The St Enoch Centre Selfie Store

I couldn't let the weekend roll in without posting all the details on the super adorable Selfie Store that the St Enoch Centre have installed as part of their 30th birthday celebrations. I always relate the centre to having fun, my earliest memories of St Enoch was coming through from Perth for my first trip to a big city and getting to go to the Disney Store and it blew my mind! I can only imagine the double whammy now for little ones of seeing the Disney Store and Hamleys in there...a childhood dream.

Turning 30 means some big celebrations and they have pulled out all the stops to create Scotland's first room of its kind- The Selfie Store! This shop located on the first floor at the Buchanan Street end of the centre, has so many fun and inviting areas to take amazing snaps in and not only that but if you use #stenochselfie you could win £250 too! Open Fridays to Sunday 12 to 6 from today until the 9th of Jun, you can climb in a bath of rubber ducks, pop out a giant cake or sit on a garden throne for your snaps and get sharing. It is handily open this bank holiday Monday too which makes it the best rainy day activity for the kids!

The Selfie Store is not the only exciting thing happening there this weekend either, if you spend over £30 in any of the shops you will get a £5 free voucher too- which is pretty amazing!! There was plenty of food for thought (and actually amazing food too thanks to Kimbles who always deliver the best treats), of what you could spend £30 on as we had the chance to have a peek at some of the latest offerings from some of the stores. There is always a brand that surprises me at these events and this year it was Oasis who gave us this stunning cornflower blue lace dress which is an ideal wedding guest number. I love wandering through Debenhams and taking in the mix of designers and brands on offer but Oasis is somewhere I feel I have overlooked until last night!

It was such a fun night celebrating 30 amazing years of the St Enoch Centre and get to toast their success. I am so excited for their future too, with a new cinema and restaurants opening next year there is so much more fun to come- and now Arthur gets to have great first memories of there too!

The New Normal

I wrestled with this post for 2 whole months, Specsavers had generously fixed me up with a new pair of glasses for it which was originally pitched as a mum makeover type piece. To give you context, I am due back to work next month as my maternity leave comes to an end, and boy is this a time of such mixed emotions. Settling Arthur into his new long term routine aside, the emotional impact it can have on a mum can be huge. Do I even know who I am anymore? Can I get us ready in time in the morning? Am I capable of interacting with adults or will I sing twinkle twinkle at them? What do I put in a bag if not Sophie the giraffe and 6 types of rice cakes?

I kept panicking that I hadn't had a moments peace to put make up on, have my hair cut, find clothes and good lighting and get the photos needed to illustrate the post to showcase my new specs, but then I realised.... Why does it need to be an uber shiny version of me, when that is just not real life? By doing all that am I not just perpetuating the idea that mum's have it all together and look how we can juggle it all while looking fabulous! When for me,this is far from the reality and Specsavers hadn't ask me to get all dolled up in order to show off the gorgeous Boss frames I chose. I just felt that I should. When I got these glasses, I was the same tired, sweaty, unmade up face that I have been all year, but when I picked these beauties out they brought me exactly the renewed confidence I was looking for without needing to add a full face of make up and a blow dry. I wanted to look more polished without actually having to add any steps to my already mad schedule, and I wanted to feel grown up and not just someone's mum. These really made me feel more me than I had in a long time.

I had been previously in a flap about the 'me' who was returning to work. I haven't worn make up past mascara and eyebrow make up all year, no foundation, blusher or any of the little products I would usually apply and do you know what, I have loved it! Aside from having no time to fit it in anyway, it has just felt right for me. But I realised I was panicking about returning to work and having to go back to the usual face I would apply before. But why did that make me uneasy? So with a rare hour off on a Saturday morning while Ally was out on  a walk with Arthur, I thought just do it now, take the photos and get on with it. So I treated myself and dabbed on a tiny bit of highlighter and plonked myself in front of a window and snapped away. Seeing how my new frames add a boldness to my semi bare face has reminded me that I don't have to be anything other than what makes me happy. The wild post-partum baby hair, the patchy skin, hormonal spots etc are all who I am and that is just fine. I should celebrate who I am comfortable being now, and top that with a damn fine pair of specs!!

As always I was just delighted with the service down at Specsavers Trongate. I had been warned my eyesight  might change when pregnant buuut post baby I definitely noticed things were no longer looking crisp. However I wasn't expecting the huge change that my sight had gone through and turns out my prescription had changed hugely. I was delighted when the optician showed me my new lenses and the difference was mad.  It is well worth getting checked post baby.

Frames wise there was the usual stonking range, including a new one to me Eco Eyewear, every frame in there was just a little dream. Colour, texture and beautiful shapes, really fantastic for using with their famous 2 for 1 deal. Seeing as I was going back to work though I wanted a pair that was smart, goes with everything but still with a bit of interest. Step in the Boss Orange frames and they were all so sleek. I couldn't resist this pair with their business in the front, party on the sides appeal thanks to their subtle tortoiseshell legs. I love how they frame my mostly make up free face and just make me feel pulled together even when on the inside I feel far from it!! Exactly what a pair of glasses should be able to do.

Thank you specsavers for helping me realise that a maw makeover didn't need to be glitz and glamour, just a more polished, happier version of yourself who happens to be a mum!

Glasgow Reviewed; Mindful Parenting at The Wee Retreat

As most people reading will know, this last year has been a time of change for me. Having a baby is no walk in the park and it has taught me a huge amount about myself whilst I experienced the various challenges it presents  pretty much daily (sometimes hourly!) I was so lucky that in among all the madness I met Vicky from The Wee Retreat and through attending classes with her, she has helped me navigate a lot of these challenges and I definitely feel the positive changes in so many areas of my life. 

If you missed my review of my first mindfulness course with The Wee Retreat then you can catch it here. I was delighted to  be invited back to meet a new group of people and do The Mindful Parenting Course, and it has been such a refreshing and valuable experience. As I said in my last post, The Wee Retreat has settled in to beautiful new premises in the southside of Glasgow and Vicky is now able to offer a truly phenomenal range of classes, courses and experiences from this bright and airy space that feels like the perfect space to try something new.

This course is aimed at parents with children of any age as each week we discussed topics that we then applied to our circumstance and experiences. The group was a calm, warm and private space for people to share what they felt comfortable with as Vicky led us skillfully through ideas and discussion to help us address and often reframe our parenting approaches. With a background in education psychology, her passion and knowledge in this area just shines through, she is always able to really hear a problem and help you dial down to the possible root and how you might make things less overwhelming.

On week one we jotted down a few notes on ourselves as parents and it is so interesting to compare how we felt at the end of the course in comparison. It was heartening to hear everyone in the group return each week and share how they had tried out new techniques or ideas and found themselves much happier with their relationships and their general mood. Some weeks I would find it also helped me see areas for change that I was previously blind to, or simply ignoring. Tackling these then felt easier as Vicky had provided me with the right tools to be able to look closer at what I was really feeling and how I might deal with it.

Of course mindfulness practice is still at the root of the whole session and we would have a guided meditation in various forms throughout the course. Whether you are new to mindfulness completely or have dabbled in the past, Vicky still walks through the process and ties the aspects of parenting and meditation together and I can now see how well they complement each other and how important taking that time for yourself can be when trying to raise little ones. The whole experience was both powerful and empowering, while providing a safe and joyful place to come together and learn from others. It felt so unique and well put together, I highly recommend giving it a go if you are a new parent or just looking to work through your role as a parent and your relationship with a child.

The new spring timetable is now live for all the hugely exciting new things on offer at The Wee Retreat and I was super excited when Vicky told me she is now offering the Beginners Mindfulness Course as a 4 day retreat to allow for anyone who cannot commit to various weeks in a row. There is also the next 8 week course running from this Thursday from 7 to 9 which is fab for anyone who wants to try after work. ( details for sign up is here) 

From candlelit evening meditations to book clubs and workshops , there really is an incredible spectrum of things to try and I applaud Vicky for welcoming such a great variety of activities to the building. I know how many people it is already benefiting and I cannot wait to see where The Wee Retreat takes us next. The Spring timetable is just loaded with opportunity to try something new and if parenting is an area you want to spend some time on then I would absolutely sign up for the next Mindful Parenting course.

Mindful Parenting with The Wee Retreat

2019..... I would love to throw some big goals I am hoping to achieve at you, but I am being realistic this year. As I navigate Arthur's ever changing moods, needs and abilities ( climbing is his current forte), I would just like to get through the year in one piece and absolutely everything else is a bonus. Thanks to the mindfulness course I did with Vicky of The Wee Retreat last year ( full review here), this more relaxed and forgiving approach has come much easier to me. I am still able to set smaller 'goals' as I go but they aren't rigid, I don't beat myself up for not ticking them off, I just view things very differently. After the success of my content with Vicky I promise to come back with an update and what an update it is....

The Wee Retreat has its own shiny new home, and what a home it is!! Nestled in the Southside of Glasgow is a pretty special spot of calm on Myrtle Park and not only are the mindfulness courses running from here but Vicky has put together an outstanding mix of collaborators who are putting on a really special mix of classes. I feel very lucky to live nearby!

Now home to drop in guided meditations to a variety of yoga classes ( including yoga for little ones and prenatal yoga) to different mindfulness courses from health to parenting, The Wee Retreat is growing all the time. You can see the line up of classes HERE and a full timetable is available on their facebook page alongside prices.

 I am delighted to say I will be bringing you my experiences from the Mindfulness Parenting Course that I am starting next week. I will keep weekly updates on my Instagram page to give you a flavour of what the course covers, but it is safe to say I am incredibly excited to settle into this new space. With Vicky's background in education mixed with her approach to teaching mindfulness, I have no doubt what a useful and insightful course this is going to be, and just in-time as Arthur is growing so fast I can barely keep up and having a calm approach is definitely needed.

I shall report back soon with a full review!

There are just a couple of spots left on this 5 week course starting Friday the 18th of January from 1pm until 2.30, so if you would like more info you can contact Vicky HERE.

Glasgow Reviewed; Ryan James Studio and We Are Eponomyous Pop up shop St Enoch Centre

At the St Enoch Centre Christmas press event, nestled among the beautiful pieces from Debenhams, Mothercare, Billies Market etc,I was surprised to also find picks from Darte jewellery, sumptuous hoods from Chou Chou Couture and bold  Barbra Kolasinki purses.  Turns out they are all part of the amazing Ryan James Studio and Eponoymous pop up shop in the St Enoch Centre that is open until Christmas Eve. 

This beautifully curated pop up shop is located right across from H and M on the first floor and it's a chance to buy some independent gifts while you are in doing your shopping. I was super impressed with the range on offer, from beautiful LaB6 Candles ( which smell PHENOMENAL) to ceramics, high end mens and womenswear via wooden watches from Kochiba and beard oil from the Bedfordshire Beard Co and the most incredible Sarah Haran handbags,  I love that it means people will discover brands they didn't know about while picking up gifts for loved ones.

I was instantly drawn to a cabinet full of Euan Mchwhirter's shiny gems and I was really taken with the gift sets from Ermana who I had never come across before, I also couldn't resist picking up a couple of pairs of these amazing Huxley socks!! There was such a perfect blend of items at a mixture of price points that it really feels like a one stop shop and all supporting independent makers that deserve that platform for their work.

I think it's amazing The St Enoch Centre have these brilliant designers under their roof in this 'Shop Small 'collection, I highly recommend checking it out while you are in. Plus is it right along from the Kimbles cafe.... so it is pretty much the perfect way to shop and snack.

Glasgow Reviewed; The Wee Retreat

This post has taken me longer to write than I expected and for a good reason..... The course was actually so impressive I actually haven't quite found the time to try and put it into adequate words. I think I was allowing myself to be overwhelmed by the sheer wealth of information and insights I had picked up over the weeks that I was attempting to try and succinctly summarise the whole process into one post. However when I stopped for a moment and actually put some of my learning into practice,I realised that was not what I was needing to do and I that I was being hard on myself which was stopping me from completing what I wanted to do- How is that for demonstrating what The Wee Retreat has taught me??

If you have been following me over on instagram you will have hopefully seen my weekly updates about how I had found the course, and some of my thoughts on what we had been discussing each week. I was so touched and encouraged by the feedback that I  have received from many people who have been interested and intrigued by some of the stuff I have covered and its been so rewarding to hear people sharing their own thoughts on some of the topics with me. You can still check out each of my posts on my grid if you want to catch up, I will link the first one HERE.

So instead of going over all the ground again and attempting to condense such a fantastic course into this one page, I am instead going to just let everyone in on how it has made me feel.  Before I went along to our first week I was in a strange place, I was coming to terms with my new life as a first time mum, someone who wasn't at work and still wanted to get a million things done a day but couldn't. I had lost a lot of myself in the process and was making no time to do something for just me and focus on how I felt. Then I took on writing about this course and each week I would go along to this open and warm group and we would tackle a different theme that Vicky would lead us through. We would try a new meditation, we would chat, we would eat cake ( something homemade each week I should add!) and ultimately I would leave with something that I didn't quite understand in relation to my life until a few days later. Some weeks I would walk in and truly have no idea how I felt until I sat down and thought about it in a quiet space for a moment and some weeks I would leave our sessions feeling quiet and contemplative as I took the time to really think about what we discussed and how it was relevant to me. The way the course content would just ruminate in my mind as I went about daily life was really something, I loved how it quietly challenged me and allowed to feel more in tune with myself than I had in a long time.

There is something so powerful in the way Vicky has planned and arranged her courses, she helps guide you so sensitively through what can also be a challenging set of weeks depending on what is happening with you and your life right now and you never fail to leave with a thought or practice that would teach you something new. She really emphasised to our group the importance of practising mindfulness meditation through the week and it really helped me carve more time out when I could, and not just attend the course and leave again and carry on as normal. She emailed us all each week after the session to summarise what we had covered and also to set us small bits of homework to try in between sessions and it just made you feel further supported on what felt like a very new 'journey'.

I am so aware that mindfulness and meditation can sound too hippy dippy for some, and I completely understand that preconceived idea. I think that what is so accessible and relatable in The Wee Retreat however is the totally practical angle that it provides. It is real people taking time to talk about real things, and learning to open up a little and let a new experience in.  I know the whole group felt like they had taken so much from our time with Vicky and it was really inspiring to see how much each of us had grown in that time. When I first went along I know I was fearful of simply 'failing' at mindfulness and I love that Vicky helped me see how it is never about failing, that mindfulness isn't something I can just tick off a list and achieve and move on and that if I stick with a commitment to myself, it can be so rewarding.

I have learned a lot about myself thanks to The Wee Retreat and it actually feels like a gift I would want to give so many others in my life. It has helped me see how hard a lot of us push and push without stopping, never letting ourselves rest or taking time to check in and see how we really feel. Taking time to attend something like this can be transformative and help you try and slow it down a little and in turn actually help you really experience life more. In the first week Vicky taught us something her teacher taught her, "Mindfulness isn't for wimps" and do you know what this course has made me realise how true that is. I have had to face things I had clearly shelved away, I have looked at some things that I was doing previously that were no longer serving me, and It has made my address how my time is spent and why I was spending it that way. It is no walk in a park at times, but a walk SO worth taking. I feel more calm, more present and absolutely more excited about pretty much everything! I enjoy things more, and I am quicker to see when something isn't quite right and take time out for myself. I understand now making changes takes so much time and this is an ongoing habit that will continue to help me if i commit the time to myself.

That is a large amoutn of feelings, emotions, and new learning for someone to impart to a group of people but Vicky does it with such ease and warmth that truly you don't even notice it happening. She simply facilitates how you are processing some of the new ideas you are being introduced too and provides  a really friendly support to your questions. She is an incredibly insightful and generous person that is so well placed to being this teacher for retreaters.

Overall I think it is pretty clear from the above that I give The Wee Retreat a hugggggggge thumbs up. I couldn't have told you how much I would take away from the experience and I am so thrilled to know others are already considering a course in the  new year- do it you wont regret it!! If you are keen to hear more about the group, Vicky holds candle light meditations regularly which would be the perfect way to give mindfulness a little go with no pressure and commitment, you can find out details by following her facebook page HERE.

How gorgeous is the new home of The Wee Retreat! ( photos courtesy of Right Move)

The most exciting news is that since finishing my course, Vicky has secured her own gorgeous space  in the Southside of Glasgow, The Wee Retreat has a new home!! A beautiful building with just the right ambiance for these courses and for people to come together to do a variety of activities, and it is right next to Crosshill train station near Mount Florida. She is holding an opening party on the 22nd of December  ( between 1pm and 7) which would be a great occasion to go over and meet her and see the new home at 2 Myrtle Park. I am so thrilled she has found a place to settle, I have the feeling it is going to become a special place for a lot of people.

Thanks so much to everyone for getting so involved with my time writing about the course, it is exactly the reason I have kept this up over all these years, it very much felt like a lot of us were learning a lot together as I went.

BabyH2t: Baby's first Christmas at the St Enoch Centre

 I feel like Christmas has snuck up on me, last thing I knew I had a newborn and the whole year stretching out in front me yet suddenly it is Christmas and I am fully unprepared. Gifts for anyone else aside I had a panic last month when I realised Arthur is actually big enough to at least take in his surroundings and actually enjoy all the colour and fun that Christmas brings with it, so I was over the moon when the St Enoch Centre got in touch to invite us down to make it a wonderful first Christmas for him.

 The atmosphere around and inside St Enoch is amazing thanks to the decorations, the Christmas market and all the goings on in the centre like Santas Grotto. We had wondered about taking him to see a Santa or not but I am so glad we did, the set up in the centre is fantastic and he might not quite know what is going on but he loved all the shiny lights and little characters dotted around outside. I am such a fan of the fact you can book online before you go which takes out a lot of the drama and it is so lovely that they are acknowledging children with autism and vulnerabilities who might prefer a quieter experience. You can book for those slots on early Sunday morning between 10 am and 11 am and the collection outside the grotto is for an autistic charity too- lovely to see that inclusivity. We were really impressed with how organised and well staffed the grotto was, you are shown inside to a really lovely Santa who keeps character so well and has a proper chat with the wee ones as well as giving them a really fun gift. The Elf on hand to help was good at trying to get a decent picture of us all while Santa chatted and the little memento's you can opt to buy when booking are really lovely quality and I am actually really glad we had that option. The little photo frame looks amazing sitting up on our mantle piece among the decorations now! You can book your Grotto visit HERE.

In terms of places to get ready for the big day, St Enoch definitely had us covered, from the toy mecca that is Hamleys to the Disney store, Mothercare and Billies Market as well as stopping in at H and M kids and Debenhams, we had so much fun taking a look around and picking out a few bits for him. I had never properly been into Hamleys before so it was my first time in there too, I cannot believe how much there is to choose from, or how exciting the atmosphere is!! There was a really fun array of toys suitable for Arthur's age and we let him have a good pad about to see what he liked. I Pretty much had to drag Ally away from the bigger kids toys too. They are even putting on a snow machine at certain times through out the day and the little ones were going wild for it, although as you can see so was Ally!! We picked up a new Oball toy for him ( Arthur not Ally) as he totally loves these and they are fab for encouraging coordination, we also picked up a push top rattle and a ball maze which he is going to love! I was also really impressed with the gorgeous and really well priced wooden toy selection they had to offer, I think wooden toys are just the best although right now anything noisy is right up Arthur's Street! It is worth noting for older kids that Hamleys have meet Father Christmas sessions running up until Christmas Eve with a session lasting an hour including games and activities and a special gift bag too. You can find out more HERE

I have such a special place in my heart for the Disney Store, I walked through the St Enoch centre early every morning for 5 years as it was on my walk to work. I absolutely loved being there in time for store opening where there was always a little queue of excited kids waiting to get in and wanting to be first in line to be the one to 'open' the store that day. The staff always made a big fuss and they would look so delighted! When I was little this place was like going to Disneyland itself in my mind so we couldn't resist taking Arthur in for his first look. They have the most gorgeous Christmas bits in so we had to  pick up Arthur his first bauble of a little Lumiere! They also had the most adorable play space set up the back playing Muppets Christmas Carol which is a favourite of mine so Ally pretty much had to tear me away!!

With all that fun going on, never mind Arthur being tired, we were pooped from the morning too so we made sure we picked up a quick breakfast at Di Maggios in the food court ( the pancakes were delish) and we grabbed a coffee on the go from Starbucks to fuel a few more shops too. I love the spaciousness of the food court and that there are decent highchairs for little babies like Arthur to use. It makes what can usually be a stressful experience pretty hassle free which is what you need when trying to get your shopping done!

We couldn't resist a look upstairs in Mothercare where the Early Learning Centre is as it takes us both back to our childhood where you would spend hours in an ELC touching pretty much EVERY toy. We found some gorgeous unusual toys in there to and got a couple of little sensory items that we know Arthur is going to adore. Prying them out of his hands to get them wrapped up is going to be an issue! We also couldn't resist this little santa suit in Mothercare as we have lots of little parties at classes in the next couple of weeks and he is going to look ridiculously cute in it. ( For 5 mins before he drools all over it of course). We also picked up his jumper for next year too as I love the Little Bird range and their jumpers were reduced, gave us a minute of feeling smugly organised :)

Lastly we hit The Works which I am a big fan of as the prices are so good and the range they stock is amazing. They do a really good 2 for £10 deal ( or 3 for £5  on books) which would be amazing for stocking fillers or gifts for wee ones so we picked up a few for Arthur to give to the wee ones that live next door who are always wanting to play with him. His first wee gifts for some friends!

A fantastically stocked food court, really reasonable parking, some award wining baby changing and excellent opening hours, St Enoch Centre takes the stress out of the shopping while still keeping the magic of Christmas going. We are actually going to pick up a couple of gift cards for friends as our day made us realise just how much there is for families and so many different ways to spend them.  We had the absolute best time having a look around and letting Arthur take in all the fun, thanks St Enoch Centre for making his first Christmas pretty magical already!

You can keep up to date with opening hours and ongoing events on the centre's Facebook and Twitter

Introducing; The Wee Retreat

"Mindfulness is one of those things that is tricky to put into words. We like to think that being mindful is a bit like playing hide and seek… the part that when you are hiding, listening to someone counting down and then coming to find you! At that moment you are aware of the sounds around you, looking out for the person coming, feeling your heartbeat in your chest and experiencing each moment as it unfolds. You are not wanting to change anything about that moment or judging what is happening; at that moment you are fully present. This is being mindful."

I have dabbled on and off with mindfulness for a few years now; I have done a few group meetups along the way, downloaded a few apps and attended a couple of work courses, but nothing has quite helped make it into the habit I would like it to be. Like many, I think it just became something added to a list of 'to do' that then just niggles at you as you haven't actually done it! Fast forward to now and spending all my time with Arthur I am definitely aware that I haven't found a moment to be just me, take a little snap of time just for myself and switch off a little. When the chance to team up with the lovely Vicky at The Wee Retreat came along I knew it was just what I was needing.

Starting at the end of this month and based in Cathcart Parish Church in Glasgow's Southside, The Wee Retreat is an 8 week course in mindfulness that is designed to give people a sense of peace- exactly what I am after. MIndfulness meditation has been shown to reduce anxiety and stress while serving as a tool that can be used in everyday life and that is exactly what the course aims to do. Vicky is keen to show people the different forms mindfulness can take and help establish it within our routines. Having taken Mindfulness up herself a few years back for the same reasons I am keen to try it now, she wanted to find that escape from a hectic and busy life and make time for herself while learning a new skill. A mother of 2 and an educational psychologist on the side, She is really passionate about introducing people to the practice in a variety of ways; by running retreats, 1:1 classes; group sessions and more. She is even running mindfulness parenting classes which is something I am keen to look into after as I can already tell I am going to need all the help and calm that I can get! Being patient isn't a quality of mine and I know how much I am going to need to survive the toddler years...

Even just a quick meeting with Vicky allowed me to remember the importance of taking time for myself, to connect and feel calm as life really can feel so hectic all the time, so I am super excited to see how the full retreat is. I am hoping to be able to reconnect with myself a little and allow myself to be present in the moment much more. I cant be the only one whose mind instantly races to their to do list instead of just enjoying things as they are? I feel sad sometimes lying playing with Arthur but the back of my mind is running down my huge to do checklist instead of really focusing, so I hope The Wee Retreat can help just that.

“Meditation is having a full-blooded, authentic experience of ourselves as we are, being able to observe ourselves and accepting everything, absolutely everything about ourselves.”

-       Suryacitta Malcolm Smith

 I will be sharing my thoughts after each Saturday class over on my instagram so keep an eye out on there for updates. I will post a review after completing the course too, but if you fancy joining me on it there is still time to sign up. tickets are available here.

Glasgow Reviewed; Shopping St Enoch this Christmas

Myself and the lovely Lynsay Loves

I barely know where to start with recounting my magical trip to St Enoch Centre to check out their festive showcase. From huge Christmas trees with shoes as decorations to a make up vending machine that rewards you for taking selfies- it really was quite the evening!

The Atrium foodcourt was jam packed with selections in clothing, makeup food and accessories from across the centre and it was a real feast for all the senses. We were lucky enough to get to snack on deliciousKimbles nibbles and cakes from Aulds the baker while we perused the rails of the variety of shops that live in St Enoch. From the Chai scented body butters in The Body Shop to the most beautiful jewel toned clothes in Debenhams, it really was quite the spread! I was bowled over by some of the ranges on offer this Christmas. Velvets, sparkles and metallic are my year round favorites so I am obviously right in my element when they are properly in season and all the shops are packed full. 

  

Not to let the clothes outshine them there were the fab team from Guerlain , Bobbi Brown and Murad to show us what we could pick up in the Debenhams beauty hall which is a favourite haunt of mine. The depth of colour in the new Bobbi Brown eyeshadows was something else, and the Mon Guerlain exclusive gift sets were amazing value plus it smells unbelievable too.

amazing range of sparkles and velet

Seeing as my eyes are now also drawn to adorable kids clothes too I was super taken by the little glitter converse and vans that were on show, it is definitely time to acquint myself with the shops for the wee one that are in St Enoch and there was plenty there to draw me in.

professional post photos courtesy of St Enoch

I have been perusing the St Enoch website to check out the Christmas opening hours ( nice and late by the way to get us through the season) and I noticed there is a pretty nifty App you can download. You can collect points for any purchases in stores that are over £5, and you can earn rewards from free jewelery cleaning to 20% off at Fossil

And if you dont have space for the app on your phone you can pick up a reward card in the centre too so you dont miss out on any of the fun. Pretty cool!!

 My wish list is now officially off the scales thanks to this event, its safe to say if you are looking for me this Christmas you will find me in the St Enoch Centre.