About Me
As a writer with over 10 years' professional experience, I can help you convey your business' message to your audience in a way that is simple and digestible, while being informative and engaging.
I began my career as a journalist, first as a freelance writer for local magazines while studying for my degree in English, then, after graduating with honours, I became a full-time editorial assistant at a luxury lifestyle magazine, before progressing to content writer, then deputy editor at a national hair and beauty title.
Following this, I decided to take the path to become a full-time freelance writer. Since 2017, I have worked with independent businesses, agencies and influencers to create content that captivates their audiences.
Why employ me and not ChatGPT?
I believe we have a moral obligation to keep a human element to business. Your audience is human, so what better way to connect with them than with a human writer? I can write (good) humour; I can make obscure references to nineties pop culture; I can talk about an experience or product in a way that elicits a visceral response from the reader, allowing them to connect with your brand in a way that can't yet be facilitated by AI.
I'm also a brand geek. This means that, when we work together, I become a fan of your brand. From the ins and outs of your audience, tone, style, genre, to graphic elements such as the use of imagery, typography and colour palette, I commit to understanding your branding just as well as you do. This helps me tailor my writing style to fit your business.
Experience
I have worked with a number of different content management systems in a range of formats. The CMSs I have experience with include Wordpress, Blogger, Webflow and Squarespace. I also have experience with Substack, Mailchimp, Shopify, Podio, Trello, Later, and a range of other platforms. I can also learn new software quickly, and adapt to your business' needs.
I have experience writing B2C as well as B2B, in the sectors of: fashion, beauty, lifestyle, travel, pet care, horticulture, psychology, gynaecology, rheumatology, recruitment and human resources.
If you have any questions, please contact me at jenloumeredith@gmail.com
I hope we can work together!
Jen
Sunday 28 August 2016
7 Totally Underrated Ikea Products
Friday 26 August 2016
How to Clean Copper Pots and Pans
This isn't my usual type of post. Don't get me wrong; I love cooking. I love finding a recipe off the cuff on the internet, buying all the goodies for it and cooking up a knock out dinner. I also love scraping together whatever's left in the fridge and making it into something amazing.
However - I hate cleaning. It takes too long, makes me all sweaty and tends to become and endless cycle (i.e. when I've cleaned the sink and realise that I've got a stack of plates by the cooker that haven't been washed up).
Keeping my beloved set of copper pans clean is the worst. They seem to stain as soon as I use them, which makes maintaining their glorious coppery-ness a nightmare. After an evening spent scrubbing away with a sponge and more fairy liquid than you can shake a stick at, I decided to experiment with other household ingredients. Favouring a more natural approach (as chemicals didn't seem to make a dent), this was the method that worked the best for me:
1. Clean the copper surface of any food residue using your normal washing up liquid and hot water.
2. Slice a lemon into quarters. Take one quarter and rub the juicy side onto the copper surface in small circles. You'll see that the surface slowly begins to lighten.
3. For any stubborn areas that won't lighten completely, shake a tiny amount of granulated table salt onto the lemon, then repeat your circles. This will act as a gentle abrasive.
4. Once the entire surface has lightened, thoroughly wash the surface with warm water and some washing up liquid so that all the lemon juice has been washed off. Dry with a tea towel.
Note: you may find that the surface will need a couple of cleans using lemons if it's really quite dull. My advice is to clean the surface using this method after every couple of uses. This will help maintain shiny copper!
Wednesday 24 August 2016
Beautiful Brows
We live in a world divided in two: good eyebrows and bad eyebrows. A good eyebrow, obviously, suits the wearer in colour and shape, framing the face and completing a look. A bad eyebrow, well - let's say that people have the right to their own opinions, but most of us can accept that a bad eyebrow is one that stands out from the rest of the features, but not in a good way. Perhaps it's the wrong shade, or perhaps it's far too bold. Either way, eyebrows can make or break a makeup look.
Thanks to celebrity makeup artists and their famous clients, the eyebrow has come to the forefront of beauty. Some of us are still carrying the remnants or the 90s waif of a brow, with our hairs overplucked to within an inch of their lives; whilst some of us have embraced a naturally full brow, perhaps laughing in the faces of those who bullied them in high school for this very reason *sticks hand up*. Regardless, a lot of us covet that perfectly fierce eyebrow look that we see so much on Instagram and E!, that the average British woman is now spending around £200 a year on brow products. It doesn't seem like much, but think about how many eyebrow pencils that could buy you!
Luckily, our favourite beauty brands have got smart and released brow 'kits' - the all-in-one face saviors that can be applied at home and taken on the go for touch ups. For example, Benefit has just this year launched a whole host of brow products aimed at making the idea of taming, shaping and defining eyebrows an approachable concept - even for the most makeup impaired of us.
One of my favourite kits at the moment is the Beautiful Brows Kit - a sleek, sturdy compact containing brow powder, highlighter, brushes, tweezers and stencils. It's so handy, that it has now become the UK's number one best selling refillable brow kit. Yes, refillable - so instead of buying the whole kit again, you can just purchase the powders and save yourself a wad of cash.
Open the shiny, white, rectangular compact and you'll find a brow powder that has been talked about across social media. It comes in five shades, and is the perfect consistency for creating even eyebrows in a style that suits the wearer. It's smudge proof, sweat proof, water resistant and long lasting (with the website claiming that it will stay put for 24 hours). I love using this powder, as it's not too loose, but I'm still able to create my signature bold look with a few strokes.
The highlighter isn't crazily luminescent; however, it is great for producing a soft contrast, and I like that it comes in its own separate pan and case, so that the powders don't mix.
The brushes are a bit of a waste of time if you want to go for a defined look. They're more suited to applying the product first, then you can go ahead and shape using your favourite angled brush.
I also don't tend to use the stencils, as I've always felt that these are more hassle than they're worth. I go by my own perceptions. The decently-sized, clear mirror is ideal for this.
If I were to improve this kit, I would definitely include a spoolie brush for combing out hairs, rather than the hard metal comb on the tweezers, and I would shape the brushes so that they're much thinner. Other than that, I love the formula of the brow powder and I would happily repurchase this by itself.
Monday 22 August 2016
Afternoon Tea at The Ickworth, Suffolk
Afternoon tea is somewhat of a favourite past-time of mine - it fulfills my inner Marie Antoinette: pretty cakes, beautiful surroundings and oodles of tea. My best-loved versions are themed; the Charlie and the Chocolate Factory tea at One Aldwych in Covent Garden is perfect for chocolate lovers, while the Mad Hatter's tea at Sanderson is a whimsical dream (find more themed afternoon teas here). However, a simple afternoon tea is sometimes the best kind, with less showboating, more finesse.
The Ickworth, in west Suffolk's countryside, is a Georgian Italianate palace maintained by the National Trust. It features a restored servant's basement, walled garden, and a magnificently airy conservatory where you can enjoy afternoon tea looking out over the stunning grounds. I would recommend this place on views alone - especially when it's sunny.
I came here with my mum and sister for a girls' day out; we already had a table booked, which I secured about a week in advance. The conservatory wasn't busy, which contributed to a relaxing atmosphere.
Taking place between 3pm and 5pm daily, the afternoon tea consists of the standard selection of crustless finger sandwiches, crisp-on-the-outside soft-on-the-inside scones with jam and clotted cream, and an adorable selection of cakes including meringue sandwiches, mini mousse ice creams and iced layer cakes. Enjoyable, simplistic and nothing out of the ordinary. This is complimented by a decent selection of teas - I had rooibos, followed by Earl Grey.
At £21.50 per person, I'm sad to say that I expected a little more than I got. The service was polite and available when needed, but we weren't taken through what was on our afternoon tea stands before we began, and were not offered more tea once it looked like we'd finished what we had. I would say that these are niggly little points, but it just makes afternoon tea that little bit more special when the hosts get it exactly right.
I might come here again just for the gorgeous aesthetic (everything is so pretty and white!), but it may be a while. I'd rather go somewhere new, than revisit.
Overall rating: 3.5/5
Saturday 20 August 2016
Keeping It Faux
Monday 15 August 2016
Super Simple Skincare for No-Nonsense Beauty Lovers
a Rafflecopter giveaway
Friday 5 August 2016
How to Decorate Like a Kardashian (On the Cheap)
Yes, these homes were made for TV. You wouldn't be able to walk through my front door and find a spotless, white, high pile carpet, a ten thousand dollar chaise and mirrors, like, literally everywhere; however, it's not a bad thing to want to emulate this level of style in your own (read: affordable) way.
It's clear that the Kardashians use interior designers (although I have seen Khloé independently picking out unique pieces of decor for her Calabasas mansion), so I'm taking inspiration from the geniuses behind these coveted homes, Martyn Lawrence Bullard and Jeff Andrews, and translating their style into both affordable and investment pieces for your home. See below for my picks of the best high street pieces to nail that Kardashian look.
3. Scandinavian Design Centre Vase, £11
4. Ikea Tejn Rug, £10
5. Baytree Interiors Cake Stand, £16.95
6. Debenhams Decanter, £16.80
7. Books Please Chanel Book, £15.95
8. Next Velvet Cushion, £16
2. ArabianHomeDecor Moroccan Lantern, £30
3. QVC Faux Peony Bouquet, £45
4. Next Glass Jar, £30
5. Habitat Side Table, £35
6. Oliver Bonas Trinket Pot, £22
7. House of Fraser Diamond Paper Weight, £23.60
8. Very Bean Bag, £47