I run Beauty Blogs' Backstage, a once-a-month interview network for beauty bloggers. Last month I didn't get to participate, because there were an odd number of registrants (I generally hang back to "angel" anyone who may need it.) This month...well, this month, someone else's assigned partner wasn't able to interview them, so I get to participate! :D Helen, one of the two creative people behind Just Nice Things, has a fierce passion for nail varnish and for all things make-up related. She's also been busy this summer with not only her own wedding, but planning events for others' weddings as well!

1. Congratulations on surviving the wedding!! And all the planning. (And I think I've read that you're planning another hen party!!) How did you keep yourself from makeup-hauling on your honeymoon?
   Thankyou! Yes - I am in the process of organizing two hen parties on two consecutive weekend for two separate groups of people. I know it's going to be fun, but it has been a stressful few months to say the least!
   
   I did a little haul on my honeymoon! We went to Disneyworld and I found it amusing that in the England section of the Epcot World Showcase all the merchandise was Alice In Wonderland themed, and they had the OPI Alice polishes. It pleased me! Although I didn't buy those (due to already having them, of course) but I did do something of a trolley dash in Trade Secret, Sephora and Victoria's Secret. All the places that the US bloggers tell me existed but I'd never been to. I felt like a nail varnish tourist! I wasn't allowed too long in those shops (it was our honeymoon, after all) but I did manage to haul! Some nail varnish but mainly make-up. I am known for my love of nail varnish but I am a total make-up fanatic as well.

2. You've got such long, lovely nails...and mine are so short and peel-y. Do you use any treatments to get or keep the length?
   Thankyou. I just use OPI Nail Envy with Avoplex Cuticle Exfoliator and have done for years. Also I always wear gloves when doing any housework, and just take care when handling stuff. Once in a while I get a heinous low-down break but thankfully it only happens to each nail once or twice a year. I insist that eating cheese helps the calcium keep flowing too (that's my excuse!)
3. I saw your participation in the MAC / Rodarte marketing...idiocy. Aside from this incident, have there been any other memorable fashion/makeup cockups that have gotten you to speak out, or do something?
   Do you know, I don't think so. Although having said that, there is the whole current issue over a nail blogger who recently received a cease and desist notice as one particular company didn't like the things she was saying or doing. I don't want to say any more as I don't want a C&D letter myself but this whole issue has been handled so badly from a PR perspective that the company is likely to lose a lot of custom.
4. Your blog has a whole array of reviews and writeups: makeup, nail polish, spa and salon procedures, tools. Have there been any writeups or reviews you'd thought about doing but decided against? What, and why?
   No, we are open and honest and write about everything! If we do it / wear it / use it then we want our readers to know about it. Admittedly, Sheenie is more into the procedural stuff than me (it was her post about her Brazilian wax that scored us many readers - I don't want to know who was behind the Googling that went on there!) The only thing I steer away from is those really hard to photograph blurple shades that NEVER come out with an accurate photo so I try not to review them as I only want to post colour accurate pictures.
5. What classic movies or books have you not seen/read...but really want to?
   That's so funny as I was just talking about this on Twitter last night. I consider myself to be quite well read as have a degree in English Literature, which necessitated a LOT of reading of the classics. I'd like to get to grips with Philip Pullman's His Dark Materials books but have given up on those many a time, despite everyone telling me they are a must-read. Classic films that seem to have passed me by are a lot of the war-related ones, such as Schindler's List, Saving Private Ryan, Apocalypse Now. I will see them, I just haven't managed it yet.
6. What nail polish would you create, if you could? Color, finish, any other properties...
   Woah - that's the big question, isn't it? I'd love a navy blue crème. Simple but effective. All the navy polishes I have seen are jellies which is fine but they can be a messy devil to apply. I find crèmes far easier to work with but haven't managed to find a navy blue one yet. Any ideas? Otherwise, if I was creating one, I want a mid-purple with gold glitter or shimmer. I love the purple and gold combo - I know I could franken it easily but I am tooooo lazy.
7. I noticed very few perfume or scent reviews on your site (actually, I didn't find any.) Are you just not a perfume fan? Have you ever mixed your own scents?
   I only ever wear one perfume! Dior Addict (which I think I reviewed about a million years ago). I wear it every day and have never found anything I love as much so I just never try other perfumes or scents. Maybe I am missing out? Perfume reviews are notoriously tricky to do as well - describing a scent is so much harder than describing a colour or consistency. However, never say never!

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