Behind The Blog… featuring Sshhbeauty

Hey Beauty Buddies…

I’m seriously loving the effect these gorgeous sunny days are having on everyone’s moods, however one down side I recently discovered was how drastically I’m in need of a tootsie overhaul… especially after digging out my flip flops yesterday evening! Considering my feet have literally been incased in boots/furry slippers/thick fluffy socks for the last six months you can imagine the shock they encountered when finally exposed to natural sunlight… and no, they haven’t burned up or turned to dust before you ask!! Thankfully ladies, my new Lavendar nail polish I aquired ownership of in yesterday’s Beauty Bargain Bag Reveal video should put right to all my toe woes! Time for a pamper pedi this weekend I reckon, so any suggestions for great feet treats would be warmly welcomed gals 😉

However enough of my blathering as it’s time for another fun filled Behind The Blog *cheers of joy* Today’s blogger on the virtual sofa of sassiness is the lovely Sshhbeauty… have you checked this awesome beauty haven out yet?! If not you simply have to get yourself over pronto – if your a cosmetic craver (like moi) then you’ll instantly be hooked! Firstly though, pop your feet up & get to know this incredibly talented (& super lovely) blogger…

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

Reviews, favourites, tutorials, first impressions and general beauty chats!

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What inspired you to start blogging?

Other bloggers! And also the fact that most people around me aren’t very into makeup and beauty – having a blog is a great way to chat to like-minded people.

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

‘sshhbeauty’ got it’s name because I’m anonymous. Get sshhbeauty, as in ‘don’t tell anyone’! That’s why you won’t see any selfies on my page; as much as I’d like to post them I keep my little corner on the hush to those around me.

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

I think all bloggers suffer from Blogger’s Block – if you don’t I’m very, very jealous! Because I blog about beauty I just have a dig through my makeup stash or create a makeup look to tell you all about, so I suppose I can ‘cure’ myself pretty quickly!

Having a look for inspiration on other blogs is also a great way to get writing, but make sure you don’t copy off other people’s ideas!

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What’s your favourite post to date?

I suppose I’ve got two favourites (is that cheating? Sorry Karen!). The first is my recent ‘products worth the save’ post, in which I shared all of my top drugstore picks! I love rifling through my makeup stash and rediscovering little treasures. Plus, who doesn’t like to save pennies where possible?

https://sshhbeauty.wordpress.com/2015/03/21/products-worth-the-save/

And my other favourite is my MAC haul… Not so much for writing it, but for the beauty chat I had with you all in the comments! You guys are so lovely.

https://sshhbeauty.wordpress.com/2015/01/27/i-went-to-mac-oh-dear/

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Describe your everyday clothes style:

I don’t really have an ‘everyday’ clothes style – what I end up wearing is generally very random and depends on things like the weather and what I’m doing!

In winter my top clothing item has been oversized wooly jumpers – I practically lived in them! I like a few different ones, but my favourite is a big fluffy grey one from ASOS, it’s just so comfy!

Seeing as the weather’s heating up now though, I’m loving denim shorts – especially ones with white lace around the edges. SO cute! And just to clarify, it has to be REALLY hot for me to wear them.

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What are your current top 3 beauty items?

Narrowing my favourites down to three is a bit tricky, I have to say. I’m loving the Maybelline Brow Drama at the minute – sorting out my unruly brows is such a chore in the morning, but this is basically perfect eyebrows in a bottle and I absolutely love it.

I’m also really enjoying the GlamLASH Mascara from Laura Geller – something that I’ve never heard of before but am so impressed with! It lengthens and separates the lashes amazingly and lasts a really long time.

My final favourite is the Urban Decay eyeshadows – especially the ones in my Naked On The Run, they’re just the best on the market. Well done Urban Decay, you get it right every time!

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

Ooh, a sugary cake after dinner always puts a smile on my face haha!

And come onto WordPress and Bloglovin’ of course – looking at makeup always cheers me up!

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Describe your ideal Saturday night:

I’m not a big night-out kind of girl, although I won’t turn down one once in a while. My ideal Saturday night would consist of a Lush bath bomb, cosy PJs, chocolate and something good on the TV, like I’m a Celebrity (although I know that it’s not on anymore! *sad face*).

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What do you do to relax?

A deep bubble bath (a Lush one, preferably) and a face mask (Origins, hydrate my skin please!). You can’t go wrong, really.

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Everyone has their bad habits, what’s yours?

Leaving a trail of mess behind me! Honestly, I’m so organised with my diary and things like that, but in person I just can’t keep tidy. I hate mess with a vengeance, but I can’t help but cause it!

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What’s your most cherished childhood memory?

There’s so many! I’ll always remember my first day at school, I couldn’t forget it.

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What was your favourite school subject?

Textiles! I’ve always been a slave to fashion.

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What’s your dream job?

Can you be a makeup collector for your job? I’d be great at it.

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Where do you see yourself in 5 years?

Wow, I have no idea! Hopefully just happy, and still blogging! I’m going to stick at it!

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What top 5 things are on your bucket list?

To visit New York at Christmas time, and be there for New Year! I just think that it would be amazing.

To send a letter in a bottle. How cute would that be, the thought that someone, somewhere, might read it? I love sentimental things like that.

Swim in the Great Barrier Reef – something I don’t think I could ever do (I’m too scared of spiders to even think of going anywhere near Australia, don’t laugh), but it would be an incredible experience nevertheless. If not this, to swim with dolphins! So sweet.

To buy something from NARS! Hopefully I can tick this off soon.

To surprise my family with something amazing, like a holiday for them all. I’d just love to see their faces when I told them.

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What’s your biggest achievement to date?

One of them is definitely gaining 550 blog followers! I never thought that around 550 of you would enjoy listening to me having a ramble, honestly.

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Who inspires you?

Anyone who has worked as hard as anything to get where they are today. I salute you!

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Do you have a favourite inspirational quote?

“If opportunity doesn’t knock, build a door” – Milton Berle. Live your life the way you want to! Don’t wait for opportunities to come; grab life in both hands and really run with it.

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

What are you waiting for? You should totally give blogging a try! What’s the worst that could happen?

Post regularly to keep your readers engaged, and customise your blog until it’s just how you like it! Also, tag your posts with tags that reflect what your post is about – it’s the best way to get your content out there!

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QUICK FIRE QUESTIONS:

Tea or Coffee = Neither. I’d much rather have a juice!

Coke or Pepsi = Coke, 100%!

Messy mayhem or Super Organised = SUPER ORGANISED! I hate mess (but I can’t stop making it).

Cute kitten or Playful puppy = Cats all the way; I’m pretty scared of dogs.

Night In or Night Out = Night in with chocolate and I’m sorted.

Heels or Flats = Flats!

Lip Stick or Lip Gloss = Gloss – it’s just so low-maintenance.

Rock Chick or Pop Princess = Pop princess… I think?

Paperback or E-book = Paperback! Nothing beats the smell of a new book.

Contact Sshhbeauty:

Blog: https://sshhbeauty.wordpress.com/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/sshhbeauty – @sshhbeauty

Instagram: https://instagram.com/sshhbeauty/ – @sshhbeauty

Direct email address: sshhbeauty@gmail.com

Bloglovin’: http://www.bloglovin.com/blogs/sshhbeauty-12934593

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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 🙂

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PS: HAVE YOU CHECKED OUT THE CONFETTI & CURVES GIVEAWAY YET? *CLICK HERE* TO FIND OUT HOW YOU COULD WIN AN URBAN DECAY NAKED PALETTE OF YOUR CHOICE!

Behind The Blog… featuring Kate from KateKiwii

Hey Beauty Buddies,

Hows your week been? Mine has been glorious, what a difference a few rays of sunshine can make! Suddenly the gloomy winter days seem a thing of the past as it seems everyone has abruptly broke out the bbq’s, donned the sunglasses and dusted off the garden furniture to bask in the pre-summer sun – even if there is a little nip in the air, it doesn’t effect the great moods.

Carrying on the cheeriness into todays post I’m deeelighted to feature our second blogger of the week on Behind The Blog. As always, if you’re new to Confetti & Curves (friendly wave) & not entirely sure what this virtual shenanigans is all about then *click here* to bring yourself up to speed – you may even find yourself getting involved. Why the heck not?!

So today’s lovely lady is the gorgeous Kate from KateKiwii! If you haven’t stopped by her cheery little corner of the interweb then get yourself over there and say a big hello. Like most of us, she’s a bit of a beauty addict but also enjoys featuring a few other exciting topics for us to feast our eyes upon. However before you do anything, settle yourself on your favourite perch to catch up with Kate as we find out a little more about the girl Behind The Blog…

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

 Beauty, Décor, Lifestyle, Reviews and inspiration

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What inspired you to start blogging?

 I was inspired by other bloggers and I loved reading their blog post’s and I loved the thought of having my own place to put my reviews and ideas. I also wanted to become a place where people could go to find the answers to their beauty questions and other things

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

 Katekiwii came from an old nickname, I put it together with my name and it kind of clicked and ever since then I’ve used it as my name for a lot of things.

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

 Yes all the time! It’s not a bad thing but it can be a little annoying at times, but I then I either go out or watch a film and the inspiration for a blog post idea just pop’s into my head. I also keep a notepad where I jot little ideas down so when I get writers block I can open my notepad and look at pasts blog post ideas.

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What’s your favourite post to date? 

 My favourite post has to be my ‘ How I Curl Short Hair’ http://katekiwii.com/2014/11/07/how-i-curl-short-hair/  I loved doing this little post as I never had the confidence going in front of a camera so when I got my new camera I thought why not, I sat down and I felt so relaxed and it gave me the confidence to start putting my face more on my blog.

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Describe your everyday clothes style:

 In the day I wear a lot of dresses with a jumper over the top, black tights, boots and my favourite coat over the top. When I’m at home the comfy clothes get thrown on.

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What are your current top 3 beauty items?

 The No7 day cream, No7 intense volume mascara and the Eyeko black skinny eyeliner are my 3 favourite beauty items I can’t go without

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

 A hot bubble bath & a facemask! That’s the first thing I do when I get home after a stressful day, I then like to get my pj’s on and get into bed and binge watch a series on Netflix.

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Describe your ideal Saturday night:

 Takeaway, Netflix, comfy clothes and good company

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What do you do to relax?

 Watch films, read a book and a bubble bath. These things make me relax so much.

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Everyone has their bad habits, what’s yours?

 Buying a takeaway when I know I have food in the fridge I need to cook, I could save so much money but I’m so lazy when it comes to making my own tea!

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What’s your most cherished childhood memory?

 Going to wales with my family when I was younger. I cherish these memories so much as they were such happy holidays.

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What was your favourite school subject?

 I loved art as I was more creative and I loved to paint unrealistic things.

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What’s your dream job?

 I would love to have a job in the media industry; at the moment I’m really into documentary filming, as I love watching documentaries so filming it would be amazing! Also my hobby becoming my full time job would just be amazing.

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Where do you see yourself in 5 years?

 Hopefully in my dream job, also living in my own place with my boyfriend.

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What top 5 things are on your bucket list?

Having a job

Graduating university

Getting my own place

Learning to drive

Having a successful blog

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What’s your biggest achievement to date?

 Getting into university!

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Who inspires you?

 My dad

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Do you have a favourite inspirational quote?

 ‘Never let the fear of striking out keep you from playing the game’ A Cinderella movie

I love this film and the quote always stays with me

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

 Do what you love and don’t like anyone or anything put you off doing what you love.

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QUICK FIRE QUESTIONS:

Tea or Coffee = Tea

 

Coke or Pepsi = Coke

 

Messy mayhem or Super Organised = I’m In-between

 

Cute kitten or Playful puppy = Cute kitten

 

Night In or Night Out = Night In

 

Heels or Flats = Flats

 

Lip Stick or Lip Gloss = Lipstick

 

Rock Chick or Pop Princess = Rock Chick

 

Paperback or E-book = Nothings better then a paperback book!

Contact Kate:

http://katekiwii.com

Katekiwii – Twitter

Katekiwii – Instagram

Katekiwii – bloglovin

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

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

Tried & Tested: Claire’s Natural Shimmer Eyeshadow Palette

Product:

Claires Accessories 5 Piece Natural Shimmer Eyeshadow Palette

Where I purchased it & cost:

Claires Accessories Store, £4.50 – this product is also available from their website

*Click here* to check it out!

Manufacturer Description:

– 5 x 0.8g

– 1 Double ended sponge applicator included

– Packaging: Plastic

Packaging:

I’ll admit, the casing is pretty basic, nothing major to shout about but then again the palette costs a mere £4.50 so it’s pretty safe to say it falls well within expectations. The outer branding looks really pretty and of course the palette comes with it’s own double ended applicator – which is actually quite robust compared to some of the basic applicator freebies supplied with well known ‘drug store’ brands.

Pros:

Honestly ladies I was pretty darned shocked when I spotted Claires make-up collection whilst popping into my local store for some hair clips. I had absolutely no idea they had their own range of beauty goodies. Being a fanatic of shimmer I fell in love with this palette instantaneously as the shades are stunning… in fact it’s so pretty I almost didn’t want to smear the individual little pots of perfection when I got it home! I know, I’m a weirdo – but things look so much prettier when they’re brand new & unused *sob*

The consistency of the eye-shadow has a creamy texture and applies well onto the eye lid. The light shimmer tone is wonderful for making even the most exhausted of peepers come to life, even after a few simple strokes.

The shadows are easy blendable and somewhat sheer however with a decent eye primer they will stay put for the duration of day/evening. Not bad for £4.50 right?

Cons:

I’ll admit the pigmentation isn’t up there with some of the big players such as Urban Decay, however they are buildable and have a beautiful tone/texture.

The top of the shadows are dusted in a beautiful light glitter that I assumed would have been present throughout the product, unfortunately after the first couple of strokes it becomes apparent it’s simply a pretty topper *sigh* However don’t let that put you off, the shades underneath are still just as impressive without the sprinkle of glimmer.

Re-purchase/Recommend?

Would I repurchase? Absolutely!

Would I recommend? Most definitely!

Verdict:

Claire’s have really impressed me with this sassy little palette. Okay the packaging is basic but the product is fabulous for such an affordable price tag. Considering I’ve had numerous compliments when wearing these shades it always seems a shocker when I tell my admirers it’s a Claire’s eye shadow palette – so few people know about this gorgeous range of make-up must haves! Time to up the promo Claire’s… more beauty addicts need to know about this dazzling collection of goodies.

Overall I’m bestowing it with a rather impressive 8/10

*click here* to check it out gals!

 

Have you tried the Claires Accessories makeup range, if so what was your final verdict? Whatever your thoughts do feel free to leave your feedback in the comments below – as always thanks for reading!

Cheerio Chums…

Behind The Blog… featuring Amber from Amber Unglamor

Hello lovelies…

It seems only a few days ago our last Behind The Blog was featured yet in reality it was a whole week ago! How time flies when you’re having fun right? 😉  So did everyone have a good Christmas? I hope you all got the goodies you wished for and most importantly spent an amazing time with close friends & family. If you’d like to see what I got up to click here for an nosey on Christmas with the Rees’s!

For those of you who happen to be new to Confetti & Curves *friendly wave* or aren’t entirely sure what Behind The Blog is all about then click here to bring yourself up to speed… you just may even find yourself joining in, and why not?! We’d love to hear from you!

So this morning I’m absolutely delighted to present the gorgeous Amber from Amber Unglamor. If you haven’t already visited Ambers blog I suggest you pop over pronto – it’s crammed full of gorgeous make-up looks & reviews that will keep you reading for hours on end! She’s also a very welcoming blogger & enjoys interacting so do leave a little comment saying hi, I know she’d be delighted to hear from you 🙂

Well that’s enough from me – sit back, curl up or stretch out and enjoy getting to know the lovely Amber…

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

Makeup looks, nails, and reviews!

What inspired you to start blogging? 

I have only one close friend with whom I would talk about makeup, and then I moved far away from her. Since then I had been craving conversations about makeup and beauty, and people to share my makeup adventures with! So I started a blog to cultivate a group of people with whom I could share my love of makeup and beauty and hear about their own loves.

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

Because I mainly post images of the makeup I do, I can’t say I’ve had Blogger’s Block. I do frequently fail at having time to post my looks, but that’s a different issue entirely!

What’s your favourite post to date? 

It has to be my very first post: Sunset Eyes. This post embodies everything I like about makeup: creativity and self-expression. https://amberunglamor.wordpress.com/2014/07/31/sunset-eyes-galaxy-chic-palette-bh-cosmetics/

Describe your everyday style:

I like put-together casual. I love a pair of skinny jeans, boots, and a nice top (no t-shirts). Add a scarf and some statement earrings and you’re golden.

What are your current top 3 beauty items?

Hourglass Mineral Veil Primer, Covergirl Outlast Stay Fabulous 3-in-1 foundation, and Too Faced’s Chocolate Soleil bronzer.

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

I like to watch TV while browsing beauty blogs. Lately I’ve been watching a lot of Friends reruns.

Describe your ideal Saturday night:

Casual dinner and a movie out (with a GIANT bucket of buttered popcorn), followed by relaxing on the couch with more TV. (I love TV, what can I say?)

What’s your favourite junk food snack? 

I like Smart Food White Cheddar Popcorn. I could eat my way through a family sized bag in one sitting if you let me.

Everyone has their hidden bad habits, what’s yours?

I sometimes pick at my face, especially if I’m breaking out. I know I shouldn’t do it!

What’s your most cherished childhood memory? 

It’s impossible to pick just one, but I always think back to the many Christmases where I felt like the richest kid in the world. Knowing what I know now about how hard my parents worked and all their sacrifices, I feel like I was an incredibly lucky child to have such wonderful family and to be protected so well from all the bad in the world.

What was your favourite school subject? 

In high school my favorite subject was chemistry. I started out at university as a chemistry major, actually, but I just couldn’t bear all the lab hours so I switched out.

What’s your dream job? 

I would love to work as a writer for a makeup company.

Where do you see yourself in 5 years?

In five years I see myself being done with school and living a comfortable, normal life.

What top 5 things are on your bucket list?

Going on a castles tour of Europe (including the UK), getting my PhD, getting a dog, living in an urban center, and publishing a book.

What’s your biggest achievement to date?

Getting my Master’s degree.

Who inspires you?

I’m inspired by kindness and justice. I can’t help but feel inspired when I see people working hard to make the lives of everyone better, especially by fighting injustice and bettering working and living conditions.

Do you have a favourite inspirational quote?

“If it doesn’t hurt, you’re not learning.”

Name 3 things that’s top of your Christmas list:

This is hard! It’s hard because I want EVERYTHING! I’m such a junkie. If I had to choose three, though they would be: the Lorac Unzipped palette, the Hourglass Modernist eyeshadow palette, and a Fresh Balsam candle from Bath & Body Works.

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

Go for it! Make sure you have an idea of what you want to talk about / show, and just hit it a little bit everyday. Try to be consistent with blogging and make sure you’re engaging with other bloggers not only to build a community but also to keep your creative juices flowing.

QUICK FIRE QUESTIONS:

Tea or Coffee = Tea

 

Coke or Pepsi = Coke

 

Salad Cream or Mayo = Neither!

 

Cute kitten or Playful puppy = Kitten

 

Night In or Night Out = In

 

Heels or Flats = Heels

 

Lip Stick or Lip Gloss = Lipstick

 

Rock Chick or Pop Princess = Rock chick

 

Paperback or E-book = Paperback

 

Contact Amber:

@amberunglamor (Twitter & Instagram)

https://amberunglamor.wordpress.com/

Don’t forget: If you would like your blog to feature in Behind The Blog then please either leave your details below or alternatively get in touch via *here*, I’d love to hear from you.

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