Support For Sarah

Morning guys. 

Today is probably one of the most important posts I’ve ever written and I ask that you please treat it with respect and above all, kindness.

This is my friend Sarah. She has the same name as me, is a mother like me and is the same age as me. 

 

Yet I’ve never met Sarah in person. We are both Bloggers you see, speaking daily on the world wide web! 

We’ve laughed, supported one another and even been through multiple pregnancies together, virtually supporting one another along the way. 

She’s a mother to three gorgeous kids under the age 5. 

I know right, imagine how tough that must be in itself.

The thing is, she also has incurable cancer.

Just you take a moment to take that in and consider the enormity of that devastating prognosis.

When her youngest was just 4 months old she was diagnosed with grade 3 invasive ductal carcinoma breast cancer.

Throughout the entirety of 2019 she has endured 4 different types of debilitating chemotherapies, radiotherapy and surgery all whilst trying to single handily raise her three very young children.

She has suffered and struggled through bravely and thought and hoped that she had finally come out the other side.

Until recently that is when she received the indescribably devastating news that following a period of pain within her bones, that the cancer has now spread to her ribs, classing her as stage 4.

Despite her FIERCE proudness and I mean fierce, in sheer desperation she herself up a Go Fund Me page to asking friends, family and kind citizens for donations to allow her to afford childcare so she could ensure that her most precious possessions, her children could be best cared for while she was suffering the devastating effects of chemo.

The result of this plea for help was simply abominable.

Sarah was trolled relentlessly online, sent message after message of abuse such as;

“Your children are going to so be so embarrassed of you when they’re older’

‘Stop being a money gabber’

‘Shouldn’t have had kids if you can’t afford them’

‘Hopefully the cancer will kill you then we won’t have to deal with our self righteous self begging’

So devastated by such a vile and cruel response to a desperate please from a proud woman for help Sarah shut down.

Both literally and figuratively.

Left feeling suicidal she and subsequently shut down her fundraising page, deleted all of her social media channels and disappeared from online completely.

Sheer luck meant I had her phone number as I’d sent her a care, pamper package some months earlier so I got in touch in with he and found out what had happened.

THIS.IS.NOT.OKAY.

And so here I am. 

 I have single handily taken it upon myself to try and build up A Go Fund Me for her as apparently being brave enough to ask for help yourself is something to be chastised and bullied for.

For the past month or so I have been doing literarlly everything in power to try and raise money for Sarah.

Raise money so she can afford childcare so that when she goes to hospital, her children can be properly looked after.

Money so that Sarah doesn’t need to worry where her next food shop is coming from because she can’t work.

Money so that when she is having a well day, she take her three children out for a day of fun and spoil them rotten.

She is not well enough to do so right now, but it is our hope that one day she will have enough money and be well enough to take her wonderful family to Disneyland to make precious memories to last a lifetime. 

A lifetime. 

Sarah is soon to undergo an experimental clinical trial, however this will be to try and prologue her life as opposed to curing her of the cancer as at this time, this simple isn’t possible.

I cannot even begin to comprehend the devastation this news must have made to Sarah and her beautiful family.

The future is extremely uncertain right now.

The incomprehensible and overwhelming reality of the situation is that Sarah might unlikely to be granted the privilege, or some may say the right, of seeing her children grow up.

If wishing on a star worked all would be well, yet despite wishing I could, I cannot change a single thing about this prognosis.

 BUT there IS something I can do.

I can try to raise a little money so that she has some financial security not just for herself but for her kids, for her future, for their future, come what May.

 I realise that now is probably the WORST time to be asking for people to part with cash and so to try and encourage people to part with a few quid I have taken it upon myself to get in contact with some of my close PR and Beauty Brands who I work on my blog and asked if they could kindly afford to donate some of their wonderful products for me to give away as an incentive for people to donate, and you know what they have. 

Temple Spa

ESPA

Winter In Venice

OPI

Childs Farm

Truffle Shuffle

Scamp & Dude
Olverum
Burts Bees
Pixi Skincare
Ted Baker 
Biovene
Great Little Trading Company

Choc On Choc

Aromatherapy Associates
Posh Paws Int
Soul Analyse

Sabon

Have all generously donated a host of goodies for me to giveaway to a random donatee.

Each week I randomly select a donatee to receive a gift and pop it in the post to them.

 

 

Why?

To say thank you. 

To say thank you for your generosity ad to try and help raise their spirit during this difficult time.

Paying it forward if you like.

But I want and need to find a bigger way of getting the word out.

I even signed up to a Celebrity contact website at the personal price of £125 to me to try and get in contact with the publicists and agents of a host of different celebrities in the hope that they may back my campaign somehow or spread the word, but to date I’ve not heard back from anyone. 

I’m not going to lie, yes I’m asking for money. But I’m not asking for a lot. If every single person on my Instagram donated just  £1 we’d have over £11,000 for Sarah.

If you cannot donate, PLEASE spread the word.

Please share her story, please share my page, please share her link. Absolutely any help whatsoever is so greatly appreciated.

In a world where just 2 month ago following the tragic death of Caroline Flack from online bullying, I fund Sarah’s situation frighteningly similar and so please try to find a way to just be kind.

For the record, Sarah will be mortified that I’ve written this as she feels entirely undeserving but she is not and I will not stop trying for her.

If you’ve read this far, you deserve a medal.

You may Donate HERE.

If you think you could help me in any way email me at Sarahberryman1@gmail.com

Whats In My Everyday Makeup Bag

As a busy mum of two small kids aged 5 and 3, I rarely have time to glam.

Ok so I never really ever get time to glam, but I thought it might be interesting to take a look at what I DO have time to place on my face on a daily basis and do you know what, I was thoroughly shocked.

There I was thinking I pretty much slap a bit of concealer on and draw my brows on before heading out the door, but no no my friends, this seems to not be the case.

According to my photos and catalogue of products I use, I pretty much glam up every darn day!

I’m most confused. Particularly given that I do my makeup sat on a bean bag, in our lounge (by the window for natural light, obvs) while simultaneously trying to down my now cold cup of tea while breaking up 50 billion arguments between the kids at 8:15am.

Ugh.

Yet, here we are ladies and gents. The contents of my makeup bag which I basically wear every single day.

Milk Makeup Blur Stick (£30.50) I only received this recently so I’ve been trying it out. I don’t like the large clumpy stick for application but I DO like its ability to keep shine at bay and my make up staying in place all day long.

Charlotte Tilbury Magic Foundation (£32)  I love this foundation for medium coverage when your skin needs a little help but you don’t want to look overly made up. Silky and with great coverage its my go-to. Reviewed in full HERE. 

YSL Touche Eclat (£26) Yeah, I have a 5 year old and 2 year old. Nuff said. Could use this stuff in the bucket load.

Clarins Instant Concealer (£22.50) I maintain that this is THE BEST concealer you’ll ever use. Fabulous coverage, great for concealing dark circles, stays in place, feels like it hydrates your skin and I’m sure there’s a full review HERE. 

YSL Eyebrow Pencil In shade 05 Ebony (£21) Again, full review HERE but the best eye brow pencil in terms of shade and texture EVER. Expensive? Yes, Worth it? Yes.

HD Brows Palette (old school packaging but in Vamp and now RRP £30) My brows have been overplucked for years so once I’ve used my YSL Pencil I use  touch of this to fill in the missing spaces where my eyebrows should be. Sigh.

Instant Effects Lip Plumper (£24.99) I’ve always wanted full lips and actually had lip fillers recently (more about that another time) but I always apply a generous slick of this plumping serum to my lips and leave it for a good 20mins or so before applying my lip colour. And yes, it does plump your lips but without any of that horribly cooling or tingly sensations you get with so many plumpers. 

Benefit Hoola (approx £22) I’ve used this as my go to bronzer for as long as I can remember and for that reason it never leaves my make up bag!

Benefit Roller Lash Mascara (£18.70) Reviewed in full HERE this is my fave Benefit mascara. Curling, lash separating and it creates mental length with no flaking or smudging. Winner.

The Vintage Company Eyelash Curler (£7) Soft, gentle and easy to use these bad boys turn my flat as a pancake lashes into something that’s really curly, I cant think of anything right now but they’re reslly good and a great price point too. 

Kiko Milano Sweetheart Baked Blush in Just like Coral (no longer available) I just love its iridescent, non flat, colourful blush that adds colour and rightness to your complexion. 

Charlotte Tilbury Instant Look In a Palette Natural (£49) for the Highlighter (I hit the Pan on the Blush which was shade POP which was a sad day) Best highlighter out there- soft and champagne in colour it blends over your make up seamlessly leaving you looking your glowing best.

O'Keeffe's Lip Repair Unscented Lip Balm (£3) Cheap and cheerful this has to be THE BEST lip balm I’ve ever used. Thick and rich in texture its not fancy, it doesn’t smell, it has no colour but boy does it stay put and apply a generous amount to your lips at night before bed and wake to soft, gorgeous lips.

PIXI Lash Line Ink -Black Silk (£12) Sleek, highly pigmented and easy to use it doesn’t irritate my sensitive skin and it stays put. Winner.

Beauty Pie Shine Up Colour Balm in Pillowy Pink (£3.70 is you’re a member, £16 if not) I love Beauty Pie (Check it out HERE) and this colour is just the perfect subtle pink with a gentle sheen for the school run. 

No7 Perfect Light Pressed Powder in Translucent (£12) My oily skin always requires powder and this finely milled, super soft powder is one I’ve been using for years. I don’t like to add colour to my skin with finishing powder hence he translucent shade, but its great for hot summers days when you don’t want to wear make but want to blot your face a bit!

Scamp & Dude Mini Swag Bag in Peach (£18) Scamp & Dude was created by Jo Tutchener-Sharp, founder and previous MD of Beauty Seen PR who suffered a brain haemorrhage. She had to leave her small children for a lengthy stay in hospital to undergo life threatening brain surgery and the agony of not being able to be with her kids was what inspired Jo to create a brand that helps children feel more secure when apart from their loved ones. This swag bag is just one of many, many items Jo sells and has become a HUGE SUCCESS.  Adore my stylish Mini Swag leopard and lightning print bag.

So there we have it. Turns out I wear a sh*t tonne of make up to the school run and had absolutely no idea I wore so much!

I’m also quite impressed that I’ve managed to successfully apply said make up within the small amount of time I have to get everyone ready and out the door so I think that deserves a round of applause, so go me!