Homegrown - The local brands I love

Well would you look at that, the wanderer returns! August has seen a brand new start for me and my lil' family. We've moved out of Glasgow, back 'home' towards the town I was brought up in, and bought our very own house with a garden, and a garage, and a bedroom for Reuben. So now we have numbers 4 and 10 ticked off the 30 before 30 list, yay! This new home has given us a lot of the factors we have been craving since I fell pregnant last year (mostly, SPACE!) so making this move was a mix of happy and sad tears, as we waved goodbye to city living to start a new chapter further out into the suburbs. With the last box unpacked today, I thought it apt to do a little ode to Glasgow and some of the favourite brands I have discovered, and fallen in love with, from our Dear Green Place.

I couldn't start this post without a mention to our second home, Black Pine Coffee - which is Pete's coffee shop situated in the West End of Glasgow on Great Western Road. I've watched Black Pine go from strength to strength since it opened last year, and I am so proud of Pete and what he's achieved in such a short space of time. The shop has a really chilled and laid back vibe, with free wifi, so he gets a lot of people in catching up on some work, having meetings, or just chilling with friends. For now, he's just serving up coffee and baked goods, but soon there will be more food on the menu and from the sneaky peeks I have seen so far... I promise ya it has been worth the wait.

I had the pleasure of finally meeting the wonderful ladies behind A Pony Called Steve at my friend Katie's recent (and first) networking event (suitably called Mother's Ruin - we drank ALL THE GIN) and I think after meeting them I fell in love with the brand even more. I absolutely adore meeting the makers, the people behind the products, and while writing this I've just realised I've met the brains and heart (and soul...) behind every brand I'm mentioning. I think that adds to why I love them so much. Emma and Aminah are just as fun and colourful in real life, and I think this communicates through to their brand so strongly. Beautiful bath and body products, with delicious scents and adorable packaging. Plus, they don't test on animals. I'm yet to meet the infamous pony, Steve, but I'm sure he was grafting away behind the scenes while the girls were out on the gin 'ting.

The team who keep my hair looking fresh and feeling healthy will ALWAYS be worth the trip back to Glasgow for. Blow has salons in Finnieston and Shawlands, with the south side salon being a convenient 5 minute walk away from my old flat (le sigh!) The salon has just had a mini makeover, with leafy new tropical backdrop for all of your post treatment selfie requirements, and now looks like a miniature tropical jungle, adorned with gorgeous colourful faux blooms courtesy of the incredible Floral Renegade. Blow owner Fal has just launched an exciting new branch of the business, Blow Bridal, along with her partner in crime Violet Rose MUA. This is a very exciting prospect for a new bride to be like me, so I'll need to get picking their brains soon as we're hoping to tie the knot next year for sure.

 A trip to Tempo for some bubble tea is a sacred ritual every time I'm in town. Those lil' boba balls get me every time, and I think I'm gonna stock up on some to enjoy with prosecco at home, cause surely that's adulting at it's best huh? They recently achieved full funding on their kickstarter campaign for these beautiful tea infusers to go into production, one of which I am a proud owner of! (Cause sometimes it's all about tea, not coffee, sorry Pete...) and word on the street is that they're beginning to serve up some delicious food too, with Bao Bao buns being first on the menu. This spicy treat contains gooey melted cheese, spicy chicken ramen and drizzled with nippy moreish sriracha sauce. Hubba hubba!

I wanted to get Pete something special for his first Father's Day, and this is where Handsome & Dapper stepped in. My friend Danny started up his business selling some uniquely scented male grooming products which I just knew Pete would love. The products have a real sons of anarchy feel to them, with old school scents to match. I got him a 'Wildfire' soy candle, vanilla sandalwood beard oil, and the beard balm, and Danny told me the Coconut Rum and the Leather & Tobacco scents are the most popular at the moment. Pete is growing his hair and his beard just now, and spends a lot of time in Badlands Barbers next to the shop (which is owned by his bestie) so it was nice to get him something a little different gift wise when it comes to male grooming. I mean, he loves a gift box from Boots at Christmas... but shop local for the win! The Handsome & Dapper site is currently offline for refurb, so I'm excited to see what new products are on the cards.

Love Those Lashes is conveniently a stones throw away from Blow in Shawlands (literally across the road) and they also have a city centre salon too. This sister owned business has gained high status in Glasgow, and no wonder, everything brow and lash related they do is done to absolute perfection. I booked in for a lash lift and brow tint the month before we moved and was so pleased with the results. Erika and Gemma, I love what you do. And I bloody well love those lashes!

Tammy is the most bad ass nail boss out there, and her little NAF empire shows how much hard work and creativity herself, and her team, have put into building the business into a household name in Scotland. They have just moved to a new premises in the city centre, I've been twice since it opened to get my nails done, and the first picture in this post is just one of the mega cute features in what is such a well designed (and y'know, 'instagrammable') interior. They also have a pop up shop in Topshop on Argyll Street, so you've got a couple of options when you book, and to be honest I like using their shiny mobile app to book in because I can't be bothered speaking to humans some days (that being said, everyone who works in Naf are so friendly and very lovely) Plus they are dog friendly too! Actually, I think bringing your dog is very much encouraged haha.

Last but by no means least, a shout out to the cruelty free Scottish brand who keep me looking bronzed (and never, ever, smelling like biscuits) - Fake Bake. Their coconut tanning serum is my current fave, but I gave the new espresso tan a go before Pete's brothers wedding a few weeks ago and it did not disappoint! A golden glow (which I initially worried would be too dark for me) which I feel works with the undertones of your own skin (mines are v pink, can you tell?!) making your tan look natural rather than painted on. A fresh tan paired with some fierce makeup by the lovely Sarah Jane at Onyx, I felt the most glam I have in a very long time.

Do some of your favourite brands originate from your home town or city? Share them with me in the comments!