New Year a New Wedding

As you know I gave up my wedding planning business in 2013 due to personal reasons that were outwith my control.

However, a few weeks ago, I was contacted by a Friend of a Friend, who had heard all about me and she wanted me to coordinate her wedding in July this year.

After chatting away to her, I realised that I actually missed it so after a bit, I have agreed to work with her on her wedding planning and coordination.

Am I excited...you bet I am!    The theme for this wedding is vintage chique, lots of beautiful flowers, china and fairy lights, but no bling in sight! I am seriously excited about the prospect of this.

Over the coming weeks I will share (with the brides permission of course) some of the ideas and images that we will be working with, to help give you the ideas and inspiration for your own wedding.

Are you following us on Pinterest yet you can do that here   https://www.pinterest.com/beautyweddings/

Looking forward to sending you updates as the wedding draws closer.

Fiona

Beauty Weddings are back!

After a bit of a break from wedding planning to take care of family business, we are now back and raring to go.

We have lots coming up in the next year and lots of bookings for On The Day Coordination.  Blog writing for the amazing Ice The Cake, showcasing some really great companies, running competitions and lots lots more.

I have to admit I was albeit pleasantly surprised by the uptake in couples option for on the day coordination services.   This includes 3 to 4 meetings with the couple apart from the Initial Consultation, to get details of all their suppliers, help with timings for the day, confirming suppliers on the couples behalf and problem solving any issues that arise on the lead up to the day.   On the day itself, working with all the suppliers and for them to have one point of contact throughout the day, incase of any delays etc.  Making sure the day goes to plan and that the couple themselves are looked after and their guests are happy.

Many venues have their own wedding cooordinator, but their duties are tied to the venue and not the couple. The venue coordinators will make sure things are in place on site, but anything else they won't deal with.  More and more couples are telling me they don't want their friends and family running around at the last minute on the day itself, but want them to enjoy it as much as they will.

We have also a new look website, easy to navigate and easy to contact us.

Watch out for updates and offers over the next couple of months, there might even be a Christmas special offer ...

See you soon.

Fi

Best Wedding Planner Scotland

Well its been a bit of a roller coaster couple of weeks with lots of recognition for the hard work and effort that goes into every single wedding that we help plan.

On the 22nd April 2013 I attended the Scottish Wedding Awards and was a Finalist in the Wedding Coordinator of the Year category, even though we didn't win this, the achievement of being in the final itself was incredible.

  

Then days later on the 30th April 2013 we were excited to learn that we were Winners in the Wedding Industry Experts Awards 2013 in the Best Wedding Planner - Glasgow and Best Wedding Planner - Scotland categories, it was such an honour to know that my previous and current clients as well as my wonderful suppliers took the time out to show their support for the work that we do, I can't thank them enough.

We are so lucky to have been nominated for Awards over the past couple of years, we have achieved Highly Commended Awards as Finalists in the Ice The Cake Awards the past 2 years in the Best On The Day Support Category, which in itself is a great achievement.

We don't go looking for Awards to be chasing every year, these awards are purely the recognition that everyone I work with has felt I have deserved and I am so honoured and lucky to be in that position, and that is what makes these symbols of achievement even more special.   Thank You <3 

Bee Yourself Hypnotherapy: Time; such a precious commodity

Bee Yourself Hypnotherapy: Time; such a precious commodity:

Check out this article, a must for all our brides to be!   Wise words from Maggie Graham...

Scottish Wedding Awards 2013

Can you imagine my surprise and absolute delight when I discovered that Beauty Weddings & Events are Finalists in the Scottish Wedding Awards 2013.  These Awards are in their first year, so to be included is a great honour.   I am looking forward to attending this event on the 22nd April 2013, when we found out if we have won.   It's always fantastic to have our work recognised on a National level and drives us to make continuous improvements to the service we deliver, but it wouldn't be possible without the amazing suppliers that we work with.

The awards have been produced in association with Peppermint Aesthetic Clinics part of the Peppermint Group. The Peppermint Group is an award winning group of practices consisting of Peppermint Aesthetic Clinics, Peppermint Lashes Clinic and Peppermint Studios. Peppermint offers bespoke cosmetic clinical facial, dental and body aesthetics. This collaboration promises to result in a dazzling evening for this prestigious awards ceremony.


Dr Rita Poddar & Miss Leanne Divers, Co-CEO’s of the Peppermint Group said, “We are delighted to be sponsoring this years awards and look forward to supporting the elite talent that the Scottish Wedding Industry has to offer”

With a public voting system, the Scottish Wedding Awards is very much a celebration of local talent. Winners are a true reflection of quality and customer service as chosen by members of the general public. To enter the competition, dress makers, florists, photographers, caterers, and others wedding suppliers throughout Scottish have been nominated by devoted clients that have experienced exceptional service. Nominations have come in from far and wide for an event which is destined to be a sparkling evening in the Scottish event calendar.

The event which will be taking place on 22^nd March 2013 at the Crowne Plaza, Glasgow promises to be a glittering affair with guests attending to support the industry which makes our wedding days the best they can be.

Hosting this glamorous affair will be the Clyde 1 FM Late Night Live presenter Gina McKie.

The official charity partner for this year’s event is the Make-A-Wish Foundation UK, with donations raised on the night going straight to the charity. Make-A-Wish Foundation UK grants magical wishes to children and young people fighting life-threatening conditions. Since being established in the UK in 1986, they have granted over 7,800 wishes. 

For further information

 Creative Oceanic (www.creativeoceanic.co.uk) is part of the Oceanic Group (www.oceanicgroup.co.uk)

 Scottish Wedding Awards (www.weloveweddings.info)

 Peppermint  Aesthetic Clinic (www.peppermintaestheticclinics.com)

 Gina McKie (www.ginamckie.com)

Make A Wish Foundation UK (www.make-a-wish.org.uk)

Top 10 Wedding Planning Tips (2nd Edition)

I was looking through some old posts today and came across this one, and do you know that even though that this was posted in July 2011, it all still applies, so I've decided to repost this today to help all those newly engaged couples with their wedding planning! 

So here it is in its entirety..... 

Congratulations, you are now engaged to be married.   It has suddenly hit you that you need to plan your wedding and you don't know where to start!!   Here are my Top 10 tips for starting your planning process.

Source

1.   Decide on your budget!!   This is the most crucial part of your planning process.   There is no point having that bespoke venue and inviting 200 guests if you aren't able to afford it.  You will be surprised just how fast the costs mount up.   The easiest way to break down each element is to allocate a percentage of your budget for each part.  Here is an approximate breakdown of what this should be.

40% for your Wedding Breakfast & Reception. (included decor, favours etc)
10% for entertainment/music
15% for all your flowers
15% for your bridal wear
10% for photography/videography
5%  for your stationery
5%  for your ceremony & transport

Setting and sticking to your budget can make the planning much easier.

2.  Visit Venues within your budget and get detail costs for each before making your final decision, check which dates are available.   Sometimes going out of season can save you alot of money, so it's always worth considering.  This will also determine how many guests you can realistically have to share your special day with you.

3.  Book the registrar and set the date, send out Save the Date cards or Fridge Magnets to your guests.

4.  Book your photographer, the really good photographers are booked up well in advance so it's important that you start this process early in your planning.  So many photographers say that they have couples coming to them a few weeks before the wedding, you need to be able to build and have a good relationship with the professional who is going to capture your day, it makes a huge difference to the images that you get afterwards, as you are more relaxed and comfortable with them.

5. Decide on your theme, there are so many ideas out there it's good to do a bit of research, visit wedding websites, photographers websites, look in magazines and make yourself a mood board and play around with ideas and colours to get that perfect look. Shop around to get yourself the best deals.

Source

Contact us for Supplier of this Dancefloor

June Brides

6. Bridal Wear is also so important to start looking early.   Many bridal stores need at least 6 months notice to have your dress ready for the day, this includes having it made, you will need several fittings as most brides believe it or not drop a dress size on the lead up to their wedding.  Give yourself plenty of time to shop around, visit wedding shows to get inspiration, watch out for sales you might even bag yourself a designer gown at knock down prices.

7.  Flowers again are something that many couples leave until the last minute, thinking about this early and deciding what you really want is so important, the flowers can complete the look of your outfits on the day, you want them to compliment your dress/outfits as well as tying in with your colour scheme.   Consider the time of year you are getting married and what blooms are in season at the time.

8.  Family arguments!!  This is a very common theme for many weddings and the way to avoid confrontations and resentment is to lay the ground rules down early on.   This is your wedding and you want it done your way, it's so crucial that you never lose sight of that.  Involve your bridal party and family in the planning, assign tasks and roles to everyone, listen to their ideas and implement the ones your like.  If you don't like an idea be tactful and say something like "I like that idea, but would like to think about a few others before making a final decision"   


9.  Think about hiring a Wedding Planner/Consultant.   Seriously, it can make such a huge difference.  Forget the Hollywood portrayal of wedding planners in real life it's not like that at all.  Wedding Planners don't take over your wedding and don't cost a fortune, they can actually save you money, by recommending suppliers, being able to source decor items.  Most importantly they give you the support you really need especially on the run up to your big day (the last 6 weeks are the most stressful).  Not only will you be de-stressed you will have the confidence and assurance that your day will go without a hitch and be as perfect as you dreamed it would be.

10.  The most important thing of all.... have fun!  Enjoy your engagement, have fun in the planning and look forward to one of the biggest and happiest days of your life.

Wishing Tree

For more information on wedding planning services, visit my website  or drop me an email 

Matrix Nails

I am excited and delighted to be able to introduce to you Matrix Nails.

Gillian Hay who owns and runs Matrix Nails is not only great fun, but a fantastic Nail Technician.  I have personally had my nails done by Gillian a couple of times now and they have been fantastic.  

My own experience is that I had acrylics done with a neutral Gellux polish, after 2 weeks (no breaks or chips! ) I went back, instead of infills, Gillian spent quite a while filing them down and applying the most gorgeous purple Gellux.  I had that set of nails on for a total of 4 weeks and 2 different colours of Gellux, which didn't chip or lift the whole time.  Now to put that into context, I am the worlds worst for not using the oils, never use rubber gloves for dishes or housework and generally quite heavy handed, those nails managed to withstand 4 weeks of ME! 

I have so many photo's of Matrix Nails work that there seems to be way to many to show on here, visit their website for lots more, but in the meantime here is a taster.

Gellux gel polish which is a high gloss,fast drying and hard wearing alternative to nail polish. You do not have to worry about accidentally chipping or smudging your manicure. Gellux lasts approximately two weeks,protecting your natural nails from damage allowing them to grow. Perfect for fingers and toes.

Matrix Nails can design bridal nails to compliment your bridal gown,theme or colours and offer a similar for service for bridesmaids with a huge range of colours in gel polish.  Let's not forget the Mothers of the Bride and Groom, and last but not least our little flower girls with their little polish.

Price List: 

                              French £18
                              Coloured and nail art from £25
                              Gellux polish £15 (with sparkle £18)
                              File and polish for flowergirls £5

Also available are pearls, swarovski crystals, diamonds and bows are also available as fabulous accessories.

Matrix Nails are based in Bishopbriggs in Glasgow and provide mobile services or you can visit her at her home Salon if this is more suitable.

I am so impressed with Gillian at Matrix Nails I have included some of her testimonials here are a couple:

"I have been getting my nails done by Gillian at matrix nails for months now, and I know I wouldn't go to another salon or technician now, based on the quality of the nails and the variety of what I can have done with the help of Gillian."

Geraldine Dolan, Glasgow

Gillian @ Matrix nails, is by far the best nail technician I have ever come across. I have never had a set of acrylics that stayed on and I was happy with before I found Matrix nails. From the first visit, I remember asking, what is this step, what is that step, I've never had that done before, etc. The result, my nails were gorgeous and not only that they lasted and I was able to have in fills done, when it came time to have them off, they were all still in place. I have continued to have my acrylics and they are always the same, perfect! Gillian is very person centred and will design to suit the occasion, personality or mood, so I always have something different each time I go, her portfolio is extensive and as I say, she is happy to personalise. I was particularly impressed with her attention to hygiene and also detail, very impressive! I have also more recently had the Gellux polish which was a fantastic alternative on my own nails, the gellux, its gorgeous, shiny, and lasts for ages. I have no hesitation in recommending Gillian, I can guarantee any new client will be 110% satisfied, and will become a returning customer. Thanks Gillian, you are stuck with me and my nails  Katey Jamieson, Bishopbriggs

There are several ways that you can contact Gillian at Matrix Nails.

If you have a question regarding treatments, enhancements or whether you wish to book an appointment.

Please feel free to give her a call on:- 07522480146

or drop her a text, if she is busy and she will call you back as soon as possible.

You can also contact her via email @  gill_hay@btinternet.com

Or alternatively you may also catch up with her on facebook ! 

50 Life Hacks to Simplify your World «TwistedSifter

50 Life Hacks to Simplify your World «TwistedSifter:

'via Blog this'

Some more great ideas

50 Creative Ways to Repurpose, Reuse and Upcycle Old Things «TwistedSifter

50 Creative Ways to Repurpose, Reuse and Upcycle Old Things «TwistedSifter:

'via Blog this'

Weddings In Las Vegas

Our guest blogger today is Claire, who plans weddings in Las Vegas (www.lasvegasbridesmaid.com).  She often hears from couples who know they want the glamour and glitz of a Vegas wedding, not to mention the guaranteed sunshine, but they find that they are overwhelmed with the choices of wedding location in the city.

Las Vegas is the wedding capital of the USA, if not the world.  The state of Nevada issues an average of 120,000 marriage licenses each year, so it is not surprising that there are so many wedding options to choose from!

Almost every hotel and casino on the Strip in Las Vegas has a wedding chapel inside it, quite a lot of them have pretty pagoda-style areas in their gardens for weddings, too.  If you have guests accompanying you for your wedding, often the hotels will offer a wedding package that includes all the rooms that you need, often with a suite for the bride and groom.  Having everyone stay in the same hotel will be handy if the groom needs to sleep in a different room from the bride the night before the wedding.

Many people come to Las Vegas with the idea of a classic old-school Downtown wedding chapel in mind.  There are lots to choose from, and some are nicer than others.  These chapels are where couples can explore the true diversity of Las Vegas weddings.  You can have as much romance, as much glitz and as much fun as you like, and many of these smaller chapels can give you a completely personalised ceremony if you are creative enough.  Everyone knows about the possibility of having as Elvis impersonator perform the ceremony, but there are lots of other impersonators in Las Vegas, and many of them are licensed to perform wedding ceremonies, and they can serenade you with your favourite singer's songs during the ceremony.  The smaller chapels can be set up to your taste and in some cases, decorated just as you wish, although it is likely that there will be a charge for this.  Of course, if you are in a rush, there is always the option of the drive-through wedding!

Las Vegas is in the heart of the Nevada desert, and less than an hour's drive away is some of the most breathtaking scenery you will see this close to such a metropolis.  Weddings can be performed in Red Rock Canyon and the Valley of Fire, two outstanding areas of beauty near to Las Vegas.  If you like the idea of getting married outdoors in the desert, choose the time of year carefully.  July and August will be uncomfortably hot in the middle of the day, but almost any other time of year a wedding in these areas would be spectacular. 

There are some lovely parks and preserve areas in and around Las Vegas where couples can get married.  There are some parks close to natural springs and lakes, so are the sort of green and lush areas that you would never expect to see in the middle of the desert!  Many of these places were ranches many years ago, so are set up to take groups of people – ideal for a wedding.  Afterwards, couples can return from making their union with nature as a beautiful backdrop, to party in the fabulous city of Las Vegas.

Contact Claire for more information on Las Vegas wedding location suggestions at claire@lasvegasbridesmaid.com or visit her website for more Las Vegas wedding (http:www.lasvegasbridesmaid.com) tips.

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas !

Christmas is coming and personally it's one of my most favourite times of the year.  I love the magic that comes with it and the build up towards the day itself.    I'm not talking about the commercial side of things with the Christmas shopping and bustling crowds, I'm talking about walking through the city seeing all the lights twinkling, going ice skating and drinking hot chocolate with marshmallows.    I love seeing the little kids with wide eyes and big smiles at the thought of Santa coming and the excitement that it generates.

Many of us will be putting up the tree and decorating it over the next few weeks, that can lead to its own challenges.   In our house my kids are in early adulthood now but there is a certain tradition that we stick to..no laughing please!    I have always tried to create a tradition where we do the tree together and  have that little bit of family time that is so precious as the kids grow.  However, this reality is this:

1.  I get the tree and decorations out of the garage
2.  My daughter joins me to get everything ready (I have one of those trees that you have to build branch by branch! ) 
3.  The cats jump in the bag that the tree is in and into the box with the baubles.
4.  I start to build the tree, I turn round ...my daughter is gone... I continue to build the tree
5.  I string the lights (600 lights go on my tree so it takes a while)
6.  I start to put the baubles on...my daughter reappears and hangs a few..then disappears again! 
7.  I get to putting the tree topper on...daughter reappears and insists it's her job to put the star on the tree.
8.  The tree is done and my son appears!!   Says "yeah that's nice" and disappears
9.  Cats take an interest and start knocking the baubles off the bottom branches and proceed to play "football" with them.

And this is how it is every year!   but they do still take great pleasure in "sorting" out the presents, trying not so successfully pretending that they are not counting how many each have and are sorted into their respective  piles, even at 16 and 18 they still do it! 

Christmas can be a time of stress especially if you are having loads of family round and having to cook, shop, clean etc, tempers can get frayed, arguments follow  and sometimes you can wonder why you do this to yourself every year.   My tip is don't stress over it, it depends just how traditional you want the day to be and what you want to get out of it.  

It is a fairly laid back affair in our house and certainly not stressful, I'm not saying that it was always like that, it wasn't until about 5 years ago, when I had a really bad dose of the flu and it came to Christmas Eve and I was still feeling like I had been hit by a bus, but had nothing in for dinner (luckily the gift shopping had been done a while before)   So on Christmas Eve around 2pm I dragged myself out with my husband, went to 3 local supermarkets and realised there was nothing left!  We ended up in Aldi's and they still had plenty of everything, we got the food we needed for the next day and all was well, but it did make me realise that there really is no need to go all out with mountains of food and a really expensive food bill.

Click to get this recipe

We might be in the minority but we don't actually like turkey that much so we always have chicken instead.   This year I have bought lovely big chicken breasts which we are going to wrap in bacon, we will do the rest of the trimmings as usual,but there will be no waste and we won't be eating turkey sandwiches, currys etc for the following week, we will save a fortune as the price of turkey is ridiculous at this time of year and I refuse to bow down to the retailers, just because it's Christmas.    I have bought some gorgeous diced steak and will make my own Steak Pie on Boxing Day.  Tradition is whatever you and your family make it not what the media tells you it should be.

So my tips for this Christmas are: 

• Make your lists NOW of what you need to do
• Don't stress, make sure you take a bit of time out to have a bit of fun
• Have the dinner you want to have, minimise waste, it will have a positive effect on your pocket too! 
• Enjoy what time off you do have, snuggle up in front of a Christmas movie, wrap up warm and go for a walk in the park and crunch on the leaves, people watch...go for a coffee in town, sit at the window and watch the world go by.
• SMILE!  no matter what trials and tribulations you have been through in 2012, you have done exactly that you have come through it and  its time to just relax a little.

So, I'm now off to get the tree out the garage and start our Christmas traditions........

Happy Holidays Everyone have a good one! xxx

Crystal Nails and Tanning - Highly Recommended

When I recommend my suppliers, it's not just because I have made contact with them, I have actually tried out their services myself and for my brides who are having a spray tan and nails done, it can be quite daunting trying to find the right one to look her best on the day.

Well I have one fantastic supplier that I can't recommend highly enough and is in the Falkirk area.   I travel from Glasgow to Falkirk to get my treatments done so that speaks volumes in itself.

Crystal Nails and Tanning are a new business established only this year, and Sara Dwight is the owner.

Sara is constantly updating her packages and offering new services to her clients.  She has a gorgeous treatment room at her home address so you can be assured of privacy and a high level of service.

I have personally sampled some of her services including the amazing Shellac Nails and Brown Blitz Spray Tanning.

I will start by praising the tan... I have had several spray tans over the last few years, and I have to say by far this is the best one yet, not only did it look great straight away, but it didn't streak or go blotchy, it was even from the start, it faded beautifully and I was able to wash it off after just a few hours, and it continued to develop overnight which was great, no tan stained sheets!  Not only that it smelled gorgeous.   It lasted over a week and have to say can't wait to get another soon.

The Shellac Nails are fantastic, I confess to being a nail biter for most of my life, but thanks to my dentist who fitted new crowns, it means that I can no longer nibble!   The result is for the first time I have lovely long nails that I am incredibly proud of.   The Shellac is gorgeous, long lasting and non chipping, making my hands look great all day everyday.  I opted for the French Manicure because for me it was the most versatile and am still not into painting my nails every few days, perfect solution.

Sara herself is great, she has a fantastic bubbly personality and immediately puts you at ease.

She has some really fantastic offers on at the moment including:

Bridal Nail package includes for: Bride, Mother of the Bride and up to 3 Bridesmaids: Shellac £100

Spray Tans - Book and pay for 4 spray tans in advance and get your 5th tan free.   Cost £40.00

Get yourself a fabulous Brown Blitz Spray Tan and gorgeous Shellac Nails for £25.00

Check out her website for more offers especially coming up to Christmas! 

To contact Sara at Crystal Nails and Tanning you can 

Visit her Website: Crystal Nails and Tanning

By Phone: 07514 209376

To book online: Online Booking 

Crystal Nails and Tanning 

House of Elliot Clearance Sale

I had to share with you today the amazing clearance sale from House of Elliot.     These are all going fast so if you fancy something extra special and a special price then get in quick.

These shoes are reduced from £175.00 to £60.00 and are available in a Size 5

Also available in black if you wanted something different or if you are planning to change in the evening.

Also available are these rather gorgeous Keepsake Boxes, they come fully assembled and are covered in highest quality interior design paper.  Perfect for you precious memories no matter what the occasion.

Check out their website for more gorgeous goodies including garters, boots and much much more.

http://www.houseofelliotcollection.com/

Tefal Kitchen Machine and Jamie Oliver Bakeware Product Review

How excited was I to be able to try out the Tefal Kitchen Machine and Jamie Oliver Bakeware for Cupcakes,  here is the press release and our review is at the foot of the page

The trend for cupcakes is ever-present at weddings up and down the country, with brides opting for this individual, quirky approach over a more traditional three tier confection.

There are a lot of advantages to a cupcake wedding, these smaller cakes can be individually coloured to the theme of the wedding, are easier to distribute without the venue having to cut them up and, crucially, they can be made at home for a valuable saving on your wedding costs.

There’s been an increase in cupcake bars at receptions, so all the blushing bride needs to do is provide un-iced cupcakes, and a variety of frostings and toppings so guests can create their own delicious memento of the happy occasion

 

There’s no question it’s easier to bake a lovely batch of cupcakes than a three-tier royal icing creation but it can be tricky to produce a moist, spongy, deliciously-light cupcake. It's quite simple really - the secret to baking the perfect batch is getting enough air into the mixture to begin with

The Tefal Kitchen Machine (£199, www.tefalfreshexpress.co.uk) uses a planetary movement system to reach the whole mixture, gathering all the ingredients and adding air into your mixture, creating cupcakes that rise beautifully and are so mouth-wateringly light, you'll be able to eat two! 
        

There's no point whipping up the perfect mixture if it's not going to cook evenly. We've all made a dozen cupcakes before where 6 happily rise and the rest seem utterly reluctant. Achieving that elusive even finish is heavily dependent on even heat distribution. Hot spots can cause some parts of a cupcake to rise faster than others, not to mention leave the bottoms burnt in some places and undercooked in others. The 12 muffin tray from the Jamie Oliver range of bakeware from Tefal (£13, www.tefal.co.uk) is made from tough carbon steel which eliminates hotspots and ensures you turn out perfect cupcakes every time.

     

Try some of these great suggestions for jazzing up you cupcakes:

Classic Vanilla
For just the right amount of creamy sweetness add a teaspoon of vanilla extract, or fresh vanilla straight from the pod to your cupcake mix, and top with fresh buttercream

Mocha Cupcakes
The grown up’s cupcake – mix in half a cup of coffee and a generous helping of cocoa powder for a delicious mocha flavour. For the real coffee lover try whipping up a decadant espresso icing to go on top

Earl Grey cupcakes with a hint of lemon
Just two tablespoons of earl grey tea with add a delicate flavour to your cupcakes, for an authentic earl grey taste top with buttercream infused with a hint of lemon juice

Double chocolate
The addition of melted dark chocolate and cocoa powder to the initial cake mix, and melted chocolate to a buttercream topping, makes for the ultimate indulgent treat


Beauty Weddings Review

Firstly I am going to review the Tefal Kitchen Machine.     I am the first to admit that I am not the keenest baker in the world, in the past when I tried to bake a cake it would sink in the middle, was unevenly cooked or was just like a brick!  I'm sure that many of you have been in the same boat at one time or another.   This machine is brilliant, not only does it look good and would take pride of place in your kitchen, but it also makes baking fun and more importantly in my case ..easy!    So I decided to make some cupcakes. Assembling the mixer was straightforward and the instructions clear.   Mixing the ingredients was easy to do and the splash guard stops the splatter mess.   The mixture came out exactly as promised.   Taking it apart to clean was also easy to do and I was cleaned up in no time at all.   I couldn't actually find fault with this machine, so if you are looking for a new kitchen machine, this Tefal model for me is definitely the way to go.  

Our Rating

Jamie Oliver Bakeware  As I said before baking isn't really my "thing", however, my faith in my ability has been restored.   I have cooked several batches of cupcakes with this tray and it really does work fantastically, that I have went out and bought one for myself.   I must have made about 10 batches of cupcakes over the past few weeks and each time they turned out perfectly, the tray is so easy to clean and it still looks brand new.  So if you are planning on making your own cupcakes for your wedding cake, this is a must buy.  Great value for money and perfect cupcakes every time, what more could you ask for!

Superdry Product Review

TRAVEL IN STYLE WITH NEW SUPERDRY STEEL AND BLACK

HANDY SIZE 40ML

Whether you’re off on holiday or simply heading to the gym, Superdry’s new Steel and Black travel size is the ideal companion when you need to be space and weight conscious. 

Developed for day-to-night appeal with sleek, bold lines and embossed glass, the touch-soft packaging makes these fragrances the perfect travel companion.  

Superdry Steel

A refreshing, effervescent statement fragrance, with top notes of lime and bergamot, a heart of cardamom and violet leaves and rich base notes of cedarwood and moss.   The sleek silver steel and embossed blue glass bottle creates an indispensable new scent for the modern man. 

40ml £29.50RRP

    

Superdry Black

An aromatic heart of lavender, jasmine, thyme, coriander and nutmeg, sweetened by a juicy lime note and rich ripe fruits completed by a deep base rich of sandalwood, balsam, incense, leather and moss for a fresh take on fragrance.     40ml £29.50RRP

Superdry Steel and Black are available now from Harrods, Selfridges, Harvey Nichols, House of Fraser, larger Debenhams stores, larger Boots stores, selected independent department stores, Superdry stores and online at www.superdry.com.

Beauty Weddings Review

We tried the Superdry Black for our review.   I had always associated Superdry with clothing so was a little sceptical as to whether or not they could pull it off with a fragrance.    I have to say that I was pleasantly surprised.  The packaging was pretty funky and looked great on the bathroom shelf.   This is a gorgeous men's scent that has fantastic staying power and lasts all day.  Our tester was delighted with this and has now said that it is his scent of choice.   The price point is great value for money.   A good all rounder and is excellent for both everyday wear and special occasions.

Our Rating