We're almost 1 year old.....

Busy Busy Busy

I hope everyone had a lovely Valentine's Day and were spoiled, either by a special someone or you just treated yourself :-)

It's been a bit hectic in the last couple of weeks at Diva HQ.  I'm trying to improve my social media presence and trying to revamp the website, in time for our first anniversary on the 23rd Feb.  

I can't believe Diva has been trading for a year, it's been a quick one, with lots of up's and down's.  

One of the hardest things is finding the time to invest in the business.  For any new readers who don't know me, I work full time in quite a pressured environment, I have twin 13 year old boys (don't need to say anymore) and i'm trying to get this fab wee company off the ground, so it has it's challenges, but I always believe it will be worth it.  

So to maintain focus, i've set myself a 2 year challenge to build Diva Fabulous into my full time occupation.  There is no doubt that when I do invest the time needed into the business, it flourishes.  So I just need to find that happy medium in the meantime to make it grow and get to where it should be.

So onward and upward, next week I will be doing some fantastic offers that will celebrate our birthday and hopefully bring some new Diva's along for the ride with lots of new items like this beautiful SassB Ostrich Feather Shrug, this will be unveiled shortly.....xoxo

Time for a change me thinks!!!

Time for a Change!!

This update is long overdue, so rather than go over old ground, I thought it would be easier to start again....with lots of things. 

So, Diva Fabulous is going to get a bit of a makeover in the next couple of weeks, and i'm excited.  We're going the whole hog, new website and new logo too.  I've been taking a good look at lots of other websites, not just bridal sites, but clothing, holiday and jewellery sites, and what i've noticed is that i'm drawn to the simpler, cleaner looking sites.  The type that looks classy and uncluttered, which makes sense as this is what I am like in my working life (although not so much at home, lol).  So that is what the new Diva site will embrace.

I've also decided to branch out to more everyday jewellery and accessories and not just be known for bridal, although we will still remain in the wedding circuit also.  

It's critical in a thriving business to know when to change, and we're approaching our 1st birthday next month, so this is the time to 'tweak'.

In our second year, I want to focus on growing via social media, twitter, Facebook, pinterest, and instagram.  We have accounts on all, so it will be about getting our Diva's excited and on board with our new products.  This will be a challenge and I hope I can meet the demands that are necessary to make a respectable online social presence. 

Anyway, I thought I would start a new section in my blog showing what my lovely Diva's have been ordering this month and they have been delighted with each piece when they arrived, so here's a few of the pieces ordered in January so far.

Ganza Comb by LHG Designs - £95

Millie Brow Band by Ellie K - £75

Hazel Wedding Set by Girls Love Pearls - £65

These are all available on www.divafabulous.co.uk with free p&p.  So the blog will be updated weekly from now on, so I will be keeping my eyes peeled for inspiration for stories throughout the week, but it anyone has any ideas or items they would like to see more info about, feel free to email me on lisa@divafabulous.co.uk.  

Take care and see you all next week 

Lisa xoxo

Bella Italia

So I am sitting in a bar in Peschiera del Garda in beautiful Italy.  Couldn't ask for better surroundings to get inspiration for this blog.  

Italians are known for their style, their attitude and the way they love life, I think we could all take a leaf out the Italians book and try and enjoy life more. 

As soon as you set foot in the country, it would almost feel rude not to become ensconced in the atmosphere and have a little bit of a Sophia Loren and Claudia Cardinale and sashay down on the beachfront or through the picturesque towns.  There is no mistaking the magic that you can't quite put your finger on.

I got thinking about style and weddings here and what that would be like.  Little Murano candle holders hanging from lemon trees and everyone dressed in their fabulous finery, the Italians 'love' their gold, I have been devouring all their jewellery shops and boutiques,even the local markets, to see the different styles and drinking in the inspiration.  It truly is fabulous.  I have made this one of my life goals to get a little place here and have this feeling of fabulousness forever. 

My husband and I went to Venice for an overnight as a treat and we stayed at the Hilton Molino Stucky Hotel. OMG!!!! this was luxury, we got a free upgrade to a suite, wow, it truly was style and luxury.  We had lunch on the rooftop bar when we arrived and just seeing this unique city from that viewpoint was special.  

We then went on a gondola, well we had came all that way, it would be rude not to!  €100 to be shown around the city from the people that know it best. I never realised what a physical job it was, the gondolier earned his money, again, (sorry to keep repeating the words but ......) magical.

If this doesn't inspire to bring out the style in you, nothing will!!!

So viva Italia, arrive derci and I will update again before I leave this glorious country.

Quandry!!!

 

I'm in a quandary???

 

 

 

 

Weight???  Does it have a place in this blog since this was supposed to be about www.divafabulous.co.uk?  That's my quandary. 

 

 

 

 

Weight is an issue for EVERYONE, if you're thin, are you too thin? Can you ever be too thin?  If you're fat, how do you lose weight, fad diet, exercise or just constantly beat yourself up on an hourly basis as you continue to binge and make the problem worse. 

 

So the question is, does the issue of weight have a place in a bridal accessory blog.  And my answer is Yes, I believe it has.  You see, although becoming engaged is such an exciting time, it is also a time of dread for some involved in the event.  It can be the bride (OMG I'm engaged, yay.....shit, I can't get married looking like this), the bridesmaids (OMG she's engaged, yay....shit, I'm don't want to be the fat one!!!), mother of the bride/groom, (OMG they're engaged, yay.....shit, everyone will be looking at me) and if continues to the guests too.

 

So YES, the answer is YES weight has a place in this blog. I want to share tips on weight loss, exercise and highs and lows as we all go through the day to day of trying to lose/maintain or gain weight. 

 

You see, one thing I have learned which surprised me, is that whether your underweight or overweight, food rules your life.  Every mouthful is dreaded and enjoyed at the same time.  Not everyone gets that part, but there is definitely an emotional connection as much as a nutritional one.

 

In March I started the Cambridge Diet on Sole Source, (www.cambridgeweightplan.com) and I met my adviser Nicola.  She was lovely, and very positive.  Now this is a very difficult diet to maintain and is very strict (420 cals a day) BUT very effective.  I lost 15 lbs in 2 weeks, but i'm not here representing Cambridge, so I have to be honest, it was hard.  Then it was my birthday week and I fell off the wagon.  I was about to start back up and there was a death in my circle, so that was not the right time to start it back up, I was certainly not in the right headspace for it then.  Then I went back to see Nicola and got psyched up to start again.  The next day, I started my shakes and soups and they tasted worse than I remembered.  I lasted ONE day!!!  What?  How could I not manage more that 24hrs?  So I started again, the next day, I lasted to lunch time, this is getting worse.....I had to make a decision, as by now I am completely beating myself up, calling myself a failure and everything else that sprung to mind.

 

Four days later I texted Nicola (to ashamed to phone) and said I had to stop the diet as I couldn't take the pressure that I was putting on myself.  She was lovely and said no problem and to contact her again if I changed my mind.  I don't think I will.

 

But now i'm stuck, since the 2 weeks on the diet, I have constantly felt bloated when I eat normally, because although I was struggling on the Cambridge Diet, my body felt clean and good.  Now, when I eat my normal food, I feel heavy, bloated and fat constantly.  I want to go back on the diet, but can't face the shakes and soups (they don't taste that great).  On the diet you have to drink water, water, water....which was strange for me, I usually drink diet Irn-Bru or diet Coke, so water was a difficult one for me, but I've found that I have continued drinking water, and my skin has got much better.

 

So now i'm looking at the FAST diet, (www.fastdiet.co.uk).  I like the concept of it and it appears more palatable.  Hubby is also going to give it a go.  Let's see how this goes........

 

So all the brides to be out there and their associates what's your diet plans?  Do you have any tips?

 

My tips for weight loss this week are -

 

1. Drink LOTS of water
2. No meal should be more than 300 cals in one serving
3. WALK WALK WALK - one of my friend's has lost 8 stone in 8 months, by cutting out rubbish and walking every day, that's got to be worth trying.
4. Stop putting pressure on yourself, somebody loves you just the way you are, that's why they want to spend the rest of their lives with you.

Have a happy healthy week.

 

 

 

Lx

Operation Makeover

Operation Makeover

 

 

Since the website launch in February, it's not been getting the followers I was hoping for.  So....a revamp is in the making.  The new look site will be launched on 23rd May, and that means a lot of work between now and then but it will be worth it. 

 

So with the revamp in mind, I have reduced the prices of some of our stock to make way for new goodies. Check out www.divafabulous.co.uk to see some bargains, jewelled bouquets from £45.

 

 

 

I'm also very happy to add that my beautiful 'sis' Ashley will be adding to our blog also, you'll see a whole other side to Diva HQ, she's mad (but in a good way) and between us the blog will be updated more often. 

 

Please feel free to leave a comment with suggestions or a hot new trend that you would like to see on the site, www.divafabulous.co.uk.  Your input would be appreciated.

 

Speak soon

 

xoxo

It's been too long!!

Apologies, it has been a couple of months since I updated my blog. I sort of ran out of steam.

We held the wedding show which was exciting and exhausting and then there was a bit of a come down, as if 'oh....is that it?'

If I'm honest, and I usually am, I expected more from it, we've had little return and I just got a bit scunnered (Scottish word meaning fed up 😃😃)

So I've been thinking what to do, do I give up and write off the time and money at I have invested so far or do I rethink and see how I can make it work.

Well.....I'm here, updating my blog which means I've had a rethink and I'm going to make it work. Over the past few months I've met some fantastic suppliers of gorgeous fabulous things, but they didn't fit into the bridal category. So I've decided to make the site fit around them.

That's right, Diva Fabulous is no longer going to be a bridal accessory site, it will be a fabulous accessory site with a bridal section. Since I've made the decision, I have felt happier with it, I just need to break the news to my web designer, sorry Dave! Xx

So, by summer, I will have a revamped site full of gorgeous goodies and I hope you will love them as much as I do.

I will update next week and have more details. In the meantime don't forget to check out all the lovely bridal accessories at www.divafabulous.co.uk

Spk soon xoxo

Getting closer!!!

Well, the Scottish Wedding Show is almost here (3 days) so it has been a bit mental at Diva HQ. Hopefully everything will go to plan. I can't wait until I can hire someone to help me as I'm run off my feet. The jewellery and tiaras are beautiful though and I have chosen the best quality which I hope will serve me well. I think it's important to decide from the beginning what kind of retailer (or etailer) you want to be. So many retailers have blurry lines, and I think that's where they fail, I believe you should choose your market and aim to be the best in it, not try and accommodate everyone and end up no-one knows what you actually represent.

Anyway, have a great weekend Diva's and I will update you next week on how we got on. Eeeeeek xxxx