Almost There - Luv Lisa The Collection

Well girls, that came around fast and I feel like I have so much to do before Friday. Work has been beyond crazy and I feel like I haven't had a minute. We are 2 days away....YES 2 days. On Monday night we got some photos done for the products and I am delighted with how they turned out. I had wanted to get some scenic outdoor (on our way to the club) shots but the weather was horrendous and there was no way it was happening. My budget is little to none at this stage so I was only delighted that two amazing girls helped me out with the photos. We had such a laugh taking them and I've never felt so awkward in my whole life, I was like bambi, didn't know what to do with myself, where to put my legs etc. However Keeva (my gorgeous model) came out and was like BAMN, strike a pose, talk about professional, she looked unreal and put me to shame. Amy (the photographer) was fantastic giving us both direction and making us feel at ease, I honestly cannot thank them both enough xx

I'm still working away on the website and I'm getting a little flustered but I know I just need to apply myself, take a few hours and finish it off. I'm learning as I go and like I said with little to no budget at this stage. I feel like I've so much is riding on this and I'm getting really nervous, I naturally overthink everything anyway, I just really want this to be a success. Everyone has been so supportive and I know everyone is dying to see the launch. I put alot of thought into the pieces I choose, and I picked them for a specific reason with a specific people in mind. As I said before, quality is a big one for me and I think at this stage I would describe the collection as a cross between the high street and a boutique. 

So the countdown is on, and I think I will release pictures of all the 5 items between now and Friday for the launch (so you can have your favourite picked) I will not be re-purchasing any of the items because instead I have decided that I will order new pieces/outfits after each one is sold. It means that the likely-hood of you ending up at a party and someone else is wearing your outfit won't happen. Plus I will always have something new and different anytime you revisit the website. 

So fingers crossed for me xx

From one very excited and nervous girl xx

Flawlessly Festive

Hello girls,

Well after yesterdays post I wanted to do something a little more light hearted. As the festive seasons quickly approaches (6 weeks to xmas eve, yes I am a freak) its is now the time to book in with for any Makeup/Hair appointments you may need. We all love to doll ourselves up and of course we all love a treat especially at this time of year. So I said I would compile a list of Makeup Artists I have used or love to follow. I am always a last minute kinda girl when it comes to bookings but it seems if you want to look flawless for the festive season then now is the time to book in, as their appointments fill up fast

SHANNON-AINE MAKEUP

ttps://www.facebook.com/Shannonainemakeup/?fref=ts

I've worked with Shannon on numerous occasions and we have actually done events together, she is such a beautiful girl with an amazing natural talent. A young mum with a mountain of ambition and a good head on her shoulders, she always blows me away with her attitude towards the industry. She works freelance and is available for bookings

BANANA BEAUTY MUA

https://www.facebook.com/bananabeautymua/?fref=ts

I actually worked with Alannah years ago in River Island, seems like forever ago now. We recently started chatting again through social media and I love that she is a very independent woman that has overcome many changes in her life. She is a hard working mother, that has went back to college to pursue her dreams and work in the makeup industry. She is now working freelance and has just teamed up with a hair stylist to give a complete package of pampering all from your home

THE BEAUTY BOUDOIR

https://www.facebook.com/thebeautyboudoir/?fref=ts

I meet Gemma a few months go after chatting back and forth through snapchat, when she was kind enough to attend an event I hosted. She is such a lovely person and super talented also. She has previously worked in Cari's Closet before recently deciding to now freelance. She travels to your home and she is very flexible. Not only will you be able to have a makeup application but she also offers hair services

MATTE TO METALLIC

https://www.facebook.com/FromMatteToMetallic/?fref=ts

I had the pleasure of meeting one of the dynamic duo at a masterclass recently. Two inspirational and hard working women that have just launched their own online store. Also the brand ambassadors for Makeup Revolution/TAM beauty. As busy and all as they are they also provide professional makeup application and makeup classes 

Blogging - The Reality

Okay so I've debated writing about this for such a long time, and for many different reasons.
1. I don't want it to come across as negative.
2. Its not my aim to target or make anyone feel bad
3. I am not doing this to be controversial
I've sat down to write about this so many times, but I've stopped myself because I am unsure of how it will come across, and I don't want it to seem like an attack on anyone. I am pro empowering others and especially other women, however I cannot stand by any longer and not say what I'm feeling

Over the last year I have learned so much about social media, and a little bit about the in's and out's of  the blogging world. Now I would be deemed as minuscule in the whole blogging circle and honestly I'm quiet happy to stay that way, because to me, it means I get to be myself. There are lots of different types of bloggers, those that enjoy it as a hobby, those that want to become the next "influencer", and then there are those that have made a living from it. I love to follow the what I call "normal" girls, the girls that enjoy it as a hobby, mainly because you can see their passion and love for it. They don't make money from it, or crave likes/followers, its all a bit of fun for them and they genuinely appreciate any opportunity that comes their way. I'm not one for the "influencer" type and again its nothing personal, its just not for me. I understand that some make a living from it, and it has become their day job, but sometimes I just feel that (and I'm not saying all) can come across disconnected from reality,  from us normal folk and it can all seem a little ungenuine (if thats even a word :))

Some of the issues that have been on my mind are as follows

Products that are endorsed, showing amazing results when its quiet clear that filters are being used. What I mean by this, is promoting a skincare brand and saying it has made a difference in your skin (after one use) when your actually using a filter or beauty app to achieve that "youthful glow"
The "OMG" I can't believe I've been sent this, when these girls are quiet clearly signed up to a PR company and in return are receiving products from brands because of the PR company.
Same again with events, the "I'm so busy having to go to all these events" when alot of companies ask bloggers to sign up to their PR emails so they can invite you, normally a generic email is sent out to 100's of people, so really its not as big as it is made out to be.
I've seen bloggers take other girls ideas and blog posts and use them as their own, all because they have seen it work well for someone else, so they decide to do the same thing. I know there is always going to be an element of a cross over, that is inevitable, especially when alot of people are talking about a new launch or brand.
I've personally received messages from other bloggers asking me to share their page on my mine, harmless enough so it seems but its all because they want more followers, of course we all want to grow but it takes balls to approach someone you have never meet and ask something like that.
Recently I spoke to a mother at an event and her daughter was 13, her daughter wanted to purchase some of the products I had mentioned on snapchat. Now to be be fair I was honest in the fact that I do use the products and love them, but it made me feel really uneasy and sad. I'm a 35 year old woman and a 13 year old girl is listening to what I have to say, therefore I do feel a duty to be conscious of what I say and do. It can be easier than you think to influence another and especially a young girl, so it scares me that people are being fed lies by some. The world isn't made up of Makeup, Designer Clothes, Lattes and Fashion. Life is much more difficult than that.
There is alot of talk about anxiety and depression and YES it is fantastic that girls are creating awareness about it, but I do feel that there is an element of people jumping on the bandwagon just to get engagement on their pages. Its a very serious topic, and I was chatting to a friend about it the other day, she told me that she read an article in the Independent. It said that anxiety/depression medication has risen, and alot of this is down to the fact that people "think" they have it. They are listening to so many bloggers talk about it, that they believe they must be going through he same thing. Again I want to point out that I think its fantastic people are being so open about this but please please remember that someone out there it listening to every word you say.

Its a very competitive industry and I know that life can be in general, but I'm not willing to sell my "soul to the devil" so to speak to get ahead, I'd rather do it on my own merit. It saddens me that someone might feel their worth is measured by the 'amount of followers" they have, I don't even like the word followers to be honest, it suggests that you feel important. Yes I know it might sound hypocritical because I have a blog, but I have never charged for anything I have ever done, yes I have received some lovely gifts as a thank you, and I have appreciated each and every thing I have ever gotten. I suppose what I am trying to convey is a sadness I feel when I see people being taken advantage of. It makes me angry when I see people lie for profit and disappointment that fellow woman are willing to step on each other to get ahead

I just want to send a message to any young girl that follows any bloggers.Some bloggers have alot of money, money inherited and money earned. To go out and purchase a designer handbag is nothing to them, they live a different life, and one that is not always as pretty as it is portrayed. Please look up to the normal women around you, your mother/grandmother/aunt/cousin/friend. Someone that works hard in life to have what they have. Someone that is rich with LOVE and not possessions. Try to be the best version of you that you can be and please don't get sucked into a world that isn't real.

I hope I got my message across without sounding too negative and I'd love to hear your thoughts on the subject. A massive thanks to Its all G Blog for letting me run this by her, as I was nervous on how it might sound. Also to Alannah @Banana Beauty, Karina @Bee Amazing Nails, Grace @Gracie Loves, Denise @Holy Chic and Brid @Biddynail's blog, all girls I admire and that keep me grounded xx

One step at a time

So I said I wouldn't write another blog post until I launched my new site, but I really feel like I need to fill you guys in on what's being going on. I'm sure by now most of you are aware that I am launching a small capsule collection as part of my blog. https://luvlisaxx.blogspot.ie/2016/10/introducing-luv-lisa-collection.html

Its crazy that I've thought about this for such a long time and done absolutely nothing about it, but the minute I decided to tell everyone it was all go. I suppose its a lesson that the minute you put something out there, you then HAVE to follow through, no going back. I've never been so pro-active in my whole life and I'm not sure if its pure drive, fear of FAILING or a combination of both. I had to get off my ass and put the idea into motion.

I always wanted to become a buyer in retail but I've learned that it is one difficult job. I went to Manchester last week on my holidays to source some wholesalers for my products and it was scary, daunting, very interesting and so much harder than I thought it would be. Standing in a showroom with rails and rails of stock with one sample of everything on them. Trying to decide how I was going to spend my hard earned cash, and yes it has been all of my own money I have put into this. NO INVESTMENT. Spotting products I've seen in well known boutiques, online stores and the high street, trying to stand out and be different against these retail giants seems impossible. Everything I thought I wanted as part of the collection was so disappointing in person, the quality was questionable and the finish cheap. It was interesting hearing other business men and women in action over there, pulling up in their MERC's and AUDI's  buying by the 100's and here is little old me with my suitcase in tow. It was nothing that I thought it would be, I knew it would be hard work but I didn't realise how hard. When you see people on social media with coffee in hand and a picture of a plane saying "off on a business trip", it looks so glamorous, but it is nothing like that. A long day up at 3am that morning, an hr drive, a plane, 2 trains, walking for miles and then back home again. But I loved it and I cannot wait to go back because I loved seeing the stock in person, getting to feel the product and look at the detail and fit of it. The pieces I choose I just love, I would personally wear them all but I picked each one with an occasion or person in mind. I just hope that you guys Love them too. A logo, a label, mailing bags, taxes, registrations, there is so much more to this then selling a few items of clothes. Each step I take no matter how small is a Milestone for me

I've gone through so much emotion over the past few weeks, mostly excitement, nerves (good nerves) and a massive sense of achievement. Even if this all doesn't work out, at least I know I've tried and I will never be ashamed for trying. I am waking up each morning with a sense of purpose, and I know that this is mainly because this is a new challenge for me. I am learning each day, and I know will make mistakes along the way and thats okay. I am honestly overwhelmed (and I know people always say this) but so many people have been so good to me, kind words, messages, offering help, every single thing pushes me that one bit further. Thank you so much for joining me on this journey and please don't forget to tell the WORLD. I will need as much help as I can get because I won't be able to do this all on my own.

Thank you, thank you, thank you

Luv Lisa xx