Laura's question and answers!

Hi, Having a lazy day today (another one) so decided to go through some old blogs- I spotted this on Laura's Bloggy Blog and decided it would be fun to fill it out, so here goes:

Make-up
1) On average, for application of your typical day-to-day work/college make up, how long do you spend?
I usually spend about 10 mins for just an average day (longer at the weekends)

2) On average, for application of your going out/special make up, how long do you spend?
Probably about half an hour although have been spending longer on my eyes lately!

3) If you were to be stranded on a dessert island, which 4 products would you want with you?
Sun screen, aftersun, facewipes, tinted moistuirizer

4) What beauty 'must haves' do you always carry in your handbag?
Just mac lipstick in syrup and carmex I never really carry makeup with me I apply my makeup in the morning and dont touch up!

5) Which drugstore brand would be your favourite?
Boots No.7

6) High street or high end make up brands?
High end for makeup every time!

Fashion

7) On average, how long does it take you to get dressed/select your day-to-day outfits?
I usually have an idea the night before what I am going to wear the next day, but it will change depending on my weather, my mood etc.

8) On average, how long does it take you to get ready for a special occasion/night out?
Anything from an hour to two depending on what I have to do - hair, tan etc.

9) If you could only chose one item of clothing from your wardrobe, i.e jeans, which would be your favourite?
Jeans every time for comfort, probably my faded blue diesel jeans or my skinny blue jeans from River Island.

10) What outfit gives you instant feel good factor?
A knee length dress nipped in at the waist and killer heels!

11) Which shops do you favour?
Karen Millen, Zara, River Island, Topshop, Miss Selfridge

12) High street or high end clothes?
I love fashion but can only afford high street, would love to be a more sensible shopper and buy timeless classic high end pieces but I just love following the fashion and buy lots more throw-away items from the high street!

Thanks Laura, I really enjoyed doing this, would love to see your answers...

Christmas let down!!!

I couldn't believe it when I saw how beautifully my hubby had wrapped my Crimbo Pressies - he'd obviously had a lot of free time at work that week!!! Anyway I couldn't wait to rip them open to reveal all my mac goodies. The first one I chose to open was an unusual shape and I thought this must be a suprise!

Don't mind the bad hair and no makeup - it was first thing Christmas morning I was so thrilled to open this first beautifully wrapped gift!

You wouldn't believe my disappointment when I opened it and found a set of 5 painters brushes for painting a wall!! He thought it was hilarious- funnily enough I was not impressed!! I can see the funny side now and his other presents made up for it. What a comedian my husband!!!

This is the other man in my life on christmas morning getting a spin in the hall on his new bike!!!

Christmas Goodies!

For Christmas this year I was absolutely spoilt rotten if I do say so myself! I got loads of new mac goodies which I have been dying for ages to get. The first thing I got was two brushes - I needed new powder brushes as I was using an old one from the body shop that has long ago lost its shape. I got the 150 which I am loving for bronzer as it is so big! I also got a blush brush the 129 which is also lovely;-)

I got three things from the holiday collection I got the face brush set and the warm eyes eyeshadow palette from my hubbie and a huge suprise I got the rose lip set from my mil - someone must have had a word in her ear!! I love the mini brushes they are adorable and so handy for travelling, although I have been using them already.



I got some makeup from mac too, stark naked blush which I was after for a long time and which is fab on although you have to be very light handed its easy to overdo it! I also got mineralise skinfinish natural in medium so far I have just used this as a powder to set my foundation but I will have to do a bit more research on youtube and see how else I can use it but so far so good.

I also got a mineralise eyeshadow pictured below (can't remember the name) this item was not on my list so it was a suprise - now normally I play it really safe with my eye colour as Im really scared of colour but I wore the two blues on Christmas day and really loved it - I still have to experiment a bit more with the colours but its a great addition to my collection I love it!

I did ask for a makeup bag (not necessarily mac) but my hubbie took the mac thing to extremes I supposed he couldn't be bothered going to any other shops and knows how much I love my mac. Well he really out did himself I got not one but two makeup bags from mac one small and one medium and the creme de la creme a huge suprise and my favourite present of all - he really made my Christmas he got me a brush roll!!! Yeah - I'm a really happy girl!!!

Dirty Hair....

Now who would want dirty hair???? Me..... would you believe it. I never thought I'd see the day!!! My sister was in New York last week and I asked her to go to sephora and to pick me up a gift set from Jonathan Product called Get Dirty. It is a box set with 3 small minature products, it includes:

1. A Detox Dirt Clarifying Shampoo that is supposed to remove a build up of products in your hair. You use this weekly for a deep cleanse.

2. A tub of Dirt Texturizing Paste. Which provides you with control and separating - taming the hair to give it that better-than-clean "day after" feel!!!!

3. Spray dirt. This is a texture Hold Hairspray that adds definition and provides hold for texturized, piecey styles!!

I wanted to try these products since I saw reviews on makeupalley.com and also when I saw some youtubers including lollipop26 using it so being the product junkie I am I want to try it for myself!

I have tried the Spray dirt and really like it. It really reminds me of a Charles Worthington product I used to own called In Fashion - get dressed a pre-hairdo priming spray that gave your hair a sea-spray type texture and made it fatter with more texture. It makes it easier to style your hair, its not flyaway and just sits better. It really does look like one day old hair without the greasy look!!!

I'm not sure how exactly to use the paste, I just rubbed some onto my flyaway strands of hair when my hair was dry. Its quite a thick consistency and hard enough to work with - My hubby may be inheriting this for his hair!!

I would buy the spray dirt in the full size, but I'm really glad I got to try the paste as well. Next on the agenda is to try out the shampoo to get rid of all this "dirt" in my hair!!!

Twilight

I don't know where I've been for the last while but somehow I have only recently heard the hype about Twilight and the series of books by Stephanie Meyer.I am about half way through the book and am totally hooked!! I haven't been reading much recently (mostly due to the exhaustion that comes with having a new baby!) but I've been so sucked in by this book that I can't wait to get to bed to read it!!

The film is being released here in Ireland tomm the 19th Dec but I'm not going to see it until I've finished the book - as I think it never really lives up to the book!

Has anyone else read this or is anyone going to see the movie. Will be dying to hear all your opinions!!!

16 Random things about me!!!

Rules: once you’ve been tagged, you have to write a blog with sixteen random things, facts, habits or goals about you. At the end choose ten people to be tagged, listing their names and why you chose them. Don’t forget to leave them a comment (“you’re it”) and to read your blog. You can’t tag the person who tagged you.


I was tagged by Pink Sea Light and Yelebella so I guess I better actually do this. So here goes!!!

1. I have been married for 3 and a half years and now have a 7 month old baby boy called Donovan -I think I was made to be a Mammy. I love my family sooo much!!!


2. I am a primary school teacher this was my dream since I was about 4 years old and I used to "play" school at home - I think I was always just bossy!!!


3. I am a real home-bird. I once went away to work for the Summer to Germany and got the nickname ET because I was always calling home!!


4. I love travelling - but from above I also love to get home! My favourite place in the world is New York - that city makes me feel ALIVE!


5. I am a real summer person. I just love the sun and always feel so much better in the summertime - I think I may suffer from SAD!!


6. I love clothes and makeup but nearly always play it safe!!


7. I can't dance at all or play any musical instrument - this is one big regret of mine!


8. I have 2 older brothers and one older sister so I am the baby of our house - and I always got my own way and thankfully I am still spoilt now!!!


9. I love the colour pink!


10. I love mexican food but there are no restaurants near me that sell it so I nearly always end up making my own mexican food - Enchiladas are my favourite!!


11. I was born on the 4th of July!


12. I have no spleen!


13. My best friend is called Marianne. We have been best friends since college.


14. My favourite film is Into The Wild - its great!


15. I am a member of Weightwatchers!


16. I am not a natural blonde!

These are quite random facts about me - nothing too interesting Im afraid but was fun to do -got me thinking!!

I'm tagging:

Kerrymarie, Shauna, Amyv, Mizzworthy, Laura, Holly, Hele, Emma, Happy1234 and DunKa

Remington Shine Therapy

Just came across this while browsing for Christmas presents in Argos:

Remington Shine Therapy Straightener. 443/1307
Now Half Price
£34.29
was £69.99

Brilliant value!!!

Before & After......

Before......

A sorry looking affair, lopsided and looking very very bare......

After.....

a little bit of tlc then sheer perfection! (it did take almost a week to get my act together to decorate it!!)

Christmas Wish List!

All I want for Christmas is ......... Mac mac mac!!! Suprise suprise. My poor hubby was informed that I want makeup for Christmas so off he went armed with a list into Mac. I don't know why I feel so sorry for him the Mac girls are always gorgeous and he kept saying that he asked the girl what was on her eyes because they were so lovely ... so a little tip girls, maybe its not such a good idea to send your man into Mac after all!!!!

He was very smug when he came back and was very confident I'd be one happy lady come Christmas morning - he said he even managed a few suprises!!!

Anyway on my wish list for Christmas is:

• 150 brush



• 109 brush



• Holiday face brush set



• Mineralise Skinfinish natural in Medium



• Stark Naked Blush



• and maybe a suprise or two (maybe even a little makeup bag!)
  
  

I don't ask for much do I......

What's on your Christmas wish list?

Top 5 Makeup Brushes

My Top 5 Brushes!!!!

Here's a collection of my top 5 makeup brushes, these are the ones I use everyday and the ones I could not live without. Some are from Mac and some are not!

Mac 187

My first choice is the Mac 187 I have recently re-bought this brush. I had one for around 4 years and I really did not take care of it and there was no resurrecting it no matter how I tried to clean it or reshape it. I think I was too rough in using it and neglected to clean it properly. So eventually I gave in and bought a new one. Its only now that I realise how rubbish my old one was!! I use this brush to apply my foundation and would love another one (maybe a holiday sized one) for msf's and blusher

this is the old one see how the white bristles have all clumped together...yuck!

this is the new one lovely and fluffy - just the way I intend to keep it!!!

My 2nd brush is one from Marks and Spencer Autograph is it simply an eyeshadow brush. I have the Mac but I actually find that this one from M&S is bigger and allows me to apply and pack on more product and better colour faster so on this occassion the cheaper version wins out yay!!

this is the m&s brush on top and the mac 239 on the bottom

My next brush is by Chanel and its their Kabuki brush. I got this when I went through a phase of using Chanel Bronze universal and i applied it with this brush. Its good and does the job for me. I apply my powder with this and I spritz it with fix+ after I have applied my powder. Sometimes I also apply my foundation with it (only recently discovered on a Kim Kardashin you tube video - its good, you should try it).

Chanel kabuki brush

My next brush is Mac 219. I love this brush and use it every day to apply a little bit of eyeshadow under my lower lash line. I also sometimes use it to do my outer crease a darker colour or even to smudge my eyeliner!! Great and multi-functional!!!

Mac 219

The last brush I have selected is also by Mac and I have only recently started using it, its the 224. This brush is quite large for the eye area, but I love it for applying a darker colour on the outer eye and for blending it in. I also sometimes use it with no product on it and simply blend my shadow/crease line with it!!!

Mac 224

These are the brushes I love at the minute I'm sure it will change as I get more mac brushes, cant wait to get my 109 and 150 - and try them out to see if they can knock any of these off the top spot!!!

Whats your favourite brush? Maybe you could do a blog on your top 5 brushes!!!!

Make Up For Ever HD Foundation

I love love love this foundation..... I know this foundation has a "cult" like following and because of that people have built it up to be a wonder product and are then disappointed if its not as great as they think. Well I first heard about this on youtube and read about it here on other peoples blogs and on makup alley (great for reviews they have reviews on everything and I mean everything!!) So for once in my life I did the sensible thing and got a colour match done and got a sample of this foundation in number 125.

The little white thing is the pathetic sample pot of HD powder i got....

This is quite simply the best match of foundation ever!!! I normally use mac studio fix fluid in nw25 and have used this religiously for years. I still love my studio fix but the HD foundation just is so easy to work with, it blends really well and gives great coverage without feeling like your wearing a mask! Sometimes with my studio fix I feel like I havent enough coverage so I put some more on and then I've gone too far - its hard to get it just right!! This Makeup forever foundation just looks right every time I wear it. It lasts all day and genuinely looks as good when i'm taking it off going to bed as it does when I first apply it - now there's an idea for a photoshoot tomm!!!

I bought this on Sunday as my sample had finally run out and I couldn't wait to put it on this morning. I was also given a tiny sample (and I mean tiny) of the HD powder. I didn't buy it as I've gone a bit mad lately buying makeup and with Christmas coming funds are running low!! I tried it out on top of the foundation this morning and it felt nice and gave me good results, will keep trying it for a few days and will let you know then if I'll be purchasing it (after Christmas of course!!)

Has anybody else tried the HD foundation? or heard anything about it.... you should try it out!!!

Did I mention before that I love it.....

Mac mac mac

The really annoying thing about living so far away from a Mac shop is that when I do go to either Belfast or Dublin I feel oblidged to buy a few things in mac because I just never know when i'll next get to the shop. So thats my excuses made - like I need any!! Anyway, when in Dublin yesterday I picked up a few things that have been top of my mac hit list.

1. Sugarrimmed dazzleglass. They didn't have this last week in Belfast. I have to say this is absolutely gorgeous on its own or over a nude lippie! Love love love it....



2. I brought back 6 empties (my hubbie asked me was I not embarrased doing this - eh hello a free lipstick, never!!) They didn't have Hue my number one choice so I went for Myth after reading so many good reviews about it, cant wait to try it out.



3. Next on my list was Cream colour base in Pearl, once again they didn't have it (soooo annoying) so I went for Vanilla pigment.



4. Last on the list was a new eyeshadow for my pro palette (you can only get these in one shop in Ireland so I like to pick one new one each time!!). I went for sable so hope its nice!

Family Photo Aggggghhhhh!!

Grafton Stree Dublin thronged with shoppers....

Today I was in Dublin! My sis in law put our names in a competition to win a photographic session to get a family portrait done and guess what - we won! We headed down to Dublin(about an hour away) and made a day of it. We took in some shopping (of course) and went for lunch beforehand.

Me looking longingly at the Louis Vuitton display....

My major delima was what to wear but an even bigger dilema was what makeup to wear!!!! Decisions, decisions!! I've always loved loved loved makeup but am only really getting into it in a big (ie obsessive) way now. So as I'm still fairly new to the makeup thing and a little bit scared of colour I didn't want to go for anything too dramatic in case I got it wrong - imagine looking at scary makeup in photos years from now!! Here's the look I went with....

• I used my make up for ever concealer palette in no 1 to cover my redness, bags under eyes and blemishes.



• Then I used my mufe Hd foundation (sample pot I'd been saving for the occasion).



• On top of that I put my Mac nc25 powder all over.



• Then Contoured with Mac emote.



• Petticoat msf on cheeks, as blusher.



• Prestige Shimmer to highlight.



• Fix+ all over my face to set it (top tip from makeup geek - youtube!)



• Urban decay primer potion all over lid and under eye



• I used Mac All that glitters eyeshadow all over my lid and lower lash line.



• Mac Bronze eyeshadow in the crease and Dark Devotion (smoky eye holiday 2008 palette)in the outer corners.



• I lined with urban decay 24/7 in zero.



• Lashings of mascara, Max factor Masterpiece Max - my old reliable!
  

**** I had also just been in Brown Thomas (dept store) and tried out Nars Angelica on my cheeks, thankfully they were out of stock as I have no money - but i'll be back to buy it, its fab!!!!

The photoshoot went very well, baba behaved well (for about 20 mins anyway). I think we will have some nice photos, cant wait to see them!!

Philosophy Purity

This is the best cleanser ever!! I am considering buying the Clarisonic brush (sold in Sephora US and on ebay). It is supposed to be amazing - like a huge electric toothbrush for the face!! Anyway iv'e been doing a lot of research into it as its a big purchase! The one item that kept coming up all the time was this cleanser - Philosophy purity! So as this was the cheaper option I went ahead and ordered it from hqhair.com for £17 (great delivery!). They also stock urban decay, Nars, Aveda and tonnes more!

Straight away from the very first time I used it I had amazing results. My face literally felt squeaky clean! I simply wet my face and then pump about 3 small pumps into my hand. I have decanted mine into an empty bottle from boots as the bottle it comes in has no pump and I like to pump out my products. About 3 small pumps does my whole face. I massage it in for 60 secs as advised on the label, including my eyes and every bit of makeup including eye makeup comes off completely.

I have tried numerous cleansers including Lancome, Clarins, Dermalogica and I really have never had results like this. It also eliminates the need for a toner as this does both - cleanse and tones. I just slap on my moisturiser of choice (olay age defying at the mo!) and i'm good to go. I had got very lazy with my skincare routine. I would use a facewipe and fall into bed. But since I started using this product my skin has never looked so good and hence my makeup looks much better too. So its a win win all round! I really would recommend you try this product!!!

Mini Haul

Hey there, today I was doing a little bit of shopping and as always I spent ages browsing in the makeup and hair isles. I picked up two items in boots. One was a charles Worthington heat protection spray - what I love about this is its a "takeaway" so a little minature bottle. What I love about this is 1. I can try it out without being stuck with a whole big bottle if I dont like it and 2. It's ideal for travel!! I have been on the look-out for a heat protection product as I blow dry my hair every 2nd day and straighten it every day (for my sins!!) Anybody got any good recommendations.

The other item I picked up was 4 large self grip thermoceramic rollers. I saw a video on youtube from makeup geek showing how she leaves two large rollers in her hair after drying to add volume, so i'll have to try this out. The best part is they were on clearance and were only €1 - bargain!!! And I loooove a bargain - who doesn't!!!

I also paid a visit to TK Maxx, I always find this store to be really hit and miss. I either find loads of great things or I buy nothing at all. Normally I head straight to the baby clothes then to the homewares but lately I've also been drawn to the makeup and hair products - suprise suprise!! Well today I picked up a small NYX kit. In the clear makeup bag was an eyeshadow trio of white/grey/black, and eyeshadow pencil in Pacific ( a deep blue) and a 1000 miles long mascara. I have never tried any NYX products but I have read a lot about them on the internet so I will be anxious to try them out. My one drawback was the set was a bit expensive at €12.99, especially when I know that in the States these items are very inexpensive. They had a larger set with a face powder an eyelash curler some nailvarnishes, a trio and some lipglosses but it was €34.99 and had a lot of items in it I wouldn't use, so I took the small set just to try them out!! Will let you know how I get on.

Aveda and Redken Rockin combination!

So I washed my hair this morning and decided to try out two Aveda samples that I got with my new paddle brush. They are both from the dry remedy line. One was a moisturizing shampoo (with buriti oil) and the other was a moisturizing masque.

Firstly the smell of these are amazing. I had a set of Aveda body lotion and scrub from the caribbean collection which I got as a gift from my bf when I was pregnant last Christmas. They were gorgeous too. The smell really reminds me of holidays for some reason all tropical and fruity. This was the first time I have ventured away from my normal hair routine of Kerastase shampoo and conditioner and the results were amazing! Now I am quite cynical and am not totally convinced yet - are the products really amazing or was it just because I changed from my normal routine. I find you always get great results when you try a new shampoo but your hair seems to get used to it! So I will have to keep trying these (as long as the samples last!) It would make me look into Aveda hair products and I may consider buying them in the future.

I also used another new product today which could also have added to my beautiful tresses today. It is Redken Outshine 01. I applied two pumps to my hair whist damp, dried it using my new paddle brush - which I love. Then I applied another small amount (a small pump) to my hair when dry to smooth down any fizz. Normally I would have to straighten my hair as it simply would not lie flat at all and on leaving the house within 5 mins it would be a frizzball. Today, however I didnt touch the straightners and my hair had more body and stayed straightish all day. I actually prefer this more natural look than the poker straight look of the straightners. Less damaging to my hair too. So I think I have found a new hair routine!!

The paddle brush I bought in Aveda is gorgeous and made drying my hair straight so much easier. I didn't really use the large round brush as I'm not really sure what exactly to do with it - will have to consult youtube again!!

Anyone got any experience of using Aveda or Redken products? Anything else amazing I should be using.... let me know xx

My Purchases..

Here's my new coat that I bought yesterday in Belfast ... I'm posing for all I'm worth!!!













I love love love it!! I haven't worn it yet but I cant wait! I bought it in Miss Selfridge and it cost £85.



I also bought 2 hair brushes, one from aveda and one from Superdrug. The aveda one is a large paddle brush with a gorgeous wooden handle it cost £16.50. The other one is a cute purple large barrel brush for adding volume! It was a complete bargain at £2.99. So I can't wait to try them out on drying my hair tomorrow. I will post up how I get on. Here they are pictured below: