Well, this is a bit of a funny post. Not funny haha, just funny garrrghhh ggaarrgghhh!

So yesterday, I was supposed to trundle along to the oh so swanky L'Oreal event with ZoeChummy (Zoella to you lovely Bloggerinos) where I would sip champagne and squish her gorgeous little face. But alas, it wasn't to be, something got in the way.

What? Ok, I'll tell you. AN EXPLOSION!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

That's right Bloggeirnos, my boiler exploded!!!!!

Here is what happened:

It was about 3pm and I was in my hallway waiting for my friend Nicki to come and collect Baby Glitter so that I could go to London to meet Zoe. All day I had been thinking I could smell gas but thought it was just my nose playing tricks on me. I even said to CeriChummy on the phone that I could smell something.

So as I was standing in the hall I smelt the gas smell again and thought "Hmmm maybe it's coming from outside" and opened my front door to sniff out there. As I opened the front door, there was a huge BANG and a really scary woooooosssshhhing sound!!!

My first thought was 'Gas Leak' and envisioned huge fire balls and house exploding and totally freaked out. I grabbed Baby Glitter (quite roughly, poor little thing) and ran as fast as I could into the street- I didn't even put shoes on!! I ran into the road and just stood there holding Baby Glitter screaming "HELP! PLEASE! HEEEEEEEEEEEELLLLLLLPPPPP! SOMEBODY HELLPPPPPP!!!!!!!!!!!" until my neighbour, Pete, came out to see what all the commotion was about! I frantically told him there had been an explosion and he rang 999 for me whilst I gabbled hysterically and cried.

The neenaahhnengines (Fire Brigade) came and they all trooped into my house and I stood across the road on Pete's drive watching them open all the windows and such. Pete's wife Vicky came home and was so brilliant making everyone drinks (by this time Matt had come home from work after I hysterically called his school office and my Dad had come over too to help) and inviting us all into her house. Her 2 little girls played with Baby Glitter too which was really sweet.

So whilst all this was happening, I rang Zoe in a massive flap, crying down the phone, but because I was so shook up, I didn't quite explain very well and just said "Zoeeeeee I can't come! There's been an explosion in my house!!" and basically hung up! So poor Zoe was worried sick until I finally managed to call back and explain.

After about 45 minutes, all the neighbours were in the street, the fire brigade had done their stuff, the national grid had turned off the water and the red cross people had come to ensure we were ok. I have to say, the red cross people are so cool- they come in a red cross camper van type thing with stuff on board to help- like milk and nappies if you have a baby and can't get into you house (like me).

Eventually we were allowed back in to see the damage. What had happened was the boiler had exploded and caused rather a lot of water damage. The bathroom was flooded and then the water went through the ceiling into the kitchen. The wooshing noise I had heard was actually water, not gas. I think the gas I smelt was the boiler indicating that it was on it's last legs. Thank God it wasn't worse.

So here I am today, waiting in for people like the gas man, insurers and such. I'm looking on the bright side- nobody was hurt, the only things that are ruined are just 'things', nothing special like photos, wedding dresses (I have mine and my Mum's), Baby Glitters special momentos, the cat is fine (haha phwef!) and the only rooms with water damage are the kitchen and bathroom, neither of these have carpet so it's easy to sort. And, most thankfully, we have insurance!!

After all this drama, my Dad took the opportunity to lighten the mood and took this silly picture of Baby Glitter in her bouncer, wearing his spectacles- tehehe!

I'm really gutted that I missed the L'Oreal Event, I was so so so so looking forward to meeting up with everyone and seeing all the lovely beauty products. My invite was via Zoebumpkins so I don't even have any contact details for the L'Oreal people to say sorry I missed it. I tried to call them but I was just put through to a voicemail where I left a VERY garbled message. Does anyone know what I should do? I'm really quite blue about it :(

Well Bloggerinos, that's my explosively dramatic tale! Was your Monday as manic as mine?

Toodlepip!

xx

MAC Bloggers Event- Senior Artist Masterclass

Aloha Bloggerinos,

Now, I'm probably the last blogger out there to write about the MAC Style Suite Red Carpet Event last Thursday, but such is the nature of Baby Glitter- when she sleeps, I sleep!

Last Thursday I was very honoured to attend a MAC Masterclass with Senior Makeup Artists Lynsey Alexander and Neil Young in association with Philips British Academy Television Awards 2011.

What does this mean you ask? I wondered the same until it was explained on the night (I felt a right durrbrain!). Basically, for the BAFTA's which is on the 22nd of May this year, one whole floor of the ultra swanky Pelham Hotel in South Kensington, London, is turned into a 'Style Suite' for the presenters, nominees and celeb types. So one room will be where they can have their makeup done by the wonders of MAC, one room will be filled with amazing clothes from super designers and another would be full of jewels and bling- jealous much? I am!

The event was held in this gorgeous room with plush chairs lined up and amazing goodie bags on each seat. All the MAC PR ladies were so nice and remembered me from the last event (which you can read about HERE) and asked after Baby Glitter. I'm useless at remembering people I've only met once so when people remember me I'm always really impressed haha.

We were refreshed with lovely champagne (and after 9 months of not drinking this was VERY welcome) and cute canapes which I avoided to prevent any nibble related disasters like last time.

There's me on the end (pic above) sat next to Muhsine of Bubblegarm. I was really excited to be sat next to her because Bubblegarm is in my top 3 of fav blogs and I actually felt a bit starstruck at first ahahaha! We had a nice chat about pregnancy (Muhsine is almost 5 months) and then on the tube on the way back I quizzed her on all things blog and babies! Yay!

Anyway, both Lynsey and Neil had a beautiful bare faced model and got to work creating gorgeous flawless looks that we may well see on the red carpet this year. Yowzas!

Neil focused on the lips and used the infamous 'Show Orchid' (apparently favoured by the likes of Cheryl Cole), with a subtle eye look. I now MUST own 'Show Orchid' but sadly it's a pro colour and I couldn't get it at my local Debenhams- gargh.

Neil has a great rapport with Lynsey and included all of us like we were his chummies. I think he'd be an absolute hoot on a night out! Him and Lynsey used to flatshare together- can you imagine? You would NEVER leave the flat looking a mess would you?! Brilliant!

Lynsey worked on a gorgeous smokey eye using just one shade of paint pot but blending to create depth and variation- it was very impressive and something I shall be sure to practise. Lynsey created this lovely nude lip by applying concealer to mute the natural pigment on the lip and then overlaying 'Shy Girl', which is also on my lust list now as well.

Lynsey made the model's skin absolutely AMAZING and told us all about the importance of prepping the skin and applying in light layers, rather than slathering on thick strokes of foundation. This lovely model is wearing Studio Sculpt which is what I wear (in NW15 by the by) so I was pleased as punch. I noticed that she also used eyeshadow for eyebrow filling and definition which is definitely something I'd like to try. For this blondey/fair model, Lynsey used 'Omega' pressed shadow in case you were interested.

Side note- being the Palette Lover that I am, I was entranced by both Neil and Lynsey's palettes and asked all about them. They buy lots from Muji and decant the products themselves. For a minute I thought there was some special way to get my hands on MAC Lipstick Palettes but alas, there is not. DIY melty spoon over heaty jobby for me then.

As you can see, the models looked SUPERB! I mean, they didn't exactly look like gargoyles before, being profesh models and all, but if I can take away a fraction of the skill that was applied here and use it on my own face, I'll be doing 'reet :)

  

Here's me and the Master of Makeup! Woop woop! They could be models themselves couldn't they?!

And below is the lovely loot we were sent home with- I actually squealed on the train when I opened all this up. It was all products that had been used in the Masterclass, so it was great because now I know the best way to use them and how to get the most out of them.

 

I'm sure I'll be talking about these individually and will also be showing you them in an upcoming YouTube video.

I'm so thrilled to have been invited to such a brilliant event. I learnt soooo many great tips (which I haven't included because lots of the other bloggers that attended talked about them and I don't want to reinvent the wheel so to speak), caught up with lots of gorgeous bloggers and had a lovely few hours out of the House of Nappies/Bottles/Baby Sick (ahh bless little stinky Baby Glitter).

I'm really excited to review some of these new products and feel heavily inspired to try some new looks! Do you have any of the above products? What do you tink of them?

Toodlepip!

xx

Now, I did actually post this last week but then Blogger went a bit dolally and deleted it. Luckily the BRILLIANT Katy from Rotten Otter saved the day and helped me get it back. Thank you clever Katy! xxx