Bobbi's BB Cream and Kate's Rockin' Curves Mascara

So, here's the first make-up post. By no means a perfect one but it's a start!

Bobbi Brown BB Cream

So, I wrote about this purchase a while back but here's the review. One major thing to remember with this cream - a little goes a long long way. I'm so used to squirting out a fair bit onto my fingers as my last CC cream wasn't thick at all and through trial and effort (and a bit of wasted product), I've figured out that all you need of this BB cream is a squirt about the size of the tip of your index finger. The great points about it that it comes with a high SPF - 35 - so it's good even for those hot Irish days (all 3 of them that we get!). The Extra Light shade is very light and in order to look less pale, a bronzer is needed - although anything darker and you may look like an extra in Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory.

(My eyes are a little sensitive to sunlight today. I may look like I'm crying)
It certainly looks natural and it is probably the best skin-tone-evening-out product (not a word but if there is one out there, please let me know!) I've ever used.
I would recommend that you put a very small bit around your eyes as too much can cause a slight irritation (as with probably any product but there's no harm in flagging it up). Oh and keep blending. Blend when you don't think you should keep blending! Blend until the cows come home if you must! The thick texture can show up streaks made by a brush or fingertips if you don't.

Definitely a great product at a great price (around €37 in Brown Thomas) but you will need practice at putting it on - I'm nowhere near getting it perfect yet!

Kate Moss Rockin' Curves Mascara for Rimmel

I work opposite a Boots and the temptation to pop in and buy something each lunch time is incredible. I have given in lately and picked up a few things for the holidays (3 for 2 on toiletries at the moment!) and have taken advantage of their recent 3 for 2 on make-up. But recently, I find myself buying things that I really don't need. Like a new mascara - I have enough, I've bought 3 in the last month but Kate Moss for Rimmel's new Rockin' Curves Mascara trumps them all.

Now, I've always been a fan of Rimmel's mascara. Their Lash Accelerator Mascara was probably my favourite until this came along. This mascara is just fantastic as it captures the little lashes at the end and elongates them (for so long, I went through mascaras that just did the middle lashes and left it). Your lashes look fuller and longer thanks to the curved brush (or broken heart shaped brush as the packaging states) that almost fit around your lashes and catch even the harder to reach ones.

(Not the best photo - I have the world's most lopsided smile but you can kind of get the picture!)
The only downside? It's not exactly long lasting. I found that after a day's work I had little black smudges under my lower lash line. Not an attractive look but can easily be wiped away with a cotton bud. This mascara is perfect for a night out or for when you're going out for a short while. The one I use is 004 Jet Black and it's currently at €4.99 at Boots - almost exactly half price.

Seventeen Doll'd Up Mascara

Seventeen's Doll'd Up Mascara is gorgeous for everyday use - a beautiful curved brush with defined bristles gives you that wide eyed look for up to 24 hours. For €7.99, it's definitely one I'd use again and again as my on-the-go mascara. Even the curved shaped bottle is flirty and feminine and simply gorgeous (the packaging is retro! What more could'ya want?). It comes in Black or Brown/Black (and, although I'm a redhead, I tend to lean towards black).

Any products you think I should try? Any that you've tried? Let me know!

Have a lovely Saturday x

What's New on the Shelf

Quick post on what I can't wait to jump into!

A murder mystery/thriller set in 1970s Maine? WONDERFUL! 

"If Maeve Binchy wrote The Kite Runner" is what The Little Coffee Shop of Kabul is seen as. A light plot set in a rapidly changing, tumultuous country is something I've never experienced before. Could be a relaxing read.

This was my free book as part of a 3 for 2. Flicking through it, I think it could be the most interesting out of them all. The ever increasingly important issue of mental health is raised in this book. Could be an eye opening read.

The fact that The Garden of Evening Mists was short listed for the Man Booker is reason enough to give it a read but from what I've heard, it's a spectacular novel set in late 20th Century in Malaysia. A period and place in history I know very little about - a cultural read perhaps?

Have you read any of these? What's new on your shelf? Would love to hear your thoughts!

Here Comes The Sun

I don't even think the word 'exhausted' accurately explains how I feel right now. I'm way past the point of exhaustion (we're talking zoning out completely, going to do one thing and then forgetting what that thing is, putting tea instead of milk onto my cereal...) Work has been tiring this week so I've had to put the blog on hold. Now that the weekend is here, I have a bit more time to catch up on writing. There's certainly no lack of material, I've acquired quite a hoard of new things recently for the impending holidays (hurry up, Tuesday!) and I can't wait to share them with you!

For now, here are some things that caught my eye during the week that I can't wait to give a good test run. 

So, aside from the really cute tissues and the much needed sunscreen, here's a small selection of what's new.

First things first, this New Look canvas tote caught my eye the minute I entered in the shop and I couldn't wait to ceremoniously queue at the cash desk to make it my own. It's cute, durable, not too large or too small either.

And check out that design, really gorgeous! Perfect for stuffing into your handbag when going on a book shopping spree (like me the last few days).

In spectacle-related news, I nabbed a new pair of River Island sunglasses to add to those delectable pink shades I bought last week.

Whilst any pair of cat-eye glasses will render me giddy, a WHITE pair certainly could not go unbought. Not only are they beautiful, they provide a five star UV protection rating, ensuring you stay safe and fabulous at the same time. You can find them along with a selection of other gorgeous pairs right here.

And if you don't know by now, I really like books. I think it comes from being surrounded by them almost every day. I have now placed a spending freeze on books until I have read the 34,829,34* books that I have in my room.

*an approximate figure...

These however, these are necessities. A book of Croatia for the Croatian trip. The glossy photos in DK's guide just make me even more excited to see the Dalmatian coast.
The Silver Linings Playbook is just one of several books I've had my eye on for weeks now. You'd think a Kindle would stop the hard copy book buying (but can a feel of a book can ever totally replace a tablet?). The cover alone was enough to entice me! As I haven't even seen the film, despite raving reviews and being a huge J-Law fan, and since Matthew Quick's most recent book, The Good Luck of Right Now is doing so well, I decided to give it a go (thoughts on it, anyone?)

And last, but definitely not least, I posted on my Instagram last week these new wonderful things called posh puzzle books. I'm not one at all to go out and buy books of Sudoku or crosswords (especially given if I really wanted to, they're all there in app form) but the style of these pocket posh books have given these puzzles a new lease of life. My favourite is the Sudoku with the lovely Audrey Hepburn quote "Paris is always a good idea". Doesn't relate much to Sudoku but it sure looks awesome. You can get wordsearches (with pages dedicated to Ryan Gosling films and The Kardashians) as well as brain logic puzzles, crosswords and even colouring books (which are seriously therapeutic!). You can find them here or in good book stores.

Now, I've never come across Cath Kidston jewellery before last week but aren't these just the cutest pair of earrings?

Taglined as "quirky and feminine", these rose earrings go with almost everything and anything. The creamy colour reminds me of white chocolate but you can also get them in a beautifully deep red. Check out the jewellery section of Cath Kidston's website for more gorgeous, sugary buys!

Two other buys that I am really excited about sharing is this make-up bag and Kate Moss's new mascara for Rimmel so prepare for a make-up post sometime in the near future.

Until then, enjoy the sunny bank holiday weekend! x

Relaxation

It's when I'm at my most busiest that I appreciate my time off. After a day at work or at study, there's nothing more I love than to relax with tea and a bit of browsing online. 

Relaxing is as important as eating and sleeping. Without it, your body will just wear itself out (and that is really not good). Stress without giving yourself a time out leads to all sorts of health issues such as heart disease and anxiety problems. So, taking time out often to do what you love is good for you! (No more feeling guilty for breaks, then!)

Writing is my favourite thing to do to relax. It frees up the mind from the reality of life and gets you thinking outside the box. And the best part? I am being productive in the less stressful way! A cup of tea and a movie, a really good TV show, a book I can't put down or a nice, hot bath all tick the boxes for me too. Right now, I'm blogging whilst watching TV and I feel the stresses of work just melting away. Cheesy, I know, but you can't argue the results.

Giving yourself a break doesn't need to be time consuming either. Even a bit of light reading, a drink of water or a bit of music can relax your brain from whatever you are doing. Or if that doesn't work, simply closing your eyes and taking a few deep breaths can relax you and make you even more alert.

Great ways to relax:

1. Practising Mindfulness 
2. Reading a few pages of a good book
3. Going for a walk
4. Listening to some feel-good music
5. Collecting some inspiration (Pinterest, Instagram, whatever gets your creative juices flowing!)
6. A hot drink
7. 10 minute power nap
8. Taking a hot shower
9. Chatting to a friend
10. Doodling (gets your fingers moving, releasing tension!)

What do you love to do to relax? Do you think you relax often enough? Let me know below. 

Recommended Reads

I was a book junkie when I was younger. Okay, probably not the worst addiction in the world. I would fly through the makeshift libraries at the back of the classrooms in my primary school so fast that they sometimes had to borrow books from the other classes to keep me satisfied. Jacqueline Wilson was my absolute favourite, those charismatic Nick Sharratt illustrations are probably the icons of my childhood. When I reached my teens, I stopped reading so enthusiastically and I missed out on some of the incredible literature for teens. I used to read Agatha Christie as a way of dealing with the stresses of school but apart from that, I missed the Vampire/Fantasy fiction of the 2007/2008 period. I got back into it about two years ago, catching up on my missed teenagerhood with the Hunger Games, as a way of taking a break from the reality of the Leaving Cert (*shudder*).

Now, maybe it's because I work in a bookshop, or maybe because I have a bit more time to read lately as college is less demanding of my time than school (should be spending those free hours studying but...nah) but I have returned to my pre-teen self as a book junkie. I'll read anything and everything (as demonstrated below, no doubt!), from biographies of historical figures to easy going romantic fiction. My go-to stress free book when I've tons of work to do is Paul Howard's ever brilliant Ross O'Carroll-Kelly series.

So, I've listed below a few recommended reads as well as a few reads that I'm really looking forward to divulging myself in over the coming months. 

The Story of Lucy Gault - William Trevor

This book is a stunning masterpiece. I read it whilst on holidays not too long ago and absolutely fell in love with the story line. Not only is the plot heartbreaking, the historical context gives you a real feel of what life was like for the Anglo-Irish landlords during the Irish War of Independence (even for that reason, you should read!). It will keep you on the edge of your seat/bed/whatever makes you comfortable right until the end!

Buddy - Philip Norman

My boyfriend would play the music of the 1950s rock and roll pioneer, Buddy Holly, at the beginning of our relationship a good bit. I didn't pay him much attention apart from the odd song I'd hear (Holly that is, not my boyfriend, that'd be disastrous). Recently though, I've decided to give Buddy a go and try and understand why he was so popular and influential for so many big artists including the Beatles. This biography is just out of this world. I'm currently reading it at the moment and it's not only a history of Buddy's very short life (died at 22, so incredibly tragic) but a social history on Texas and New Mexico during the 1940s and 1950s. Norman goes into great detail about even minor things such as what radio stations played what and proves he researched this topic really well when he includes detailed histories of the lives of the other major and minor characters in Buddy's life. You don't even need to be a fan to read it, it's like you're reading a novel, not a biography, and that is a major plus! 

3. Skippy Dies - Paul Murray

Before I read this book, I had heard great things and terrible things. My Mother read it first and absolutely loved it but I have some friends who really couldn't stand it. What drew me to it was the setting: two schools, one all-male, the other all-female, in South County Dublin and the trials and tribulations associated with it. Well that rang loads of bells for me, it was where I spent most of my time growing up. Skippy Dies is not however, a simple, light hearted look at South Dublin life with girls screeching "Oh My God!" and boys playing rugby 24/7. It is a stark realistic view on the less pretty side of teenage life with drugs, eating disorders and mental illness all making an appearance. I can definitely see why some people were not enamoured with it. But it's not all gloom. It has its light hearted comic relief and climatic moments that just take your breath away. A definite read.

4. The Engagements - J. Courtney Sullivan

This was recommended to me by a colleague and I'm really looking forward to reading it. Being an easy going read about an engagement ring and its journey throughout the years from woman to woman, it'll be a nice change from the sombre outlook on the life other books I have read recently have. Anything with a vintage touch, I just love! I cannot wait to take this on holidays with me.

5.  The Visitors - Sally Beauman

I was attracted to this book for the cover (look how beautiful it is!) and when I read the plot line, I was even more in love. Set in 1920s Egypt, it's a tale about a young girl caught up in the obsession surrounding Tutankhamun's tomb. Just even the historical setting alone is enough to get me to read it but that plot looks really intriguing! What's more, it's earned a 4.5/5 stars on Goodreads so there's a good chance it'll be a good read! Can't wait!

So, that's all for now on the reading front. Have you read any of these? Any recommendations? Let me know below!

Happy Sunday! x

Exam Celebration!

So, my first real post! (no pressure, take a deep breath...)

Today was the end of my Senior Freshmen exams (cue sigh of relief) and to celebrate, I decided to go out on a bit of a splurge for my impending holidays. A night out was out of the question, I could fall asleep standing up at this stage! Shopping is usually a battle between my heart and my head. My heart loves those shoes but my head, well it can calculate rather well whether or not I can walk in them. And it's usually right. Did I say usually? I meant always.

In about two and a half weeks, I'm off to Croatia and when it comes to wearing make-up on holidays, I usually don't. I can remember a really hot sun holiday not too long ago where I made the awful mistake of wearing foundation whilst walking around the old chateaux of France. I don't think the locals will ever forget the red haired, red faced girl with orange mush sweating off her face. Not a good look.
Nevertheless, I would like to keep my face somewhat even during the trip. My face is a blotchy combination mess, a make-up artists' nightmare (or dream if they are really daring!) so I decided to take the plunge and go to Bobbi Brown to see what they had to offer. I have their gel liner from my Débutante ball nearly two years ago and it is absolutely fantastic! It hardly smudges and is a dream to apply.

I was introduced to their BB Cream and was immediately sold based on their high SPF of 35. Perfect for those days when you're not constantly in the sun. Of course, lash on the sun block underneath it if you decide to sunbathe. I got the extra light one - the saleswoman said I had pale skin - this is mainly because I was so exhausted after the last few weeks of exams! I look forward to reviewing this product in the next few weeks! I've heard some wonderful things about it online. You can find it here or in Brown Thomas at €37 for 40ml. Have any of you tried it? Let me know what you thought!

Now, when it comes to sunglasses, I'm the usual 'buy as cheap as you can, sure it's grand' type. But then I went to River Island. And I found these. And the rest is history. These caught my eye for their colour and their shape (huge fan of cat-eye over here!) They have really lovely embellishment at the side and are perfect for when you want to add that extra pop of colour to your outfit. You can find them here at €20 a go. I did get a white cat eye pair too but I have to return them as they're a bit crooked. After looking on their website, I have found about a dozen more I love. You can never go wrong with sunglasses from RI!

And last, but certainly not least, I nipped into the new Cath Kidston at the bottom of Grafton Street. Their stuff is simply gorgeous and could brighten up any house! From beautiful iPad covers to crockery, I just wanted to hand them my (rather empty at this stage!) wallet and say, "I'll take it all!". However, that dream was just not to be and had to settle on this mug instead. I loved this mug after my friend who came over for lunch not too long ago brought her one with her and forgot to bring it home. It has been sitting on my fridge ever since ( if you're reading, Aoife, I do intend to give it back!) and I just love how big it is. I'm a massive tea drinker and the little mugs just don't quite cut it. And of course, the design is simply gorgeous!

I tried to take a photo of it but the light just wouldn't do it justice! You can find it here and Cath Kidston in Grafton Street currently offer 10% off for students so if you love their stuff, sure there's no excuse!

So, after all that, I should probably mention that I originally went shopping to get a tote for holidays but that didn't turn out. Just like me, go out to get one thing and end up getting something else!

Let me know what you think, have you tried any of these? Is there anything you'd recommend to get for a holiday? Leave me a comment below!

Have a wonderful weekend! x

Hello There!

To be perfectly honest, I am terrible at beginnings. No really, if I had to write speeches for school or essays for college, the introduction always came last. I can never guess what I'm going to do. I could say I'd write about something and end up at a totally different destination. It's even happened once or twice whilst travelling... But because I think I have a fairly good idea of what this blog will entail,  I'm going to give introductions a try!

This blog, I'm hoping, will be my summer project over the next few months, maybe even beyond! I will write about everything and anything I like. We're talking make-up, fashion, travel, food; if I like it, it'll probably be here! So if you come across this blog over the next few months, welcome and I hope you enjoy!