My Favourite YouTubers (aka people who don't realise they are my BFF!)

Bed rest has meant A LOT of YouTube. When I say that I don't think people actually realise how much YouTube. I mean I found Wedding Clog Dancing Flash Mob Style ... (I so wish I was kidding)

 

But it has meant that I have found some fantastic YouTubers who talk, primarily I grant you, about skincare and beauty (but that is what I am into). What I love possibly even more than the next 'best thing' I should try is that the super cool essence of a totally decent human always comes through.

 

These are awesome people .... who are freakishly knowledgeable about their shiz. And I thought you should know them too.

 

1. Caroline Hirons

 

(whispers) I freaking love this woman. I mean I LOVE her. She is witty, H-I-L-I-A-R-I-O-U-S, down-to-earth and I haven't even started on what she knows.

 

In fact, stop right here and go to YouTube and find her. Wait that might take too long - I'll put her here for you. She does 'favourite products', 'products she has used up but recommends' (aka 'empties') as well as ... -- sigh -- my all time favourite thing in existence by this woman ... vlogs.

 

 



 

Watch this vlog. Get to 2:58/2:59 into this vlog and tell me you do not adore this woman!

 

2. Estee Lalonde

 

https://www.youtube.com/user/essiebutton

 

Basically one fabulous, unique and truly (what is another word for fabulous because she is FABULOUS!!)??!! She was the first non-wedding-clog-dancing YouTuber I stumbled on and I have never looked back. A Canadian living in London loving Paris ... yes please.

 

Plus she has just announced her new book ( #Bloom). You might be thinking - oh great. A book about pale pink frosted lipgloss (something I probably would have loved when I was 11, I hasten to add) but there is such a depth about Estee. And there's no way her book would be one dimensional or frankly, so outré! Check her out - you won't be disappointed. Promise.

 

3. Coffee Break with Dani

 

https://www.youtube.com/user/CoffeeBreakwithDani

 

Having a bad day? Everything is just ... pants??! It is IMPOSSIBLE not to be completely cheered up and distracted (from your woes) while watching her videos. She knows so much. She has the most fantastical energy. I never, ever miss a video. Yup, I subscribed and even get notifications.

 

4. A Model Recommends

(also known as Ruth Crilly)

 

https://www.youtube.com/user/AModelRecommends

 

A) She is a model

B) She's a NORMAL HUMAN BEING (I mention this because I think some folk might foolishly discriminate against her for point A.)

C) Hilarious, witty and knowledgable as heck!

D) Love the COLAB range? That's HER!

E) She's unapologetic that she has had a baby/that baby sometimes features in videos AND she has new mum body issues. This in fact should be number 1/point A - haters gonna hate and she never waivers. Love her (AND baby!)

 

Ok. There is one more reason. Collaborative videos with Caroline Hirons. I will say no more and walk away now.

 

5. Glam Life Guru

(also known as Tati Westbrook)

 

https://www.youtube.com/user/GlamLifeGuru

 

What this woman does not know about makeup is not worth knowing.

Plus she is willing to take one for the team to tell you what that £250 moisturiser is really like and if it's worth the money.

She's finds the best cheaper alternatives (a lot even better than the super luxury counterpart) -- and she ALWAYS tells you what her honest opinion is of all the products - those she bought and those sent to her. There is a reason she has more than 1 million subscribers. This woman is amazing.

 

6. Kandee Johnston

 

https://www.youtube.com/user/kandeejohnson

 

Make-up artist extraordinaire. Oozes fun, vibrancy and a good heart. Plus can create a drop-dead glam look or natural, every-day look or even full on Halloween fabulousness.

 

7. Rachhloves

 

https://www.youtube.com/user/RachhLoves

 

Rach loves lifestyle, beauty and fashion and I love Rach. She is my-kind-of-funny as well as being ....I'm trying to think of a word or words that adequately sum her up. Fun and classy?! It doesn't do her justice. She is FAB-U-LOUS and can create any look for the most advanced beauty guru to the just-starting-out (without sounding condescending). A big thumbs up.

 

8. TalkBeckyTalk

 

https://www.youtube.com/user/TalkBeckyTalk

 

To join Caroline Hirons and A Model Recommends, TalkBeckyTalk is another UK YouTuber (making their videos just that little bit better - they show us what we can get our hands on HERE and if it's not for sale here, where we can find it)

 

Her video about losing her grandmother was so poignant and moving and made me think of how much my grandmother meant to me. Just an example of how broad these channels are.

 

 

 

9. Lily Pebbles

 

https://www.youtube.com/user/WhatIHeartToday

 

A one-woman beauty, styling, organizing machine. I love her. I love how she follows her heart. She got glasses she loves - she'll tell you about it. Products that suck - fear not, you shall not make the same mistake. Love how her desk surrounding looks - here's how she did it. Bloody brilliant.

 

 

Now if you know me, you know I am definitely a Type A / OCD / Control Freak type-of-girl. That part of me wants to pick TEN favourite YouTubers but to shake things up (like only a Type A / OCD / Control Freak type-of-girl can), I am leaving it at nine....

 

I may just be heading to bed to catch up on the latest videos until sleep beckons. Night chums. Hello YouTube.

The Year I Learned To Love My Life - Jean Edelstein courtesy of RED Magazine

I read this two-page article in the February issue of RED Magazine and *loved* it. As much as I love Social Media (and I do!!) there is a danger that you take people's best posts and compare them to the lowest parts of your life. Dangerous! 

Hopefully you can enlarge the pictures to read this article. If not, get thee to a newagent and buy the issue stat!

Powerful Poetry

I am a huge fan of TED Talks. What a brilliant and powerful movement available to everyone across the world thanks to the Internet.

So while I worked for my Dad's company this weekend, instead of listening to background music, I chose to listen to TED Talks.

WOW! What an inspiring way to be motivated, inspired and speak to your heart while you work.

Then I listened to this powerful TED Talk by Cristina Domenech [complete with English subtitles].

Prepare to be moved.

Forget your Purpose... Find your Passion

I am a HUGE fan of Shannon Kaiser and as such, I couldn't let this video go unshared.

Hope you love it as much as I do.  #FindYourPassion




Shannon's Websites:
http://www.playwiththeworld.com/home/
http://www.mindbodygreen.com/wc/shannon-Kaiser
https://www.facebook.com/ShannonKaiserWrites
https://twitter.com/shannonlkaiser
https://www.youtube.com/user/PLAYWITHTHEWORLD

Two Remarkable Stories. Two Remarkable Men.

With three days off, there was no excuse not to fit in two movies I have been wanted to see since the first hints they were in the works.

The Imitation Game and The Theory of Everything.

Amazing, sympathetic and inspiring movies. Highly recommended!

What Now?

So I have been quietly lurking, pondering how to reinvent my blog when I received an email from Kristine Carlson on the power of intention. It seemed a perfect place to start: What Now?

Reinventing life one question at a time beginning with:

What Are Your Intentions?

 

By Kristine Carlson

 

If a guy hears that question, “What are your intentions?” immediately we think of a father and daughter scenario where the guy has his hands in his pockets, anxiously shifting his weight side to side while he waits for his date.  I remember a time in high school when a baseball player who was already in college came to our door to pick me up for a date.  My dad took one look at him and decided he was too old for me.  He asked him the question, “What are your intentions with my daughter, young man?”  (By the way, this was a first and only date and the meaning of my dad’s question was clearly a warning.)  The guy uneasily replied, “I guess my intention, sir, is to have your daughter home by 11 o’clock, as you say.”  My dad said, “Good, son, I’ll be waiting.”

Intention is a powerful thing and “there are many a road that have been paved with good intentions.”  And, many a road that remains unchartered territory without them.

There are times in life where I’ve felt like a nomad wandering aimlessly through the desert of possibility. Having too many options can be as incapacitating as having too few, however, defining my intentions point me in the right direction and gets me started.    

Intention is the first and fundamental step in the beginning to unravel the questions we have when we are standing on the precipice of the unknown asking, “What now?”  

It’s easy to get lost in day-to-day life and routine and to live unaware of our habits and unaware of our intentions.  When we don’t have our bearings then it leaves the door open for anxiety and fear.
 
We act on our intentions daily, stated or not, by habit and without realizing it. Something quite magical happens when we consciously state our intentions on a regular basis. “Intention” by definition is having an aim or objective or quality of purposefulness. It is the juice behind our disciplined actions and how we practice life.

The Surprise of Lent

Truth is, I get a little twitchy when someone mentions religion to me. I'm always the first to say I'm not religious but spiritual although I am starting to think I am just in denial. But it has given me a warm reassurance to hear how many people - normal people - have chosen to give something up for Lent. It feels like a return to old-fashioned values and for some reason that I still can't pinpoint, brings me comfort.

So what am I giving up for chocolate. I'm going for a two-fer. Chocolate and Negative Thinking. Begone!