All I want for Christmas...

As a journalist and blogger I am fortunate enough to be invited to press events which means I am introduced to yet more stuff to spend my money on - in the event that I had trouble spending it in the first place - and which opens up my tiny world of high street plus online shopping (otherwise known as "Spend-as-you-earn") to the possiblities of owning luxurious products it would never have occurred to me to buy.

I love getting presents but an incident at the age of about 13 in which I was so angry that my dad had bought me an unwanted Walkman for my birthday that I threw it on the floor and had a tantrum in disgust has shown me that I should probably make it quite clear what I want so that this unsightly incident will never repeat itself.

(The only exception to this rule is my lovely husband who always seems to know exactly what I want and need and promptly gets it!)

So it's Christmas now and everybody is in good cheer and happy and spending money that they don't have so hey, if you're feeling generous, here is my "Top FIVE' list - feel free to contact me for my address for present mailing purposes! ;)

Chombord

Up until recently, my favourite drink at Christmas has been Baileys (although to be honest I don't mind having it any other time of the year) but at a press event entitled "French Martinis and French Manicure" I was soon cured of this rather long-lasting love affair and moved onto something more sexy and sophisticated - Chombord.

This gorgeous black raspberry liqueur can be mixed in a variety of ways to make a yummy Christmas cocktail so I'd be more than happy to receive a bottle or two!

My fellow blogger and JBFF at the press event - many thanks to Lucie Kaye from Eulogy PR!

Proactiv

At almost 30 I thoughtI'd left my skin problems in my teens - wrong. I still break out in spots during that "time of the month" and upon consumption of excess amounts of cheese, crisps and chocolate. I know I know, eat like a teenager,  look like a teenager - you don't have to tell me!

So I've been watching what I eat and also trying to use products to cover up the evidence of what I'm eating. I have sensitive skin and to be honest I hadn't heard much about Proactiv before I was handed it in a goodie bag at a press event but given that one of my favourite girls - Katy Perry - has been involved in their advertising, I decided to give it a go.

Proactiv solution is a range of skincare products designed to help clear blemishes and help prevent future breakouts from forming. Their ranges included moisturisers, masks, cleansers and toners and after this Christmas I will probably need it!

(Thanks to Aaron Huckett from Publicasity for introducing me to this product!)

Trouser suit

I've never really been your typical suit and shirt girl when it comes to work attire and walking to work in Westminster in my various "looks" as my husband calls my outfits, makes this very obvious. I am surrounded by Suits and their important looking brief cases while my functional leather messenger bag swings from side to side and my 'Keep Calm Be Reem' tote slides off my shoulders.

However, recently I've had a promotion at work and I've decided I need to be taken seriously (any excuse for a new wardrobe) so when I received a press release showcasing trouser suits by Andrew Majtenyi from Hannah Moore at Communication IQ (Commsiq.com) I decided this is going to be my new "look".

Hair off face - check (let's face it, with my grade 1 I don't have to worry much about this), red lipstick - check (thanks BlackUp makeup!), cinched in waist - check (small waist large bust, no contest here), long legs - check (thanks Daddy), feet that can walk in heels - check! (I got it from my Mama!).

Please contact me first before buying this as I wouldn't want you to get me the wrong size!

iPad

Ok I already have a perfectly good (pink, Sony Vaio incase you're wondering) laptop but the allure of a shiny new tablet hasn't left me since I first clapped eyes on them. There are of course, lots of tablets on the market including the Blackberry Playbook and rather fashion-worthy Pierre Cardin desginer tablet and I'd be happy with any of them but the iPad, for some reason holds a special appeal.

Oh and my love for underwear means this Victoria Secret cover I found in New York is a winner too! (Touch me - get it? Because its a touch screen??? oh never mind!)

Stella McCartney thigh high boots

As soon as I clapped eyes on these beauties I wanted them! Unfortunately it's not just the hefty price tag that meant they would almost certainly never materialise in my wardrobe. As much as I have loved thigh high boots I have never been able to buy them as I have huge feet (Size UK8) and slim thighs so they usually collapse somewhere near my thighs with nothing to hold them up. (Can I just point out that while having slim legs has its advantages, when it interrupts the purchase of shoes its not a good thing.)

So anyway these boots are so old they're no longer in production but if you can get hold of them (eBay is always a winner for these things but I haven't seen them on there - yet), please do.

Alternatively, details for a company which sells thigh high boots for women with slim thighs would be much appreciated!

Please note: This is not an exhaustive list and should you require the full version I would be more than happy to share it with you!

What can I do for you?

We usually think of Christmas as a time for indulgence and the days between Christmas and New Year as a time for reflection and thoughts to the year ahead. 

Will you try harder to lose weight, save more, spend more time with your friends/family and less time at work?

New Year's resolutions are generally pretty far-fetched but if you want to start your good deeds before 2012 begins, the Bible Society have a campaign you may want to get involved in:

To celebrate the birth of Christ, the charity is asking everyone to take a moment of their time, on 25^th December, to offer help – however large or small - to one other person by asking them this simple question and then fulfilling their request.

The answer may be: “peel the potatoes” or “call me more” – it really doesn’t matter. It just means that, for a few moments or more, on the 25^th of December, people are given the chance to experience what Jesus meant when he said: “It is more blessed to give than to receive”.

Rachel Rounds, Senior Press Secretary said:

‘The act of giving of ourselves reminds us that we are part of a wider community; it reminds us of the practical outworking of the two greatest commandments - to love God first and then our neighbour. Somewhere in the midst of all the noise, that still small voice may ask us all: What matters most to you?’

Bible Society is asking people to let them know who they are going to ask and why, in addition to uploading footage of themselves fulfilling the task and sharing their stories on the Facebook page: ‘What Can I do For You?’  http://goo.gl/hq3NF

My year in pictures...

I have always loved photos and have recently started to appreciate seeing my dreams turn into a reality and celebrating them as they happen. With this in mind I've decided to display my 2011 in pictures - a month by month account of what I've been doing this year - as I look forward to the promises of 2012 :).

JANUARY

I became a cover girl! After begging my boss (the editor) for a solid two months she finally gave in...

I cut my hair! After years of braiding, weaves, cornrow, plaits, bald patches, cupboards full of hair products promising to give me Rapunzel-like hair and what seemed like spending half my life sitting waiting in hair salons to get my hair done, I went for the chop. My husband said I should go for it and luckily we both loved it!

FEBRUARY

Two of my favourite girls got married!

MARCH

I discovered hair dye! Discovering that I could dye my practically non-existent hair knowing that it would soon grow out if I didnt like it was the beginning of a long love-affair with colour.

 



APRIL

My first cover as editor! The first magazine I have ever edited was published after I was promoted at work. It was a stressful process but a very happy moment for me when I saw the finished product.

My first ever trip to The Big Apple! My lovely husband sent me to New York during the Royal Wedding in the UK. I had wanted to go for years and had an amazing time seeing all the touristy sites, shopping and visiting the amazing Hillsong church in Union Square.

MAY/JUNE


Discovered and fell in love with Mo-Saique shoes!

Sold my £39.99 dress for £168.00 on eBay (four years after it was bought for me!) once Kate Middleton aka the Duchess of Cambridge was seen wearing it - twice :)

Discovered ModelMayhem. Social networking for models, make-up artists, fashion designers and photographers. Started doing test shoots and getting back into modelling mode!

JULY

Started doing shows again! Walked for amazing designers Adebayo Jones and Yemi Kosibah at a Gele (Nigerian head attire) tea party.

Adebayo Jones

Yemi Kosibah

AUGUST


Went parasailing in Ibiza!

Celebrated my birthday in style. My first as a married woman so I held a "grown-up" dinner party for the occasion.

SEPTEMBER

Did London Fashion Week!

@PPQ Show

Hanging out with models BB (Anthony Kaye) and Charlotte

Modelling for accessories label House of Flora

 

 

 

 

 

Sheguang Hu

OCTOBER


Paris Fashion Week! 

Took a two-hour ride on a tandem with my husband and we are still happily married ;)

NOVEMBER

Worked with amazing team Constance Lawson (MUA-Make-up artist) and Dimitra Sardi (Photographer) and got shot printed in Black Hair magazine.

DECEMBER

I became acting editor of the second publication produced by Mothers' Union and saw my first issue published!

I have only ever wanted to be two things - a model and a journalist and in 2011 I feel honoured that God has enabled me to do these two things and help me feel truly worthy of the title - MoJo.