You Are Strong

I've always wanted to be able to write posts that are useful to people and I've always been quite sceptical over how intimate and personal my writing gets. Beloved Jaine is first and foremost a beauty, fashion and lifestyle blog where I'll talk about recent amazing products I've tried (or not!), and my experiences as an internet persona (if that's what you want to call it?). I understand that readers do generally enjoy getting to know the person behind the words, but there's always been a part of me that thought maybe revealing too much would mean the reader doesn't take anything away from it. There was also the possibility that they wouldn't be that interested anyway.  Over the past few weeks I've noticed that quite a few girls on social media aren't happy with themselves physically and emotionally. It is upsetting because I can identify with them, and trust me that is very hard to admit. I think if you are a beauty blogger or an outgoing individual, there is the automatic assumption that you ooze total body confidence and are 100% content with the type of person that you are. That is actually not very accurate. Myself, like most people, have very good days and very down days. One morning I'll wake up and I'll feel like I can take on the world, and then the next day I'll feel like a completely different person. Sometimes I love myself (I feel bad for saying this - damn you society) and sometimes I absolutely hate myself. I tend to try and avoid any type of negativity, because one of the main reasons I write Beloved Jaine is to make people like you feel good about yourself. However I feel that being honest is an incredible trait to have in a person. You might not take anything away from this and wonder why you bothered in the first place, or you might end up not feeling so alone because I, like you, have been there. I want you to know that you don't have to be ashamed of who you are, or how you look or how other people perceive you. You're not weak for having doubts about yourself or having a cry every now and again. Everyone has insecurities,  and you will soldier on just like you always do because you are so incredibly strong. 

Lush Bluewater VIP Opening Party

I was recently invited to the VIP Opening Party of the brand new Lush store in Bluewater and brought my friend, Sam, along with me as a plus one. This was the first launch event I've been invited to as a blogger, so I wasn't going to say no in the RSVP! I didn't quite know what to expect, but was very pleased that I went. As soon as we walked in the staff were very friendly and approachable. I spoke to one member of staff and said that I was looking for a deep hair treatment that would be good for damaged ends. She spoke to us for a good fifteen minutes, asking me all sorts of questions about what condition my hair was in to try and find the best product to recommend. Eventually we settled on a hair care product called 'Marilyn' which you use every six to eight weeks, depending on your hair regime (review of this coming very soon!). The new shop décor was very bright and colourful, and they had arranged the entire store around a cute little island counter in the middle, where you could get free skin consultations. We were treated as typical VIP's throughout the evening and enjoyed some lovely beverages of orange juice and champagne, as well as cake and a relaxing arm massage with a wonderful smelling soap bar of our choice. We also enjoyed looking at the brand new Halloween and Christmas collections before anyone else! I made my own bath bomb which was very fun to do. Sam and I also took part in a rather interesting 'smell game' with one of the staff. She told me to tell her a happy memory of mine and to elaborate on all five senses of that memory (taste, touch, smell, see, hear...). So I said about my time at the Isle of Wight Festival this year and whilst I had my eyes closed she concocted an amazing memory smell and magically transported me back to the festival - I could actually smell my memory and it was like I was back there! Sounds bizarre, but it was definitely a highlight of the VIP party for me... I couldn't believe how she had managed to do it! At the end of the launch I bought the Marilyn hair treatment and a gorgeous exfoliating lip scrub called 'Mint Julips' which you can lick off after application (yum!). We were given a little LUSH goody bag as a 'thank you for coming' present, which had a free soap bar called 'Honey I Washed the Kids' and also a pink bath bomb. Thank you LUSH Bluewater for making my first blogger event a truly unforgettable experience. I love you! Who else has been to a launch party? Aren't they so much fun?!    

Playboy Makeup Review

The lovely team over at Playboy Make-up were extremely kind to send me through some of their latest products for free. I received three items in my little package, which you could say are essential for pulling off one of my favourite and classic looks... the quirky pin-up girl! The packaging the lipstick and mascara came in was really shiny and pretty, so I won't be throwing those away which is a first!

The lipstick is called 'Perfect Kiss Intense Lipstick' and this was my favourite product out of the set. I am a die hard lipstick fanatic, and I loved how this shade was able to compliment most of my outfits for the start of Autumn. The shade is a coral colour with hints of pink tones. I can't say it's a summer colour (if you're looking for an explosion of colour on your lips) because it isn't very bold. However Perfect Kiss is slightly more subtle, which gives it that flexibility to wear during the cooler months ahead... pretty darn perfect if you ask me!

The first thing I noticed about 'Playful Lashes Volumizing Mascara' was the vibrant orange/pink-ish colour of the tube - I am always so fascinated with all things design and I believe Playboy put a lot of time and effort into this eye-catching range. I love that the mascara is a wonderful jet-black because it is my go-to eyelash colour and is always a safe bet for me. The mascara wand was shaped in a great way so you can create those brilliant full, voluminous lashes that every woman desires. The nail varnish I received was a beautiful, glittery blue and I bet it will look awesome when Christmas eventually rolls around.     

To create a look worthy of a pin-up legend, I had to do a little bit of research. Although I didn't have super bright, vampy red lips like Dita Von Teese (I used Playboy's Perfect Kiss of course)... I did take a look at some of her photographs for a little bit of inspiration. Pin-ups are famous for having a very pale complexion with eccentric eyes and a fabulous pout. I used Nivea's Daily Essentials BB Cream in shade Light for my base and then applied white eye-shadow from my Sunkissed Pallette to the whole lids. I then applied two different browns to the lower lid and eye crease, then blended together. Winged cat-eyes and the Playful Lashes mascara was put on last to make the eyes pop. Last but not least, I added Perfect Kiss and dabbed it onto the lips so it would last longer. 

Voila! Has anyone else tried any make-up from Playboy before? I'd love to hear your thoughts! Xx

Aimee Feeds a Rhino!

On Monday 8th September (a while back now!), I had the pleasure of being taken to Port Lympne Zoo by my best friend, to feed the rhinos she works with. This was a once in a lifetime experience and a great 21st birthday present. We started off the day by going on the safari drive around the zoo, which was lovely and meant we could have a good chin-wag and catch up - as always. The weather was amazing for a September day, which meant all the animals were out enjoying their natural habitat. When we finally made our way through to Basecamp at 2.30pm, the rhinos were ready to be fed. I think what surprised me the most was that I was very relaxed, and was very shocked to find that rhinos are actually quite gentle animals despite their harsh (and sometimes false) representation. I was allowed to stroke the one I was feeding and was amazed that its skin was not rough and tough as I had imagined, but really quite soft! Overall the experience was brilliant and I'm so glad I got to share it with my best friend. This is definitely one for my memory jar! Have any of you been lucky enough to feed or stroke an animal from a zoo? I'd love to hear about it!  

I look miserable here but I promise you I wasn't! This is my 'concentration face' :) 

The Sunshine Blogger Award

Hello kittens! Just popped online to check my stats when I saw a notification telling me I've been nominated for a Sunshine Blogger Award by my fellow gorgeous blogger and real life/outside of the cyber universe friend Elana (check out her little site guys, it's so cute!) The Sunshine Award is mainly given to people online who inspire others, spread positivity, and write in creative and entertaining ways. I feel very privileged to have received this because I am extremely passionate about all of the above and I hope that I can continue to motivate you whenever you decide to come back to Beloved Jaine to check in on me. 

For some, the SBA might be all new to you. So I thought I'd tell you the basics... it kind of works like a chain letter and it's really fun to complete because you never know what questions you'll be asked! 

The rules:

• Thank the person who nominated you
• Answer the questions the person who nominated you asked
• Nominate a few other bloggers
• Write the same amount of questions for the bloggers you nominated (I wrote a couple more... oops!)
• Notify the bloggers you nominated on their blog
• Put the award button on your blog

What is the most recent thing you bought?

A pack of heart shaped post-it notes and a new notebook
How are you wearing your hair today?

A messy up-do!
What are your siblings names, ages and personalities?

Luke and Joshua (both 14/twins). Luke is quite shy and reserved. Joshua is more like myself... cheeky and always up for a laugh!

How do you think you would do in The Hunger Games?

I'd like to think I'd do okay... I wouldn't want to make too many allies though because you're going to have to kill them eventually anyway. Being a big fan of the films and books gives me an advantage though.
What is the last film you watched?

Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban
If you could learn any instrument in 10 minutes, what would it be?

I really don't know...
If you could be anywhere right now where would you be?

At the Wizarding World of Harry Potter of course!
What's the colour of your duvet?

Purple :)

Have you ever been angry or emotional about a television show? If so what and why?
I have definitely been angry or emotional when watching a TV show because I get too attached to certain characters. When Desperate Housewives ended it felt like I was in mourning for several days after the finale aired.
Who is the last person you talked to?

My boyfriend
What is your favourite season?

Autumn is my favourite season. The warm clothes, beautiful colours, hot drinks... it's lovely!

My nominations: 

Desiree

Jess

Clarice

My Questions for You:

Why did you start a blog?
Tea or Coffee?

Cats or Dogs? 

What is the meaning behind your blog name?

Do you have any special skills?

Lipstick or Mascara? 

Hair up or down? 

Favourite annual holiday and why? 

Favourite quote?

What can't you live without?

Favourite TV show? 

Have fun everyone! Xoxo

Warner Bros Studio Tour: Every Potterhead's Dream

If no one has been to the Harry Potter Studio Tour in Leavesden yet then I advise you do ASAP. Even if you're not a big fan of the franchise, you will definately be able to appreciate the amount of hard work, effort and dedication that went into making the films. I've always liked Harry Potter but not until a few years ago did I really get into it as a massive fan. The sets are incredible and the detailing in all of the costumes and props is really something! To all of the people who are still waiting to go, I won't give everything away because there are some amazing surprises. The gift shop is a Potterhead's paradise... there is simply too much stuff to choose from and I did spend over £100 in there (sorry bank balance...!) After you've seen all the inside sets, you can venture outside into the lovely fresh air and enjoy a nice cup of the famous wizard beverage 'Butterbeer' (a cross between butterscotch and a cream soda taste). Don't bother trying to find out the exact recipe from them because it is 'top secret' and even they don't know apparently! The tour is one of a kind and the experience is incredibly moving, inspiring, funny and for everyone who is still a big kid at heart. My camera was always taking photographs throughout it...especially the awesome quote ones dotted around the place. The staff are excellent at what they do and really know their stuff when it comes to the world of Harry Potter... they also look the part, wearing the exact Hogwarts costumes people wore in the films. There is such a happy atmosphere when everyone is walking around and the people who work there really make it that extra bit special, especially when they throw in the odd Harry Potter joke (which is always a laugh!) Overall, I can't recommend it enough... it is such a good day out and I was buzzing throughout it. Please check out some of my photos from the day and my first haul video from the gift shop below which is now on YouTube. Are any of you planning to go soon? Have any of you mad Harry Potter fans been before? Tell me all about it in the comments below! xx

When Life Gives You Lemons...

Wow... I haven't posted since June?! Crikey. It's been one of those days where I have been racking my brain for something to do and then I remembered how much I've missed writing in this. I honestly don't know where the time has gone. These past two months have flown by so this will most definitely be a bit higgledy piggledy and random as I haven't planned this like I normally do. 

I turned 21 a week and a half ago, and though some of you may treat birthdays as a day of dread or 'just another day', I usually tend to think about where my life is going as each year passes. It's sort of like a whole day of reflection for me... although I don't think I've changed that much, the person I am now at 21 is completely different to the person I was when I was 16 (notice I'm talking about landmarks here?!). The truth is you're always going to know more in the future than you do at this moment in time. There's always going to be another lesson, another journey, another unforgettable moment right round the corner ... and yes, I'm 100% aware that I'm sounding a little Carrie Bradshaw right now. I'm not sure what lies ahead in my twenties and beyond, but what I do know is that life will always be a roller-coaster of emotion. We have to go through the bad to appreciate the good. When life gives you lemons you have to turn it into lemonade. When you've hit the ground the only other place you can go is up. What doesn't kill you makes you a million times stronger than before. If people don't like you for who you are, then shake it off and be the bigger person... loving yourself is far better than trying to give your happiness to people who don't appreciate your company. In a world where females in particular are constantly being compared to other females, it's no wonder we're made to feel down, not attractive enough, not clever enough or simply not good enough. But what I find the most strange thing of all is that women bring down other women, knowing exactly how hard things can get.

Due to my lack of posting I've decided that I'll probably start a video channel at some point just to give it a try and see how things go in the big world of YouTube. I hope that you take away something positive from this and remember that life is like a camera... develop from the negatives. Keep fighting the dementors and ignore the haters.

Much love, Aimee xx