#nyLDNmeet / Cocktails in the Capital

Every so often there comes a day so eventful that one post is not enough. Yesterday was one of those days, a big day out in Soho!
#nyLDNmeet / Cocktails in the Capital
I was there to attend my very first blogger meet which I’d heard about via Kayleigh’s post on veryberrycosmo. I’d been following the hashtag #nyLDNmeet on Twitter ever since and on the day excitement was at fever pitch.

My first stop on arrival was the Carnaby Road Benefit Boutique to have my hair and makeup done… but more on that later in the week! Afterwards, I made my way down Little Argyle Street doing little mad dashes between sheltered shops to avoid the rain!

 As I arrived at Bitter Sweet, Soho, it hit me that I was about to enter a bar where I knew absolutely no one in ‘real life’! I knew of and had spoken to some of the people attending through our blogs and on Twitter, but that was it. I’ve always been quite shy with new people and find it so hard to mingle.

I needn’t have worried though as I soon struck up conversations with the people next to me in the coat queue. If there was ever going to be anywhere that I could find people with
similar interests, it was going to be in a room full of bloggers.

I kept spotting people that I thought I knew, but all that kept whizzing around my head were Twitter handles and blog names! I got chatting to a girl I recognised by her scarf which I’d ‘liked’ on Instagram (it was fab in real life too by the way!). She was Laura of LolaandBehold. We soon established that we were both ‘Little Lauras’.

With that the ‘Shorties Club’ inducted its first two members. We were to collect more members over the course of the day and marveled at just how many 5ft ladies had congregated in one space – this NEVER happens in everyday life.

After picking up some cocktails, we were offered a henna art treatment by Henna Bhavsar of designedbyhenna. Laura went first and a flurry of girls suddenly appeared around us to take photos. I could tell I was going to enjoy the afternoon – it was socially acceptable to spend the day taking pictures of everything – hoorah!!

#nyLDNmeet / Cocktails in the Capital
#nyLDNmeet / Cocktails in the Capital
Then it was my turn – the colours matched my jewellery and nails and it was all freehand – so clever! Henna (yes that’s her name as well as her trade!) has only just started blogging and offers henna art plus hair and beauty too.
#nyLDNmeet / Cocktails in the Capital

Then I dashed off to the presentation of a new beauty line being launched very soon in the UK by the brand MooGoo. Whilst we sipped cocktails, the ladies from MooGoo explained that the brand was established in Australia and specialises in all natural body, skin and makeup products, suitable for very sensitive skin and treatment of all kinds of skin based complaints.

#nyLDNmeet / Cocktails in the Capital
#nyLDNmeet / Cocktails in the Capital
Gwyneth Paltrow is said to be a fan of their tanning product ‘How Now Brown Cow’ and has mentioned it on Goop. I am particularly interested in this product when it launches as I have never been able to find a self tanner that my skin doesn’t react to. This sounds promising.
#nyLDNmeet / Cocktails in the Capital
The makeup products were also a hit amongst us, with the Dusty Girls Pink Ladies Mineral Blush being the
most lusted after! I came away with some skincare samples so I’ll give you the
skinny once I’ve had a chance to try them out.
#nyLDNmeet / Cocktails in the Capital

#nyLDNmeet / Cocktails in the Capital

I had to dash off before the end as I’d signed up for a cocktail making and realised that I was late to my slot. I rushed over to the bar where I found another girl in the same predicament – she turned out to be Mel of melswallofmirrors whom I’d also been chatting to on Twitter – welcome our third inductee to the Shorties Club!

The staff at Bitter Sweet were kind enough to give us our own little slot since we’d missed our group. We were shown how to make a cocktail and then stepped behind the bar to try it for ourselves. At this point we both realised that we hadn’t really been paying intention to the directions and giggled our way through each step.

The cocktail was ridiculously good, so I’ll do my best to remember it for you now:

First you pummel the cucumber to a pulp, which splatters all up your arm – cue giggling!

Then you add a shot of gin, another of lemon juice and a good sized glug of sugar water.

This concoction goes into a cocktail shaker with a helping of ice cubes.

Next: shake it baby shake it!
#nyLDNmeet / Cocktails in the Capital

#nyLDNmeet / Cocktails in the Capital

Strain it into a glass…

#nyLDNmeet / Cocktails in the Capital

…then add an artfully rolled up sliver of cucumber. This takes serious concentration!

Cocktail Making

Finally, top it with Prosecco – the master touch in my opinion!

#nyLDNmeet / Cocktails in the Capital

#nyLDNmeet / Cocktails in the Capital
All that’s left is to say cheers and enjoy your cocktails. I was quite impressed that mine tasted exactly like the one made by our teacher… although this may have been because I’d had 3 cocktail by this point – who knows?

I should also mention the lovely Philippa of justphilippa, who offered to take pictures with my camera as we made our drinks and helped us to prop up the bar afterwards. Laura rejoined our little group and we chatted away until it was time for the raffle to be drawn, taking selfies and then roping in the bar staff to do it for us!

#nyLDNmeet / Cocktails in the Capital
I’d not managed to buy any tickets and watched on slightly green eyed as the prizes were given out – there was some great stuff in there.

MooGoo freebies were passed around and Laura became the lucky owner of their signature cow!

#nyLDNmeet / Cocktails in the Capital

All too soon, the official event was over and goody bags were handed out. And oh my what goodies they held… but I think I’ll save that for another day too!

We piled into Byrons Burgers for some much needed refreshment. As each plate of food came out we chatted away whilst snapping each morsel with our cameras. There is no need to apologise for this sort of behaviour when you’re all bloggers!

I had a veggie burger: Goats Cheese, Portabello Mushrooms and Peppers in a brioche bun. It was so tasty! I’m not actually vegetarian but I quite often eat veggie meals!

#nyLDNmeet / Cocktails in the Capital

#nyLDNmeet / Cocktails in the Capital

#nyLDNmeet / Cocktails in the Capital
I washed it down with a nice cider and courgette fries (I may have to give these a go at home, they were tasty!).
#nyLDNmeet / Cocktails in the Capital

We ducked into Liberty to lust over all on display at the luxe beauty counters. Then, with promises to stay in touch, we headed off in separate directions to journey home.

So that was my first blogging event. Would I go to another one? Yes! Am I proud of myself for flying solo? Yes! Am I still addicted to Twitter? Yes… and Instragram now too – whoops!!!

All that’s left is to say a BIG BIG thank you to Lauren, Tamsin and Amy for organising such a fantastic event, here are their blog links:

Lauren – blonde–vision
Tamsyn-Elizabeth – peachpowxo
Amy – beauty-glamorous

…and to Laura, Mel and Philippa for just being such lovely people!

#nyLDNmeet / Cocktails in the Capital
…oh and sorry to all the bloggers that I didn’t get a chance to say more than a hello to – next time ladies, next time!

Lifestyle & vegan food blogger
Peterborough | UK
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