this week #01

 I've decided to try out a new kind of blog post and I'm hoping it will become a regular feature. The plan with 'This Week' is to, every Friday, give a little bit of a run down of my week with the use of Instagram and to highlight particular products, meals, blog posts, design objects, I've been particularly enjoying that week. I'm a big fan of Instagram and love using it to communicate with SMUG customers, like - minded designers and bigger brands I love, as well as with friends and family. Obviously the visual element is the most important and enjoyable when it comes in to Insta but sometimes it's nice to be able to tell a little bit more of the story - I hope to do that here. A highlight this last week was Stylist Live, an event which happened to be located in the Business Design Centre, just over the road from SMUG. And, which happened to be hosting a Q&A with my two makeup and beauty gurus - Vivianna Does Makeup and Lily Pebbles. I went along, I plucked up the courage to ask a question and Anna even asked me what I was wearing on my lips! It was of course a recommendation of hers that I picked up in New York - Cherry Picking by Wet n Wild. I had the chance to meet Anna and Lily after the Q&A and they were both lovely and really encouraging. On that note and the NYC note too, I think it's about time I share with you my US beauty haul, which I think will be coming in the form of a video. My first video ever. You Tube here I come! There have been lots of new things arriving at SMUG, as well as some hype around products in the pipeline that are due to arrive very soon for The SMUG Christmas SHOP. Here's the lowdown on my top picks I've been sharing on Instagram - Quilted Cushions, Ferm Living, £78 and £82 // Gia Leather Handbag in Tan, M.Hulot, £170 // Cactus Brooch, Macon et Lesquoy, £14 // Makers of East London Coffee Table Book, Hoxton Mini Press, £30 // Black Marbled Enamelware, Crow Canyon, £4 - £22.  I also used Instagram to share some images from my most recent blog post 'A London Girl's Birthday Treat Day' which you can read here. Most Loved Beauty Product This Week - L'Oreal Paris True Match Foundation. Earlier this week I popped into Boots to pick up a bottle as both Lily and Anna (as mentioned above) have been raving about it. The formulation has been changed, making it more blendable and light weight on the skin but with that same good, buildable coverage. It's also more moisturising which I really like. As you'd hope, they have a colour that is a really good match for my skin tone too. This foundation is well up there with its high end counterparts but with a drugstore price tag. Favourite Blog Post This Week - This week I stumbled upon the effortlessly chic blog The Chriselle Factor and I'm loving it. Isn't she gorgeous? Check out her recent post '11 Tips To Look Expensive'. I'm just lapping this stuff up at the moment. Obviously it's to be taken with a pinch of salt. We can't all manage to maintain such a polished and perfect lifestyle and appearance but she's great and encourages me to make a bit more effort when getting ready in the mornings.  Best Meal This Week - Lunch at NOPI in Soho. Because SMUG gets pretty full on (and full-time) in the lead up to Christmas, Mum and I try to get as much of our Christmas shopping done on Mondays in October as poss. Last Monday was our first West End shopping day so we booked lunch at one of our favourite restaurants ever, NOPI. New on the menu and particularly special was the Roast Aubergine with Black Garlic, Broad Beans and Basil. We were also very happy to enjoy our old favourites - Courgette and Manouri Fritters with Cardamon Yogurt, Twice Cooked Baby Chicken with Lemon Myrtle Salt and Chilli Sauce and NOPI's infamous Valdeon Cheesecake with Picked Beetroot, Almonds and Thyme Honey. It's fair to say it was all delicious and set us up for a very productive day of shopping. You'll be hearing more about that soon I'm sure. See you next Friday for 'This Week #2'!