The TAJ Ring - True to Yourself!

In the Netherlands, Marie Claire Magazine is currently holding a competition for the ‘Marie Claire Starters Award 2011’. The concept is for anyone that thinks they have a brilliant business idea and wants to start their own business to write to Marie Claire with their genius plan in the hopes of winning a €5000 package to get their business started! This interesting award was brought to my attention by a friend of mine because one of her friends has decided to enter. She shared their business plan with me and I was very impressed with their idea. A ring by woman, for woman!

"Soon possible to be purchased: amazing new fair trade rings from Holland. The company name is TAJ, which -in Dutch- stands for 'True To Yourself'. TAJ is for all those women who want to show the world that they are strong, independent and proud of themselves. And on top of their beautiful designs these rings will not only make you feel beautiful, but you will be helping a great cause too for these rings are imported from Africa where strong African women produce them. Support Africa, be true to yourself, TAJ!"

So how can they win this award? Well, first they need to get shortlisted to the Top 3 and one of the things Marie Claire will be looking at is how many views they will get on their YouTube pitch! See the video below:



Sorry that the video is in Dutch. Here is a translation:
'As a woman in there comes a point in your life where you might receive a symbolic ring, but unfortunately with a broken heart also comes an empty finger. In the Netherlands, more than 35,000 woman end up with an empty finger each year! That’s why we thought of this product, a ring that you don’t receive from someone else but it’s a gift to yourself. A symbol of power and being true to who you as a woman really are! The rings that we plan to import are fair trade and made by powerful woman in Africa. Every ring, like every woman, has it’s own story! With the purchase of a ring, a woman here will support a woman there! The idea is a ‘true to yourself’ ring. A TAJ woman shows the world that she knows who she is, is who is and will stay who she is. TAJ means POWER! With a TAJ ring every woman can crown themselves!’

What a FAB idea right? Marie Claire will decide by Thursday who will be in the Top 3 for the Starters Award 2011 and your help & support would be AMAZING. So if you like the idea, please click this link to view the video on YouTube to hopefully get them a spot in the Top 3!

I really do hope they win because I would definitely get myself a TAJ ring! Thanks lovelies :) xoxo

Put your friend on Cloud Nine!

Just wanted to share with you all this great competition Cloud Nine is currently running!

Basically the folks at Cloud Nine are giving two friends the chance to win a visit to a Cloud Nine salon of their choice, for a lush and lavish pampering session! Both of you will be given an all-over expenses paid make-over, courtesy of Cloud Nine.

So if you fancy a trip to Cloud Nine, this is all you need to do to be in to win:
♥ Go to the Cloud Nine Facebook Fan Page
♥ Upload a picture of you and your friend to their wall
♥ Explain why you and your friend are deserving to be put on Cloud Nine
♥ Then get all of your friends to 'Like' your photo because the person with the most 'Likes' will win!

Now not only will the winners get seriously pampered, your friend will receive 'TheO - Gift of Volume' (worth £199.95) and for being such a great friend you can choose your favourite Cloud Nine Iron to have all to yourself!

The competition will run from 4 July until 31st July and the winner will be announced 1st August 2011.
So will you be entering your friend?? xoxo

The 50 Best Beauty Blogs of 2011!!

Wow, I am feeling a little bit special today. I just got told Dutchess Roz got chosen by EverydaySale.co.uk to to be on their list of what they consider to be the ultimate 50 best beauty blogs! 

There were several categories like: Best Beauty Review Blogs, Professional Beauty Blogs, Stylish Visual Beauty Blogs, Top International Beauty Blogs and last but not least Top UK Beauty Blogs.
The last category is where Dutchess Roz featured - I came 5th!!! Woooohoooo :)

1. Makeup Mole 
2. Nicolavc86 
3. Fleur De Force 
4. Glitterdollz7 

5. Dutchess Roz (me, Me, ME!!!)

6. The Truth About Beauty
7. The Beauty Scoop
8. The Beauty Button

9. My Beauty Blog

10. Make Up to Make Out

I feel truly touched and honoured to be named amongst so many amazing bloggers. It's crazy to see my name there in the same lists with people like Karen, Christine, Carly, Fleur and Holly who are all bloggers I religiously followed before I even started Dutchess Roz. It was blogs like theirs that inspired me to start my own! Check out the full list of winners in all categories here! Well done to all my lovely blogging friends ♥

And because it's HUMPY DAY - I will finish off with a little wisdom from me..

(OK fine, Albert Einstein to be more exact!) 

Happy Hump Day Everyone! xoxo

No7 Best Wink

I received an exciting little goodie in my mail box last week. No7's new 'Exquisite Curl Mascara' which I will be trying out over the next few weeks so see what I think (and share my thoughts with you). As part of the launch of this new No7 mascara, Boots are running a little competition where ladies across the UK can win a pampering weekend in London amongst other goodies. All entrants need to do is upload a video or photo of themselves showing off their most beautiful wink at the camera!

You can find out more about the competition, upload your own wink and check out other people’s entries at No7’s Facebook page! Click on the image above to be transferred to the Fan Page to enter! Note the competition closes on 15th February! Btw I am absolutely useless at winking so please excuse my silly entry for the competition ;)

So what's your best wink? xoxo

Win an exclusive NARS make-over!

Would you like receive a make-over from a top NARS makeup artist? Well this is your chance! HQhair is offering 3 lucky winners a make-over by celebrity makeup artist David Scheffen PLUS each winner gets to take home a fabulous goody bag filled with NARS products! 

Entry is super simple, all you have to do is tell HQhair, who your Beauty Icon is and why!
Please click the image below for all the information and to enter yourself in! Good luck :)