Etsy shop

 I haven’t done a blog post in sooo long! Mainly because I got wrapped in my job at M&S but soon as I was getting comfortable and use to the job and areas of each project and learning about items, COVID happened and BOOM! lost my job, which was understandable as I had to shield anyway, so throughout the summer I was indoors just drawing.

As COVID continued I wanted to try my hand at digital art, which after following a course and YouTube, I slowly got the hang of it. I started to enjoy what I was creating so after so many telling me I should sell my work, I recently decided to start my own Etsy shop, I kept seeing a lot of people selling items the more I googled or YouTubed people that were making this a business, I was more inspired in making it work for myself 

So Monday 19th April 2021, I am launching my Etsy shop at 12pm.

https://www.etsy.com/uk/shop/ShulasArtDesigns Please check it out! 

Life Update - The Princes Trust

In October 2019, I joined the princes trust, I started by doing a four day group activity, which was so much fun but I was so nervous as I was going to spend four days as an induction to the trust with complete strangers. I felt completely out of my comfort zone but I pushed myself to enjoy every moment that came my way. Turned out to be the best four days ever. It was so much fun!

By the last day of the four days (fourth day you have an one to one with a member of staff) I went for my one to one, which again I was nervous for but talking to one of the members of staff who I had spent the last three days with, it made it easier for me to slowly open up to him about what I wanted out of the princes trust and where they could help to lead me to. 

I started their 'Fairbridge' programme. My first session was 'Robot Wars' I was the only girl in that session. I won't spoil what happened in that session, just in case any of you readers haven't done it yet or are just starting the programme. Just so you know it was actually great fun and such a laugh.

My last session was 'canoeing' which was a good day but I'm definitely not built for being on the water, even though I was so embarrassed that day, it was the best thing I did as I tried something new and stepped out of my comfort zone once again.

                               
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I spend three months at the trust and no word of a lie, within the first month myself and people around me could see a difference in my confidence. I met some lovely people and I made some amazing friends who some have become my best friends. 

I enjoyed every session, I tried to do all sessions if I could as I wanted to know what I liked and what I didn't. I even tried tasks that involved heights, even though each time I either cried or nearly cried because I have a fear of heights.

I pushed myself to do these tasks each time. 

Each session was completely different and each session pushed me personally more and more to prove to myself that I can do anything I put my mind too. 

When I did have a wobble or found myself struggling, I tried to push myself more and tell myself that I can do this, but every member of staff I had for every session, gave me the most encouraging support that made me feel like I can do it. I actually became semi-confident in asking for help when I was confused or lacking the confidence in myself.

                                       

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 Towards the third month, I was approached by my mentor at the trust. He told me there was a programme starting for a work experience with Marks and Spencer's. At first I hesitated as I didn't think I was ready for work as I had a not so nice experience with work before hand, so the thought of going back to a work environment, scared me.

Thankfully I spoke to my friend as he was thinking of doing the work experience opportunity as well. 

After a good think and many talks to the princes trust, family and friends.  I decided to go for it. The work experience was for four weeks. Unfortunately my friend didn't get into the same shop as me but every Monday, the group got together, which was nice because I got to hang out with my friend and make new friends with the rest of the group.
During the last week of the work experience, we all had to a presentation which I was super nervous for (as we had to talk in front of 50 family and friends) but I got through it with the help of my best friend.

 Myself with my certificates and prop
on the presentation day

Doing the work experience was the best thing I ever did, I enjoyed every moment. I was lucky to get the job at Marks and Spencer's, so did my friends, still in different stores but it was awesome that all my friends got the job, as we all worked so hard. Sadly, due to this pandemic it's on pause at the moment but I am going to fight to get back at the job.  

Everyone who did the work experience opportunity
alongside me 

Thank you for reading this post, sorry its so long!
comment below what you've achieved that has changed your life


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To get in contact with the princes trust, you can go on their website for more information 

               https://www.princes-trust.org.uk/?gclid=CjwKCAjwt-L2BRA_EiwAacX32bOVvHrkX6Qln0TE4JTu0KcsAvwE-xEeT2VsjjzRol1hvG-FjqSpfRoCR48QAvD_BwE

Make-Up By Shula

Make- up has always been a up and down journey for me, I spent most of my childhood obviously not wearing any but always found it interesting and couldn't wait until I could try it out for myself. Throughout secondary school, I started to get into make-up a bit more, I mainly wore eyeliner and mascara throughout the 5 years of school. In 2011/12 college ( university for Americans i think) came around and that's when I started to get more into it and learn about foundations, concealers, bronzing etc. From then on I started to gather more and more products and got better. Since then to now I have learnt more and love make-up more, but even if i wear a lot of make-up or a natural make-up look, I always love taking my Make-up off at the end of the day.

 For a couple of months now, I have got more and more into being creative with my make-up, as well as trying new brands. I love watching make-up artists on YouTube and started to follow and get inspired by more make-up artists on Instagram. 

I started to think maybe this is what I could do for my career, I also kept getting told Why don't you become a make-up artist? as that's all I ever watch/look at on a daily basis. I thought to start out and build a online portfolio is to go on Instagram, so one day I created a Instagram account and started uploading. I generally do simply looks as sometimes I don't have a lot of time to do fancy eye looks, I usually prefer a nice brown smokey eye, I personally think it bring out my eyes as I have green eyes and also I think a brown smokey eye is very flattering on anyone. 

Here are few looks I've done:

These have come from my Facebook page but they are all on my Instagram page also.

Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/makeupbyshula/?

Instagram name: make_up_by_shula 

Please follow any account (facebook or Instagram) and share around if you like any looks I've done.

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Madame Tussauds

 On the 9th of April, me and my sister visited London for the day to do something that we have always wanted to do and that has been on our bucket lists for a long long time, and that was to visit Madame Tussaud's to see all the wax figures of celebrities like Britney Spears, Emma Watson.
Will.i.am etc.

Despite waking up early to get the coach on time, sleeping on the coach and getting over the travel sickness, we made it to London Victoria. Once we got out of the coach station, we had the long walk up to Madame Tussauds, which not going to lie KILLED my legs. 

Now for anyone who hasn't gone to Madame Tussaud's, it's a place where you MUST go! When you first enter the building, you walk up some stairs which leads you to some lifts, once you enter the lift, your journey in Madame Tussaud's begins....
On tip,  make sure you have enough time to go round Madame Tussaud's which takes 2-3 hours  but if you are a Sherlock Holmes fan, then head to baker street and visit the house of the making of Sherlock Holmes, unfortunately me and my sister didn't have time to do but it looked amazing.

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Here are some photos.

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Madame Tussaud's website: https://www.madametussauds.com 
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Twitter  * Instagram  * Bloglovin

Life Update - Cake decorating

Since 2016, I started baking every weekend, Each bake I did I got more passionate for it so I looked into Cake Decorating,as I wanted to do still bake but I wanted to try something new. I've always wanted to get into cake decorating ever since I watched 'The Perfect Man' with the actress  Hilary Duff, that movie is about a single mum raising two children, and her eldest daughter played by Hilary Duff, sets her mum up with Hilary's characters best friends uncle, In the movie the single mum is a cake decorator, which really inspired me in what I would love to do one day. I never did anything about it though as I just focused on my art whilst at college but since leaving my job recently, I have realised that Cake decorating is what I would love to do. I am  inspired everyday by what I see other people do in magazines and on YouTube.

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 The best cake decorating YouTuber I watch to get inspiration is  Yolanda Gampp,she is an Canadian Cake Maker,here is her YouTube account: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCvM1hVcRJmVWDtATYarC0KA 

Please check her out! 

Here is her website to check out more of her bakes and where you buy stuff from her collection : https://howtocakeit.com/ 

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                     My first bake was a chocolate loaf from Tanya Bakes by Tanya Burr. 

            Which turned out like this: 

           Since then I've been baking more and more, here are few of my other bakes I have done.

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So this coming April, I am attending a Cake Decorating course which I am very excited about, and I am also doing my first ever wedding cupcakes for friends for their wedding in September which is also very exciting. Hopefully it can lead somewhere but I know its going to be an slow progress but it's worth it as I'm enjoying learning so much.

If you would like me to do a tutorial on one of my cakes, just let me know down in the comments below.

You can follow me on twitter for when I next upload a blog post,My twitter is:@Finding_romeo 

https://twitter.com/Finding_Romeo

You can follow me on Instagram to see my next bake before anyone else, My Instagram is:@shula_bakes

https://www.instagram.com/shula_bakes_/

Love Shula x

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Twitter * Instagram * Bloglovin 

The scary month, The warm,cosy month and The magical month.

November is the month that the dark nights begin here in the UK, the hats, scarves and gloves make an appearance. the hot drinks become more of a must, especially with all the new autumnal flavors. It's also the month that looks the most pretty apart from December because November is when all the fairy lights start being put out, you have the warm glow of the fairy lights as well as a festive smelling candle burning in the room, making the room smell amazing. 

Its also when we can all get excited for the new cosy pyjamas, slippers and dressing gowns. 

I personally love October-December months, as it gets colder and you can wear all your big lounge cosy jumpers can in handy, as well as long boots. I love these three months as a lot happens, there's an event coming in all these three months, first there's Halloween where people can have parties and dress up or just cosy up with the lights off, fairy lights beaming and watching as many films as possible. Then there is guy fawks night, where we play with sparklers and watch many many fireworks, or spend time with family burning a bonfire. Last but not least there December where of course is many peoples favourite month as it's the month of CHRISTMAS!, December is the magical month as well as a stressful month. December brings you the enjoyment of magic, lights and decorations in many bright festive colours.

Smooth that frizz!

I’ve always been a girl who obsesses over anything facial or hair related items, so when I went to my local supermarkets I went a bit crazy and bought a few things that I liked the look of and decided to buy.  I have never tried the Andrew Barton 'SMOOTH THAT FRIZZ' hair products before, not only do they smell amazing but they make your hair super soft. I also bought the 'nspa' scrub and body lotion to try, I've tried the 'nspa' face masks before but their body lotion and scrub sounded amazing, looked amazing and smelt fresh and new. 

BODY

The first product I tried was the 'nspa sacred scrub' which was a smooth jelly texture, the grains in the mixture were invisible until you started to applying it to your skin. This scrub really did feel like it got down in your skin as you massaged it in. When I washed the scrub off, it left my skin so soft and feeling fresh. 

After I finished with the scrub, I applied the 'nspa sacred spa body lotion' not only did this formula smell fresh and new, the application was lovely, once you massaged it in, my skin was super soft and felt amazing. When you first apply the body lotion it applies a little bit like soap but once you continue massaging the lotion in, it seems to melt in your skin making you feeling amazing.

Hair

I used the 'SMOOTH THAT FRIZZ' shampoo, the

shampoo itself was a clear grey colour but once interacted with the water, the scent was a fresh scent. The shampoo washed away very well, I did rinse my hair three times as that was what the bottle told me to do.

After shampoo, I conditioned my hair with the 'SMOOTH THAT FRIZZ' conditioner, The conditioner was white and quite creamy once mixed in to the hair but didn't feel heavy on the hair at all, it was a very light formula. I let the conditioner sit on my hair once it was evenly spread over my hair for a minute. This also washed off the hair nicely and left my hair feeling super smooth and soft.

Once I finished I used the 'SMOOTH THAT FRIZZ' Gloss Serum (which is the small clear bottle you see on the very first photo of this blog post) This serum was what made me buy the shampoo and conditioner, I saw that this bottle was telling me that if I used this serum after the shampoo and conditioner, the frizz and curls I have hated for ages will be calmed and relaxed, so I tried it out, I applied a small blob of the serum on the tip of my fingers and mixed my hands together to get the serum on both hands, I applied at the ends of my hair first then worked myself up to my roots. I didn't want too much product on my roots as I didn't want any greasy look especially just after washing my hair. I found that this serum seemed to melt into my hair as it made my hair super soft and it didn't look like I had any serum in, the formula of the serum was very light as well.  

After using all the 'SMOOTH THAT FRIZZ' products, it honestly made my hair feel amazing and super easy to style the next day, I personally think that these products are brilliant they did wonders for my hair, I definitely saw a difference in my hair as soon as I applied the serum, even in a few hours after my hair looked fresh, clean and bouncer as well as frizz free. 

I would highly recommend all the products I have spoken about, they are fantastic.