GREAT JOHN STREET HOTEL 

If you're a loyal GTWL reader then you'll know I am in love with Eclectic Hotels which own King Street Hotel in Manchester - well this is another one of their hotels.

When I arrived I didn't actually know what to expect. It's a little hidden but it's a hidden gem. They have a car park which is essential these days, we drove up to the hotel, parked outside & the porter parked our car.

Inside the hotel the decor is exactly like King Street Hotel which is good because its so quirky especially in the bar area which has cosy sofas & cosy lighting.
When we headed into our room, I was blown away. It was so big it was like a NYC apartment with its mezzanine style room. We walked into the sitting room area which has a nice comfy sofa, big TV & loads of quirky decor bits.
The bathroom is also downstairs next to the sitting room which has two sinks - waheyyy and a nice big shower. Upstairs is the bedroom which was maaaaaasive with a nice half egg shaped bath.

After having a wander around the hotel and stumbling into someone wedding ( they have wedding on the terrace) we decided to head to the bar downstairs for a cocktail. Its such a nice atmosphere because its just so cosy & intimate.

So when you're in a room this nice the only thing to do is get room service which was amazing because the food is just unreal in both hotels. We got loads of little plates so we could share which was like having tapas in your room whilst watching a film.

What I did loved about this room was that you could just leave all the messy plates downstairs when you head up to bed & forget they're there until the morning which by that time you're packing to check out.

After a nice bath with a glass of wine & the best sleep in our king sized bed ( Eclectic hotels do the best beds I'm telling you now) it was time to wake up and have more food.

Again, we ordered so much because you know breakfast is the most important meal and whats better than a good breakfast btw?? This breakfast is so much better than the one we had at King Street Townhouse.
After checking out we headed up to the terrace since we couldn't see it the night before because of the wedding and it was something that looked like it belonged in Paris. It was amazing & would be so good for those afternoon cocktails.

So I will 100% be heading back here because no it doesn't have the spa that King Street Townhouse does but the rooms and terrace make up for it.

Have you stayed here before??

Laura xox

ARMATHWAITE  HALL HOTEL & SPA

Based in the Lake District, this beautiful scenic hotel has the perfect grounds for a romantic break away. It's that hotel that always holds a place in your memories & heart since its more of an experience than a weekend away.

When we arrived I was blown away by the outside, the building is the most beautiful thing I have ever seen, plus the views are spectacular. Inside, its very traditional. By traditional I mean dark, wooden & oldy worldy. To us younger generation this scares us a bit because we think omg its so old. But actually its quite romantic and quirky.

Our room was located upstairs with the best view overlooking the lake which was classed as a double room. It was the biggest room we've ever stayed in with the biggest bathroom too. Since its an old hotel the technology wasn't the best - meaning the TV was aerial TV which was amusing.

We spent our afternoon walking the grounds because we needed to take in the views and make the most of it so after a long walk around the hotel we then got ready for our treatments.

The spa is amazing! It was nice to have a modern part to the hotel & its nice to see you can appreciate the views from the spa too as there is a pool outdoors which is perfect if the sun is out. It was really busy when we arrived so we headed straight for our treatments which were well needed & done the job.

Afterwards, my fav bit is when they take you to relax after your treatment and the area that we were taken to was amazing. It was a light room with fluffy blankets where they tuck you in and wait until you come around after your treatment. It has a balcony where you overlook the outdoor pool which again, lets you take in the beautiful views.

Then it was time to head to dinner which was in their restaurant downstairs which has a lake view. It was amazing food & a proper experience, its no wonder they have 2 rosettes. Afterwards we headed to their super cool cocktail bar which is just a few doors along from their restaurant. Its cosy and intimate & the decor is spot it.
NOTE: dress code - can't wear blue jeans or trainers.

After an amazing nights sleep in the massive bed, we ordered breakfast to the room because we needed to make the most of the massive room with a table right next to the window. Breakfast is my favourite meal of the day & its safe to say it didn't disappoint.

Then we had one last trip to the spa since we couldn't use it the day before as it was too busy. There is something about being in the spa in mornings which is even more relaxing. 11am check out times aren't something i'm down for though especially if you cant use the spa after 11am.

So what a perfect trip! It's certainly somewhere that I would go again because even though its oldy worldy its a very grand hotel & thats what makes it special.

BOOK HERE

Have you been here before?

Laura xox

SEAHAM HALL

Seaham hall, one of my top 5 spa's & its based in the north east - winning.

The reason its so good? It has such a lush entrance - I know that sounds daft but you feel so special when you're in the grounds of the hotel & spa. Anything that makes you feel special, carry on doing it.
The spa is huge but you're still made to feel welcomed throughout the whole day. The staff are so attentive.
It's modern but with a far eastern feel making you feel tranquil and calm.

The reason I visited Seaham Hall was because I got wind that they now stock Temple Spa & creating treatments with the Temple Spa products. ( Plus I was lucky enough to be invited!)

Temple Spa is one of those brands that you may not necessarily recognise by just mentioning it, but you may if you seen the logo & recognise it because its normally the brand in hotel rooms & in spa's.

They're the kind of products that you want in your bathroom because they smell like spa's!

So the reason why i'm excited by this news? I'm a spa addict - GUILTY. But when I'm at the spa I love to look around the shop section & if I see a brand I recognise I instantly feel at ease that I know if I buy anything from the brand I know it will be amazing. Plus I like when spa's do treatments with Branded products. Thats not me being a snob thats just me feeling at ease that I'm getting what I paid for.

So whilst I was at Seaham Hall I obviously had to spend the full day basking in the sun because it was a glorious day which is rare but if you are ever bored in the summer I highly recommend going to a spa when its sunny because theres something amazing about being in a spa in your swimwear & dressing gown being able to have massages, eat & sunbathe. Plus they have the most unreal outside space that you need to make the most of - with a cocktail in one hand.

FOOD

Still in our gowns, we headed to their pan asian restaurant located in the spa - the ozone restaurant.

Its so nice to have a restaurant that is not your usual food so we tucked in, ordering about 4 starters as picky bits because I didn't feel like eating a big meal in my swimsuit so the best option was to order little plates so you get to try everything. It was also nice to eat outside on their terrace in the restaurant because its sheltered by lots of greenery so its nice and private.

TREATMENTS

As I have mentioned - Seaham Hall now do treatments with Temple spa products & theres loads of new treatments to cover your every need.

My need was my back - its needed some TLC with some hot stones so I went for 'ROCKS OF THE MEDITERRANEAN' which was bloody fantastic. Plus I have to say, if you're going as a couple then they have the most gorgeous couples massage rooms with floor to ceiling doors which were open because it was such a nice day so instead of spa music we had our very own birds singing soundtrack.

The spa has such a huge verity of treatments that its almost hard to chose but it just means no matter how many times you come theres always a new one to try! Click HERE to view their Temple Spa treatments.

Have you been to Seaham Hall before?   

Laura xox

When I first started my blog, I’d just completed a photography degree. So it was created to carry on my photography but also love for all things fashion & beauty. I could spend hours taking product shots creating the kind of shots that I thought brands would want to use on their instagram. I feel like the reason my blog done well was because the photography was professional which gave a stronger look on my website, because lets face it, I aint no Shakespeare - I type like how I speak and we all know i talk like a silly Geordie so its not the best writing. 

So here is some tips I’ve gathered over the years of blogging which I thought would be nice to share because I know when you're trying to take images its hard to come up with some creative ideas. I'm not saying I'm amazing but these are what have helped me over the years and I quite like my style of photography. Everyone has a different style so make it your own.

First off lets talk about equipment.. I mainly use my Olympus pen E-PL7 with the 45mm lens as that lens creates a shallow depth of field which is the blurred background which makes the subject/product stand out more. (See depth of field bullet point for more info)
But I also use my iPhone 7Plus for easy & accessible images, plus the portrait mode is amazing. 

Lighting - I would say this is the most important factor in photography. If its too dark, its not going to be sharp plus it doesn’t look good. There's also nothing worse than a yellow image so switch off the light. Flash is too harsh and too unprofessional. Natural light is gonna be your best friend. Create your set right next to the window so your back is to the window, the light needs to go through the camera, not photographing into the window - away from. I never use lighting equipment for my beauty blog photos because you get the ring light circle in products with mirror like packaging plus it makes the image more yellow-y.

Set-up - If you haven’t got any plain white walls then buy some A1 white card or coloured whatever fits with your theme. If you haven’t got the set, then create your own. The amount of different coloured bits of card I’ve bought from The Range is taking up most of the spare room. Then just create a box like set up so you don’t get anything else in the shot. I don't have a spare corner of a room that I can use where its totally plain so I have got to set up either on my bed by sitting with the window behind me and putting card up (with pillows behind so they stay up) so you cant see the background. Bedcovers also make for good backdrops. 

Props - I’ve once spent £50 on fake flowers just for photography props because they can make a photo look so much better. You can lay whatever your product in amongst all your flowers to create a cute backdrop. Or use the flowers to create a camera effect. Have your set up then when you’re ready to take the photo, get some flowers and hold them close to the camera but only so they’re in the corner of the shot which creates this white blur. I find this makes it look more professional. Plus if you're doing a flat lay then you need loads of random bits so I like including magazines, a tray & some accessories. Trays, mugs, sunglasses etc also make for good props.

Depth of field - The depth of field is basically how much of the image is in focus. I went to college and uni and didn't really learn about this so I’ve learnt more off youtube so if you’re not sure what this is then go watch some youtube videos on it. To make it simple, the lower the F number then the more blurry the background will be. It also means that only a small part of the image will be in focus and it makes the product stand out more. How to get a small depth of field - you need the settings on a low F stop. This may depend on the lens you're using as some only go as low as 3 but for a blurry background you need to be on an f stop of about 1.8-2. So when you're buying new lens's for your camera and you're after a blurry background lens, check out how low the f stop goes - it should tell you the lowest F stop.

Portrait mode is amazing for this on the iPhone plus's though! 

Framing - the framing of the image is super important too because the way you frame the product could be the difference between a professional image and an amateur. Framing is where you frame the product within the shot, the middle of the shot is the most important place which makes it more focal. If the main product is more over to one side of the shot it means its not as important because when you first look at an image you're eyes are drawn to the middle of the photograph - always. Angles can also help, try to move about to see what works best.

hope this helps guys! Whats your main photography tip?

Laura xox

If you follow me on instagram (if you're not then why the hell not? go do it now - girltalkwithlaura) then you'll know I had a bit of a hair nightmare last year. My normal go to salon that i've been to for about 4 years left me feeling gutted when it wasn't worth the money I pay. So I was left in limbo. I had searched high and low to find this salon so thats why I had stuck with it for so long, so I asked you guys on IG and you all came through!!! So many people suggested Gallery108 so I checked it out and I was blown away by their balayage skills.

So I booked up and went to in for a consultation with Georgia and obvs took about a million photos for inspo because thats what I do, I spend my life on instagram searching hashtags like #balayage #blondehair #extendedroot before heading in because explaining it is just so hard. Anyway we decided to take the unwanted orange and yellow tones in my hair balayage was the best option because that way you can choose which bits you want to paint over. Plus I wanted more brown and an extended root just to add some depth which we had the option of permanent or semi permanent - my hair doesn't hold brown for too long so I was sure I wanted permanent.

 So the day came for the hair change and I was so excited! Its such an easy to find salon on Gosforth high street and its super cosy inside so I was put at ease that my hair will be okay - its nerve racking going somewhere new!

The roots were first and I have to admit, when you've been blonde for so long and you get brown dye put on and you have to sit there staring at it getting darker and darker, it makes you start to regret it. I was SHITTING myself to say the least. But then balayage started by the amazing Georgia and I was super impressed the way its done, its like they're creating a bit of art and I love that idea because it makes it more personal. She knew exactly where to put the icy blonde and where to add the brown to break it up.
We used smart bond because we wanted an icy blonde and obviously want to protect the hair as much as we can when dying it so I highly recommend smart bond (which is like olaplaex).

After the balayage process it was time to wash it out and add a toner (which helps to take away all the yellow tones) and the final step of the smart bond which leaves it feeling silky smooth. Then it was time for the big reveal which is the best bit. The cut was perfect and didn't take too much off as I said I was growing it but took the dead ends off which made it feel thicker.
The blow dry was a no fuss blow dry, quick easy and it actually lasted!

So the final look, and I love it! Who would have thought I'd love my roots so much?! It just adds that bit extra plus because we have colour matched it to my own root colour so when it grows it will be less work and hopefully cheaper!

The blonde was the perfect blonde as there was no yellow in sight and thats the way I like it. But its still got loads of tones in which look lovely when you tie your hair up. So here I am, a massive fan of my new hair, my new salon and I'm super thankful for all the people who suggested Gallery108. We can all agree that Georgia has done an amazing job!

Laura xox

When a beauty blogger uses a full product to the point its totally empty, well that means that they bloody love it enough to pick out of their whole collection ( which is huge.) It says something when a blogger has an empty product! This isn't to show off like ooo I have a massive collection but it just shows that I must have really liked using these or seen a difference after using these products and actually need to have them in my collection at all times.
Most of the time when a product runs out, I move onto the next product to try. So I thought it would be interesting to show you what I've actually used until its empty and what I will need to re-purchase.

// First up // Laura Mercier Silk Creme Moisturising Photo Edition Foundation ( I wear shade Cashew Beige) 

This foundation came into my life around a year ago now and I've only just ran out. I don't use it everyday because its a shade that I can only use when I'm more tanned but the consistency of it and how it makes my skin look and feel when its on makes me think I need it in all shades so I can wear it all year round. Its that dewy foundation that us dry skin lovers NEED in our lives. It has an luminous finish which makes it photo ready and it lasts a long time, which is normally hard for dewy foundations because they normally have more moisturising agents in which normally make it easier to slide off your face - but this one, doesn't.

// Kiehls Midnight Recovery Concentrate //

If you're a skincare lover then chances are you'll have heard of this product. If you haven't then I don't know where you've been but I do know where you should be and thats in the queue in Kiehl's with this in your basket. Its a night oil which adds moisture and helps to repair your skin overnight. This bottle has lasted me one year, ONE YEAR!

// Elemis Peptide4 Night Recovery Cream Oil //

My nighttime skin routine is very thorough and I have a lot of products that actually go on my face. Including this one when I feel like I don't need an oil as this is a cream & an oil together so I use this and then my moisturiser rather than a serum, then an oil and then a moisturiser. I have went through this so quick mostly because I have used it a lot! It makes my skin a lot more hydrated.

// BENEFIT GIMME BROW //

I couldn't live without this, ever. I use it on all days no matter if I'm having a casual brow day or a more defined brow day. It add colour to all hairs which makes them look fuller and its amazing for those who have tattooed brows that don't need much doing to them but need their actual hairs to look darker and fuller.

// PRECISELY MY BROW //

This I use on more defined brow days because it has that smaller nib which allows more precision and more hair- like strokes.

// HELLO FLAWLESS OXYGEN WOW BRIGHTENING FOUNDATION //

This foundation always get forgotten about but it shouldn't. To be honest I have only been loving it since my skin is hydrated because I used to have really dehydrated skin so whatever I used to wear it would drink up my foundation but now my base is good, this foundation goes on like a dream. Its buildable and dewy - what more could you ask for. I use it more for work foundation because you can wear it quite light and thin.

// CAUDALIE VINOPERFECT RADIANCE SERUM COMPLEXION CORRECTING //

This is probably my most favourite skincare product of all time. BOLD STATEMENT I know. Since I have been on a mission to correct my acne scarring I have been after products like this and I have tried a lot but I feel like this one has been the only one to actually make a difference. It helps to hydrate but also gets rid of redness and scarring. MY HOLY SAVIOUR.

// DARPHIN HYDRASKIN INTENSE HYDRATING SERUM //

Confession - I didn't used to wear serums up until a year ago because I thought they were pointless because once they were on the skin they would disappear. But thats kind of the point because your skin drinks them straight up. And when I first tried this I was like omg its like water its so pointless. But again, my skin drank it up. I liked to wear this during the day before my makeup because it was light enough to wear this serum and a moisturiser just to keep hydrated during the day.

// DARPHIN CHAMOMILE AROMATIC CARE //

You all know I love a face oil and this one is probably my favourite because of the smell and texture. It makes your night time more relaxing & you have a better sleep when you wear a face oil with calming scents.

// LA MER THE EYE CONCENTRATE //

I have fallen in love with the most expensive eye cream there is..typical. I was given this little sample and god I have made this little sample last. I know this is £155 for a 15ml pot but you guys know I believe in investing in your skin, it will thank you. Especially an eye cream!

 // SPORT FX DRY SHAMPOO //

Since having had my hair done and my roots extended then I needed a dry shampoo thats not going to make my brown roots white. So I found this in my drawers and realised its a clear dry shampoo which is brilliant especially since the brown Batiste dry shampoo's are always more expensive!

// BENEFIT GOOF PROOF BROW PENCIL // 

When im having more of a lazy I cba day, this comes out because its thicker and a quick one two three and thats your brows done. The Benefit brow collection is the only things I use because they are so easy to apply and last all day even through the gym!

I hope this is interesting for you and an insight into what I use daily!

Laura xox