Interview: Celebrity Psychic Michele Knight

Whether you're a believer or not, the weird and wonderful world of astrology is big business.

Celebrity psychic Michele Knight has been making predictions about the stars for decades.

She's appeared on X Factor Extra as their resident psychic, written a best seller and set up her own psychic social networking site.

More recently, Michele made a very big prediction about X Factor star, Leona Lewis. Want to find out what? Read on...

Lauren: Hi Michele. You recently made a big prediction on your website about Leona Lewis. Tell me a little more about it?

Michele: I did four or five series of X Factor Extra, as their resident astrologer. The last one I did I predicted Leona would win and I wrote various predictions - all of which happened.

I predicted that she’d be big in America and the last one to come true was that she’d duet with Justin Timberlake. I put the prediction on my website back when she won and it’s been there all these years. That was a particularly good prediction, but you don’t always get it that specific.

Lauren: What kick started your psychic career?

Michele: My mother was a psychic so I grew up with it.But you don’t always want to do what your mother did, do you? Not when your mother’s name is Madame Bruna, my goodness!

I ended up doing it professionally from the age of 16. My autobiography, which is a Sunday Times best seller, talks about my abused childhood, but I was very protected all the way along. I’ve had so many weird coincidences in my life that have led me to where I am - which is very happy and fulfilled.

Lauren: Where did you grow up?

Michele: I was born in London but I live in Somerset now, although I’m just about to move to Devon.

I’ve got a double life - I chill out in London but I prefer living in the countryside. I have a very blessed life.

I have a son who’s 23 but I’m now married to a woman. I got married last year and she’s my soul mate. Married life is marvellous.

Lauren: How often do you tell people something they’d rather not hear?

Michele: I like to think of myself as a 21st century psychic.

I like to empower people but I’m very direct and very specific.

And very honest! If someone was going to drop dead the next week you wouldn’t put it in those terms.

I’ve got my own social networking site called Psychic Knight - it’s like Facebook for the soul.

We’ve got nearly 11,000 members now.

You can have your own page on there - it’s a mixture of Myspace and Facebook, but it’s got a lot of spiritual things on there.

One of my passions is also helping other people to achieve their dreams.

Lauren: What’s been the highlight of your career?

Michele: If I told you you wouldn’t believe me to be honest.

There’s been so many amazing, miraculous things that have happened.

I’ve ended up doing a lot of music business stuff as a psychic - one of my first jobs was working at the Roof Gardens in London, as a psychic with Richard Branson.

I gave him and Mike Oldfield a reading - the day they mended their Tubular Bells feud.

Peter Andre also, I did his album release, back in the day.

I always knew he’d make a comeback.

I also did their [Katie Price and Peter’s]baby shower on ITV2. All these things are always around the music business for some reason.

My biggest passion is actually being an inspiration to people who’ve been abused or had an unhappy childhood - you can actually have a happy life, you can be healed.

Lauren: Who’s the nicest celebrity you’ve met?

Michele: Anne Robinson. She gave me a quote for my book, she was lovely.

Also, what I liked about Sharon Osbourne was she was very kind to the people in the audience [on X Factor].

She walked up two flights of stairs to talk to some kids who were in my dressing room.

Most of the people of that calibre you’d be pleased if you could walk down to them to meet them. Simon Cowell is always happy, too. I love his energy, he radiates a goodness.

Lauren: When did you discover your gift as a psychic?

Michele: It was always with me. I was even reading kids’ palms at primary school.

My twin sister died at birth - she was always around me.There was this voice that was always guiding me, saving me at the last minute. I’ve had an interesting life, long may it continue [laughs].

Lauren: Finally, is there anything you can tell me (off the cuff) about me?

Michele: Hold on a minute, I’ll have a look at your astrological chart.

You have the ability to have quite tricky relationships, something really deep and intense, with lots of secrets.

I’m sure you’ve got a lot of male friends -you can be one of the lads when you want to be.You keep a lot back, though. Only certain people see all those sides to you.You’re very determined to make some changes and do big things. You can achieve things as fast as you want to, you’re on the right track anyway.

I think you’ll travel - I think that’s important. By the age of 28 you’ll get offered a job in London or another big city. There’ll be a big music connection in America too!

For more about Michele, go to www.micheleknight.co.uk or join 'Facebook for the Soul' at www.psychicknight.com

Interview: Author Lucy Edge talks 'life on an Indian yoga pilgrimage' and 'meeting The One'

What happens when an urban girl swaps her kitten heels in the city for karma in the country?

Lucy Edge has recently seen the release of her second book 'The Handbag and Wellies Yoga Club' - "a funny and heart-warming true story about one woman’s search for love and friendship" and it's already receiving rave reviews.

The follow up to debut novel, 'Yoga School Dropout', the novel went on sale from August 6 and sees Lucy trade the city rat race for a Norfolk farmhouse, get married, and try for a baby.

Here, Lucy tells all about her life on a yoga pilgrimage in India, her fertility struggles and meeting the love of her life.

Lauren: So what spurred you on to leave your job in advertising and pursue a career in writing?
Lucy: By the time I set off for India in my late thirties, I was pretty much burnt out, having been working eighty hour weeks in advertising for many years.
I had no time to go out and play, only time to stay in and recover before the next ludicrous deadline flew across my desk like a cruise missile.

Guaranteed to seek, find and destroy all chance of finding a man before I hit the retirement home.
I decided to go on a yoga school pilgrimage and spent the next six months traveling around India – north, south, east and west.

Despite my best efforts – six months of hugging Happiness Trees and overheated Hugging Mothers, chasing down ‘Supramental Consciousness’ and waiting for Hidden Saints who chose to remain hidden, I had to admit defeat.

I came home and ‘down shifted’ – not to a log cabin in Cornwall, but back to my true spiritual homeland, North West London.

I’d kept a diary in India and it struck me that there was a book in my experiences. I had a lot of doubts about my ability to write a whole book but I’d always enjoyed writing – winning Jimmy Osmond sew on patches for the poems that I sent in to my favourite comics - Debbie and Mandy – when I was eight.

I decided that there was only one way to find out – I got a part time job in research and started working on Yoga School Dropout.

Lauren: Would you say you are happier now?

Lucy: These days I earn a third of what I made in advertising and am happier than I’ve ever been. I have the time to walk and talk, to look and cook. I smile at strangers. Whatever I do my life is no longer about satisfying me – it’s not about what I have and what I can get. My life is about trying to be the best person I can be for everybody I meet along the way. Perhaps one day I will earn the honorary title ‘ordinary’ Indian - one with an enduring attachment to Pinot Grigio.
Lauren: You talk very frankly about your own life and your fertility struggles in your new book. Did this level of honesty come naturally?

Lucy: Writing the book was a cathartic experience for me – I felt driven to write it because I wanted to let younger women know the facts about getting pregnant in later life.
I met my husband late - at 41 - and we started trying for a baby the following year.

I really thought that it would be fine - after all I did alot of yoga, I ate healthy food, and I read article after article in which forty something celebs announced their 'baby joy'.

Two years later, with an FSH that warned of an approaching menopause I was told that no fertility clinic would take me on with my own eggs, and that BTW, many of these 'baby joy' forty something celebrities had used egg donation and were not admitting it.

Lauren: Would you say there's too much pressure (generally - not necessarily biologically) for women to have kids by a certain age?
Lucy: I think there isn’t enough understanding of the consequences of leaving pregnancy until our late thirties and early forties.

I think that everyone that can and wants to should put having a family first and careers, bigger and better houses and traveling second – unless they want to gamble with the fertility lottery.
The difficulty is what to do when a woman is single – answer… try to find someone quickly, consider single parenting, or maybe freeze eggs – but not at 40 plus!

I would recommend that women get proactive in creating the life they want:
Do a four quadrant collage – family, friends, work & love – cut pictures out of magazines, visualise the life you want when you are forty. Do you have kids? A successful career? Where do you live? The clearer you are the more likely to will be to create the life you want.
Give urgent priority to finding a partner
Have your first child pre 35 – once you have had one it's easier to have a second. It’s as if the body remembers what to do.

Lauren: What's your advice to single people who're still looking for 'The One'?

Lucy: Don’t lose heart. I am living proof that there can be happy endings over forty!
I spent most of my thirties single – I desperately wanted to settle down, but I consistently chose the ‘wrong trousers’ - workaholics, tortured poets, and in one case, a gay man - who were emotionally unavailable and always broke my heart.
Looking back on it I can see that choosing these men was a mirror of my own state of mind - I was myself unavailable - a result of spending too long doing a high stress job in which I had to close down emotionally to survive.

Lauren: You're currently working on your third book. How's that going? And can you let us in on anything?
Lucy: After pouring out my heart in my second book I am keen to write something light.

I have a plot for a novel on my computer and it’s a romantic comedy – a cross between The Devil Wears Prada and You’ve Got Mail!
I am also developing ideas for three non fiction books which tackle – in no particular order - ageing, faith and happiness!

Lauren: What's the best advice you could offer to an aspiring author?
Lucy: Go on an Arvon Foundation course! They are brilliant at getting you started.

I went on a Travel Writing week when I was thinking about how to write Yoga School Dropout and the tutors gave excellent comments on my work, which helped me to get an agent and then a publisher. Plus you meet lots of other aspiring writers and that gives you a feeling of camaraderie – important when you face the tyranny of the blank screen.
I would also recommend two brilliant books: Francine Prose’s Reading Like a Writer.
And The Writers Journey by Christopher Vogler.

Lauren: Finally, how has 'The Handbag and Wellies Yoga Club' been received so far?

Lucy: I have had some very enthusiastic reviews but the book has only been out two weeks so it’s a bit early to gauge the wider reaction.

What I can say is that it’s been fantastic to meet people at various events we have been holding. Having spent the best part of a year writing a book it’s great to meet the people who are interested in reading it, and to hear their initial thoughts about some of the issues raised in the book.

For more about Lucy, go to www.yogaschooldropout.com

100 Followers and a Contest!

Firstly, a HUGE thank you to all my followers (102 now!). Thanks very much for reading and subscribing, it's much appreciated.

It's only fair I do a contest to say thanks, so over the last few months I've been collecting a few goodies to give away.

I've teamed up with the kind folks at Illimasqua to offer 3 products, plus a few more bits and pieces I've had the pleasure of receiving.

So, here's what's on offer... (click photo to enlarge)

The winner will receive:

Illimasqua powder eyeshadow in 'Wonder', Illimasqua powder eyeshadow in 'Cry', Illimasqua medium lip pencil in 'Spell' (red), Revlon Vital Radiance under eye concealer in medium and two Velvotan self tan applicator mitts.

The Rules:

Conditions of entry are fairly simple.

Everyone knows Barry M's advertising slogan is 'Wake up your make-up', while Rimmel's is 'Get the London Look'. But if you had your own make-up brand, what would your slogan be? Be as creative as you like and the winner is the person who picks the best slogan. It's as simple as that.

* You must be a subscriber/follower to enter

*Leave me a comment with your slogan

* Post a little note about my competition on your blog. PLEASE NOTE: If you do not have a blog, this does not apply.

And that's it!

The closing date for all your entries is Friday, August 28.

Thanks very much and good luck!

x

Interview: Illamasqua's Alex Cummins

After painting her cat's claws with nail varnish at six years old, Illimasqua's Marketing Assistant, Alex Cummins knew she wanted to work in the beauty industry.
But it wasn't until she began blogging about the brand many years later, that she was contacted by the managing director. The rest, as they say, is history.

Here, Alex shares her must have beauty products, favourite make-up looks and more...


Lauren: How did you bag your dream job and have you always wanted to work in the beauty industry?
Alex: I have absolutely always wanted to work in the beauty industry - I was painting my cats claws with nail varnish, cutting the hair off all my barbies by the time I was six!
In fact, I even tried to cut my own hair into The Rachel [from Friends] when I was nine!
I was constantly getting grounded for using up all my Mum's Estee Lauder as I was growing up - not much has changed though - if I go to visit friends or family, I can't resist raiding their make-up bags and bathrooms seeking out new products. I think it's an urge you are born with.
I studied Fashion Marketing and Communications at Nottingham TRent University with a view to getting into the beauty industry- I graduated last year. During my final year I compiled an indepth report into re branding a famous cosmetic brand and blogged the progress - I set up a blog as a creative outlet to get away from the frustration and turbulence of writing a 30,000 word report! I went to Selfridges the day after Illamasqua launched there in November 2008 and blogged about my experience. After reading my blog, the MD contacted me for an interview as there was an intern role he was looking to fill.

Lauren: What's your average day like at Illimasqua?
Alex: Illamasqua is a small, but rapidly growing, brand and I work with an amazing team - we all get involved with each others 'areas' of work - so in a typical day I can be answering customer enquiries, blogging, helping out with in store events, assisting on bigger marketing projects, coming up with creative ideas for new collections, liaising with our PR agency, organising external events, helping with product development, looking at and assessing sales figures, liaising with our creative agency for design related projects, coming up with names for new products, trialing new formulations or colours, considering brand affiliations... and occasionally wondering down to Patisserie Valerie on Old Compton Street for a hot chocolate.

Lauren: Any perks?
Alex: Lots of perks! As I have said, I am obsessed with beauty products and cosmetics, so I'm like a kid in a candy store! The best bit is that our office is smack bang in the heart of Soho and so work-to-bar is really easy when you have a samples cupboard like ours!
We also have freelancers who work for us, and they regularly get involved with cool events that are great to pop down to after work. We had artists at the Elle Style Awards this year and most recently at the Sanderson Hotel for a series of gigs they organised including the likes of Little Boots and Marina and the Diamonds. I love being able to trial new products, too and being able to give my feedback on them.
My job is great because no day is ever the same either, as you can see from my previous answer - I have been at the company for 9 months and can't imagine working any where else - I just adore the brand and the values it upholds - it's very unique and special.

Lauren: If you had £20 to spend on an Illimasqua product, what would you get and why?
Alex: Difficult one, as I have a lot!
I would have to say I am seriously lusting after Illuminator in Fondle.
I'm more of a matt finish kind of gal, but I saw Alex Box use this on a shoot recently and the finish is incredible - it's a rich, vibrant pink with a golden undertone and it so pretty and versatile. Alex used it on lips, eyes and cheek bones and it was just gorgeous.
That's £11.74...so I guess with my change I would buy another bottle of Sealing Gel. I can't live without the stuff and I've got through three bottles since February! Make-up isn't going ANYWHERE with this little beauty... and it comes off really easily with my Shu Uemura cleansing oil.

Lauren: What three words best sum up the brand and why?
Alex: Creative - with the amazingly talented and innovative Alex Box as Artistic Director, how could it not be?!
Daring - We are about celebrating your inner alter ego not your inner wall flower; we believe in making a statement.
Empowering - I know that if I am wearing amazing make-up, I have so much more confidence in myself.
Finding that perfect red lipstick, or mastering that cat-flick eye is just such a great feeling. When I first visited the Illamasqua counter, before I worked for them of course, I was amazed at just how avant garde some of the artists were and I was little bit taken aback.
I wasn't used to such individuality in a beauty hall.
They all have their unique styles and know how to coax out your inner diva and before you know it you feel a million dollars.

Lauren: What's your must-have beauty product and why? And if you were stranded on a desert island, which product would you take with you?
Alex: I couldn't live without my Jurlique Herbal Recovery Gel for the morning-after-the-night-before! If I were stuck on a desert Island I would take cream blusher in Rude. This colour is just plain gorgeous - a warm coral/pink that looks as lovely smoothed onto cheeks as on lips and eyes for a dewy sheen. Very buildable, too.

Lauren: What's your favourite make-up look?
Alex: I am loving the 'Sunset' look right now - I may well put a picture of it on to the Illamasqua blog as I have worn this look several times over the past couple of weeks - I use a yellow cream eyeshadow, such as Outcast, and blend it all over the lid. I then blend in an orange powder eye shadow [try Vapour] in the centre of the eye and blend it outwards up towards the browbone. In the outer corner and through the crease I blend a red eye shadow [such as Predator - my favourite eye shadow colour!] and then blend blend blend! It's very eye catching, especially when paired with a black cat-flick. Red eyeshadow is so underrated.

Lauren: Which celebrity's style do you admire and why?
I like individuals who get creative with their make-up and not just their clothing choices. From that perspective, Agyness Deyn is a true icon, Helena Bonham Carter rocks and I think that Natasha Khan and Pixie Geldof know how to have fun with make-up.

Lauren: Finally, what's in the pipeline for the brand?
Alex: Well, our next collection is due for pre-launch on 1st September, which is just around the corner and it is very edgy and directional - I am so excited about it as it is so different to Sirens. We like to challenge perceptions of beauty and style and push the boundaries and for me, this new collection does just that.

You can follow Illimasqua's blog here: www.illamasqua.blogspot.com!

Kreative Blogger Award

A very big thanks to the lovely Lydia over at Ramblings of a Student with a Shopping Addiction.
Lydia has kindly tagged me for the Kreativ Blogger Award.

Speech!!!

I'd like to thank my mum, my dad, my hamster, my neighbour's dog and his dog friend, Rover...the kitchen sink.

"Oh and all my lovely blog followers. I couldn't have done it without you all. Sob, sob."

As part of the award I have to share 7 facts about myself.

1. My favourite film is Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory
2. When I was little I got a Wendy House stick (the sticks you use to erect the houses) lodged in my throat. EEK! It was removed...after an agonising trip to the hospital

3. I once went to a fancy dress party as Dorothy from the Wizard of Oz. Hence my blogger header! I made my own ruby slippers and everything. Get me!

4. I have a degree in English and Media

5. I support Barnsley FC. Please don't mock. We've been to Wembley, so there!

6. I was in a (fake) band once. www.myspace.com/foxslayer3.

7. Mine's a gin and tonic...

I tag:

Sharon - My Passport to Style

I've only recently met Sharon and she's absolutely lovely, blimmin' beautiful and she bakes a mean chocolate cake!

She's a style consultant for a living and she's got a great blog. Go and have a look.

Sharon's from my hometown and last night she invited me round for a lovely tea. Thanks very much, Sharon!

Please go and read her post about Sheep! You'll find it in the 'labels' section on her blog.

Koralee - Bluebird Notes

Sharon from My Passport to Style recommended Koralee's blog and it really is lovely.

Koralee takes all her own photographs and they're absolutely stunning. Go and say hi if you get chance

That's all for now, folks!x

Free Hand Cream For My Readers

Morning!

I recently posted about Amazon's top selling hand cream - Udderly SMOOth (a greaseless,stainless moisturising cream).

Well, the kind folks at Underly SMOOth have contacted me to say my readers/followers can try some of the hand cream - completely free.

All you need to do is email marketing@udderlysmooth.co.uk with the subject 'A Lauren to Herself' and they'll send you some free samples.

X

How much is your make-up bag worth?

According to a recent survey by Avon, the UK is a nation of make-up devotees and despite the recession we're spending around £1.1 billion a month on make-up essential.s

Last month's survey asked women across the UK to put a figure on the cost of the contents of their make-up bags.

The results revealed that the average UK make-up bag contains £57 worth of products and that women aged 25-34 spend the most on make-up each month.

What about you? Would you be more gutted if your make-up bag was stolen, or your purse?

x

Interview: Lily Lolo's Laura Abraham

Mineral make-up is becoming increasingly popular - and when Vikki Khan discovered there was a gap in the market back in 2005 she quickly set up Lily Lolo.
Offering a gorgeous range of 'au natural' make-up products at affordable prices, Lily Lolo products contain the minimum ingredients (natural ones at that) but still promise truly great products that really perform.
Here, Lily Lolo's Marketing and PR Officer, Laura Abraham shares her love of a brand which is going from strength to strength.


Lauren : How did you start out in your job? Were you always keen to work in the beauty industry?
Laura: Having graduated in Fashion Communications, my first roles within the industry were within the marketing departments of clothing retailers. I’ve always loved the fashion and beauty retail industry.
With this role, I’d been aware of Lily Lolo for a while and kept in touch with brand founder Vikki Khan for some time before this position arose. It was just a matter of being patient for a good year or so! As the Lily Lolo brand has grown over the recent years consumer and media interest has boomed, it became necessary to have an in-house contact managing requests, campaigns and everything else marketing and PR.

Lauren: I imagine there's a few perks to working at Lily Lolo?
Laura: It’s great to be in a position where you can see results of your work and landing coverage in a top title will always make my day. Oh and sampling and developing new products is always a fun part of the role! – Can’t say too much about that though!
I manage all areas under the marketing and PR umbrella.
A typical day can be anything from writing press releases, calling round publications about new products, liaising with design and web agencies, organising photoshoots, researching new campaigns etc.

Lauren: Anything you don't like about your job?
Laura: It has to be the temptation to spend all my money on products.
All our distribution is managed from the head office so there’s always products around - not good for the bank account.
In fact, at the moment we’re just finalising our stockist product stand – I think I might need one on my dressing table to house the full range. It’s getting slightly out of hand.

Lauren: What's the best selling Lilo Lolo product?
Laura: Without a doubt our best-selling line is the foundations.
With 16 shades we cater for all skin tones.
Mineral foundation is why minerals have taken the industry by storm. Their flawless finish is just fantastic, it beats those slimy liquids hands down.

Lauren: If Lily Lolo could have a female celebrity as an ambassador, who would it be and why?
Laura: I think somebody fun, and down to earth with a natural zest for life, perhaps like Fearne Cotton.

Lauren: What does Lily Lolo pride itself on (i.e high quality make-up/affordable products)?
Laura: We pride ourselves on the quality of our make-up and the price.
In comparison to some of the other mineral brands we have more in the jars, safer ingredients and at a lower cost.
We’re also passionate about creating an experience online for our customers, typically through interesting website features, blogs, online competitions and offers; and of course providing excellent customer service.

Lauren: What's your must-have beauty product and why? And if you were stranded on a desert island, which product would you take with you?
Laura: Since starting my job here at Lily Lolo I’m a complete mineral convert.
At first I just couldn't see myself wearing powdered foundation as I have really dry skin.
It’s just not like the powders you get on your typical high street (probably because they don’t contain any talc), so I think a mineral foundation and of course the Kabuki brush.
I’d have to break the rules and take two, or three actually as I couldn’t live without my tweezers to keep the eyebrows at bay either!

Lauren: What's your favourite make-up look?
Laura: Certainly smoky eyes.
During the day I wear light make-up and only a natural eye colour. I have naturally dark features, so emphasising with smoky eyes creates so much more drama for an evening out.
I’m a big fan of Mystery and Witchypoo Lily Lolo eye colours. I always use just the clear gloss on the lips with this look though; lips and eyes - it’s either one or the other.

Lauren: What's in the pipeline for the brand?
Laura: Now that would be telling...
We have lots of products in development at the moment which is very exciting.
Overall, we’re working on building brand awareness across the UK and overseas

Lauren: The brand has recently become cruelty-free. How important do you think this is?
Laura: Well, we’ve always been cruelty free, it’s just now that we have the official industry recognition.
It’s a tough audit process to get through, as BUAV look all the way back into the supply chain down to the rawest of ingredients.
It’s proven that the majority of consumers would prefer to buy from companies that do not test on animals. It’s as important to us as it is our customers, and we hope that more in the industry follow by example.

Lily Lolo make-up can be purchased online at: www.lilylolo.co.uk