I went to London and visited Britain and Ireland's Next Top Model

I have to admit I haven't really watched the series, but me and my sister went to Britain and Ireland's Next Top Model Live at the Excel Centre,  London, last year and loved it. Who wouldn't love freebies, and discount fashion items.

We went to the catwalk show, which had twelve very fit male dancers and the girls walking down the catwalk in some great dresses. There was also some singers Bluey Robinson who was quite good and another band who were rubbish and I can't remember who they were.

The fashion show was really good though, I went last year and I do think this year was much better.

As well as the model and TV show element, there are also a lot of stalls of fashion and beauty items. Most on offer are online boutiques but there are also some big names selling items at discount prices.

If you are a bargain hunter you would love it!

Here is my load from the day....

So there is the goodie show bag, £5; the Cosmopolitan and Company bag £3 but we got two with the current issues and loads of goodies; you get loads of free stuff just walking about; I also got a Jelly Pong Pong cosmetics goodie bag £5 for two plus Rihanna's perfume Reb'l Fleur £20 for 100ml with a roll on version and clutch bag; and two new Saturday's Magnetism nail polishes and the magnet for £10 (I will do a separate post on this). I think that is it but it was a good day!

Winner Jade

Shows like this one and The Clothes Show are really good and you can just wonder round get some free drinks and food and just enjoy fashion.

I was surprised actually that two Essex's girls were there. My sister bought Lauren Goodger's fake tan (http://www.laurengoodgerofficial.co.uk/) Glam Tan, my sister has a very pale complexion but this tan looked really good and quite natural. I was surprised at the price points on it, obviously it was cheaper but at full price it was really good. Unfortunately we went home before we could see Lauren on person.

However, we did catch a glimpse of ex-TOWIE Amy Childs. She is launching her own clothing range which I do really like, if you have seen her in that red dress with the brown belt high top, tight fitting, well that is one of her own designers!! All the dresses are just gorgeous and priced about £50 to £70. We did try to meet Amy but you had to buy either her fake tan or eyelashes, which she would sign. So instead we had a look around the clothes and just got a peak of her. She is very pretty with massive hair. We did talk to her stylist though who was lovely. Amy's online store isn't open yet but her website is... http://www.amychildsofficial.co.uk/

BNITNM Live was really good and I would suggest going on the Sunday as a lot of the stalls slash their prices as it is the last. day.

So the live show is what it says on the tin 'a great girl's day out', it can tire you out though but well worth the handbag arm (the pain you get when you have your bag on your arm rather than on your shoulder). We came home with about six bags each. 

Web address: http://www.bntmlive.com/

All hail the Queen... right?

Recently I read a piece in April's Company magazine about the Royal Family and if they were still relevant and if Miss Kate Middleton made their appeal go up at all, and it got me thinking, especially as the Royal Wedding is not far away.


I will admit outright now I am a Royalist and not just with our own Royal Family, who cannot love the Monaco Royal Family or the story of Princess Grace Kelly. I am a huge fan.


Last year I went to Stockholm with my boyfriend (it was out second time there, he was doing the marathon again) and I became a little obsessed as when we visited the city it was a hive of activity and was holding various street parties and free events celebrating the HRH Crown Princess Victoria's wedding to her fitness instructor Daniel. It was a fairytale romance much like that of Wills and Kate but the way they celebrated it was to hold free music events and street festivals for the week before the wedding, it was fantastic. This Royal Family seem very normal both the King and Princess Victoria married I suppose the term is 'commoners', also the fact that H.R.H. Prince Carl Philip is very good looking also makes this Royal Family appealing to me.... http://www.royalcourt.se/royalcourt/royalfamily/hrhprincecarlphilip.4.396160511584257f218000245.html


I love the romanticism linked to a Royal Family, it makes you think of Disney Princesses and fairy tale romances. The idea that a chance meeting could lead to a normal girl becoming a Princess, and although she may talk posh and went to posh schools that is what Kate Middleton is... a normal girl. She doesn't have a family tree filled with Lords and Ladies, Kings and Queens. Although I did see on an American programme that apparently she is somehow related to chat show host Ellen and one of the men that discovered American. The Americans seem more obsessed with our Royal Family than we are, trying desperately to have a little piece. I suppose this is due to the fact they don't have an equivalent, in the past they have tried to make their presidents into Kings and Queens, most notable the Kennedy's, although I'm sure their spin-doctors had much more to do with that than the American public.


During my journalism course we briefly studied the monarchy and the powers they have in Public Affairs, and the truth is they don't have much. The Queen's most important power I would say is to advise, warn and encourage, she does this in weekly meetings with the Prime Minister, it is believed that as she has been Queen for so long she has more knowledge than a newly elected PM, which I think is true. However, it does beg the question if William becomes King how much does he know to advise, warn and encourage.


I love the fact we have a Royal Family, I think it is integral to Britain. I think it adds to our tourism factor, many people probably visit the country to see the palaces and possible the Royal Family. Also the Queen acts a figurehead for the country and goes to visit foreign countries on behalf of the country, do we really want our politicians to do that instead? Surely they have more pressing things to do then flitting off around the world.


I think it would be a sad shame if we didn't have a Royal Family. It is just very British! People say it is outdated and is a glaring sign that the country is still divided by class boundaries, but then think the Government doesn't do this? Cameron is man of the people is he? I think people will be more accepting of the Royal Family when we have Prince William and Princess Catherine. Or King William and Queen Catherine, both of them seem very normal and have more of a connection to us normal people so who knows people may change their opinion when this happens.


The Royal Family may not do a lot that we know of but I love that we have one! I am a Royalist and think it would be a shame if they were ever to go, most of our history is entwined with the fact we have a Royal Family, Americans love we have one and know more than we do probably. I wish in schools children learnt a more varied and extensive history of our Royal Family, like the US do with Presidents rather then the Tudors, yes they were important but what about Queen Victoria, or King Edward VIII and Mrs Simpson, or even more about House of Windsor including out current Royal Family.


We should cherish our Royal Family and sing at the top of our voices God Save the Queen.