Author: amberzoe

Plook on the Plinth? Cream of the Crop! 5 female-led businesses taking Cumbernauld by storm

So every time I say I’m from Cumbernauld, after the ‘what’s it called?!’ comment, I always get things like, “that’s a bit of a dive…” or “it won the Carbuncle award” comments. Well forget the two Plook on the Plinth Awards, I want to focus on the positives, because Cumbernauld has so much to offer – and I’m not just talking about the Irn Bru Factory! I am all about supporting local businesses and women who are absolute girl bosses, so here are my 5 top female-led businesses changing the reputation of my hometown…

Burn, Baby, Burn! My Favourite Local Candle Companies

There’s really nothing better than the house smelling amazing from a new glowing, fragrant candle. If you’re like me and totally obsessed with candles and wax melts, then I have some amazing local places to share with you! I love finding new places to buy candles, instead of the usual high street brands. As lovely as they are, you can pick them up anywhere and the unique-ness of them starts to wear off as replicas are made in supermarkets. Fine for a quick fix, but if you just adore a beautiful candle either for yourself or for a present (who doesn’t LOVE a candle!?), then there are some wonderful local businesses you should try. Also, because the huge brands are already ‘out there’ and doing well, it’s time to champion some of our own (which in my opinion are better!) and give them the recognition they deserve, because these candles are made with love and from real, genuine, hard-working people. A quote I saw a few years ago has always stuck with me, “when you buy from a small business, an actual person does a little happy dance!” and it is so true!

Rest, Relaxation and Rassoul at The Blythswood Spa

Honestly – it was just what the doctor ordered! A fabulous spa day and afternoon tea in The Blythswood Spa. I had been feeling a little out of sorts – between my back playing up, my skin breaking out a bit and just feeling generally tired. My mum and I went for the rassoul experience, which is a treatment that lasts roughly an hour and is like something I have never experienced before! We also visited the thermal suite and had afternoon tea, and it was just a delight!

All Eyes on Glasgow!

You might have read my last blog about All Eyes on Me  and realised that you need a piece of the action… but maybe Cumbernauld is a little far out for you to get to and you really want fabulous lashes!!! Well worry no more – All Eyes on Me GLASGOW is OPEN! Woohoo! Honestly, Leanne Osborne, the founder, deserves this so much. She works so hard, she’s a mum and she has dedicated so much time to her clients and making them feel a million dollars with new lashes, while opening her own lash bar and training school to teach others the tricks of the lash trade.

Leanne is a total perfectionist! I’ve been lying getting my lashes done and she’s taken time into her lunch break to perfect my ‘fans’ or to add more volume – she knows exactly what her clients want and has taught all of her team to do the same, everyone in there is amazing, so much so that they only went and won Lash Extension Specialist of the Year at the Scottish Hair & Beauty awards 2018… after less than a year in business, and that’s why they deserve this new lash bar and the success that comes with it so much! It was written in the stars for them to lash the full of Glasgow!

World Paw-mination!

I just wanted to write a small review of Dr. Paw Paw Original Balm because oh my god, this balm it’s and actual miracle!! You can use this for pretty much anything, it’s all natural ingredients and it’s so affordable! Using Carica Papaya (PAWPAW), full of antioxidants, minerals and also containing vitamins C + B, the balm helps to aid skin repair, provides anti-inflammatory properties and adds moisture.

The club putting the GLOW in Glasglow

A few of you lovely ladies have been in touch on Instagram when I post about my Glasglow Girls Club (GGC) rose gold keyring asking just what is it exactly?! And what is the GGC?! I don’t want any of you missing out, and I know that founder of the GGC, Laura Maginess definitely doesn’t want you missing out! So let me tell you a little bit about it, and how I’ve used my membership so far! Lets start at the beginning…

Back to Reality with Urban Retreat

It got to the point with my back, neck and shoulders that every single day I had a tension headache that rooted from one of these three areas, the tension was round the back of my head at the base of my skull, and would actually be relieved from pressing on my spine, my ribcage, my shoulder blades and my neck and back muscles. Being as busy as I am daily, I tended to ignore it and take paracetamol (which didn’t help) until I felt a pain early December 2018 that felt like I had pulled or strained a muscle, and it was painful to even take a deep breath in, my flexibility was affected as I could no longer twist round to the right and it was just damn sore every single day; driving, walking, sitting, breathing. Not good.

I think as humans what we forget a lot is self-care. When was the last time you really sat down and said ‘I’m going to book myself a massage because I a) have a sore back, b) am stressed or c) because I bloody well deserve some relaxation after how hard I work weekly!!? Probably the answer is that you can’t actually remember. You are a body, your body is the only one you have and its the most amazing and powerful instrument and tool you will ever own. Why not take care of it? Think of it this way. You play an instrument, you drive a car, you own a house – do you let these things suffer as a result of not caring for them? If your instrument breaks, you’ll get it repaired, if your car has a flat tyre, you replace it, if your house has a leak, you get someone onto that as soon as possible! So why do we neglect what really should be our main focus, our bodies? I decided that for me, it was time to get back to reality and get my back muscles back on track to start the year off with a more positive outlook on self-care, and I knew exactly the place to go.

Urban Retreat at The Academy, A Hidden Gem!

The energy of Urban Retreat finds you before you even find the door. On the banks of Brodwood Loch, you’ll find the beautiful little sanctuary, which is a place of complete happiness and peace wrapped in a beautifully decorated salon and spa. The building is in an industrial park with plenty parking. The windows look out onto greenery, yet as soon as you walk through the door you are transported from the industrial park in Cumbernauld to a completely new place of tranquility and smiles. That’s the first thing I remember when I stepped through the door, the warm and friendly smiles of the girls working there, they are just so lovely. The positive energy can instantly be felt, and the salon is completely immaculate.

All Eyes on Me

There is no better feeling in the world than waking up in the morning with perfectly fluttering lashes with no need for mascara or falsies. Getting up and going about your day with beautiful lashes and no need to remove mascara at night – absolute heaven! I have found my favourite little lash place and it comes in the form of All Eyes on Me and it’s right in my home town of Cumbernauld. Situated in Condorrat, All Eyes on Me is Cumbernauld’s only lash bar and training centre, with specifically trained technicians who are as friendly as they are talented.

Say ‘I do’ at Trump Turnberry

On Thursday 4th October I had the pleasure of being invited along to the first ever wedding spectacular at Trump Turnberry, an absolutely stunning and luxurious resort less than 20 miles from Ayr. Being from Glasgow, it’s far enough away to feel like you’re on a luxury mini-break clearing the cobwebs, but close enough to drive for even a day-break at the stunning spa or for dinner or afternoon tea in the restaurant or grand tea lounge. The Trump Turnberry hotel and spa stands proudly on a hill overlooking the stunning views of Ailsa Craig and the Isle of Arran  and it is just breathtaking. What a stunning part of the world. I decided to take my mum for a break and to see just what Trump Turnberry had to offer (and let me tell you, I now have my sights set on getting married there!)…