IrishBBlogger Secret Santa 2014 Reveal!!

I got my Secret Santa present on the 3rd of December and positively dived right in! My lovely lady, who I can now reveal as... Coveted Mess's own Aisling, was SO good to me and I'm absolutely delighted with everything! She gifted me some wonderful little goodies, all mini-sized -which I adore, because they make me feel bigger than I am- and smelled amazing. 

Here's the run-down! 

In a beautiful shiny purple bubble-envelope, I found a gorgeous stocking and a cute little card! The first thing I noticed was the whole package smelled divine!! In the stocking, the first thing I felt was fuzzy, and it was fuzzy socks, two pairs, in fact, with which I was delighted. I adore fluffy socks. Next up were some Soap and Glory goodies, a mini sized Righteous Butter and a mini sized Clean On Me shower-gel. They smell divine and I'm saving them for Christmas Eve! 

Then I dived into the stocking again and I pulled out a Yankee Candle wax tart in the scent Cranberry Pear. It's so Christmassy I can't even tell you! Then I dug some more, and found a bottle of Caudalie Divine Oil, which I've used and it's absolutely true to its name, divine!! Almost at the end, there was a Bourjois Rouge Edition Matte lip cream, a brand, shade and finish I have never experienced before, and now I adore. Finally, there was a Chocolate Mint Lipbalm and 2 fabulous Freddo bars for a chocolate injection! 

Thank you so much Aisling, I'm really really delighted with my stocking! I can't forget to say a huge thank you to Aisling over at Total Make-Up Addict for organizing the whole shebang! I thoroughly enjoyed the whole experience, sign me up for next year!!! I can't wait to see what everyone else got!

Merry Christmas, 

Amy 

xxx

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Christmas Party Face of The Night

We're like a family. A mad, certifiable family who dance!! 

If you follow me on Twitter, read my blog, or know me at all, you'll know that I adore Zumba. I can't sing the praises of Zumba enough... As our instructor tells us, ZUMBA, ZUMBA, ZUMBA!!! But enough about the Latin inspired Dance Workout, this post is about my Christmas Party Make-Up!

I first exfoliated with Loreal Men Expert Exfoliator (yes, I know!!), ran a little of my Nivea 2 in 1 Cleanser and Toner (review) over my face with a cotton pad to take away any residue and then moisturised with my Garnier Pure Skin moisturiser. Starting on my base, I applied my W7 Prime Magic Anti Redness (review) with my fingers, applying it all over my face. I then took my Covergirl Outlast Stay Fabulous 3 in 1 foundation, dotted it all over my face and blended it in using my BCC F20 foundation brush. I took my Seventeen Phwoaar Paint Concealer around my nose and on any blemishes, and I used Maybelline Fit Me Concealer under my eyes in a triangle shape to highlight slightly and blended them both in with my Real Techniques Miracle Complexion Sponge.

To set my concealer in place, I took my BCC F15 Tapered Contour Brush and lightly dusted over Catrice Prime and Fine Translucent Loose Powder, just on the areas where there is concealer, I'll set the rest later as you'll see. To contour I used my Sleek Face Contour Kit in the lightest shade and contoured under my cheekbones, first using my BCC F30, and then buffed it out using my Real Techniques Contour Brush to get rid of any harsh lines.

Once I contoured under my cheekbones I went in with my RT Large Powder Brush and Set the rest of my make-up using Natural Collection Pressed Powder in Cool, making sure to blend my contour even more, to really give a natural yet sculpted look. For blush, I've opted for a rosy matte shade, using MUA Single Blush in Marshmallow and lightly swept that over my cheeks and towards my temples using my RT Blush Brush.

For brows, I've been going bold and using the 17 Brows That Kit and filling them in with my RT Brow Brush, then setting them in place with my W7 Brow Gel. Onto eye make-up- I primed my lids with my beloved Essence I Heart Stage, and whipped out my chosen palettes for the evening, W7's In The Buff Lightly Toasted, and In The Night. I followed a tutorial by The Makeup Chair on Aria Montgomery from Pretty Little Liars.

I took a Revlon Eyeliner in Aubergine, and ran it along my lashes, then using my BCC E23 brush, packed Laura E from ITN onto my lids from the inner corner to about 2/3 of the way over on the lid. Then taking Delilah from Lightly Toasted in the same brush, blended that onto the outer corner. Tp deepen the color. To blend the purple and brown shadows I used my BCC E32 brush. I went back to my ITN palette and used Bologna to smoke out the look. I added Dusty as an inner corner highlight and then added Catrice Liquid Liner to create a wing and Ardell Demi Wispies to complete the look.

To complete the whole look, I used my Essence Lip Liner in Femme Fatale, and Rimmel X Kate Moss in 01, with Revlon Moisture Stain in New York Scene over the top for some gloss.

So there you have it, my Zumba Christmas Party look, step by step!! 

Did you like it? 

Let me know in the comments! 

Amy

xx

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The Christmas Tag!!

Hey all!! Christmas is coming rapidly this way and when I saw this tag on Sunshine & Skittles, I knew I had to do it!! I love the run up to Christmas, more than I enjoy the day, actually! Check out my answers down below! 

Image: imgion.com

1. What is your favourite Christmas Movie/s?

I always loved The Santa Clause, and though it's not a Christmas movie per se, I love the original Willy Wonka movie. That and Singin' in The Rain. They always make me feel so festive!

2. Do you open your presents on Christmas Eve or Christmas morning?

I open my family presents on Christmas Day, and then I get to have a mini-Christmas with Chris cause we live so far apart. Usually my Uncle Charlie (mums brother) gets me my present early and gives it to me early too. It's a tradition to have one really early to build the excitement! 

3. Do you have a favourite Christmas memory?

When all my sisters lived at home, there was 4 of us, and my mum and dad. We used to have to queue for the bathroom and it was always so funny to see the line of us waiting down the hallway. 

4. Favourite festive food?

I'm a demon for Christmas pudding. As I've gotten older, my mum has made me my own pudding to have all to myself. I'm a glutton around Christmas though, plain and simple. 

5. Favourite Christmas gift?

Probably the year my dad got me a laptop. He had just retired from work with his heart and my family told me he probably wouldn't be able to get me anything which was totally fine. You should have seen me when he produced this giant box and a big card. 

6. Favourite Christmas scent?

Home baking. We make a veritable deluge of Christmas fare, mince pies, cake, puddings, trifles, buns, you name it! Yum! 

7. Do you have any Christmas Eve traditions?

We all go to mass and then go home, watch a film and have a glass of Baileys! 

8. What tops your tree?

An angel! 

9. As a kid what was the one (crazy, wild, extravagant) gift you always asked for but never received?

As bad as this sounds, I always got what I wanted for Christmas. Some years though my family insist on getting presents rather than vouchers with bothers me. I'm hard to buy for so vouchers make life easier. 

10. What's the best part about Christmas for you?

Getting to eat my mams amazing dinner, watch awful old movies, eat a whole tin of roses and then slip into a serious sleep. 

Now for the tagging! I tag:

Kayliegh, 

Chloe, 

Robyn, 

Zoe, 

and Nirina 

Hope you're feeling festive ladies!! :D 

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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