Sunday 24 February 2008

Bring on the Japanese lessons

To start with I had an interview for the Japanese TV company NHK which went surprisingly well considering I couldn't understand their Japanese language. There was a lady called Ruth from the BBC who was present at the interview and she was the translator for us all. Pheww!
It was supposed to be a two hour-long interview in my home, which turned into the longest ever three and a half hours.
I have to admit I was glad when it was over and I could relax. None the less I enjoyed every moment and got on with what was asked of me. It was the Amy Winehouse look they wanted from me so My shadestick came out and off I went creating the winged effect knowing that everyone in Japan could be sat watching me at some point.
Daunting very daunting :-)
I fell asleep that night completely exhausted and drained but with a little smile on my face because everything was going great and that's not something I encountered often.
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Wednesday 20 February 2008

Colour me plum

Yes, Plums are in this season, which leads me to offer my little recommendations
on a few of my favourite plum colours. I love my Barry M dazzle dust in number 34 which I am almost sure is called Cherry. This colour is very rich and vibrant and will go great with all your plum shaded outfits.
As you may know, I recently was asked to do some weekly make up tutorials on the Barry M website. Previous to this I will give you a little insight into how all of this came about.
About two months ago now, I was contacted by Barry M. They had spotted my make up tutorials on youtube and contacted me regarding them. They were all delighted with my tutorials and asked me if I would like to come and meet them down in London to see what the future held for us all.
I was delighted of course and didn't hesitate to do so, so off I went all by myself (I was very proud) never had been to London on my own before. They booked my train tickets and that was that. I was fine right up until the day drew close, then set in my absolute panic, "what if they are axe murderers?" and "Is this all a ploy to get me over there to be secretly killed?" I thought to myself. What a divvy looking back, but you just don't know. Needless to say they were not and were absolutely lovely. Just as well because before I left home to meet them my mam said to me "ring when you get there and tell me if everything is ok" Oh well I met up with Elaine at Kings cross train station and I excused myself to make my safety phone call. To my utter surprise and horror, it was ringing and ringing and there was no answer. I stood there thinking, "awe well that's blummin great isn't it?" It was my Mam who had put the fear of God into me in the first place so for her not to answer the phone just made my heart sink.
So there's me stood at Kings Cross Station talking to the dialling tone - well come on I had to pretend didn't I? They may have been what my Mam had scared me into thinking.
I hung up with a cheesy smile and walked back over to Elaine and her husband Matthew. We then all said our hellos and ran off to grab a taxi. Paranoia is a strange thing, as I was sat in the taxi cab with them I was thinking "right that's it where are you taking me to?" as well as trying to take in all of the conversation. We finally pulled up at a beautiful restaurant called 'Cape Town Fish Market' just off Oxford Street, and then my fears left me. I thought to myself " well this would be a silly place to do something nasty to me".
We entered the restaurant and there was Dean and Emily sat at the table waiting for us. Dean is the managing director of Barry M and Emily works there too.
They greeted me with such great smiles and that was when I finally relaxed, well a little (wink) we ordered lunch from this beautiful menu, which arrived at the table in which, felt like seconds. With my stomach in knots of anxiety I found it very hard to gulp down my food and so I couldn't enjoy it even though if I hadn't have been sat in the middle of loads of strangers I would have probably wolfed the lot in seconds. It looked delicious! I tried and had a couple of coffees instead.
Meanwhile they all sat around me and told me how fantastic they had found my tutorials on you tube. I couldn't believe the compliments I was getting. Last time I had received a comment it was when I had given birth to my little boy and the midwife told me what a good job I had done. That's going back nearly ten years now so all of this interest was hard to take in.
Dean was lovely and had some great ideas for what lay ahead with our little journey together. I felt so great getting offered to work along side them. They asked my professional opinion on certain Barry M up and coming products. They showed me a sheet that had been printed out and on it was my mug shot on their website. Just a tester example of ideas. They wanted to know if I would be interested in doing make up tutorials on their website, and if I would like to have a questions and answer section on there too.
Of course I was delighted and again didn't hesitate to jump at the chance.
This bit - my Blog - came in afterwards. I had concerns with it at first because I didn't think anyone would be that bothered about reading my little life experiences and my day to day findings. However Elaine and Dean advised that it may well be a good idea. So I find myself sitting here with freezing finger-tips yet having the time of my life chatting about what I have been up to. I am glad we are doing the Blog now because I have tons to tell you all over time.
So that brings me to why I am here doing my make up tutorials. I have tons of looks coming up for all kinds of skin tones, eye colours and what not.
I will also be keeping my ears to the ground for the seasons hottest colours, a little of fashion, and a general day-to-day show of my life events to date.
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Friday 15 February 2008

A whirlwind affair

Hia everyone,
Everything is going so fast for me. At first it was scary but now I am getting the hang of all this being a busy girl business. Its great and I am loving every moment of it so far.
I was delighted today to receive texts from my friends to tell me that I was in Best magazine. Previously I had been contacted by Best magazine with regards to my make up tutorials on youtube. They asked if I would be interested in doing a featured story all about it? So needless to say I jumped at the chance.
Back at home with my heart pounding through my head. I received a call from Nilufer at Best magazine who there and then took a brief interview from me on the phone. Once we had spoken she sent my contract out in the post and so the story unfolds.
Amisha from Best magazine was dealing with the story and was ever so nice to me putting me at ease all the way. The full interview over the phone went great and I was told to head up to Newcastle where I would be getting a professional photo shoot.
As you can imagine, it was a very scary yet exciting day at the studio.
I just went with the flow and posed as best I could in front of great big umbrellas of light whilst getting snapped like a princess.
I was even asked to do a page on how to get Colleen Nolan and Sharon Osborne's eye make up look which would then be added in the feature.
So there I stood in the ladies bathroom inside the studio applying my eye shadow as was expected of me with the photographer snapping away behind me.
All I heard was " great job, Good girl Lauren and once more" It was like being a star.
I remembered thinking; I hope the camera doesn't pick up my shaking hand as I applied the eye shadow with fall out. Trust that to happen I said nervously.
It all went fantastic and off I popped back home.
Within two weeks of the interview and photo shoot I was in Best magazine. Front cover might I add. Wow I thought as I picked up four copies and took to the counter with the newsagent giving me the most peculiar look.
I felt like shouting "look that's me" but I didn't. I didn't want to embarrass myself.
Whilst all this has been happening to me. I have also had time to sit with my cup of coffee and relax on a morning whilst watching the TV. I noticed that deep plums are the in colours this season so I will be sure to be giving those colours a blast.
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