My Biggest Achievement yet!
So if you have read my blog about 2023 and the year it has been you will know already the journey Take Five Beauty & Aesthetics has been on. Ending the year (almost) on 8th December at the MAB awards was a particular highlight so I thought I’d tell you a bit more about it!
Back in July (ish) I was encouraged to apply for the MAB awards as ‘Newcomer of the year 2023’ with nothing to lose I submitted a last minute application. Looking back now I can’t believe it got through! What I didn’t realise is that when I got my ‘Finalist’ certificate it was the judges that would be following Take Fives’ progress and work right up until 4 weeks before the actual awards night! (I’m glad I didn’t know, it feels much more organic and natural).
I was super proud already to be awarded a finalist certificate in my first year as Take Five and it really boosted my confidence in the work I was/am doing. So booking to go to the awards night was a lovely way to end the year, being the only person in the business I bought with me my Husband and my Mum - my absolute biggest supporters from day one.
Finding an outfit was the first challenge, I knew it was going to be glitz and glam but at the start of pregnancy I was in that awful stage of tight things made me look like I had a weird large tummy and baggy became paper bag like - once settled on a wide leg suit from River Island paired with some gold shoes from Next and Jewellery from a lovely independent maker Lovelock jewels I felt ready to go! On the day I got my make up done by the super talented Thea Elizabeth MUA which was a wonderful treat We headed off, me as sober driver of course.
Once arrived we were greeted with a drink, some goodies from sponsor product stands and a beautifully decorated dining hall, the theme was gold and blue, the night was spread out with half the awards at the start some fantastic businesses, men and women super worthy of their awards. Newcomer of the year (the award I was entered for) was the second one up, my name wasn’t called! I felt much more deflated than I thought I would be, just showing me the passion I clearly had and underestimated in myself.
I relaxed then, knowing that I wouldn’t have to think about going on stage (the fear of falling over in new shoes was real) we then had our meal before the second half of the awards were read out. All of a sudden the highly commended awards came out, Take Five Beauty, I froze before I realised it was actually me! I entered as such a ‘basic newcomer’ and through the night I was thinking, if they could see how far I have come in a year, this was before I knew they followed my progress. To then find out that’s exactly what they had been doing and that I was recognised for the hard work and progression I have made all by myself. I presented a wobbly speech (<— See hear) about the reason Take Five meant so much to me and Thanked everyone I had come across in the last year, I was shaking and very emotional, I was so proud of myself and I still am.
The big things I dreamed of for 2024 were ignited and are already happening before I can even process it which just shows the boost these evenings can give a small business like Take Five Beauty & Aesthetics!
A huge thanks again to everyone who has come to me for brows, lashes, microneedling, skin peels, dermaplaning, nails, microblading, lip blush, lemon bottle and body contouring - I’m sure I’ve missed a few but I appreciate every single one of you!