Sunday 31 January 2016

Blush Couture By Almas: A Review.


If you are on Facebook and you hear the name Blush Couture you instantly think of the sweet, sincere person behind it all. As well as the stunning and versatile pieces of Asian style tunics and dresses, it is the sweet and sincere personality of founder Alman Maan that will catch your eye first.


I was very fortunate to be sent a gorgeous one off piece of a kurti dress in a stunning two toned colour to try out and review. Almas contacted and updated me every step of the way from dispatch and delivery times to right up to when I received the piece so it is clear that communication and customer service is definitely at the top of her list. Blush Couture is essentially an on-line business mainly operating from its Facebook page which can be found here. Also available are dresses, maxi gowns, Abayas and one off designer pieces. There is also an official website too where people can view images of the single pieces on offer so that they can get an idea of just how timeless and effortless the pieces are. Be warned however, these pieces come as a single piece and are just a one off, once sold, they are not restocked, so whatever catches your eye will need to be snapped up quick! 





*Before, I hop right into the review, lets look into the definition of a kurta/kurti? Essentially a kurta which is an Urdu, Punjabi, Begali and Gujarati word is a traditional item of clothing worn by men originating from the Indian Subcontinent. It is typically a loose fitting shirt that falls below the knees. When a woman wears a Kurta it is called a 'Kurti', which can sometimes be much shorter than kurtas worn by men and can fall mid thigh. Did you know however that the word 'kurta' actually originates from Persia and literally means a 'collarless shirt?'


The Kurti form Blush Couture came beautifully wrapped and packaged in a hot pink tissue paper complete with a label and ribbon, it looked stunning and would certainly make a great gift to someone for almost any occasion be it birthdays and weddings. It looks even more stunning in real life and the colour, embellishment on it and the fabric appears to be of a high quality. It feels comfortable to wear yet stylish at the same time. The beauty of it is that even when it will be pulled out of the wardrobe a few months later, it will still feel like a timeless classic as if you are wearing it for the very first time. 

As for the specifics, inner petticoat lining is included  which is really handy and they all come in one size. Chest measurements range from 32-40 inches and are up to 42-44 inches in length for both the kaftans and kurtis. The pieces do come in a lovely low cut style yet sleeves and waistline fits can be altered by a good tailor as per your preference and fit, bearing in mind that an alteration service is not available with Blush Couture. 


www.facebook.com/blushcouturecollection



Almas's overall mission when questioned is to "focus on sourcing the best and most versatile prints in women's Asian fashion wear for Kurti dresses and kaftan style Kurtis -tunic wear which always keeps in mind the UK's unpredictable seasonal climate along with the essence of fusing eastern and western styles together"

This choice of style and fashion has quickly become a designer favourite with more and more ladies opting to fit in kurtis and kaftaans in their everyday lives. For me, this particular piece represents designer style and fashion as well as comfort which I believe is the perfect combination when it comes to clothing. The biggest advantage of this is that it is perfect for all shapes and sizes, from the slim girls, to the plus sizes and is equally perfect for the younger girls all the way to the mature older women and even for pregnant nursing mums since it is so comfortable to wear. Whatever the preference, there is a piece out there for everyone.

I chose to pair my kurti up with a pair of black leggings but again the beauty of it is that the choice is endless. It can be worn with jeans if you are going for the casual look as well as pajamas, salwars, churidars or dhotis if you are opting for the more formal look. The option of footwear when wearing this is again endless from heels to flats, the choice is yours. Again, as the piece is so versatile it can be worn anywhere, taking you from the day time looks at events, barbecues and gatherings, to evening events, weddings, parties and even on holidays straight off the beach for that glam holiday look. 












Prices start from as little as £45 ranging up to £65 for the pure flowly gorgettes which is a bargain compared to if you were to purchase something like this from an established Asian High Street designer or boutique where the prices are likely to be double depending on the amount of embellishment, work and the print.The price range is very affordable yet still guarantees uniqueness and individuality.

I am definitely looking forward to wearing this piece for a hot summer wedding where I desire both style and comfort and the pretty colour is just perfect for it. I definitely think the pieces currently offered are amazing and I would highly recommend them without any doubt. Be sure to check out the Blush Couture collection to be equally mesmerised over on the following:
"Transition through seasons with Blush Couture
Styles of Distinction"


Instagram: almasmaanblush


Twitter: BlushbyAlmas 



Did you know that you can now pre order with either a deposit or full payment for delivery for Februarys Valentines Day bonanza? Contact Alman on the above or on 07905154285 for the Spring 2016 sneak peeks. Prices start from £55 including postage and packaging.

I would like to take this opportunity to give my heartfelt thanks to Almas for sending me this beautiful piece to try and review and for having faith in me. She remains sincere and humble and is the sweetest person I have come across.  For any enquiries or pre orders please get in touch with her on her facebook page and she will be more than happy to help. I wish Almas all the very best in all her ventures as it is truly deserved. 

Have you checked out the Blush Couture collection?

Love and Lipstick

xxx





*Disclaimer- Product received for review purposes only, I am in no way or form associated with Blush Couture aside from reviewing this piece and I have not been paid to do this review. 







* Source: http://daily.indianroots.com/kurtakurti/


Picutres modelled by Samiya Khan. 

Monday 25 January 2016

How to Successfully Blog Part Time.

Photo credit (See below)

I often get asked how on earth do I manage to blog, work full time, be a wife and mother plus fit it all of the other stresses and strains of daily life and so I decided to create a blog post on it. 
I would be lying if I said it was all a walk in the park, some days it is far from it. Lets face it, with two small toddlers in tow it is a constant juggle in itself, particularly working full time. 

I first created my blog in 2012 and had a bit of a break with it. I have since then vowed to keep up with the blogging and managed to successfully work with a few brands on a PR basis, again this is all down to devotion, hard work and organisation. Where there's a will, there's a way

From trials, errors and past experience, organisation, commitment and planning ahead are all key to managing it all successfully. 

I have created my five top tips down below on how to successfully blog part time and enjoy it. 

Organisation- Being organised is key. Blogging requires time, effort and commitment if you want to maintain a blog and keep your readers engaged. Organisation and planning ahead will really help keep it all stress free and smooth and make you that one step closer to publishing a good post. I tend to keep a little notepad and usually scribble things down as they come to mind so I do not forget when it comes to writing up my post. It is also a great way to remind myself of anything I may need to include or mention again taking the stress away of trying to remember everything. 

I also like to plan ahead and take pictures in advance. With the darker and shorter cold days here in the UK makes taking blog pictures difficult, hence I try to catch the natural daylight as much as I can. I then upload them right away onto my laptop so that I do not end up losing them and organise and clearly label them in folders so I know exactly where they are. 


Set goals- Whether short term or long term, goals will help you in knowing just how much time and effort your blog will require. Setting goals will help give you a clear idea of what your objectives and desired outcome from blogging is otherwise it will just all be aimless work and writing with no end goal to fulfil. Goals can be anything from posting a post once a week or achieving 100 bloglovin followers by the end of the month. Whatever the goal, keep it realistic.

Set an allocated time- Lets be truthful here, working full time, looking after the house and children will mean one thing, not having the time to dedicate to your blog on a daily basis, therefore it is best if you set an allocated day and time and stick to it. I personally prefer the weekends, Saturdays to work on drafts and ideas and take pictures and Sundays to type up the post, finalise it and spell proof it before publishing. Due to weekends being busy as of late, I do not have an exact time each weekend to work on my blog so I always do it either first thing early in the morning before the kids wake or very late at night when the kids are in bed. This way it means that I have the rest of the week to focus on my day to day routine with school runs, work and home life. Setting an allocated time and sticking to it will mean that you are more likely to meet your blogging goals. 

Be passionate- It takes anyone to simply create a blog and be a blogger but a successful blogger requires dedication and passion. it may seem like hard work especially when you have had a hard busy week and need the weekend to recuperate but it isnt a chore, think of like more like a hobby. This is where the goal setting really comes in handy. 
It is vital to be passionate and motivated about what you do, it is your own piece of work and you are reaching out to a large audience in the sense of obtaining readers so it is important that they see that you are passionate about your blog. I have come across many Beauty Bloggers across the blogging community whom I feel lack passion and creativity. Are they really blogging because they are passionate about what they do or are they simply looking to fill up their vanity tables with freebies from PR? Besides being passionate keep it fun so that your readers stay engaged.

Be original - Keep it real in other words.If you are an avid social media user, participate in blogging chats, join the blogging community and forums you will come across hundreds of bloggers like yourself. Really challenge yourself in taking inspiration and ideas from others without directly copying them. The key to blogging is creative awareness and the ability to write well. There is really no point in attempting to be a blogger if you cannot do the latter and pass off others ideas and work as your own without crediting the owner, its a big no no and can simply land you into a great deal of trouble legal wise. Don't be afraid to ask for help and tips from some of the more bigger experienced bloggers, there is absolutely no harm in it, even to this day, I find myself doing the exact same thing all the time. 


Love and Lipstick

xx



**Photo credit: https://www.google.co.uk/search?q=computer+and+blogging&biw=1366&bih=622&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwiy4fWT6MTKAhUCzxoKHZIpDOUQ_AUIBigB#tbm=isch&q=chic+bloggers+and+computers&imgrc=LhVPVl5JRJV6nM%3A

Review: Annes Hair Thickening and Nourishing Growth Oil.





When it comes to a product that claims to do amazing things to my hair, I am usually the first to get in line especially if the product continuously pops up with great reviews on my Facebook news feed at least ten times a day. I am talking about none other than the amazing Anne's Hair Thickening and Nourishing Growth Oil from Facebook, yes the very amazing orange coloured hair oil that I am sure you have all come across by now. 

At first, I was a little bit dubious about the product seeing as I had tried everything throughout the years and nothing seemed to deliver the desired results, but it wasn't until I started seeing the results on peoples hair in life as well as in pictures that I was intrigued. I was very fortunate to receive a bottle from Anne which she quickly dispatched to me within two days to try out. 

I was very excited and curious to see what this did for my hair that I used it that very night. The oil claims to nourish, grow and thicken hair when applied to be left overnight. It sounded like exactly what my poor hair was desperately in need of, harsh weather conditions, central heating and a bad diet left my hair feeling coarse, limp and lifeless. 

I applied the oil, approximately 5 to 6 pumps just before bed all over my hair concentrating on the scalp and the ends and massaged in a circular motion for up to two minutes to really penetrate the oil and let my hair soak it up. In addition to this, I upped my water intake as recommended by Anne to really get the full benefits of the product. Once applied, I tied my hair into a plait and washed as normal the next morning with my usual shampoo and conditioner. I could instantly see the results! My hair was tangle free, smooth and there appeared to be less breakage. I was amazed! 

The miracle in a bottle contains pure Olive, Almond and Castor oil, Vitamin A and E as well as Omega 3, 6 and 9 which is essentially everything your hair needs to be fed to nourish and shine. There are no other nasty ingredients or hidden harmful chemicals that may potentially cause damage in the long run, it is perfectly safe to use even on the most sensitive of scalps. One of the main things that appealed to me was that the oil is odourless, if there is one thing that is slightly off putting for me when it comes to hair oils are strong smells that linger on and stain fabrics. I was also happy to see that the product is free from alcohol which will go down well with those that observe their prayers and perform ablution. 

Annes Oil comes in a sturdy plastic pump bottle with a secure lock bit that is child proof and can prevent any accidental spillages which I thought was a good feature to have.The product ingredients, price and directions are clearly listed on the front of the bottle with an expiry date. I really like the consistency of the oil, it is not too thick or runny, it has just the right consistency which makes it very easy to use and apply to the hair. 

I have now used this product a total of four times (two weeks, twice in a week) and I have noticed a great difference to the overall condition of my hair, it feels smoother, thicker, more nourished and has less breakages. Another amazing discovery is that when blow-drying my hair with a large paddle brush, it dries straight and frizz free so I do not need to reach out for my hair straighteners. On my fourth use, I decided to really pamper myself and add five drops of the oil to a well beaten egg. I covered my hair with a shower cap and left it on for three hours whilst I did a few household chores. When I washed my hair, the shine and smoothness of it was absolutely amazing, my hair has never looked or felt better so much so that even the husband threw a little compliment my way!



I am certain with continued use of the oil, as well as adequate water and a good balanced diet, the length of my hair will increase over time too. (In all the excitement, I completely forgot to take a before and after picture to show you the fabulous results!)

The product is versatile and has multi uses. Men are also able to use the oil, it can be applied to strengthen nails, eyebrows and even eyelashes (being careful not to get any product into the eye) since it claims to nourish and thicken the hair. 

I would definitely without a doubt recommend this product to anyone that wishes to nourish and thicken their hair, it is suitable for all hair types and the results are amazing and noticeable after the first use, delivery is super quick, and Anne is easily contactable on her Facebook page over at Anne Bridal. The oil retails for £15.00 which is pretty good since the oil works wonders and a little does go a long way. The oil has been a huge success and quite rightly so, I would strongly suggest you give Anne Bridal a follow on Facebook if you are not already doing so as there are often promotional offers, great product reviews from equally happy customers, as well as the launch of a new lighter hair oil. 

It may be useful to know that Anne is also a qualified fitness instructor and Nutritional advisor so you are definitely in good hands. 

I would like to use this opportunity to thank Anne Bridal for giving me the opportunity to try out this amazing hair oil. I am definitely going to be placing an order once I have finished my bottle. I wish you the very best of luck and success in your amazing ventures. 


Have you given the Anneamazing Hair Oil a go yet?

Love and Lipstick

xxx





**Disclaimer- Product received merely for review purposes only, I am not an affiliate of the brand nor have I been paid to conduct this review.