Keeping Up With Karen…

Keeping Up With Karen

Howdy Chums…

How’s your weekend been? It’s been non stop here at Confetti & Curves HQ as we’re now just a few days away from wedding no 1 *EEEP* In other news, I finally managed to find a great deal on some new travel luggage, got creative with nails and spent my entire Saturday evening making cute little ‘Eat Me’ tags for the wedding favours that my sis is currently in the throws of making. Think I may just take the camcorder along and attempt a little wedding type vlog 😉 Could be fun, right?

As for today I’m taking it easy and recharging the batteries! If you’re doing the same and fancy a bit of blog reading whilst you’re doing nothing then why not check out the fun shenanigans that’s been happening on Confetti & Curves this past week – don’t forget to leave a link to any blog posts you’d like me to check out too!

.

The Nail File: Bridal Nail Art Designs

Bridal Nail Art Designs

On Mondays post I showcased a few of my recent bridal nail designs – there’s everything from glitter, freehand to stamping. Why not check them out and let me know which one you like best! Don’t forget you can follow my nail studio, Liquid Glamour, on Facebook too by *Clicking Here*

.

Ten Gorgeous Mid Year & Academic Diaries

Mid Year Diaries 2016 2017

Ooooh I do love a spot of stationery shopping, don’t you?! Especially when it comes to picking a brand new mid year diary *excited air punch* So after browsing for what seemed like hours I painstakingly whittled down my top tem choices to suit all budget… perfect for back to school or a new organisational treat to schedule all your exciting blog posts in 😀

.

First Impressions: The L’Oreal Brow Artist Kit

L'Oreal Brow Artist Genius Kit

You know me ladies… always on the hunt for pocket friendly purchases – particularly ones that claim to get my brows looking tip top. How could I resist? So this week’s chatter is a first impressions of the much acclaimed L’Oreal Brow Kit. Is it really as good as the reviews suggest?!

Don’t forget, you can *Click Here* to subscribe to the Confetti & Curves YouTube channel so you never miss a future upload!

pink heart

As always, thank y’all so much for the support, comments, re-tweets, shares, likes & just darn right loveliness. You lot really are an awesome bunch. Do feel free to pop a favourite link from your blog in the comments below for the rest of us to check out, otherwise do stop by & say a quick hello!

Cheerio Chums…

Karen signature

Catch me on:

Twitter   /   Instagram   /   YouTube   /   Facebook

Advertisement

Ten Gorgeous Mid Year & Academic Diaries…

Mid Year Diaries 2016 2017

It’s that time of year again gals… when school bags are filled with shiny new goodies & mama’s (like me) get a chance to enjoy the silence of an empty house, as our off-spring tootle back to the classroom. But’s it’s not for that reason that I get super duper excited – it’s also the time of year I go diary shopping *excited air punch* Yes, I am indeed one of the many that opts for a mid-year/academic style planner. As always the decision is a toughie from hours of browsing through a multitude of utterly gorgeous designs and layouts.

However fear not indecisive shoppers, as I’ve scoured the interweb to bring you a selection of some of the sassiest little organisers you’ll be proud as punch to plan with. So get yourself comfy and let’s take a peak at my mid-year top picks to suit all budgets…

Kikki K Mid Year Mindful Colouring Diary

16_17_mindful_colouring_diary

16_17_mindful_colouring_diary_inside

It’s so important to remember to take a mindful moment to pause and refocus. Take the opportunity to do just that with this unique Mindful Colouring Diary. With yearly, monthly and weekly pages, it’s so easy to get organised. Write down all of your thoughts, to dos and reminders on-the-go and use the mindful colouring pages to inspire you to live your best life.

Current Price: £24.00 now £19.20

*Click title for link to webstore*

.

Busy B Floral Academic Diary

academic floral

Trying to balance two busy lives? You need an organisational genius. And hey presto! Here it is. This clever diary lets you manage two schedules side-by-side, turning your thrillingly busy life into a brilliantly organised one.

Current Price: £9.99

*Click title for link to webstore*

.

Tiny Me Personalised Mid Year Diary

Leaf Diary

Tinyme Personalised Mid Year Diaries are the cutest way to get organised. Plan your next adventure, book in milk and cookies with friends or document your extremely deep musings…

Tinyme Personalised Mid Year Diaries start from 1st July 2016 and continue through to 30th June 2017.

Personalised diaries come in 2 different sizes and allow you to select from 3 different internal layouts.

Current Price: £19.99

*Click title for link to webstore*

.

Mint Green Lace Diary

WHSmith Mint Lace diary

Elegant and stylish, this polypro mid year diary with a white floral lace design will add a touch of class to your desk or bag and keep you organised and up to date for the academic year. Diary runs from 27th June 2016 to 27th August 2017. Features include sturdy polypro covers, soft pink wiro binding, soft pink elastic closure and a mint green inner paper lining. Includes a plastic wallet so that you can keep your receipts, tickets and to do lists in! Also contains personal information page, blank timetables, yearly calendars for 2016, 2017 and 2018, yearly planner, international and useful information pages, deadlines and exam note pages, address and note pages.

Current Price: £8.99

*Click title for link to webstore*

.

Amelie Turquoise Butterfly Academic Diary 

WHSmith Turquoise Butterfly

This elegantly designed mid year diary from the Amelie collection is perfect for noting important engagements and plans in style! The hard back turquoise covers feature a pretty pattern of colourful butterflies complete with teal foiled detail. This day to page diary runs from 30th June 2016 to 31st August 2017. Features a jazzy pink zig zag inner paper lining as well as a pink ribbon page marker, so that you don’t lose your place! Also contains a personal information page, blank timetables, yearly calendars for 2016, 2017 and 2018, yearly planner, international and useful information pages, deadlines and exam note pages as well as address and note pages.

Current Price: £9.99

*Click title for link to webstore*

.

Vintage Blue  Academic Diary

WHSmith Blue

Plan your year ahead in this stylish vintage blue mid year diary! The soft linen covers feature an elegant striped blue and white china effect pattern. This diary runs from 30th June 2016 to 31st August 2017. The day to page layout means that it can be used as either a journal to store your thoughts or simply as a diary to note your appointments. Features include a stylish blue paper inner lining as well as a coordinating blue ribbon page marker. Also contains a personal information page, blank timetables, yearly calendars for 2016, 2017 and 2018, yearly planner, international and useful information pages, deadlines and exam note pages, forward planner as well as address and note pages.

Current Price: £10.99

*Click title for link to webstore*

.

Scribble Slipcase Academic Dairy

WHS Scribble

This eye catching A5 diary which features colourful graphics and a protective plastic slipcase filled with white scribble catchy words is sure to make planning your year ahead more enjoyable! This week to view mid year diary runs from 27th June 2016 to 27th August 2017. Features include stylish rounded corners as well as an inner turquoise paper lining. Also contains a personal information page, blank timetables, yearly calendars for 2016, 2017 and 2018, yearly planner, international and useful information pages, deadlines and exam note pages as well as address and note pages.

Current Price: £9.49

*Click title for link to webstore*

.

Kraft Gold Spots Academic Diary

WHSmith Dots

Keep track of your appointments and exciting plans with this stylish gold foiled spotty mid year diary on kraft. This day to page diary leaves plenty of writing space for your daily activities. Diary runs from 30th June 2016 to 31st August 2017. Features include a sturdy board cover, a pale gold ribbon page marker and kraft inner paper lining. Also contains personal information page, blank timetables, yearly calendars for 2016, 2017 and 2018, yearly planner, international and useful information pages, deadlines and exam note pages, forward planner, address pages and note pages.

Current Price: £9.99

*Click title for link to webstore*

.

Tropicowl A5 Diary

Paperchase Tropic

This cute and very practical A5 diary will help keep you organised. The flexible plastic cover features colourful owl characters on branches with the ‘2016-2017’ printed at the top. It contains a 12 month academic year diary (July 2016 – July 2017) in a week to view format as well as monthly calendars in handy lists, blank timetables and blank pages for notes and contacts.

Current Price: £8.00

*Click title for link to webstore*

.

Slogan ‘Ziplock’ Vinyl Mid Year Diary

Paperchase Slogan a

This cute and very practical mid year diary will help keep you organised. The vinyl sleeve style cover features a silver foil ‘Two Thousand and Sixteen – Seventeen’ title in a cursive font and is printed against a pretty watercolour-effect background.

It contains an academic year week to view diary (June 2016 – July 2017) as well as monthly calendars, year planners, blank timetables and pages for notes and contacts. The handy zip-lock wallet at the back and card slots on the inside covers finish it off nicely.

Current Price: £7.50

*Click title for link to webstore*

pink heart

Can you guess which one I picked? What one’s your favourite? Whatever your thought’s I’d love to read them in the comments below so do stop by to say a quick howdy lovelies :)

Cheerio Chums…

Karen signature

Catch me on:

Twitter   /   Instagram   /   YouTube   /   Facebook

Until I Met You: Awesome Things About Being A Mum…

me and ems

Whoever suggests being a parent is easy is either in complete state of denial or 5 years old & cuddling a Tiny Tears doll. I’m convinced of this not just from my own experience but from also watching my own mum raise 4 children of her own. Okay, so I admit she made it look a little easier than anticipated… even during those days when I’m pretty sure all she longed for was a one way ticket to an undisclosed desert island with a suitcase full of her favourite tea bags & four finger Kit-Kats. Needless to say I adore her for everything she unknowingly taught me about raising a little person of my own. Nothing was sugar coated – she’s real, honest and fiercely protective of “her wee chicks” as she dotingly called us.

Yep, I know – this post seems totally out of the norm from my usual beauty rambles, but having spent the last few days cooped up & recharging the batteries back to some kind of normality it’s got me feeling all smushy about just how much I wholeheartedly appreciate my own little girl. As much as I could sit here and roll my eyes about every tiny little nuisance that us parents put up with, on the contrary I’m reflecting on all the things I love about having a daughter. All the things that make me smile, those little moments your heart captures and you think to yourself “this little person will never truly understand just what they mean to me”.

I’m sure many of you who are mums (or dads) will already get what I mean – there are days that you can literally feel the arrival of countless grey hairs, but then there’s the other days when you just know you’re beyond blessed to have such an almighty purpose in your life. Well for me, today is one of those days… the blessed kind. And so thank you Emma for everything you do; the morning hugs, always telling me I’m beautiful, asking me if I’d like a cup of tea, kissing me on the cheek as you run outside to play in the garden, breaking my mood by erupting into cheeky fits of giggles when I’m angry, making me little hand drawn cards, putting your absolute heart & soul into revising so darn faithfully for your upcoming exams – even though it’s your summer holidays!!! You deserve everything you wish for, not because you want it but because of the patience & strength you pour into working for it. At only 10 years old you’re inspiring your mum beyond measure. I thought I had determination, until I met you.

pink heart

 So, what’s your plans for today? I’ll be having giggles galore spending time with my daughter, then afterwards I’ll call my mum and tell her all about it 🙂

Cheerio Chums…

Karen signature

Catch me on:

Twitter   /   Instagram   /   YouTube   /   Facebook

I’ve Had Better Days…

not well 1

I really do feel like I’ve a HUGE apology to make chums… I know many of you have left such lovely comments & email catch-up’s over the weekend, most of which I haven’t had a chance to even glance at yet let alone muster up the energy to reply too. Unfortunately I’ve been cooped up since yesterday with my chronic pains flaring up to the point I had to bum shuffle down the blooming stairs in sheer agony *sobs* but also the summer lurgies has been bestowed upon me. I assumed all my sneezing and wheezing on Saturday evening was a kick-ass dose of hayfever (something I’m no stranger to living in the country) however by Sunday lunch time I knew it was so much more than that, and so as I type I’m half buried under a mountain of tissues, nasal sprays, cough relievers & cold remedies. I sound a right bundle of fun, eh?! *aahhh choo*

not well 3

It was only as I was wrapped up under a blanket yesterday afternoon that I thought back to the days when I was a little girl – feeling sick was soooo much nicer as my gran would have made a big pot of vegetable soup, brought me a bottle of Lucozade (you know the 80’s glass dimpled bottle clad in the orange cellophane wrapping) and of course the obligatory punnet of seedless grapes. Cartoons were put on & you just lay there feeling so comfy whilst being fussed over *happy sigh*

Needless to say I’m a mama now, and so lying about for too long isn’t an option as there’s my own little lady to take care off – who I must say is  such a sweetheart to me. Steve has made the yummiest pot of stew I’ve ever tasted and for the entire day I was ordered to rest up whilst they tackled tidying up, housework and topping up my glass with much needed fluids… not to mention the occasionally pineapple ice lolly 🙂 I’m blessed to have such a great wee team who muddle together and allow me to feel sorry for myself for a day or two.

not well 2

So please bear with me chums, I promise I haven’t forgotten about replying to you guys nor am I ignoring your emails, I’m just simply out of order for a few days until I’m feeling a little more able to stay on the computer for a longer period to chat with you all!

pink heart

Really hope everyone had a lovely weekend and that you’re all keeping as well as can be… and if you’ve a few minutes to spare say hello in the comments below – the virtual company would be lovely and it’s always a treat hearing from you guys!

Cheerio Chums…

Karen signature

Catch me on:

Twitter   /   Instagram   /   YouTube   /   Facebook

The Dance Festival…

I know, I know, not a lipstick swatch or mascara wand in sight today – which I must say is very unusual for a beauty blogger HOWEVER as you’s all know from time to time I love to share little snippets of my personal with with y’all considering so many of you have become great blog buddies and just darn right lovely people to write to. Not to mention the fact that I’m far too excited, chuffed, thrilled and proud not to pay homage to what happened last weekend.

So for those of you who aren’t already filled in on the latest shenanigans, my little girl Emma enrolled in a local Irish dancing class last September and needless to say has absolutely adored every moment of it. To be honest I was a bit sceptical a few years ago as to how her health would progress after being diagnosed with Scoliosis (double curve in her spin) Of course being a feisty little Irish lady she hasn’t by any means let it get the better of her and although from time to time she does feel winces of discomfort from it on the whole she’s enjoying life to the full and seemingly winning trophies and medals for her efforts in dancing along the way. So, today my amigos I’ve compiled a little snippet of her very first dance festival that was held on Saturday. There’s also some bonus footage of her dance adjudicator (who’s a pro from Lord of The Dance) at the end of the video for y’all to feast your peepers upon too. How quick is his legs?!?! He’s like lightening!

Emma and Connor

As always I’ll be back once again with my usual beauty uploads next week but for today why not take a few minutes to check out Emma’s first Irish dancing performance and show her some love by leaving a little howdy in the comments below. She’s love to hear from y’all. Hope you enjoy it guys!

Don’t forget, you can subscribe to the Confetti & Curves YouTube channel by *clicking here* so you never miss a future upload!

Cheerio Chums…

Karen signature

Catch me on:

Twitter   /   Instagram   /   YouTube

A New Arrival…

A New Arrival

On yesterday’s catch up post I mentioned I had a little surprise to share with you all pending a few special little photographs of our new arrival…

Maine Coon Kitten 1

Gals, I’d love to introduce you to little Borris, our 9 week old baby Maine Coone kitten. Cuteness overload *swoooon* Ohhh how this past weekend has been such a treat in so many ways… there’s been cooing, giggling and lots of cuddles as we welcomed him into his new forever home.

Maine Coon Kitten 3

Now as many of you know, I already have one gorgeous big boy at home, Gomez, who’s a rather handsome Tuxedo cat. After loosing his playmate Hector last year, Gomez went into a bit of a kitty depression for a while and mulled around looking very sorry for himself.

Gomez Kitten Gomez and Emma

(Gomez as a kitten & all grown up with his favourite human, Emma)

Considering that he has a few issues of his own to contend with we knew that introducing another adult kitty just wouldn’t work, and would stress him out even more than he already has been, so instead we decided to hunt for the perfect little companion that would be fun company for him and the purrrfect little addition for us too. *Apologies for the dreadful cat pun*

Maine Coon Kitten 5 Maine Coon Kitten 2

Little Boris is a Maine Coone which is one of the biggest domestic cat breeds. At 9 weeks old he’s already pretty sturdy for such a young’un. His mama had a gorgeous litter of 3, unfortunately though the little runt of the litter didn’t make it and died a few weeks ago. His little sister is still with mum as she’s very timid and dependant on her just yet but Boris is ready to take on the world – one paw at a time!

Maine Coon Kitten 4 Maine Coon Kitten 9

This little ball of fluff has kept us all entertained this weekend as he’s been climbing up our legs, the sofa, chairs and even attempting to scale the stairs at one stage – of course there was many miaows of protest when Emma disturbed him from his climb for a few cuddles.

Maine Coon Kitten 6

Needless to say he’s fitted in perfectly, so much better than we could have imagined. As predicted he’s a bit confused with Toby (our beagle) who’s beyond eager to make friends, however little Boris isn’t showing him the same love, but moreso returning the gestures with teeny hisses and a few paw swipes. Fiesty huh?

Maine Coon Kitten 10

All in all the house is pretty much loved up right now. Gomez is a little wary of his new play pal but over time I’m sure they’ll become the best of friends. Well, paws crossed on that one!

Cheerio Chums…

Karen signature

Catch me on:

Twitter   /   Instagram   /   YouTube

Behind The Blog featuring Chloe from CNM Beauty…

CNM Beauty

Somehow over the weekend May just happened. Here we are, a new month and summer fast approaching. It feels like the year is passing by in a blink and yet I’ve still so much to achieve on my 2016 ‘To Do’ list. Anyone else with me? However having that one little day off yesterday really helped to clear up a few of the things I’ve been meaning to do for quite some time – including heaps of organising. Which reminds me, if you missed yesterday’s post and are on the hunt for a new home to store your make-up stash then check out Bargain Acrylic Makeup Storage Finds. There’s a few nifty little options to help house a host of beauty goodies!

Talking of beauty, I’ve another talented blog buddy to introduce y’all too today as the gorgeous Chloe from CNM Beauty joins us for a quick chatter about her flourishing beauty & lifestyle blog. Cat lover & chocolate craver with a passion for all things beauty is how Chloe describes herself… sounds like your kinda blogger? Then why not check out her online haven for yourself, right after you’ve caught up with her her fun-filled interview below of course!!

chloemartin

In only 5 words describe what readers can expect from your blog:

Beauty, reviews, skincare, tips and opinions

.

What inspired you to start blogging?

I started watching beauty YouTube videos a long time ago and I have always wanted to do something like that, but never had the confidence to start making videos. So I decided to create a blog instead and instantly loved it.

 .

Tell us about your blog name… what made you decide on it?

Well, my actual blog address is ‘chloemartinn’ but I decided to keep it and give my blog a little nickname instead, which is ‘CNMbeauty’. I kept ‘chloemartinn’ as my address because that is my username on social media like Instagram and Twitter, so it just makes things easier.

.

Do you ever suffer from Blogger’s Block & if so how do you overcome it?

Yes, I did suffer from it a couple of weeks ago but I keep a little list on my phone of potential posts I could do, so they always gets me back into it. Also, I always find that going on Instagram helps to motivate me and give me new ideas.

My Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chloemartiinn/

.

What’s your favourite post to date? 

Most probably the post about ‘Hair-do and don’ts – Collab with Madison Reed’. This is because it was the first ever collab I did on my blog and it was so exciting!

https://chloemartinn.wordpress.com/2016/01/21/hair-do-and-donts-collab-with-madison-reed/

.

Describe your everyday clothes style:

I love my Black Topshop Joni Jeans, so if you ever see me then I’ll probably be wearing those. Also, I like to switch up my shoes, from high boots to flats. I think my everyday clothes style would be simple, comfy but with a splash of colour!

.

What are your current top 3 beauty items?

Mac – New York Apple lipstick

Review on my blog-

https://chloemartinn.wordpress.com/2016/01/16/new-york-apple-mac-lipstick/

No7 Stay Perfect Primer

Review on my blog-

https://chloemartinn.wordpress.com/2016/01/19/n7-stay-perfect-primer-review/

Spectrum Highlighter Brush

.

How do you like to relax & unwind after a stressful day?

A big bar of chocolate, my duvet, the TV and maybe a few cuddles from my boyfriend.

.

Describe your ideal Saturday night:

Lots of food (especially Chinese!) and watching ‘Take Me Out’ on television.

.

What do you do to relax?

I like to have a nice bath or shower, do a face mask and paint my nails.

.

Everyone has their bad habits, what’s yours?

Mine is not too often but sometimes I get really lazy when it comes to taking off my makeup. Some days I love doing it but others I just don’t want to, and end up taking it all off with a makeup wipe (which I know is bad!)…

.

What’s your most cherished childhood memory?

This is a hard one… but it probably has to be when my family got our first dog, which we still have! And we have another dog now too, oh and two cats!

.

What was your favourite school subject?

Well, I am still in Sixth Form so I’ll tell you my favourite subject from GCSE and then my favourite from A-Levels. My favourite GCSE subject was either business or music, and for A-Levels I think it is English Language.

.

What’s your dream job?

I never know how to answer this question because I honestly don’t know. I’m not sure if I want to go to University yet or just start to get a job somewhere. It’s a tricky one!

.

Where do you see yourself in 5 years?

Hopefully in a job that I enjoy, in a nice house and in a happy relationship J

.

What top 5 things are on your bucket list?

Skydive

Climb the Sydney Harbour Bridge

Have a beauty/makeup room in my house

Go to Pairs

Have a shopping spree in New York

.

What’s your biggest achievement to date?

When I was in year 11 I achieved my Bronze Duke of Edinburgh Award, I wish I did silver and Gold but it is a lot to cope with, along with GCSE’s and Sixth Form.

.

Who inspires you?

Lots of people inspire me, when I started Sixth Form I made sure to surround myself with people that inspire me and support me. But if we are talking about who inspires me to do my blog then it would be people like Tanya Burr, Inthefrow and Niomi Smart.

.

Do you have a favourite inspirational quote?

I’m not really sure if it’s inspirational but my dad always says this to me – “If you don’t ask, you don’t get”

 .

What top tips would you give to someone who is thinking of starting their own blog?

Just be yourself, don’t be scared to create a blog, come up with a great blog username, have a good camera, find people who have similar blogs to yours and make new friends, I’m always around for a chat!

.

QUICK FIRE QUESTIONS:

Tea or Coffee = Neither! 

Coke or Pepsi = Coke

Messy mayhem or Super Organised = Super organised

Cute kitten or Playful puppy = Cute kitten

Night In or Night Out = Night in

Heels or Flats = Heels

Lip Stick or Lip Gloss = Lip gloss

Rock Chick or Pop Princess = Rock chick

Paperback or E-book = Paperback

.

Contact Chloe:

Twitter: https://twitter.com/chloemartiinn

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chloemartiinn/

Blog: https://chloemartinn.wordpress.com/

Google+: https://plus.google.com/u/0/10956397152942487814

Gmail: Chloemartin863@gmail.com

Don’t forget: If you would like your blog featured on Behind The Blog then get in touch via the contact page by clicking *here*, I’d love to hear from you!

Thanks so much for reading & of course do say hi in the comments below… we adore a good chatter here on Confetti & Curves

Karen signature

 

Behind The Blog featuring Tessa from Bubbles & Macaroons…

Bubbles and Macaroons

Howdy beauty chums…

As per usual a big thanks to all who checked out yesterdays post: Nail Stamping Kit For Beginners! I have to say it’s always pretty weird filming from an angle that I’m not in view, as my hands seem to do most of the talking in this one 😀 Nevertheless you guys left some awesome comments! I do hope all you manicure addicts interested in cheering up the claws with some fun nail art give it a go. It’s such an affordable little kit, and one that’ll undoubtedly start a whole obsession with collecting exciting nail & stamping goodies. So if you haven’t checked it out then why not pop over and see just how easy peasy it is to dress up your digits 🙂

However, it’s time to prep the virtual sofa yet again as we welcome our second blogger of the week… it’s the gorgeous Tessa from Bubbles and Macaroons! How cute is that blog name? Apart from having as sweet a name as she is, Tessa is an avid beauty blogger and cosmetic craver who loves to fill our news feeds with fabulous news, reviews and great make-up looks to help inspire! So if you haven’t’ already popped over to get acquainted her virtual haven then get clicking gals – of course not before we take a quick peek Behind The Blog…

Tessa Bubbles and Macaroons

In only 5 words describe what readers can expect from your blog:

Readers can expect beauty looks, reviews, tips, inspiration and fun!

.

What inspired you to start blogging?

At first, my blog was a project in my journalism studies. I am now in my second year and the lecturers encouraged us to start an online project in any medium with the thing you love the most. I always loved writing and make-up and fashion is my biggest passion. I took some beauty classes a couple of years ago, which explains my knowledge. Now, my blog has grown out to be my own place. Blogging really relaxes me, and I can write about the things I love the most.  I am inspired to work more everyday so it turns out into a professional blog!

.

Tell us about your blog name… what made you decide on it?

Bubbles and macaroons, yes it looks a bit random, which it was at the time I created my blog! My blogname was literally something that popped into my head at the moment I was building my site. I just decided to roll with it. The only thing I knew was that I wanted something that featured two things so the “and” factor was a necessity. It also had to be English. I am actually a Belgian, so I speak Dutch in everyday life! I love to blog in English because it allows me more, and my network can be bigger than just Belgians and Dutchies. Right now, I actually like my name, ha ha!

.

Do you ever suffer from Blogger’s Block & if so how do you overcome it?

I am lucky to have never experience Blogger’s Block before. I had writer’s block before (as a journalism student) but I never had it on my blog! I see a lot of things around me and then I think: “that should be a good post.” Tips for posts I use are looking into the seasons. What events are happening right now? What does the season require? Usually something pops up then. Another way to overcome it is to read magazines like Elle or Vogue, or watch some YouTube videos. Pinterest helps as well.

.

What’s your favourite post to date? 

That’s a really hard question! I had fun creating every single post that is up on my blog right now, so it is hard to choose. I guess I’ll have to go with my carnival make-up post. There were no borders creating the look since it was carnival. Creativity was the main focus in that post! You can check it out here: https://tessadewolf.wordpress.com/2016/02/12/my-carnival-make-up/

.

Describe your everyday clothes style:

I would have to go with preppy college student. I love this style so much and when in store, I tend to reach for preppy clothing the most. I have other things as well, but mostly this style. It makes me feel confident, classy and successful. And you know what they say: a well-dressed woman is a successful woman! Oh well, everything can help, right?

.

What are your current top 3 beauty items?

My absolute number one is the Urban Decay Naked 3 palette. I take it with me to the student house, on holidays, friends,… I love the shades and you can use the palette for any occasion! Number 2 would have to be the Yves Saint Laurent Touche éclat foundation. It is such a healthy looking foundation and it looks so natural. I use the smallest pump possible and distribute it all over my face to freshen up my complexion. Number 3 is the Maybelline Brow Drama brow gel. I cannot go without filling in my eyebrows and with this product you are ready in 10 seconds! The product lasts forever as well.

.

How do you like to relax & unwind after a stressful day?

I like to take a long hot shower and then watch some Netflix in bed. Netflix is essential in my life!

.

Describe your ideal Saturday night:

Since I go out with my friends on Friday night, Saturday is usually a stay-in evening. I study late, because I am a perfectionist, and after that, my parents and I go out for some delicious food and watching tv together, while my dearest friend Sammie (the cat) sleeps in between us.

.

What do you do to relax?

Same thing as I said above, Netflix is my life guys, it literally is. Ha ha! Who’s with me?

.

Everyone has their bad habits, what’s yours?

I have the bad habit of staying up wayyyy too late and then waking up wayyyy too late in the morning. I just can’t get myself in bed before 11:30. In the morning it is same but the other way around. I just sleep too long. My rhythm is just totally confused! (Let’s blame it on the student life). I tend to make any appointments I need to go to in the morning, so I have to wake up early, like I have to for morning classes at college.

.

What’s your most cherished childhood memory?

That’s a hard one, because I had a very nice childhood, so it is hard to pick just one. Maybe I pick the first time I went to Disneyland. I was about nine years old and we were already on a vacation in France where I made some friends, we played on the beach and had the best time. When my parents dropped the bomb that we were going to Disneyland, my summer couldn’t go wrong!

.

What was your favourite school subject?

I really liked history. At college I still have a lot of history, since journalists need to know what is happening and happened around the world. I love the stories and most of the times, I try to imagine what it was like to live in that specific period.

.

What’s your dream job?

I would love to be a successful journalist at a womens’ magazine like Vogue or Elle. Then I would be doing the things I love the most as a job! Writing, taking pictures and talking about beauty and fashion.

.

Where do you see yourself in 5 years?

Ideal, I would have successful job and met the love of my life. More realistic, I hope to still work at a nice place and have my own apartment or something!

.

What top 5 things are on your bucket list?

Traveling, a lot!

Visit Thailand

Visit Dubai

Go to the ABC islands

A roadtrip through America

Start my own beauty and fashion magazine

.

What’s your biggest achievement to date?

I would have to go with passing my first year in journalism college without any retests. Here in Belgium, it is very common to have so, so I was very proud to pass without them!

.

Who inspires you?

I am much inspired by a lot of beautyguru’s on Youtube. They inspired me to start this blog as well!

.

Do you have a favourite inspirational quote?

I do not really have a favourite, mostly “positive and get things done”-quotes are my favourites!

.

What top tips would you give to someone who is thinking of starting their own blog?

Do not overthink. Just do what you like and see your blog as your own personal space where you can put your own thoughts. If somebody doesn’t like it, well then just click the close button. Your blog is your space in the first place, so you should be your number one fan and be proud of it. That’s my golden rule!

.

QUICK FIRE QUESTIONS:

Tea or Coffee = Coffee for the win!

Coke or Pepsi = Definitely Coke

Messy mayhem or Super Organised =Super organised

Cute kitten or Playful puppy = Cute kitten (crazy catloveralert!)

Night In or Night Out = Night out! You are just one time in young in your life, right?

Heels or Flats =Heels, because I am so short, haha

Lip Stick or Lip Gloss = Lipstick

Rock Chick or Pop Princess =Pop princess

Paperback or E-book = Paperback

Contact Tessa:

 

I would love it if you check out my blog! You can find the link here: www.tessadewolf.wordpress.com

Instagram: @dewolftessa

Twitter: @dewolftessa

Pinterest: @dewolftessa

Facebook: Bubbles and macaroons blog

“I would like to thank Karen for this lovely opportunity. I am so thankful for her to let me fill in this interview, it means a lot! My blog is still very small, so I am happy with every support I get. Karen, you are amazing! Xoxo, Tessa”

**Thanks sooo much for the kind words Tessa ❤ Such a pleasure having you feature & getting to know more about you! Keep up the awesome blogging work 🙂

Don’t forget: If you would like your blog featured on Behind The Blog then get in touch via the contact page by clicking *here*, I’d love to hear from you!

Thanks so much for reading & of course do say hi in the comments below… we adore a good chatter here on Confetti & Curves

Karen signature

Behind The Blog featuring Jessica from Semi Sweet Tooth…

Semi Sweet Tooth

Hey Beauty Buddies,

Firstly a maaahoosive thank you to all who stopped by yesterdays post to check out the rather fun HUGE Boots Haul! As I previously mentioned, so many of you have been inspiring me to try a whole wealth of drug store goodies so I can’t wait to get started… keep an eye out for plenty of reviews coming soon, and don’t forget to let me know if there’s something specific you’d like to know about so I can be sure to take a few extra notes 😉

However onto today’s post as I’m super chuffed to introduce y’all to the gorgeous Jessica who’s joining us on the virtual sofa to chat about behind the scenes of her blossoming fashion & lifestyle blog Semi Sweet Tooth. I’m pretty sure many of you will be familiar with this talented gals blog already, however for those of you who aren’t be sure to pop over and check it out! Jessica has just recently made the decision to follow her dream into blogging full time *high five huni* Go Jess!!!! I’m sure she’ll make a roaring success out of it, and of course we wish her all the very best in her exciting new venture ❤ She’s incredibly friendly, welcoming and always enjoys a chatter, so if lashings of personality & fun filled posts sounds like your kinda thing then I’m pretty sure you’ll adore her online haven every bit as much as I do!

Anyways, enough from me, time to get comfy as we take a peek Behind The Blog

IMG_0225072

In only 5 words describe what readers can expect from your blog:

Fitness, fashion, food, fun… and positivity!

.

What inspired you to start blogging?

I started my first blog about 25 goals I wanted to accomplish by the time I was 25 years old.  Once that was completed, I wanted to keep going!  It became my creative outlet and I thrived on the positive community.  Here I am, still going strong several years later!

.

Tell us about your blog name… what made you decide on it?

I was looking for something that encompassed a life of balance.  Yes, I work out, but I also love sweets.  And thus… Semi-Sweet Tooth!

.

Do you ever suffer from Blogger’s Block & if so how do you overcome it?

Of course!  But I have my handy notebook that I bring with me almost everywhere and write down post ideas regularly.  Inspiration is everywhere!

.

What’s your favourite post to date?

Oh goodness, this is a tough one!  Two actually come to mind:

The Proposal: Because it was about such a huge, life-changing day.

6 30 15_1

An Ode to Girlfriends: In life, my girlfriends mean the world to me and keep me sane. This was the best way I could think of to say thank you. 🙂

.

Describe your everyday clothes style:

I go for classic and traditional everyday style.  If it gives any hints, my recent style icons are Joanna Gaines, Ashley Olsen, Audrey Hepburn, and Jackie O.

.

What are your current top 3 beauty items?

Arbonne Mascara, Chantecaille Highlighter, and, recently, hair milk.

.

How do you like to relax & unwind after a stressful day?

A glass of Red and a great book or favourite show.  (For those in America, “New Girl,” “Modern Family,” & “Fixer Upper.”)

.

Describe your ideal Saturday night:

After a great morning workout and healthy brunch with the girls, I’d have a steak dinner and glass of red with my fiancée and get early to bed.  Spending the day laughing and smiling with my friends and family sounds perfect to me!

.

What do you do to relax?

A great workout typically gets the job done, but if I really need to relax after a tough day, I go with yoga, meditation, or some time with my Bible.

.

Everyone has their bad habits, what’s yours?

Ugh… biting my nails and cuticles.  The worst.

.

What was your favourite school subject?

English, although I’ve used a steady mix of Math and English ever since that elementary school.

.

What’s your dream job?

When I was little, it was to be a rock star.  So why not?  I want to be a rock star!

.

What top 5 things are on your bucket list? Living big…

Visit every continent

Become a published author

Be a parent to happy, loving children

Have a bit part in a major motion picture (no speaking lines necessary)

Be President of the United States (told you… living big)

.

What’s your biggest achievement to date?

Growing into my own and becoming my own person has been quite the achievement, although that’s an ongoing process.

What would technically be my largest achievements would be graduating from college, competing on Team U.S.A. for ice skating (we won!), or starting my own brand and business with Semi-Sweet Tooth.

.

Who inspires you?

Several people, but primarily my parents.  They’re both incredibly different, one entirely left brain and one entirely right.  Both have inspired me in different ways and they’ve made me more confident and optimistic than many in the world.  They inspire me to achieve and follow my intuition every day.

.

Do you have a favourite inspirational quote?

“Why settle for a spark when you can light a fire instead.”

 .

What top tips would you give to someone who is thinking of starting their own blog?

Just start writing and write consistently.  Be open to the possibilities and see where it takes you!

.

QUICK FIRE QUESTIONS:

Tea or Coffee = Tea

Coke or Pepsi = Pepsi

Messy mayhem or Super Organised = Super Organized

Cute kitten or Playful puppy = Playful Puppy

Night In or Night Out = Night In (or dinner out, but bed early)

Heels or Flats = Heels

Lip Stick or Lip Gloss = Lip Stick

Rock Chick or Pop Princess = Pop Princess

Paperback or E-book = Paperback

pink heart

Contact Jessica:

Blog – http://semisweettooth.com/

Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/semisweettooth/

Twitter – https://twitter.com/semisweettooth1

Don’t forget: If you would like your blog featured on Behind The Blog then get in touch via the contact page by clicking *here*, I’d love to hear from you!

Thanks so much for reading & of course do say hi in the comments below… we adore a good chatter here on Confetti & Curves :)

Karen signature

Behind The Blog featuring Shelly Ray…

Shelly Ray

Howdy chums,

Firstly a huge thanks to everyone who checked out yesterdays post How To Deep Clean & Remove Grubby Stains from your Blender Sponge. As a bit of a neat freak, I’m a stickler for keeping things clean and tidy – and my makeup sponges are no exception! So many of you found it a really useful little formula, and I can honestly say it’s worked wonders for me – heck just check out the final results, they speak for themselves ladies 😉 I forgot to mention, if any of you’s are giving it a go do let me know how you’s get on, I’d love an update. And thank y’all from the bottom of my socks for leaving such awesome tips of your own too!!

However onto today’s post as I get down to introducing our second blogger of the week, the lovely Shelly Ray from her lifestyle blog Shelly Ray, Ramblings of a 20 Something. Shelly’s blog is a fun mixture of thoughts, musings, reviews and life updates… sprinkled with a dose of wanderlust and personal ramblings. From posts on landing an exciting new job to long distance relationships, Shelly writes from the heart and with a few awesome tips along the way from her own experiences. It’s personal, friendly, welcoming and a generally lovely blog to catch up on, so if this sounds something a little truly unique to cast your eyes upon then do get yourself over and check it out!

However before you go anywhere; pour yourself a cuppa & curl up for five whilst we take a peek behind the blog…

sd_shelly_headshot

In only 5 words describe what readers can expect from your blog:

Fun, personal opinions and insights.

.

What inspired you to start blogging?

My dad is actually the person who first suggested I start a blog. He writes a blog for his business, and he thought I might enjoy it too! Turns out, he was right. I tried blogging a few times in high school and then really got into it when I studied abroad for a semester in Spain.

.

Tell us about your blog name… what made you decide on it?

My blog name is actually just my first and middle name. When I was younger I thought that Shelly Ray could be my stage name when I became a famous actress, but a blog will have to do for now.

.

Do you ever suffer from Blogger’s Block & if so how do you overcome it?

Oh yes, I definitely suffer from it. I’ll go through phases of having no problem writing, and then phases of suddenly having no ideas and no motivation to blog. What helps me is to actually set a day and time that I want to commit to writing so that I can’t keep making excuses. I also like to get out of the house and head to a coffee shop to write, because once I’m there I don’t have the option of watching YouTube or TV instead of writing!

.

What’s your favourite post to date?

I think my favorite post would have to be Be proud of yourself. I had a moment of inspiration, headed to a coffee shop, and just typed away until I finished it. I have gotten a lot of positive feedback from it, and it also just made me feel really good to get my feelings written down like that.

.

Describe your everyday clothes style:

I would say my everyday style is casual-chic (I just made up that term on the spot, aren’t I clever?) I tend to go for comfort over fashion and can hardly ever be caught wearing heels or a dress. However, I do like to look put together and cute. A nice sweater, jeans and boots is my go-to for Winter.

.

How do you like to relax & unwind after a stressful day?

I like to come home, make a hot cup of tea and/or treat myself to a yummy dessert and watch some YouTube, or whatever TV show I am into at the moment.

.

Describe your ideal Saturday night:

My ideal Saturday night would be very relaxed and low-key. I would probably want to go out to dinner somewhere new, then invite some friends over to play Cards Against Humanity or something fun like that, and just hang out. Nothing too crazy.

.

What’s your most cherished childhood memory?

When I was eleven, my parents, younger sister and I went on a six-week-long vacation and visited a bunch of different states! We camped for part of it and stayed in hotels for part of it and just had an awesome time exploring new places.

.

What was your favourite school subject?

My favorite subject was always English in high school, because I love reading and writing. In college I took some fun electives like Film Music where I learned all about movie soundtracks.  

.

What’s your dream job?

 I would love to be an author. I’ve had a few ideas for books throughout the years, but never taken the time to actually write one. I think being a full-time writer would be awesome!

.

Where do you see yourself in 5 years?

I see myself in more of a leadership/influential role in my career, with a successful blog and maybe even a book written (or at least partly written). As far as my personal life, I see myself being married by that point, which is kind of crazy to think about. But also exciting!

.

What top 5 things are on your bucket list?

The top item on my bucket list would have to be writing a book, like I just explained. As for the other four, I actually can’t think of specific things besides that I really want to travel more! So I’ll give my top four travel destinations: Brazil, Greece, Norway, Germany.

.

What’s your biggest achievement to date?

I would say my biggest achievement would be studying abroad. It’s actually the topic that got me started with blogging (check out my study abroad blogs). But I was really really nervous to leave behind my friends and family for an entire semester, and it was very difficult at times, but I got through it and I will always look back on my time abroad and feel proud of myself for doing it!

.

Who inspires you?

My family and friends are my main inspirations. I feel really lucky to be surrounded by amazing people in my life.

.

Do you have a favourite inspirational quote?

“Close your eyes and imagine the best version of you possible. That’s who you really are; let go of any part of you that doesn’t believe it.” C. Assaad

 .

What top tips would you give to someone who is thinking of starting their own blog?

My main tip is to just go for it! You won’t know if it’s for you until you try it. I also recommend to be patient and stick with it. As I said above, Bloggers Block is definitely a real thing and sometimes blogging might feel more like a chore than a hobby. But if you stick with it I promise it will be worth it!

 .

 

QUICK FIRE QUESTIONS:

Tea or Coffee = Tea

Coke or Pepsi = Neither. I actually never drink soda.

Messy mayhem or Super Organised = Super organized

Cute kitten or Playful puppy = Both!

Night In or Night Out = Night in

Heels or Flats = Flats

Lip Stick or Lip Gloss = Lip stick

Rock Chick or Pop Princess = Pop Princess

Paperback or E-book = Paperback

pink heart

Contact Shelly:

Twitter: @shellycrossland

Instagram: @shellycrossland

Blog: shellyray.wordpress.com

Don’t forget: If you would like your blog featured on Behind The Blog then get in touch via the contact page by clicking *here*, I’d love to hear from you!

Thanks so much for reading & of course do say hi in the comments below… we adore a good chatter here on Confetti & Curves  :)

Karen signature