Looking Chic While Travelling

Planning what to wear for travelling can be tricky, because you want to be comfy, but you will probably want to be stylish so you can feel like a jet-set A-list starlet.

Ideally speaking you want to wear something easy to move in, that will keep you warm but with layers you can take off if you're too warm. I'm pretty sure I have this one all sewn up, so lets get into it! I've created a Polyvore set of the kind of outfit I intend to wear on the plane. 

I'm going to wear some stretchy, high waisted skinny jeans from Penney's, a white basic v-neck from H&M, a silver statement draped chain, my leather jacket that was a Christmas gift from my mum, sunflower Converse from Schuh, and a draped black and white scarf to complete the look, and keep warm if the flight is chilly. 

I have a black hoody to layer under the jacket too, but it wont be seen, so I didn't include it.  

I wont be doing much in the way of makeup before the flight, because we have to be up really early, like, 3am. I'll be bringing my makeup bag onto the plane and doing it in flight so I can look nice when we land! I love my red lipstick, so I'll be sure to add a pop of color with that! 

I'll be back in a few days with some travel posts recapping the trip, and my regular posting schedule will be back in full swing from next Monday, the 7th of March. 

Amy

x

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Valentines Outfit Inspiration

I'm not your average girly-girl, but I do enjoy the idea of Valentines. It might be the copious use of the colour red, the velvet, the roses or the cheesy cards in Arnotts, but I adore it. 

I created an inspiration board for you guys to show you two ways to style a Valentines-appropriate dress, be it for a dressy event, or a casual bite to eat after college! 

On the left, there is a selection of dressy, yet still rocker-chic accessories and options, complete with an Alexander McQueen clutch. On the right is a more casual, very "me" college outfit that is still appropriate for a casual dinner. The Doc Martens are very me indeed! You could of course pair either option with opaque black tights for added warmth. 

To complete the dressy look you may opt for a fitted blazer to draw added interest to the outfit. On the other hand, a more casual look would be better suited to a chunky bat-wing cardi in wither black or red, the choice is yours!! Neither would be complete without my trademark red lips, though! 

What do you think of these options? Drop me a comment and let me know! :D Happy Valentines Day 

xxx

Catrice Glamour Doll Mascara

I have finally parted ways with my Maybelline The Rocket Volum' mascara.

It was heartbreaking to the point where I had to give it to my mother and have her dispose of it. I knew the time was coming, and so to prepare myself, I decided to treat myself to a Catrice mascara, because there is NO WAY on Earth that I am opening my Covergirl mascara from Kayleigh until at least Christmas.

I hadn't heard much about Glamour Doll mascara, to be honest, and what I had heard, well... Wasn't good. But something in me was drawn to it, and so I decided to go for it. The logic there was, "If its awful, I'll open my Covergirl, and that's that!". When I got it home, I was beyond expectant, and since I wore no make up at all today (until I got back to the house) I knew I could road test it straight away!

First up, I'm diggin' the applicator.

I really like rubbery/plastic wands with those little nubby bristles. I'm also enjoying the tapered shape of the wand. It looks like that Lancome Hypnose Doll Eyes, but also like the Maybelline The Rocket too... The tube is also nice too, with undulating curves, and neat silver wording. Very appealing, and very slick looking for under €5.00.

Next up, first impressions. Please remember this part of the post was written one week ago today.

Upon first application, I have tentatively decided I like it. First applied around 1pm, and now at almost 11pm (at time of writing), it's still pretty perfect. My lashes still hold a lovely curl and are dark as well as evenly coated and separated. It doesn't irritate my eyes either, which is a huge selling point I would happily point out to my fellow lens wearers. The formula is nice, not too wet, not too thick, and very, very black.

Removal was easy enough, it comes off with ease using a facial wipe and it left no clumpy "after the fact" lashes in its wake.

So far, so good! I will be happily using this for the next while, that's for sure! I'm really glad that I decided to pick this up, as for €4.49 in Penneys, it was a worthwhile purchase. I have no doubt if I were to decide to watch the pennies, that I would repurchase this lovely budget beauty in a heartbeat.

What do you think of Glamour Doll Mascara? Have you tried it in its Waterproof version? Tell me what you thought of that, please! 

Amy
xxx

What Do You Think Of: Maybelline Colour Tattoo 24hr Smokey Eye

I'm starting a new segment on my blog every weekend called "What Do You Think Of: ?" wherein I shall be picking a product or a look and either reviewing or recreating it. 

This weekend I picked to split the difference and both review and recreate. I am reviewing the Maybelline 24hr Colour Tattoo eyeshadow pots in Timeless Black and Eternal Silver, as well as using both of these shades to do a simple smokey eye. I need simple looks in my arsenal; simple looks for a simple girl. 

This is about as simple as it gets, all you need is:

Maybelline Colour Tattoo's in Timeless Black and Eternal Silver. 

One blending brush. 

Black Eyeliner, 

Black Mascara 

Lash Curlers

First, these shadows are creamy and so beautifully pigmented that they rival higher end products, or at least in my estimation, they should! I started with a base of the silver shade all over my lids, concentrating on the inner corner, and spreading it out lightly over the rest of the lid. I then dabbed the black shade on the outer corner lightly working it over to the centre. Then I took my Eco Tools Buffing Concealer Brush and blended out the harsh edges on the very outer corner and buffed it into the crease, essentially hazing out the harsh definition between the silver and black. Be careful not to blend too much or you will make the silver look tarnished! 

To intensify the look, dab another small amount of Timeless black onto the very outer corner, just shy of the blended line and smudge it gently to darken it up. 

Take a small bit of the black on your baby finger and smudge it onto the lower lash and waterline (just atop the bottom lashes to avoid making yourself look like a panda) and smudge it in halfway. Then take the silver again and bring it over to meet the black on your lower lash-line. 

Line your waterline with black pencil liner, curl your lashes and apply your mascara; Bobs your teapot, you're done!!

Top Tip! If your silver colour is looking dirty from the black, just brighten it up with a small dab of the fresh silver shade!

For Even More Drama: You could line your top lash line with liquids eyeliner for a sultry flick, as I have above. 

xo 

Amy 

Red Hair is Unique, So Am I!

“It’s not about how others look at me, it’s about how I look at myself” - Neil Patrick Harris (Beastly)

When you read this, can you honestly agree?

I doubt there are many people out there can legitimately say they have always believed this. How many people do you know, that can say, with their hand on their heart that they are unaffected by the words of others? Is there anyone in the world who doesn't care about whats said about them? If there is, I would like to shake their hand. But I really don't think such a person exists, sadly. Everybody worries about the opinions of others, up to a certain point. That's just how it goes...

Then...

Most of us know how it feels to be belittled in some way, and usually, it's for nothing at all. People will judge you based on how you look, before you even open your mouth to introduce yourself. When we're sent off to school, at the age of 4, or 5, it starts. I have had the unfortunate experience of being bullied from Senior Infants, right up to the Junior Cert because of my hair. My hair!! It made me want to do anything to fit in. I briefly had blonde highlights as a teenager, wore make-up, tried to dress trendily. It didn't really suit me, if I'm honest... I didn't, and still don't suit that kind of thing.

When I got to 5th year, I decided to do things my way. I dyed my hair darker, almost maroon. It was awful, but it made me feel more like I blended in with my peers. To anyone on the outside, it must have been a drastic change, but to me, it felt necessary. Having been bullied for my red hair, it seemed like the right thing at the time. I wasn't doing it for others, it was all for me, and I continued to dye my hair, as well as dress the way I wanted to, for years to come.

I've noticed lately, a change in the way I see myself, as well as a change in the way I do things. What once was panicked, desperate attempts to blend in, has now become a calmer, more calculated desire to stand out. Thanks to a few of my favourite people, (and if they read this, they'll know exactly who they are) I grew out the dyed, damaged hair, and I embraced my Redhead status. In the past, when someone said "GINGER!!" I couldn't stand it. It upset me and made me angry. I did not want to be the ginger kid everyone used as the butt of some dusty, decrepit and frankly, backwards joke. Nowadays, though, its a different story.

Being a redhead is something I relish. Did you know, that 2% of the words population (at most) has natural red hair? That makes me unique, to some degree, and I wouldn't ever let the words of some stranger, someone who doesn't matter a damn to me make me feel small because of it. Ireland has the 2nd most intense concentration of gingers (yes, I know there's a joke in there somewhere!) in the world, with 10% (about 420,000) of us being lucky enough to say we're redheads!

When others made negative, bullying comments about my hair, I used to think they were right. I believed them. I thought, "You know what? They're the majority, maybe they speak the truth...", but I was so wrong. I saw myself as ugly because of my hair, because I was being told every day that red-heads were somehow lower than every other hair colour.

Now!! :D

I suppose it didn't help that somebody who claimed to love me told me, one day after I mentioned vaguely thinking of going back to my roots, "Having red hair wouldn't suit you, and I don't think you would be attractive if you decided to dye it back to your natural colour...". Stupid me, I listened. Eventually I decided to stick to my guns... I grew out the roots a few inches (which was awful but the ends justified the means) and headed for the chop. This time, I knew the change was drastic! 6 years after I started to cover up my uniqueness, I unveiled my newly short, red hair to my peers, and the response was wonderful. I can laugh along with the jokes now, because they don't hurt me.

How others see you, as much as we say it doesn't affect us, shapes us in ways we might not understand at the time... You might have believed the people who put you down at the time, but when you get away from those people, you'll gradually realise how wrong they were. In the end, when you believe in your heart and mind that you don't need to hide who you are, then you've done it. Personally, I went from hating my hair, to loving it more than ever! Its a part of who I am, it makes me unique.



How others look at you is unimportant. How you look at yourself matters more than anything.

Le Grá,
Amy,
xoxo

Accessories Haul... Feat. Yes To Carrot(top)s :P

Today I did all of my running around early, I paid my phone and Internet bill, I sent the application in for my driving test and I did some errands for my mother. When all was done my mum and I decided to go to Mullingar town and do a spot of shopping. "Fair enough," I decided, "Sure we haven't been to Mullingar in almost a year, why not?!"

We trundled down the road and in no time we had landed in Penneys!! We LOOOOVE Penneys... :D

So with a limit of €10, I set myself the challenge of getting some nice things to wear, since I'm always out to improve my appearance through fashion, accessories, makeup and beautification like manicures and facials...

Statement necklace: Was €5, I got it for €2!!

Close up of the jewelled area....
Preeeeeetty!!

Mani-Q No.1 - The Fault in our Stars

Some back story...

Before Christmas, I went to a nail salon with one motive, and one only. To get some help to stop biting my nails. 


TFiOS Nails