Access All Asos: Social Media School and Asos HQ

Last weekend, I was over the moon to be invited to Asos HQ in London for 'Social Media School.' As part of Asos' Academy School series, I caught the train from York to Camden for a lecture on social media by Sedge Beswick, followed by a tour of Asos HQ:

Of course, we were greeted by some yummy treats - I particularly enjoyed the social media themed cupcakes - then ushered into the 'classroom' for our talk. However, this wasn't your usual university lecture; we were given 'Social Media Bingo' cards to cross off topics once they were mentioned and ensure we paid attention - a great tip for all teachers out there, as I intensely focused on my card and was ecstatic when I won some Anna Sui Minnie Mouse Hand Cream.

We learnt some fascinating facts about the world of social media and its importance to brands. For example, if Facebook were a country it would be the third largest in the world and over 350 million Snapchats are sent per day - that's a lot of power to be harnessed! Asos of course are great at social media, especially with Twitter where you will be responded to almost instantly whether your comment is positive or negative. As a customer, this means I am far more likely to buy from them as opposed to brands which aren't so responsive, and Asos really understand this.

We were then treated to a tour of Asos HQ. It was a dream come true to trawl through all the offices and studios, and we even got to meet some models and photographers shooting for the 'New In' section. How amazing would it be to work here every day?

Access All Asos applications are now open for 2014, so if you'd like to get behind the scenes at Asos, fill in their application form. You get all the insider gossip from the brand - for example, Asos are launching Asos Helpouts on Monday 16th Dec. You can book a slot via Google Helpouts to chat with a stylist and resolve all your styling, make-up or Christmas gift dilemmas. Yet another example of Asos putting the customer first, and as an Asos Insider, I'm the first to know about it!

You don't have to be a blogger, just an Asos addict like me, so why not apply today and join me?

<3

xx

#MyFabbHaloHair

A few weeks ago, I was invited to the White Cloth Gallery in Leeds by Halo Hair Extensions and Fabb Events. I arrived at this trendy venue hidden behind the train station, with the only hint for the day being Fabb's hashtag #MyFabbHaloHair:

Myself and a small group of bloggers were greeted by champagne and cupcakes (an excellent start) before being introduced to John from Halo Hair Extensions. He explained the history and development of their brand and introduced us to their signature product - the Halo. Many bloggers who were more hair-savvy than myself nodded along to this introduction, but as a complete novice when it comes to hair extensions, everything was new to me. I was fascinated to discover that the Halo is simply placed on your head, tightened with a 'miracle wire' and you immediately have longer, natural-looking hair! No damage, no clip ins, no scary glue - it really is that simple.

Hair extensions have always intrigued but scared me, thanks to all those horror stories out there and the fact that I am far too low-maintenance to bother with the upkeep required by 'normal' hair extensions. The simplicity of the Halo is therefore for me it's main selling point - I promise that the fact I can easily put on my Halo in a matter of minutes, means anyone can! On the day, professional hair stylists demonstrated how to attach our Halos and then styled them for us. This was a brilliant idea because it showed quite how simple the process was, and gave me far more confidence to go home and try it out for myself. Before the event, we had all sent photos of our hair colour to ensure we received the right shade - a service which is available for anyone thinking of purchasing a Halo, and meant that my #4 Chocolate Brown 16" Halo matched my hair perfectly.

We were generously gifted a goody bag, which included our now-styled Halo, shampoo and conditioner and a tail comb, which is perfect for combing your hair over the Halo wire. Unfortunately, I haven't had the right opportunity to photography my Halo properly yet, thanks to the dark and gloomy weather, but I'm looking forward to sharing my next post showing off the process of putting on a Halo in more detail. In the meantime, check out Halo's own How-To videos and I hope you enjoy the images from the event - especially these 'transformation' shots (thanks to Hannah Rose Photography and Fabb Events):

I felt like Cheryl Cole and couldn't stop playing with my new, voluminous curls! If you want to add some extra glamour to your Christmas party outfits this holiday, check out Halo Hair Extensions as a fool-proof, user-friendly way to really make an impact. I'm certainly a convert!

<3 

xx

Fitness: Benefits of Body Pump

Well, my Fitness Friday posts have fallen down the wayside a bit, so I thought it was about time for another post. Yes, it's not a Friday but close enough!

Today I thought I'd talk about my favourite gym class - Body Pump. It's a pretty hardcore class which scares a lot of people, so I wanted to explain some more about this class and girls lifting weights in general:

Now let's dispel some myths about lifting weights, ladies. Here are four points I think every woman should know:

1. Let's stop all this worry about getting bulky. Have you ever seen somebody get bulky by accident? No. If you want muscles, you can certainly get them, but it takes a lot of effort, exercise and precise dieting - you can't go to a few Body Pump classes and suddenly look manly. 

2. Want toned thighs? Well, I'm sure you know the answer is squats. But the 30 day squat challenge? Pointless if you aren't using some weight - it's simply not hard enough. Using a bar helps you think about your technique, depth and you can really feel the burn. Not only that, but you see the results much faster.

3. Lifting weights burns calories not only during the class, but for the rest of the day. Cardio doesn't do this; that's why you should start your gym sessions with weights and finish with cardio, as you will burn much more than the other way round.

4. Yes, muscle weighs more than fat - but it takes up less space. So even if the pounds aren't dropping off as much as you'd hoped, remember to keep a track of the inches too. 

So are you now thinking about doing more weights? If you are new to using weights, Body Pump is the perfect place to start. The instructors are really supportive and will ensure that you are using the right weight for your level and your technique is correct. Normally in the gym on my own, I couldn't lift weights for a whole hour, but the structure of the class means that the time passes much quicker. Each track focuses on a certain body part or move, such as squats, biceps or abs, ensuring that you get a complete full-body workout. The sets also change regularly, along with the music, meaning that you don't get bored from week to week. The instructor will also make sure that you regularly increase your weight, which means that you are constantly progressing. Overall, I never leave a class feeling unsatisfied and I really couldn't recommend it enough to anyone looking to boost their fitness regime. 

Do you enjoy reading my fitness posts? Let me know if you give Body Pump a go!

<3

xx