Inaugural Melbourne Beauty Blogger Event

Yesterday, on a rare beautiful sunny Melbourne afternoon, more than a few of us forgot the AFL Grand Final rivalries between the Pies and the Saints to indulge in a little social gathering.

And why not when you are privileged enough to be invited to the inaugural Melbourne Beauty Blogger's Event (MBBE)? - a real life meet and greet session with the other gorgeous beauty bloggers rather than our usual twitterland gatherings. It was also an opportunity to share our stories whilst we recognise and celebrate the contributions bloggers make to the beauty publishing industry.

Valerie @ Ponikuta.com was the ingenious mastermind behind the event and single-handedly planned and organised  the epic task. I'm telling you, getting 18 beauty bloggers together in the one room is no mean feat!

Image courtesy of Steph 

The event was hosted at Oxygen Skin Centre, a swanky new skin treatment clinic in the Docklands with its top hat-styled lights and decadently furnished private rooms.

We were treated to wonderful sandwiches, cheeses and nibblies from Earl Canteen (their macaroons are to die for!), and coconut drinks from Nudie (very different from the Asian styled ones I'm used to), and in between chats and bites, we were indulged with hand massages (oh so relaxing) and jelly crystal foot massages.

Image courtesy of  Celina

What's a bloggers' gathering without photos right? We took plenty of our own while a pro wandered around and snapped our mug shots. I can't wait to see those photos as I wasn't able to be as happy snappy due to failure on my part to bring a fully charged camera and my battery ran out of juice mid-way (DOH!).

With the lovely Violet (Voilet Le Beaux), who served up advice on how to get volume on hair like hers

Beauty Bloggers Celina, Tine, Nadia, Akisa, Violet

The mingling was in full swing before we were gathered around for a wonderful speech opened by Valerie which was met by thunderous applaud for her top efforts in organising the event.

Organiser extraordinaire Valerie

This was followed by an inspiring speech by Sandi Sieger, editor of online Onya Magazine, who shared with us how she came to be in the publishing industry and how one event managed to change her life.

Sandi on how to enter the Publishing industry

We then chatted some more about our own inspiring stories and shared HG product tips before time ran out and it was time go home.

After bidding our goodbyes and trading contact details with the promise of a next gathering in the very near future, Valerie sent us home with not one, not two, nope, not even five but wait for it... SIX amazing bags full of goodies. It weighed a tonne and I was sure looking for a trolley to wheel it back to the car.

Preview of just some of our goody bags

It looks like I'll be having a very busy month showcasing you the products from my loot in the next few weeks.

Again, a big thank to you Valerie for going to all the trouble to co-ordinate and host such an awesome event. She is a wonder-woman I tell you.

You can read more about the day on the other beauty bloggers posts linked below:

• Akisa's account
• Indulgent Reviews' version
• Holly's chronicle
• Beautyholics Anonymous' story
• Fables In Fashion's tale
• The Lip Print's report

I may come back and update this post with more photos with what the pros send us in the next few days.