Yail - We'd gone to Leicester Square the night before to soak up the atmosphere, visit a Christmas market and watch Star Wars (which I thought was a fitting, though slightly sentimental ending) and didn't get back to the hotel until after midnight. We woke up late in the morning and decided that going ice-skating was too much (it was the 24th of Dec) and headed home. I will take them ice skating locally in the next couple of days. It won't have the ambience of Somerset House (its the local ring) but it should be fun anyway.
We had a wonderful time. D13 loved every minute of it (as did I). We stopped at a shopping mall on the way and I let them pick out some clothes - they both had �40 and could buy whatever they wanted. D13 got pair of 'mom' jeans, the kind that mums in the 80's wore - high waisted and loose down the leg. Sound disgusting, but they strangely suit her. D10 got a little olive military style dress which goes really well with a rust coloured silk dress D13 brought with her (and yes, I may have encouraged the purchase because I could see the photo of the two of them in my head). The dress was only half her spending money so she bough a toy with the other half
I was really impressed with the studio. It was in a warehouse in Shoreditch (where all the cool creative kids live) and when we got there they took us to a waiting room where there were big sofa's and a bar where they were serving drinks (wine for adults, juice/water/softdrink for the kids), nibbles, a nail bar and a couple of hair and make up areas. There were other people in the room doing the same thing. Mainly mums and daughters. Someone came out and explained what would happen. We'd get our nails done (only D10 because D13's were already painted) then our hair and our makeup. Everything was really professional. They gave me the resume of the make-up artist (basically some examples of photo shoots in mags) and the photographer (ditto). D13 loved every minute of it. The make up artist and hair guy fawned over her. They fawned over all of us, but I loved seeing the little smile on her face every time the make up artist gave her a compliment more than when he gave me a compliment. We had over 150 photos taken about 100 of came out well (i.e. eyes not shut, no double chins) and I eventually walked away with 34 digitals, 5 prints and a giant wall hanging. Turns out all that pampering / professionalism comes at a cost .
We then went to the hotel and chilled for a bit, then down to Leicester Square. It was a really magical time, both girls were smiling and chatty and I don't think they bickered once. It is a memory. And if I ever forget, I have 34 digital photos to help remember it by.
Eyebrows - I had my eyebrows micro bladder (a kind of semi permanent tattoo) which has a changed my life (or at least given me back a couple of minutes every morning). I had it done about 18 months ago and although not as clear as when I first got it done (some of the lines are less articulated) it still makes a difference. I would recommend googling it and if you're interested see who is available in your area. Most of them have Instagram accounts so you can follow them for a bit and see examples of their work, read comments from other people etc. A good one will work with your eye shape, feather correctly (so it isn't obvious) and enhance your natural shape.
