FABB Events Newcastle - An Amazing Day, And A Huge Confidence Booster

Despite it's misgivings I actually love living where I do, I'm a real northern girl at heart, and I love the north east with a passion, within an hour of where I live I can be by the sea, in a bustling city or out on the unspoilt, windswept moors - this area really does have something for everyone, apart for maybe the blogger. It's sad to say it sometimes well we feel a bit left out, I'm lucky enough to have been invited to lots of blogger events since I started this little journey, but due my illness and where I live it just hasn't been practical for me to go to any of them. Sensing the isolation that a lot of bloggers from outside the capital felt, two amazing ladies and north east bloggers, Tor from That's Peachy and Ray from Who Is She, formed FABB Events, with the aim of bringing fashion and beauty blogging meet ups and events to the bloggers, no matter where they are. Their first event in Leeds was a huge success, but on Saturday the ladies were back on home turf (ish) in Newcastle.

As soon as I found out there was an event somewhere that I could get too, I signed up straight away. Can I be honest with you? as soon as I did I regretted it, as you've probably gathered from last post my confidence in everything from my appearance to my own future is at rock bottom at the moment, and here was I planning to spend an afternoon with a whole load of ladies (and gentlemen) that I'd never met? that sounds crazy but I knew I had to do it to prove that the old Lou is in there somewhere all be it under a bit of padding, so after talking to quite a few lovely people on twitter some of  us arranged to meet at the famous Monument in Newcastle before the event so we didn't have to walk in on our own :)

The event was held in the Kanaloa bar, in city centre venue, Tiger Tiger. The room was decorated in a polynesian style with tribal carvings and sculptures on the walls and leis on the tables :) - a little bit of the south seas in an all be it sunny Newcastle :) We were met by Tor and Ray and given name stickers, a real godsend as I'm useless at remembering names, we then had a chance to have a drink and get to know each other a bit before we had brief intro from the ladies.

The first presentation was from Rosie Spencer from a clothing company called Tinned Bananas. This is a relatively new north east based, family clothing company, that's already making waves with the UK fashion pack. All their garments are made in the UK and are simply amazing to look out, the colours and patterns are so vibrant, and the fabrics are so soft and range from a smooth slinky style material, to a soft stretch velvet, and their swimwear in particular is to die for, in fact Look magazines fashion editor Lucy Wood, has even taken some of their bikinis to the Coachella festival.

I have to be honest and say that the line is probably a too small for me, and my rather rotund frame but if your after something a little bit different I would definitely recommend you have a look at their website here x I'm really thinking of using their swimwear as diet inspiration for maybe Summer 2014 :) x

After Rosie's presentation there was another chance to mingle, after the cup cakes and cake pops had been attacked though :) I was really good and not wanting to aggravate my food allergies I just had one cake pop which was AMAZING :), so worth the bloating and pain lol. I tried to speak to as many people as I could but I was really hard to speak to everyone, especially when your a bit shy - I seemed to miss out the far side of the room which was a real shame :(

The second talk was from Sandra Tang. Sandra works freelance in digital marketing, and has done a lot of work with Newcastle NE1, which promotes leisure and cultural events and activities in the city centre (click here to find out more). What Sandra came to talk to us about though was Newcastle Fashion Week. There are events taking place all over the city from the 11th to the 18th of May, ranging from individual store events, to catwalk shows in Eldon Square, an introduction to ebay session in the Central Library, and a spectacular bridal fashion show taking place in the Theatre Royal. We were kindly given an event programme, and a free ticket for the first day of the Newcastle Fashion Weekend, a event which is going to be taking place at Northumbria University, and will feature everything from catwalk shows, celeb appearances, free make overs, style consultations and a chance to meet Poppy Dinsey from WIWT - I love Poppy and would seriously kill for her figure x so I'm definitely going to be using my free ticket. You can find out more about Newcastle Fashion Week here xx

Before and during the event we were given the opportunity to enter various giveaways to win some gorgeous goodies including clutch bags, jewellery, and beauty products, and I was lucky enough to win two prizes.

I won a Semi Permanent Mineral Brow Travel Kit, from ILAH Beauty, which contains eyebrow stencils, eyebrow and shadow colours and a lip balm, and I also won a Jelly Pong Pong Mineral Foundation which I'm super excited to try.

Towards the end of the event we all given a goodies bag which contained some fabulous things that I can't wait try from a variety of brand including Lush, Elemis, Macadamia Oil, Lee Stafford, Beauty UK and loads more, as well as press releases and a load of discounts - I can't wait to have a proper play and I'll definitely try and review some of the bits for you - Oh it also contained some Pop Chips but I ate a packet on the way home and Mummy Lou ate the other one sorry - the barbeque ones are amazing  :)

From Left To Right - Katie, Amy, and Bethanie

I have to say despite my initial apprehension I really enjoyed the event and the opportunity to meet and talk to so many fabulous north east based bloggers, and to listen to some really informative and interesting speakers. Everybody was sooooo friendly, and I'm only sad that I didn't get a chance to talk to everyone. My confidence still isn't amazing especially appearance wise (hmm) but thanks to Ray and Tor, and some lovely, genuine people I certainly don't feel as isolated or as scared about meeting new people and trying new things. If you want to find out more about FABB Events then you can follow them on twitter or check out their facebook page, and if they come around to your neck of the woods, I'd definitely advise you to try and get a ticket, Thanks ladies I am one satisfied blogger x