The Cosmetics Kitten's Diary :) --November 4th--

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Heeeey guys! Time for my lifestyle post. I was obviously planning on doing this every week, but life is so hectic that I'm just going to try do it as regularly as I can. :) 

What have I been up to this week?

I have been sooo tired this week. I think now the clocks have gone back, it gets dark so early and my body just wants to go to sleep! I hate this time of year, when I literally don't see sunlight because it's dark when I go in work and dark when I come out. Meh.  Weekend before last I went to London to visit my sister and my best friend, who both live there. I took my boyfriend Scott (his first time in London!) and we had a great time! I'll do a wee post on that soon.  
Us at Buckingham Palace. :) I also caught up with the girls this weekend, we're all teachers and sometimes it's hard to find time to meet up, so I'm glad we sorted something out!   I also finally got rid of my old extensions last weekend! I had my old set in for six months and although my hair was still ok quality, my own hair had grown in too much at the roots so it was time to replace them! It took six and a half hours to take my old set out, colour my hair and put my new set in. Phew!! old hair / my own hair (yes, all of it...) / new hair 

And how was work?

Work was actually mostly fun this week. We had an all-day Hallowe'en party on Wednesday, which I scrabbled about for a last min costume for. None of my regular Hallowe'en outfits were particularly... appropriate haha. So I wore my cat onesie and went as a cat! =p  Easy haha.   

And how are the cats?

My wee cat Pippa was not very well at all, she had an abscess on her wee bum. :( She's 14 and we worry about her, and she had to get a buster collar on. She was SO down and we thought she was maybe giving up. :( But after two weeks on antibiotics, she's making a good recovery!! :)   

Anything else?

My watch broke so I'm hoping to get a new one for Christmas, looking for some suggestions of brands/styles?? This is the one I'm kind of drawn to just now, it's a Michael Kors. I'm looking for a big-ish face and maybe a wee bit of bling haha. Not too expensive tho!!   I'm also doing the Photo a Day Challenge on Instagram - if you fancy seeing what I'm up to, you can follow me on there - I'm CosmeticsKitten. :)   Hope you've had a good week! Remember to give me any suggestions of watches if you can think of any. Have you been up to anything exciting??Let me know!
~ Lauren ♥

Event: Neal's Yard Remedies

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Beauty Blogger events in Glasgow are like buses - you wait for ages for one and then two happen within 48 hours of each other with another two lined up in the next few weeks! I went to Neal's Yard Remedies on Thursday 15th, and Paul's Hair and Beauty World on Saturday 17th. I'm going to do a separate post for Paul's event (click here for it) so here's the low down on Neal's Yard Remedies Event!

I was invited to an informal evening to be introduced to this brand and have a general look around their store. The staff were so friendly and informative, and I learnt a lot about a brand I had previously little knowledge of. It was a lovely little evening!

NYR are, in a nutshell, an organic skincare and aromatherapy company that specialises in all-over holistic wellbeing. They don't test on animals and use only natural ingredients. What makes them different, to me, is that they offer almost a 'prescription service' - if you go in with a skin/hair/body woe, they can sort you out with a specific product or range of products. They also do therapies such as massages, so you can destress in store! Which is very cool.


I met up with Paula, Lisa and Laura there (click their names to check their blogs) and we enjoyed they prosecco and cheeses (maybe a bit too much haha) and had a general good catch up. We were also all treated to a taster massage - which was very relaxing. :)

Right now NYR is a little out of my budget, but it's definitely a place I'd go to for a special skincare treat. They've also introduced a range of organic cosmetics, which is right up my street! They have a really interested history and there's actually a lot more branches than I realised! You can also shop online here.  They were so generous with their goodybag: I got a full size Wild Rose Beauty Balm which is an award winning nourishing, exfoliating and cleansing balm (compete with muslin cloth). I can't wait to give this a try! I also received Organic Facial Wipes and two pieces from their new cosmetics range - Mineral Eye Shadow in Silver Birch and an Organic Lip Gloss in Goji Berry.

Top photos: natural light // Bottom photos: with flash  How amazing?! I don't really have a silver eyeshadow so will be making good use of this, and the ladies in store mentioned it also works really well applied wet. The lipgloss looks gorg - little iridescent flecks of pink and gold are in it and it's really nourishing! Thanks, guys! :)  Have you ever tried any NYR products? Do you like reading about events? Let me know!
~ Lauren ♥

Event: Paul's Hair and Beauty World :)

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So I mentioned in my previous post that I went to two events within 48 hours, the first was Neal's Yard Remedies (posted about this event here) and the second was for Paul's Hair and Beauty World, which I'll tell you about here! :)On Saturday morning, I made my way to the official opening of Paul's Hair and Beauty World on Queen's Street Glasgow. It's a 2000 square foot store specialising in mainly extensions, but also some hair and skin products, and Sleek makeup. The Sleek stand is very well stocked, they had several Rose Gold blushes which is usually sold out everywhere!

 I met Lori and her friend there (click her name for her blog) and we enjoyed the cocktails and looking at all the different hair available. The staff were trying to convince me to get a weave haha - I have to say I'm tempted!!Melanie Mason from X Factor opened the store and we posed for pics. Yes, I look like an idiot...It was fun! Paul's Hair and Beauty Boutique have branches all over the UK and you can also shop online at their well-stocked website here. I got a wee goody bag from them too:

I got some bizarre bits like a pen and a bulldog clip (?!) but also some Batiste, Sleek products and Palmer's. The Hairbond Moulder was quite exciting, I don't use product like gel/wax in my hair but my boyfriend does and he's tried it and gives it a thumbs up! Thanks guys! :) What do you think about stores like this? Have you ever bought extensions from a high street store? Let me know!
~ Lauren ♥

I'm doing YouTube!! (omg!)

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EeEEEEeee!! So I've uploaded my first YouTube video. I was wanting to do it for ages, but I was too scared and didn't really have the equipment. My boyfriend surprised me with a wee tripod and shutter release remote control for my iphone, so I had no excuse haha! So here goes....
 

 Yes, the screenshot it awful.  What do you think? Should I do more YouTube videos?? I'm nervous haha!Let me know!
~ Lauren ♥

A Mother's Day Gift To My Readers

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www.jujubeandlolo.com (They have instructions on how to make it!)

I've been getting a lot of emails from very well-meaning fans who threaten to fall into some kind of horrible looming depression that cannot be cured by anything but a sneak peak of Requiem or a sequel to Before I Fall. Sadly, neither one of those things is going to happen--but I think I might have fold a partial solution.
As some of you already know, (and the rest of you must now be kicking yourself for forgetting), today is Mother's Day. I've got a great mother, a really excellent super awesome one, but in many of my books, moms are notoriously absent. thinking about my books I realized that there is a notable absence of good mothers hanging around!
In Delirium and Pandemonium, Lena's mom impacts the story partly as a result of her absence. And so, dear readers, I thought as a special Mother's day present, and to help tide you over during the long wait forRequiem, I would share some of her thoughts with you. Here is an exclusive scene from Lena's Mom's POV!
When I was a girl, it snowed for a whole summer.            Every day, the sun rose smudgy behind a smoke-gray sky, and hovered behind its haze; in the evenings, it sank, orange and defeated, like the glowing embers of a dying flame.            And the flakes came down and down—not cold to touch, but with their own peculiar burn--as the wind brought smells of burning.            Every night, on TV, my mother and father sat us down to watch the news. All of the pictures were the same: towns neatly evacuated, cities enclosed, grateful citizens waving from the windows of shiny new buses, as they were carted off to a new future, a life of perfect happiness. A life of painlessness.            “See?” my mother would say, smiling at me and my sister Carol in turn. “We live in the greatest country on earth. See how lucky we are?”            And yet the ash continued swirling down, and the smells of death came through the windows, crept under the door, hung in our carpets and curtains, and screamed of her lie.
Is it possible to tell the truth in a society of lies? Or must you always, of necessity, become a liar?And if you lie to a liar, is the sin somehow negated or reversed?These are the kinds of questions I ask myself now: in these dark, watery hours, when night and day are interchangeable. No. Not true. During the day the guards come, to deliver food and take the bucket; and at night the others moan, scratch, and scream. They are the lucky ones. They are the ones who still believe that sound, that voice, will do any good. The rest of us know better, and have learned to live in silence.I wonder what Lena is doing now. I always wonder what Lena is doing. Rachel, too: both my girls, my beautiful, big-eyed girls. But I worry about Rachel less. Rachel was always harder than Lena, somehow. More defiant, more stubborn, less feeling. Even as a little girl, she frightened me a little—fierce and fiery-eyed, with a temper like my father’s once was.But Lena...little darling Lena, with her wide eyes and her flushed, chubby cheeks: she used to rescue spiders from the pavement to keep them getting squashed; quiet, thoughtful Lena, with the sweetest lisp to break your heart. To break my heart: my wild, uncured, erratic, incomprehensible heart. I wonder whether her front teeth still overlap a little; whether she still confuses the words pretzel and pencil occasionally; whether the wispy brown hair grew straight and long, or began to curl.I wonder whether she believes the lies they told her.I, too, am a liar now. I’ve become one, of necessity. I lie when I smile and return an empty tray. I lie when I ask for the Book of Shhh, pretending to have repented.I lie just by being here, on my cot, in the dark.Soon, it will be over. Soon, I will escape.And then the lies will end.

Romney: Contraceptives a Woman's Concern

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In Gov. Romney's comments on Pres. Obama's "gifts" to voters, he makes a statement about women and contraceptives:

Young women had an additional incentive to vote for Obama because of free contraception coverage under the president's health care plan, he said. ("Romney:  Obama won with "gifts" to certain voters," by Douglass K. Daniel, Philly.com, 11/14/2012)

Does this imply that he doesn't think contraception is of any interest to young men?  The idea that contraception is solely the responsibility of women is outdated.    So is the idea that contraception is a "gift."  The UN just declared access to contraceptives a universal human right (See "Romney Calls Contraception a "Gift" Just As the U.N. Declares It a Right," by Amanda Marcotte, Slate, 11/15/2012)

Jack Reed's Pennsylvania Connections

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Rhode Island Sen. Jack Reed has been mentioned as a possible candidate to head the CIA ("Petraeus resignation could trigger Reed to CIA according to report," GoLocalProv, 11/10,)" .  While Reed has publicly said he intends to remain in the Senate ("Sen. Jack Reed not interested in CIA director job," by Josh Gerstein, Politico, 11/13), local RI news outlets continue to view him as a potential CIA director ("In EG, Sen. Reed hedges on CIA Job," by Elizabeth McNamara, Coventry Patch, 11/18).

Reed is a West Point graduate, served in the 82nd Airborne as a paratrooper before going to law school and then into politics.  Should that sound a little familiar, the 82nd has a strong presence in Pennsylvania, and in Pennsylvania politics.  Former state representative Bryan Lentz (D-151) served in the 82nd, as did former congressman Patrick Murphy (D-08).

In fact, when Murphy first ran for congress in 2006, Reed supported his candidacy.  He even attended at least one of Murphy's early public campaign events.  It's a small world.

Assorted Veterans Notes

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A few assorted notes on veterans matters:

[adapted from press release] 

Veterans constitute nearly 13 percent ofthe population of Philadelphia, according to the 2010 U.S. Census. Governmentand nonprofit organizations offer a spectrum of services to Philadelphia’sveterans, who mostly range from the aging Vietnam-era population to post-9/11troops. In 1957 the Philadelphia City Council created the The Veterans Advisory Commission to  help Philadelphia’sveterans and their families navigate the maze of city, state and federalservices and benefits available to them. 
 
Formerly located in theCouncil President’s office suite on the fourth floor of City Hall, theVeterans Advisory Commission is now located more conveniently in Room 127in the Courtyard of City Hall. The new office space is not shared, affordingveterans seeking counsel greater privacy. 

Patrick Murphy's MSNBC column last week on MSNBC was on his family's military service (Murphy, his brother, and father), veteran's health, and Thanksgiving.

My thanks to all of our veterans and their families.

PA Progressive Summit 2013

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Basic information on the PA Progressive Summit for 2012 has been released, March 1-2, along with an early bird registration fee.  See details at: http://paprogressivesummit.org/

Last year the conference was in Philadelphia and I attended one of their marquee debates.  This is often a good place to meet other politically active people, as well as announced or prospective candidates.

Check it out.

Three Named to US Disctrict Court for Eastern PA

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from the inbox:

Today, President Obama nominated JudgeNitza I. Quiñones Alejandro,Judge Luis Felipe RestrepoandJudge Jeffrey L. Schmehl for District Court judgeships.

“These men and women have had distinguished legal careers and I am honored to ask them to continue their work as judges on the federal bench,” saidPresident Obama.  “They will serve the American people with integrity and an unwavering commitment to justice.”
JudgeNitza I. Quiñones Alejandro:  Nominee for the United States District Court for the Eastern District of PennsylvaniaJudge Nitza I. Quiñones Alejandro currently serves as a Judge on the Philadelphia County Court of Common Pleas, where she has presided over both civil and criminal matters.  Prior to joining the bench in 1991, Judge Quiñones worked as a Staff Attorney for the United States Department of Veterans Affairs from 1979 to 1991 and as an Attorney Advisor for the United States Department of Health and Human Services from 1977 to 1979.  She began her legal career as a Staff Attorney for Community Legal Services, Inc. in Philadelphia from 1975 to 1977.  Judge Quiñones received her J.D. in 1975 from the University of Puerto Rico School of Law and her B.B.A.cum laude in 1972 from the University of Puerto Rico.
Judge Luis Felipe Restrepo:  Nominee for the United States District Court for the Eastern District of PennsylvaniaJudge Luis Felipe Restrepo has served as a United States Magistrate Judge in the Eastern District of Pennsylvania since 2006, where he has presided over a variety of criminal and civil matters.  Prior to taking the bench, Judge Restrepo was a named partner at the law firm of Krasner & Restrepo from 1993 to 2006.  Previously, he served as an Assistant Federal Defender in the Eastern District of Pennsylvania from 1990 to 1993 and as an Assistant Defender with the Defender Association of Philadelphia from 1987 to 1990.  Judge Restrepo began his legal career as a law clerk at the National Prison Project.  He received his J.D. in 1986 from Tulane Law School and his B.A. in 1981 from the University of Pennsylvania.
Judge Jeffrey L. Schmehl:  Nominee for the United States District Court for the Eastern District of PennsylvaniaJudge Jeffrey L. Schmehl has served as President Judge of the Berks County Court of Common Pleas since 2008, having joined the court as a judge in 1998.  Previously, Judge Schmehl was a partner at the law firm of Rhoda, Stoudt & Bradley from 1988 to 1997 and an associate at the same firm from 1986 to 1987.  For much of that time, Judge Schmehl also served as the Berks County Solicitor.  From 1981 to 1986, he was a sole practitioner in West Reading, Pennsylvania.  Judge Schmehl also served as an Assistant District Attorney in Berks County from 1981 until 1986 and as an Assistant Public Defender in the same jurisdiction from 1980 until 1981.  He received his J.D. in 1980 from the University of Toledo School of Law and his B.A. in 1977 from Dickinson College.

The Cosmetics Kitten's Diary :) --October 14th--

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Hi guys! I am thinking of starting a feature on my blog which is a bit more 'lifestyley' than what I normally do. I'll still do reviews, OOTDs etc like normal, but once a week I'm going to do a little diary entry on what I've been up to the past week! We'll see how it goes, but I'd love to do it every Sunday. Through chatting in #bbloggers it seems people love having a nosy at lifestyle posts, so here goes!! The Cosmetics Kitten's Diary What have I been up to this week?Last weekend was so much fun, on Friday night my boyfriend Scott and I went to my best friend Heather's flat to catch up with her and her boyfriend. It was long overdue! She'd recently adopted two bunnies so I got to meet them.... Cute bunnies!  And give lots of love and cuddles to her amazing dog, Cody. Now Cody is a 'clearance puppy'. He may be a Chihuahua, but he thinks he's a cat, is the fluffiest thing ever, and most hysterically, has a tongue that he can't keep in his mouth.  That tongue is like that ALL THE TIME. He makes me laugh so much. On Saturday night, my aunt and uncle joined us for a murder mystery evening with my parents and Scott. I'm no stranger to murder mystery parties, I've done loads, and blogged about one HERE.   They're great fun, I thoroughly recommend it! And how was work?In case you don't know, I'm a teacher. A primary teacher, but right now I'm working in a nursery. Obviously I can't give too much info about that (always the fear of being cyber stalked!!), but sometimes I have to share funny stories! For example: Me: Who's got news?Boy: Me! I do! I'm going on holiday!!Me: Lucky you, where are you going?Boy: Uhm... I think it's 'Blackpool'... No, wait, it's BLUEPOOL!!! I honestly couldn't stop laughing. He was determined he's going to Bluepool. Who knew? I got sent home on Wed with a tummy bug and didn't go in Thurs or Fri so it was a short week, I felt lousy tho!! Feeling better now. :) And how are the cats?For someone who is a self confessed crazy cat lady, I don't feel I give my cats enough blog time. They are literally my BABIES. This week, Dana has learnt where her treats are, and jumps up onto the kitchen counter, knocks them off, and opens the packet on the floor to eat at her leisure.  But who can resist that face (and slightly chubby body)?? Anything else?Well, yes. My boyfriend Scott sold his car (he's unemployed - sadface) so he had a bit of money. So yesterday we went into Glasgow to go shopping and have dinner. I got some lovely stuff which I'll share with you in other posts. Here's some pics from our day: MUA Constellations in Scorpio, my new cat hat and kitten mittens, strawberry daiquiris in TGIs, me drinking cocktails, a gorg bag I resisted, Scott and I in TGIs, me at dinner. :)  Well, what do you think of this feature guys? Too boring? I don't have the most exciting life haha! Would you enjoy reading something like this?Let me know!
~ Lauren ♥

The Cosmetics Kitten's Diary :) --November 4th--

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Heeeey guys! Time for my lifestyle post. I was obviously planning on doing this every week, but life is so hectic that I'm just going to try do it as regularly as I can. :) 

What have I been up to this week?

I have been sooo tired this week. I think now the clocks have gone back, it gets dark so early and my body just wants to go to sleep! I hate this time of year, when I literally don't see sunlight because it's dark when I go in work and dark when I come out. Meh.  Weekend before last I went to London to visit my sister and my best friend, who both live there. I took my boyfriend Scott (his first time in London!) and we had a great time! I'll do a wee post on that soon.  
Us at Buckingham Palace. :) I also caught up with the girls this weekend, we're all teachers and sometimes it's hard to find time to meet up, so I'm glad we sorted something out!   I also finally got rid of my old extensions last weekend! I had my old set in for six months and although my hair was still ok quality, my own hair had grown in too much at the roots so it was time to replace them! It took six and a half hours to take my old set out, colour my hair and put my new set in. Phew!! old hair / my own hair (yes, all of it...) / new hair 

And how was work?

Work was actually mostly fun this week. We had an all-day Hallowe'en party on Wednesday, which I scrabbled about for a last min costume for. None of my regular Hallowe'en outfits were particularly... appropriate haha. So I wore my cat onesie and went as a cat! =p  Easy haha.   

And how are the cats?

My wee cat Pippa was not very well at all, she had an abscess on her wee bum. :( She's 14 and we worry about her, and she had to get a buster collar on. She was SO down and we thought she was maybe giving up. :( But after two weeks on antibiotics, she's making a good recovery!! :)   

Anything else?

My watch broke so I'm hoping to get a new one for Christmas, looking for some suggestions of brands/styles?? This is the one I'm kind of drawn to just now, it's a Michael Kors. I'm looking for a big-ish face and maybe a wee bit of bling haha. Not too expensive tho!!   I'm also doing the Photo a Day Challenge on Instagram - if you fancy seeing what I'm up to, you can follow me on there - I'm CosmeticsKitten. :)   Hope you've had a good week! Remember to give me any suggestions of watches if you can think of any. Have you been up to anything exciting??Let me know!
~ Lauren ♥

Event: Neal's Yard Remedies

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Beauty Blogger events in Glasgow are like buses - you wait for ages for one and then two happen within 48 hours of each other with another two lined up in the next few weeks! I went to Neal's Yard Remedies on Thursday 15th, and Paul's Hair and Beauty World on Saturday 17th. I'm going to do a separate post for Paul's event (click here for it) so here's the low down on Neal's Yard Remedies Event!

I was invited to an informal evening to be introduced to this brand and have a general look around their store. The staff were so friendly and informative, and I learnt a lot about a brand I had previously little knowledge of. It was a lovely little evening!

NYR are, in a nutshell, an organic skincare and aromatherapy company that specialises in all-over holistic wellbeing. They don't test on animals and use only natural ingredients. What makes them different, to me, is that they offer almost a 'prescription service' - if you go in with a skin/hair/body woe, they can sort you out with a specific product or range of products. They also do therapies such as massages, so you can destress in store! Which is very cool.


I met up with Paula, Lisa and Laura there (click their names to check their blogs) and we enjoyed they prosecco and cheeses (maybe a bit too much haha) and had a general good catch up. We were also all treated to a taster massage - which was very relaxing. :)

Right now NYR is a little out of my budget, but it's definitely a place I'd go to for a special skincare treat. They've also introduced a range of organic cosmetics, which is right up my street! They have a really interested history and there's actually a lot more branches than I realised! You can also shop online here.  They were so generous with their goodybag: I got a full size Wild Rose Beauty Balm which is an award winning nourishing, exfoliating and cleansing balm (compete with muslin cloth). I can't wait to give this a try! I also received Organic Facial Wipes and two pieces from their new cosmetics range - Mineral Eye Shadow in Silver Birch and an Organic Lip Gloss in Goji Berry.

Top photos: natural light // Bottom photos: with flash  How amazing?! I don't really have a silver eyeshadow so will be making good use of this, and the ladies in store mentioned it also works really well applied wet. The lipgloss looks gorg - little iridescent flecks of pink and gold are in it and it's really nourishing! Thanks, guys! :)  Have you ever tried any NYR products? Do you like reading about events? Let me know!
~ Lauren ♥

Event: Paul's Hair and Beauty World :)

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So I mentioned in my previous post that I went to two events within 48 hours, the first was Neal's Yard Remedies (posted about this event here) and the second was for Paul's Hair and Beauty World, which I'll tell you about here! :)On Saturday morning, I made my way to the official opening of Paul's Hair and Beauty World on Queen's Street Glasgow. It's a 2000 square foot store specialising in mainly extensions, but also some hair and skin products, and Sleek makeup. The Sleek stand is very well stocked, they had several Rose Gold blushes which is usually sold out everywhere!

 I met Lori and her friend there (click her name for her blog) and we enjoyed the cocktails and looking at all the different hair available. The staff were trying to convince me to get a weave haha - I have to say I'm tempted!!Melanie Mason from X Factor opened the store and we posed for pics. Yes, I look like an idiot...It was fun! Paul's Hair and Beauty Boutique have branches all over the UK and you can also shop online at their well-stocked website here. I got a wee goody bag from them too:

I got some bizarre bits like a pen and a bulldog clip (?!) but also some Batiste, Sleek products and Palmer's. The Hairbond Moulder was quite exciting, I don't use product like gel/wax in my hair but my boyfriend does and he's tried it and gives it a thumbs up! Thanks guys! :) What do you think about stores like this? Have you ever bought extensions from a high street store? Let me know!
~ Lauren ♥

I'm doing YouTube!! (omg!)

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EeEEEEeee!! So I've uploaded my first YouTube video. I was wanting to do it for ages, but I was too scared and didn't really have the equipment. My boyfriend surprised me with a wee tripod and shutter release remote control for my iphone, so I had no excuse haha! So here goes....
 

 Yes, the screenshot it awful.  What do you think? Should I do more YouTube videos?? I'm nervous haha!Let me know!
~ Lauren ♥

Event: Paul's Hair and Beauty World :)

To contact us Click HERE
So I mentioned in my previous post that I went to two events within 48 hours, the first was Neal's Yard Remedies (posted about this event here) and the second was for Paul's Hair and Beauty World, which I'll tell you about here! :)On Saturday morning, I made my way to the official opening of Paul's Hair and Beauty World on Queen's Street Glasgow. It's a 2000 square foot store specialising in mainly extensions, but also some hair and skin products, and Sleek makeup. The Sleek stand is very well stocked, they had several Rose Gold blushes which is usually sold out everywhere!

 I met Lori and her friend there (click her name for her blog) and we enjoyed the cocktails and looking at all the different hair available. The staff were trying to convince me to get a weave haha - I have to say I'm tempted!!Melanie Mason from X Factor opened the store and we posed for pics. Yes, I look like an idiot...It was fun! Paul's Hair and Beauty Boutique have branches all over the UK and you can also shop online at their well-stocked website here. I got a wee goody bag from them too:

I got some bizarre bits like a pen and a bulldog clip (?!) but also some Batiste, Sleek products and Palmer's. The Hairbond Moulder was quite exciting, I don't use product like gel/wax in my hair but my boyfriend does and he's tried it and gives it a thumbs up! Thanks guys! :) What do you think about stores like this? Have you ever bought extensions from a high street store? Let me know!
~ Lauren ♥

I'm doing YouTube!! (omg!)

To contact us Click HERE
EeEEEEeee!! So I've uploaded my first YouTube video. I was wanting to do it for ages, but I was too scared and didn't really have the equipment. My boyfriend surprised me with a wee tripod and shutter release remote control for my iphone, so I had no excuse haha! So here goes....
 

 Yes, the screenshot it awful.  What do you think? Should I do more YouTube videos?? I'm nervous haha!Let me know!
~ Lauren ♥

The results are in—Zagat’s America's Top Restaurants revealed

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To help people find the best places to eat in 46 U.S. cities and regions, we’re revealing the results of our 2013 America’s Top Restaurants Survey covering 1,822 of the nation’s top-rated restaurants. From Boston to Portland and Chicago to Miami, the results of this year’s Zagat Survey are based on millions of reviews from everyday diners who shared their experiences through their favorite Google products.

Winners include perennial favorites like the “exceptional” American Gary Danko (San Francisco), Eric Ripert’s French “seafood shrine” Le Bernardin (New York), and the “flawless” New American Bacchanalia (Atlanta), as well as top spots like Alinea (Chicago), Urasawa (Los Angeles) and Joël Robuchon (Las Vegas).

While many of the top restaurants break out the china and crystal, a number of standouts included in the guide are casual gourmet places like pizzerias: Settebello (Vegas and Salt Lake City), Supino Pizzeria (Detroit’s No.1 restaurant), Serious Pie (Seattle) and Dough (San Antonio); sandwich specialists: Bäco Mercat (LA), Cochon Butcher (New Orleans) and Melt Bar & Grilled (Cleveland); burger specialists: B Spot (Cleveland), Flip Burger Boutique (Atlanta) and Sketch (Philadelphia); and BBQs: Union Woodshop, Slows Bar BQ and Zingerman’s Roadhouse (Detroit).

Thanks to those of you who share your restaurant adventures with us, we also have a snapshot of what dining out in America looks like. Based on surveyors in 10 major cities, we have found that the average number of meals cooked at home (7.0 per week) outpaces the average number of meals they eat/take out (6.1)—a trend that has been building since the Great Recession. We also know that diners in Houston eat out the most (4.1 times per week vs. the 3.2 national average), and that at 19.6 percent, the City of Brotherly Love is also the city of most generous tippers.


Zagat ratings and reviews for tens of thousands of restaurants at every price point and cuisine are available via the Google products you use every day, like search, Google+, Maps and mobile.

Congratulations to this year’s winners and bon appétit!

Posted by Bernardo Hernandez, Managing Director, Zagat