My New Life Book & Personal Organiser for 2017…

If there’s one thing I love when a new year roll’s in, is that with it, rolls shopping for a brand new diary… including an array of accessories: pens, dividers, post-it-notes etc. *happy sigh*

As I’ve stated MANY times before I’m a self-confessed stationery addict. There is (almost) nothing that fills me with more satisfaction that filling in a blank info page of a brand new personal organiser for the very 1st time. I even deliberate over the most ridiculous of details… what style of handwriting I should adopt, what colour ink, where I’ll be positioning my little sheet of mini post-its… the whole event in its entirety is a complete & utter joy AND this year it was even better as I finally got my hands on a planner I’d been lusting over for weeks on end. Is there ANYTHING as painful during a ‘no spend December’ than that horrid panic from wondering if your other half has managed to pick up on your sledgehammer hints and get their order in on time? All to avoid the utter catastrophe of seeing those dreaded 3 words: OUT OF STOCK *eeeeek* Painful huh?

However THIS year I succeeded in ‘taking control’ of the situation… long story short, the Personal Planner is now mine ‘Mwah ha ha’ *evil laugh* Unfortunately, the spend on a brand new Erin Condren was just out of the question. As utterly beautiful as her planners are, when I totted up the shipping etc it was just ridiculously expensive and couldn’t be justified. I’m not a spend-thrift but I know when silly-spending becomes apparent in the grand scheme of things.

So, after taking to the interwebs (for a good old personal organiser browse) my lamps finally caught sight of this little gem – it’s the Organised Mum Life Book. Now before you protest that you’re not a mama, calm your jets, as although they have a wonderful range of helpful planners for busy families, this one is personal! It’s one on one. Perfect.

So if you’re still on the lookout for a personal organiser that doesn’t cost the earth but has lots of helpful planning features then take a peek at this little beauty. However, be quick if you’re ordering as stocks are sold-out on Amazon and extremely limited on the OM website. I’ll link it below if you’re on the verge of treating yourself 😉

www.organised-mum.co.uk

Hope you enjoy the video tour of my new Organised Mum Life Book – don’t forget you can *CLICK HERE* to subscribe to the Confetti & Curves YouTube channel so you don’t miss any future uploads!

Have you treated yourself to a new personal organiser? What do you use to plan ahead with? Whatever your thoughts I’d love to read them in the comments below, so do stop by and say a quick howdy 🙂

Cheerio Chums…

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Ps: This is NOT a sponsored post. Above item was personally purchased as a Christmas gift.

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What I Got For Christmas…

 

Hello lovelies,

How have you all been? I trust everyone has had a fabulous Christmas jolly hols? Well, it was certainly a busy one in our house with the clan visiting for their festive dins, and of course, Santa making his annual stop too…  yes, lots of fabulous new goodies and happy faces all round. A successful day I’d say!

My gorgeous little sis, Leah, even stayed over on Christmas Eve to join in the celebrations and experience the magic of waking up with a very excited little girl (Ems) ready to open her pressies! As for me, well I mustn’t have been too bad this year at all seeing as I had a lovely little pile of goodies with my name on the gift tags… and of course in true YouTube style I thought I’d share my stash with you guys… tell me I’m not the ONLY one obsessed with these types of videos. Either that or I’m far too nosey for my own good 😀

So if you’ve a few minutes to spare and fancy taking a peek at some of the beauty & nail goodies I received then just grab your cuppa and press play. Don’t forget to hit the subscribe button if you don’t want to miss out on the exciting uploads planned over the new year!

Which, reminds me… wishing each and every one of my subscribers a happy & healthy 2017! Thanks so much for all your support over the last year, let’s make the next 12 months even more fabulous 😉

How was your Christmas hols? Did you get any favourite pressies that you’re super excited about? Whatever your thoughts I’d love to read them in the comments below so do stop by and say a quick howdy 

Cheerio Chums…

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Keeping Up With Karen…

You know that scene from Alice In Wonderland when the March Hare scurries past Alice exclaiming “I’m late, I’M LATE!”? Well, that pretty much sums up how my week has been… scurrying around exclaiming I’m late – though when I say ‘scurrying’ I actually mean hobbling *rolls eyes* There’s been so much to do and so little time. Between preparing for our trip to Wales as well as Em’s 1st Transfer Test… there hasn’t been a free moment to catch my breath this week.

Thankfully the first of the 3 transfer tests went without a glitch. It seems such a horrid process for any little primary 7 student to go through as the workload has been utterly gruelling. Seeing her and countless other primary school children flood through the gates of the local grammar school on Saturday morning was heart wrenching. So many anxious little faces and equally anxious parents. There hasn’t been any of this process I can honestly say I’ve enjoyed. Worse still, after her last test in December there’s the waiting game for the results in January, followed by more waiting (well into 2017) to find out what secondary school each child has been accepted into. Such a dragged out process for everyone.

At last we have our trip to Wales to look forward to this week – a break from exams and all the other pressures will do us all the world of good I’m sure. As I’m away, there’ll be a small Blog & YouTube vacation as I very much doubt I’ll get the time or energy with the wedding schedule and family catch ups arranged. However, I do promise I’ve a few super exciting posts lined up over the weeks after I return so I’ll certainly be making up for it!

As for this week’s shenanigans, if you’re in the mood for a glance over what’s been happening on Confetti & Curves lately then why not take a peek at the snippets below. As always, you’re more than welcome to leave a link to any blog posts you’d like me to check out too!

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1000 YouTube Subscribers… THANK YOU

Tuesday’s post paid tribute to reaching yet another awe-inspiring milestone = 1000 YouTube followers!! I still can’t quite believe my little channel has snowballed this far… a huge thank you to everyone who’s clicked the subscribe button! You’ve made me one very happy YouTuber ❤

If you’ve a channel you’d like me to check out be sure to stop by and leave a comment – I always love meeting new YouTubers!

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How To Promote Your Nail & Beauty Business On A Budget

Did I mention I’m obsessed with marketing? Actually, it’s one of the business topics I’ve always thrived in! On Wednesday’s chatter, I discussed a few useful hints and tips on how to get the clientele for beauty business rolling in, particularly if you’re on a budget. Definitely worth a watch if you’re self-employed or freelancing in the beauty industry!

Don’t forget, you can *Click Here* to subscribe to the Confetti & Curves YouTube channel so you never miss an upload – and there’ll certainly be more to come on freelancing!

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…

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Catch me on:

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How To Promote Your Nail & Beauty Business On A Budget…

Be prepared, be very prepared… as today’s chatter is one heck of a verbal marathon gals! How I managed to whittle on for that length of time without stopping for water (or air seemingly) is beyond me, HOWEVER, it may be a really useful chatter for many budding beauty enthusiasts out there, as well as being one that’s close to my heart…

So many of us, every day, make the brave decision to go self-employed. It’s an exciting aspect, but it’s also one that fills many of us with dreaded thoughts such as… What if I don’t get enough customers? What if I don’t make enough money? What if it fails? Usually, a lot of these fears are united around one aspect – advertising to ensure enough people know your business exists. But how do you do that when you’ve already emptied your pockets on making ends meet, stock & paying general bills etc. It’s tough, really tough.

Over this past year, I’ve spent quite a lot of time on Facebook interacting with others in both nail tech and beauty groups. For many that either dream of freelancing, are in the process of setting up or are struggling to fill their appointment book it can be a stressful and frustrating process. But what if you don’t have to spend the earth letting people know you exist? Cue today’s upload of useful promotional tips…

Okay, so I may not have a masters degree in marketing or business studies, but what I do have has certainly been worth its weight in gold for me – hands on experience. Heck, I’ve made mistakes, BIG mistakes – but each time it was part of a learning curve. Get your fingers burnt once and chances are you’re not going to be stupid enough to repeat the process. However, it does make celebrating the successes even more meaningful!

So in a nutshell, if you have a dream to be your own boss and fear is holding you back, stop and evaluate exactly why. Don’t let anyone tell you that you can’t achieve your goals, and furthermore never give up on them. For those that are embarking on their journey in the beauty industry, in whatever role that may be, I really hope you find this video useful in helping to inspire you to promote your business without having to spend a fortune – which may make reaching your goal seem that little bit more achievable. Who knows 😉

Once again guys, a huge THANK YOU for helping me reach my YouTube goal of reaching 1000 subscribers! Wow, I still can’t quite believe it! And if you haven’t done so already, why not *CLICK HERE* to pop by and subscribe too – you’d certainly make my day!

Have you ever wanted to set up your own business and become your own boss? Do you have fears that hold you back? Is self-employment a goal you’re aiming for in the near future? Whatever your thoughts I’d love to hear from you in the comments below so do stop by for a quick chatter 🙂

Cheerio Chums…

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Catch me on:

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1000 YouTube Subscribers… THANK YOU!!!

SO, I’m casually browsing around the interwebs this morning and to my shock and surprise discover that 1000 of you fabulous folk have subscribed to my little corner of YouTube! Naturally, such a revelation caused for celebrating with a mars bar square and cup of tea… aren’t I just the modern day party animal!!

So thank you, thank you, THANK YOU! All those that have taken the time to stop by my channel, watch a video, leave a comment, hit the like button and of course (the golden ticket) subscribe. Like most YouTubers, taking the plunge to launch a channel wasn’t an easy step – my nerves were as solid as grated cheese as beads of sweat lashed from my forehead at the mere thought of a nasty comment (I’ve had a few but life goes on)… isn’t the block button a wonderful invention chums?! 😉

Thinking back to my very first video I almost cringe at how horrendously nervous I was. Revealing my blog to friends and family was one thing, but actually putting myself out there on YouTube was something else as a whole new world of realisation dawned… it isn’t like taking a selfie; you can’t sit still and hope for the best angle… everything is on show! Looks, personality, surroundings. Not that I’m in any way ashamed of myself, how I act or the home I live in – but there’s always that looming fear that some nasty critter stumbles across your channel and leaves a horrid comment that will make you hibernate below a duvet for months on end, pondering how on earth to rectify a smashed confidence. Thankfully that hasn’t been the case. If anything I’m more confident now than I’ve ever been about myself… at the end of the day, I’m a mere mortal, just like everyone else. I’ve good days/bad days/crappier than crap days but also days that I’m unbelievably thankful for what I’ve achieved in building my self-belief. Isn’t it amazing the influence a bunch of people who you’ve never met (and scattered all over the world) can make in building such positivity in your life?! Every time I’ve reached a blogging or YouTube goal it’s because of the support of others (aka YOU guys) and that’s something I’m incredibly grateful for.

Don’t get me wrong, I’m under no illusion that 1000 subscribers is a mere spec of dust on the moon compared to other channels – but for me, it’s a HUGE milestone. So once again THANK YOU blog buddies – for being not only the biggest part of my blogging journey but also my YouTube one too!

If you enjoy a sprinkle of beauty chatter and have a quick moment to pop by the Confetti & Curves YouTube channel then *CLICK HERE* to subscribe! Do feel free to say a quick hello and if you have a channel too, leave the link below and I’ll go check it out 🙂

Cheerio Chums…

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Catch me on:

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Keeping Up With Karen…

Howdy Beauty Buddies…

What a fabulous weekend it’s been. Friday night was a loooong overdue evening out to Belfast for a yummy meal with my little sis, which I must admit was deeelish – followed by a few cheeky cocktails thereafter 😉 I know, I’m a sucker for a strawberry daiquiri, needless to say my IBS didn’t show the same enthusiasm *sigh*  However, on Saturday afternoon Emma attended her bridesmaid fitting for her sister’s big day! I can’t quite believe my beautiful little step-daughter is getting married. Hayles and I first met when she was just a teeny bit older than Emma – it’s been such a journey over the years and I know I’m going to be a mass of tears and hankies on the day. Yes, waterproof mascara is top of my makeup essentials gals! Needless to say, I can’t wait to make the trip over to Wales for it, it’s been soooo long since I’ve seen the Welshies. There’ll certainly be lots of hugs and catching up to do!

Talking of catching up, if you aren’t up to speed with this week’s shenanigans, then why not grab yourself a cuppa and check out some of the fun features I’ve linked below. Hope you’ve all had a fabulous week, don’t forget you’re welcome to link any of your own blog posts you’d like me to stop by and check out too 🙂

Okay, I’m off to dig out the suitcases and make a packing list, what’s your plans for today?

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Competition Closed

Monday’s post was a quick reminder to get your entry in pronto as it was the last day of the Kat Von D competition! Competition is now CLOSED – all entries will now be placed into a hat and one lucky winner will be drawn from random… could it be you?!

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Chrome Nail Tip (with a sparkly dash of Holo) 

Following one of the key nails trends at the moment, Chrome, I thought I’d attempt a funky chrome tip with holographic fade. Clients are certainly loving this look right now – perfect for upcoming festive designs don’t you think?

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

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The Beauty Collective… What do YOU wanna know?

Following on from the success of Behind The Blog, The Beauty Collective is an exciting new series that gets up close and personal with beauty bloggers of all levels – novice, amateur & professional! Regardless how long you’ve been blogging you’re welcome to get on board. Why not submit a burning question that you’d love to ask other bloggers about their beauty & blogging habits too?

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…

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Catch me on:

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How To: Chrome Powder Nail Tip (with a dash of sparkly holo)…

If you’re a nail tech, or even if you’re just obsessed with nails, you’ll probably be only too familiar with the chrome powder trend that’s been sweeping the nation over the past few months. Now while I’m not personally a huge fan of it on my own talons (it doesn’t seem to compliment my pink sausage like fingers) there’s no denying it does look impressive elsewhere… a hefty mix of futuristic meets chic.

Having invested in a few pots of powder, I’ve been playing around with it over a number of weeks – some clients love it some just aren’t so sure. However, for those that simply want a touch of chrome, this funky metallic nail design could be just what the nail tech ordered! And yes, it’s super easy peasy – no degrees in artistic nail studies required!!! *hooray*

So if you’re thinking of investing in some mirror powder or a little pot of chrome, then why not check out this week’s chatter as it may help sprinkle some design inspiration when creating a few eye-catching looks for yourself!

Is that the kettle I hear? 😉 Time to grab a coffee and get comfy… don’t forget, you can *click here* to subscribe to the Confetti & Curves YouTube channel so you never miss an upload!

What’s your thoughts on chrome nails? Are you mad for metallics? Whatever your thoughts I’d love to read them in the comments below so do stop by and say a quick hello gals 🙂

Cheerio Chums…

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Catch me on:

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Keeping Up With Karen…

Ooft, what a busy little bee I’ve been this week….

Between creating some fun & sparkly nail enhancements, organising mini Halloween costumes, pumpkin carving with Ems and wedding outfit hunting. Isn’t it just THEE best feeling when you order something ever-so-pretty online and it turns up fitting and looking rather nifty too?! That rarely happens to me when I order from the interwebs but everything came together perfectly, which certainly helps the stress levels when it comes to planning for as big a day as your step-daughters wedding *Yippee*

Needless to say, I’m spending today catching up on a list of things I simply haven’t gotten round too – emails is high on my priority as I’m almost terrified to open my inbox for fear of virtually drowning in them! Oh, and before I forget – there’s only one more day to enter the international giveaway (details at the bottom) – if you’re not in you can’t win so get your name down chummies! Otherwise, why not take a peek at some of the fun shenanigans that’s featured on Confetti & Curves this week…

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Seven Spooky Nail Art Designs For Halloween

Mondays post was a run through some of the coolest claw ideas on the interwebs! If you’re thinking of dressing up your digits for Halloween night then take a peek at this spooktacular lot! Which one’s your favourite?

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The Nail File: Gel Polish Vertical Ombre with Mermaid Dust

This weeks upload was a quick chatter through one of my favourite looks for fall – a gorgeous ombre. If you’re as undecided as I am when it comes to picking colours then why not combine a few of them to create this fabulous look! Don’t forget, you can *Click Here* to subscribe to the Confetti & Curves YouTube channel so you never miss an upload 😀

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Halloween Costumes Throughout The Years

Friday’s post was a tad sentimental as Emma celebrated her last year attending her primary school annual Halloween party… as a little tribute to seven years of annual spooky shenanigans, here’s a peek through some of her cute and quirky costumes!

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…

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Catch me on:

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***CLICK HERE TO CHECK OUT THE CONFETTI & CURVES INTERNATIONAL GIVEAWAY***

The Nail File: Gel Polish Vertical Ombre with Mermaid Dust…

Howdy nail addicts & beauty buddies…

If like me, you spend far too much time deliberating over a trio of gorgeous colours, why settle for one when you can have all 3? Yep, my thoughts exactly chums 😀 as this week I talk through one of my favourite nail looks for virtually any season – a gorgeous vertical ombre *happy sigh* However, not only have I combined three of my most coveted colours; being the sparkle-obsessed magpie that I am, I just couldn’t resist a sprinkling of mermaid dust to give the finished look a gorgeous subtle shimmer.

Note for fellow Nail Techs: If you haven’t already invested in mermaid dust then I insist you treat yourself on your next nail art spree. This stuff is SUPER popular, gorgeous over virtually any shade of gel polish and perfect for any season. Whatsmore, it’s the perfect compromise for those clients that like a hint of shimmer without going full bling. Voila!

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Anyways, time to grab your cuppa and nestle back into your comfiest chair for a few minutes as I chatter through how to create this easy peasy nail art look that is a must-have option for those who either can’t decide on a delicious range of shades or those who simply love to glam up their nails with an eye-catching paint job 😉

Are you a fan of the ombre look? What trio of colours would you opt for? Whatever your thoughts I’d love to know, don’t forget to say a quick howdy in the comments below🙂

Cheerio Chums…

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Catch me on:

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***CLICK HERE TO CHECK OUT THE CONFETTI & CURVES INTERNATIONAL GIVEAWAY***

Keeping Up With Karen…

What a week…

Between a potent concoction of hospital appointments, blood tests, running errands, organising Emma’s Halloween costume, school appointments etc. These days I’m sure I moan 70% more than I ever did before… not getting time squeezed in for filming, trying to lift my head of the pillow some days, whilst other days I’m ever so thankful that I’ve managed to get up and dressed. Sounds crazy right? Especially at the age of 34. But this last month seems to be this very scenario on repeat play – kind of like groundhog day but in a week-to-week format. If anything, this past month has taught me to be grateful for schedules AND the ability to stick to them… something I was always good at but not so much lately. Is that an excuse to buy myself an Erin Condren planner? Nah, didn’t think so gals, but maybe a Christmas treat to roll in 2017 – I guess I should start leaving hints for Santa sometime soon 😉

But as always, I love to get a little Sunday chatter in with you lot… and if you’re scrolling through the interwebs on the search for a few fun snippets whilst you sip your ‘Sunday mug of yumminess’ then why not check out a few of the links below? If you’re a blogger too, you’re welcome to leave a link to any blog posts you’d like me to check out – which reminds me Emma from Country Girl Em, I’m still to catch up with your previous weekly round-up so I’ll be sure to pop by today for a chatter 😀 Why not check out her blog for yourself too, it’s certainly a favourite of mine!

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The Makeup Menu: Inside the No 7 Gift Box

Take a peek inside this gorgeous little gift box full of No 7 goodies I recently received after a huge Advantage points spend in one of my favourite drugstores, Boots! If you want to watch the haul video then *click here* to check it out – don’t forget to subscribe so you can keep up with future uploads! 🙂

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Nail Tech Haul & Giveaway

I didn’t manage to get uploading a chatter this week, however, if you haven’t already checked it out then why not stop by and take a peek at my recent Nail Art Haul – filled with stamping plates, stamping polishes, glitters, gel polishes and a few other nail related goodies. There’s also details of the exciting international giveaway that’s still open for entries! Remember, if you’re not in you can’t win gals 😉

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DIY Spooky Halloween Bat Display

Fancy rolling up your sleeves and getting creative this Halloween? If so, this fun Bat display is sure to add a sprinkle of spooky character to any room – a cheap & cheerful decoration that is perfect for parties and would make an awesome table centrepiece too!

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…

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Catch me on:

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***CLICK HERE TO CHECK OUT THE CONFETTI & CURVES INTERNATIONAL GIVEAWAY***