I got an award!

So I was given the Liebster Award by Beauty King UK!! Thank you so much!
 
For those of you who don't know, the award is for newish bloggers with a smaller audience - shall we call this 'boutique'...? The person who nominates you chooses some questions for you to answer so that everyone can get to know a little more about you and you can spread the love. So here goes, here are my answers to Beauty King UK's questions:
What was the first blog you ever read?

The first beauty blog I read was Fleur de Force. I stumbled across it and before I knew it had accumulated a growing MAC eyeshadow collection and discovered a new hobby. I love an enabler!

Recommend a blog for me to read and say why you chose it
 
I'd recommend a series that Beth at Beauty in Beta wrote about SEO tips for blogging here and here. These are really useful tips and she explains it so well - she is an expert too as this is her day job.

What piece of advice do you wish someone had given to you before you started a blog?

To be honest - probably some practical advice about photos, editing software and layout of your site (advice on all of these is still welcome!)

Which blog post are you most proud of and why?

Probably my in-depth review comparing Benefit The Porefessional with Maybelline Baby Skin here. Mainly because I put vanity well and truly aside and posted some really horrendous close up photos of my skin and pores in all their glory. But that is what honest reviews are about!

I am also really proud of the weekly #30sbloggers Twitter chat that I co-founded with El from Glossyglam, Caroline from Notes From Caroline and Sarah from Sarah Kay Blogs. It started as a little idea and now is a really popular and rapidly growing blogger chat at 9pm (UK time) each Sunday night. Join us!!

If you could be a guest blogger on another blog, which one would it be and why?

I would love to do a guest beauty post on 'Does my bum look 40 in this?' I don't normally read fashion blogs, but I love this one and it has me hooked! Kat is hilarious and I empathise with her continual shopping frenzy. She doesn't post about beauty products - but I would like to do that for her!

How would someone else describe you in one sentence?

Funny, loyal, kind, emotional and very self-critical.

Which 3 famous people would you invite round for dinner and why?

I blog because I like to discuss make up and people in my real life don't really. So I don't know about famous but I'd invite popular bloggers Estée from Essie Button, Kat from Does my bum look 40 in this and Anna from Vivianna does makeup. I imagine a lot of wine would be consumed...

Who would play you in a movie about your life?

I'd want Drew Barrymore to play me! I remember being told I looked a bit like her once or twice (and was v flattered) and I think she'd manage a perfect balance of daft, fun and stressy. We're also the same age...

If you could shop in one shop for the rest of your life, which one would it be?
Ooh - Selfridges! I don't live near one so I don't get to go very often. The beauty hall could keep me entertained for life.

If you could give me one piece of blogging advice what would it be and why?

"If you build it, they will come". It was my little motto when I finally started my blog. It is easy to get bogged down in the stats and what other people are doing. But it is supposed to be fun. Don't try to be anything - create the blog you want and let those that like it find it.

My nominated bloggers:

Jane George from A Tired Mother's Beauty Blog

Caroline from Notes From Caroline

Gail from Fabulousso 40s

Gina from Bright Light Beauty

Carly from Mummy's Lipstick

Mollie from Mollie Jess Blog

Gina from My Granny's Dresser

Chloe from Chloe and Her Notes

Audrey from Cremes Come True

Hayley from A Rosey Life

and Seriously Shallow 

My questions for you are:
 
Why do you blog?
Name one make up product you couldn't live without?
Which type of blog posts do you always read?
I am happiest when...?
My biggest fashion/beauty faux pas was...?
What is your guilty pleasure?
The blogger made me buy...?
What are you most proud of?
Do you wear make up every day - if so what?
Where is your favourite place on the planet?
What are your hopes for your blog?

So over to you - write a post answering these questions, link back to me & let me know when you've done it so I can come and read your answers (I'm nosey you know!). Then choose your own 'boutique bloggers' (with less than 200 followers) to nominate and invent your 11 questions!
 
I look forward to reading your answers...