Product Review: Wet N Wild CoverAll Concealer Palette

Hi, Ladies!

I'm sure you are all aware by now that the landing of Wet N Wild upon Irish shores was a moment of joy among the Beauty Blogging community. I can definitively state that I was absolutely chomping at the bit to get to St Stephens Green to get my mitts on some of the highly commended brand!

Concealers are something I don't have a lot of luck with, if I'm honest but I figured if anyone can change my mind, the Americans can. I picked up the CoverAll Concealer Palette and I must say, "Color me impressed!!". This palette is wonderful. The four shades, pink, green, peach and pearly white are quite daunting to behold in their pans, but are creamy, blend-able and smell divine.

The Pink shade is used to brighten blue tinted areas on the face such as dark circles or bruising. Due to the nature of the color wheel, pink is a neutralizing shade when it comes to blueish tinting. It is a highly pigmented, yet not overpowering shade. Perfect for my fair skin.

Green neutralizes redness as we all know, and this offering is no different. Again, highly pigmented and blend-able, it is perfect for fair skinned folks and sallow ladies alike.

The Peachy concealer tone, admittedly looks extremely yellow-tinted in the pan, but is beautiful on the skin. I am highly impressed with this shade as fair-skinned ladies will get a lot of use from this pan, rather than worrying (as I did) about wasting it.

Finally, the Highlighter. This is a beautiful, highly pigmented highlight shade and would be suitable for an under-brow highlight and the cupids bow.

All in all, I recommend this palette highly and will probably be including it in an upcoming YouTube video.

At €4.49, you really cannot go wrong, ladies!!

Will you be trawling your local Dunnes for this brand? Let me know!! 

Amy,
xx

Tip Time!! Grammarly - The Instant Grammar Check

"Hey all!

Recently I was contacted by Grammarly.com*, an online spelling and grammar service. Since I last posted, I have been running my writing through their online service left, right and center! I actually find it 100 times better that the built-in software on my laptop, purely for the plagiarism check facility. Now I know that I'm being original, rather than just thinking I am!!

Grammarly aims to allow bloggers as well as anyone else who may need it, the opportunity to perfect their writing with the aid of a quick and easy dialogue box and a big yellow button. This easy-to-use software has the ability not only to spot over 250 types of grammatical errors, but also has a built-in plagiarism checker."

The above text scored 75/100 when I ran it through the Grammarly program.

Grammar is important, and if you're not faring well with it alone, Grammarly is here to help you! There is a 30 Day Free Trial available and then you can choose from a number of subscription options, varying in price (not listed here because they seem to be ever-changing, with deals and such), but all great value! The service is worth every cent for the comprehensive overview you are given and the options laid out for you in order to correct your writing in the most succinct and non-invasive manner. This service wont rewrite your hard work, but rather will correct it with little-to-no trace left behind.

What more could you ask for, really? Hop on over to their website, Facebook or Twitter, listed below and check these guys out. I am really diggin' them!

Grammarly.com
Grammarly on Twitter
Grammarly on Facebook

If you check out Grammarly, be sure to leave me a comment telling me what you think! I have a feeling you will love it just as much as I do!!

Amy
xxx

Holy Grail Products

Watch any beauty guru on YouTube and you will inevitably hear the phrase "Holy Grail". Yes, it is a Monty Python movie, but today that's not what we're going to talk about. Holy grail products, are, for the uninitiated, the products you would invariably die without. That one shampoo you keep repurchaing? Holy Grail. That lipstick you bought 3 back up tubes of? Holy. Grail.

So today I'm going to take you through my HG products.

First, we have powder. My HG in this department would have to be the Catrice Prime and Fine Translucent Loose Powder. This stuff is the miracle product your mother always told you existed. It's THAT good. I have back ups of this stuff, and I repurchase it to death. It sets your foundation without any extra tint and leaves you velvety smooth and matte. Catrice, please don't ever stop making this stuff, or I'll be all over you like a flannel. 

For €5.49, you too can use my fantastic miracle powder... Just leave some for me, kay?



Secondly, I want to talk about Chocolate Whip. This stuff is the amazing lotion brought to you by the good ladies of Cocoa Brown. I will be waxing lyrical about them further on down this post but can I just take a minute to talk about the absolutely glorious, wonderous gem that is Chocolate Whip? An OIL FREE body moisturiser, which (if you're a tanner) prolongs the life of your tan, helps it fade evenly and smells incredible. Oh my god this stuff was really needed in my life and I wont be straying from it any time soon. Cocoa Brown, will you marry me?

Next up, I'm going to bleat on tirelessly about my new favorite eyebrow powder. Step on up to the plate 17 Brows That!! This powder literally makes my brows look perfect. The compact comes with a brow pencil, a wax, a powder, a highlight and a tiny brush. I will admit the brush is kind of useless but the powder was MADE to go with my Real Techniques Brow Brush. This stuff is pretty new to the market but mother of god, it's perfection in a slick black case.

Cocoa Brown, what can I say, you just make my life complete. 1 Hour Tan hit the market about 1 year ago and I remember it took the blogging world by storm, yet I dismissed it straight off because "it's just tan". It's much more than "just tan" let me tell you. It's "bronze goddess" in a can. 

It's a golden, cocoa shade that makes even the palest (that's me), most ginger (hi, me again!) Irish chick look like she grew up on a beach in Zanzibar. I literally have nothing bad to say about it, or the company (all the girls are fantastic, very chatty on their Twitter, and always there to help). You need this tan in your life. Go now, and never look back!

Finally, I have a product combo for you. I have been blessed with relatively well behaved skin all my life, but to keep it in line, I am hopelessly addicted to Garnier Pure Active Foaming Facial Wash, coupled with my mini Body Shop Facial Brush. It's been keeping my skin soft and clear for 6 months now and I could not be happier with the results. The facial brush is gentle enough not to inspire break outs but tough enough to help the foaming wash take down any spots or blackheads before they peek out to say hi. A must for any girl looking to keep her face free of any nasties.

Those are my Holy Grail products of the moment, a select few of the myriad of bottles, cans and tubes of things I would easily fall apart without. What are your holy grail products? 

Amy 
xx

Micro Trend: Glitter

Glitter is that one entity that can really split the crowd. I mean, some people adore it, and some people despise it. No matter that side of the fence you're one, it's hard to deny that glitter has been all over the runways lately, all you have to do is look at the likes of Diane Von Furstenberg and Venexiana. While they can all get away with head to toe sequins, the rest of us mere mortals cannot.

For something a bit more wearable, why not try a glitter or sequin clutch bag? This will spice up an evening gown or your trusty LBD just as easily as it will add some pizzazz to your boyfriend jeans and corset for a night out clubbing.

This beauty from Top Shop is on sale for €16 and will go with any number of outfits, making it the ultimate all rounder. Get it HERE

Or you could try these beautiful wedges from New Look and live by their motto "Your feet look gorgeous!".

Silver sparkles will suit any skin tone and will co-ordinate with almost any dress colour.

Find them HERE for €16.00, down from €39.99!!






If you find yourself a fan of a muted look but still want to be on trend, there are any number of glitter polishes available to you. Try Catrice or Essence for bang on trend looks in a rainbow of colours.

What do you think of the Glitter Micro Trend? Will you be partaking?

Amy
xx

Conch Healing Update - 1 Month

It has now been one month since I had my conch piercing done. I have been monitoring my healing closely in order to give you a full debriefing, in case you are thinking about getting one yourself!

Please Remember: I am by no means an expert on any kind of body modification or adornments. I am merely sharing my experience with you. As such, I take no responsibility for your piercings or their healing times. You should, at all times consult a professional for 100% water-tight advice. 






Piercing: Inner Conch (left ear)
Gague: 1.6mm
Material: Surgical Grade Steel bar, one Surgical steel ball, one hardened plastic ball. 

As you know, after I had my piercing done initially, it was beyond sore. I couldn't even wiggle my ear without wincing, but that initial pain only lasted about 3-5 days. It was red and angry for those few days but when your after having a relatively thick metal bar shoved through your ear, it's bound to be pissed off. 

I couldn't sleep on it for 3 weeks after the initial tenderness passed, even though I was taking Arnica to bring down the swelling and bruising, as recommended by Wildcat. I also took a short course of zinc to aid my immune system in the first stage of healing. 

Now, for the big stuff. 

I think it may have become very mildly infected after about 10 days (It was over Christmas so I couldn't get to Wildcat to ask), but I used Easy Piercing soap, saline and antibacterial spray to clean my ear 2/3 times a day and keep the seeping at bay. This meant that the possibility of a crust forming on the jewelry was minimized. I also used Tea Tree Oil (which is a natural antiseptic) on a cotton bud around the barbell and surface of the ear, and then pushed the barbell back and forth gently to allow the oil to penetrate the piercing and ensure the barbell was left sanitary. This isn't actually recommended and I cant guarantee it will work for you, but it did for me. I used 100% pure Austrailian Tea Tree Oil that I got in my local chemist.

Tea Tree is not usually recommended but Betadine (which is a medical antiseptic ointment) cannot be gotten in any chemist anymore. I used this to make sure that whatever was festering in my ear would not get a chance to spread. Tea Tree is usually only warranted in the event of a hypertrophic scar forming. It dries out your skin like crazy so its really only useful to use it once in every 3 days. I did use it twice a day for 5 days to a week to eliminate any infection that may have been lingering but once it was back to normal I stopped using it.  

I have been cleaning it every day but sometimes leaving it for a day so as to allow the tissue to heal without my interfering with it. I have also been into Wildcat to get a different ball on the top of the post (the ball really has no bearing on the healing according to the girl who put it on for me) and since I got the new larger ball, I have been able to sleep on it because it doesn't move as much. 

The piercing itself did not weep or pus after the 3 week mark which allowed me to stop worrying about it. The barbell has been kept clean and dried after every cleaning. I haven't used the tea tree on it since the infection cleared up, though I intend to pop a bit on once a week from now til the the initial healing time is finished to eliminate the chance of any keloid or hypertophic scarring occurring. 

NOTE: When I had the ball changed after 3ish weeks, I asked the piercer was there any signs of infection or scarring and she said no. She said that the dried skin can be a combination of initial sea salt soaks and tea tree but it was nothing to worry about and the skin has gone back to normal now. I did also get one or two serious bangs in the ear that made me cry like a baby from the pain, but they haven't affected my ear in any way, just hurt like a bitch!

All in all, my conch is healing very well and I am thinking about getting my right ear done to match. 

My Acrylic ball on the stainless steel healing bar

If you are thinking about getting this piercing done: Please remember that it is a very thick piece of cartilage and it will hurt like hell while its healing, to the point where I swore I would never cheat on tattoos again. Getting the piercing was by far the easiest part of the whole operation, the aftercare is the part you need to be aware of. I have also had to go to my optician and have them re-shape the left arm of my frames to avoid bumping on the bar but that was a small job and they actually commented on how unique the piercing was while they did it.


I hope this was of some use to you and if you are thinking of getting your conch pierced, go for it, it's a beautiful piercing.

Amy
xx 

Micro-Trend: Floral

Oh look, I'm back again!! 

Micro-Trends make it so easy to stay abreast of the current seasonal trends without breaking the bank. I'm the first to admit that I always try to keep on top of trends I like by buying one or two small pieces to keep my look current but still "me". 

Image: Google Images

This time around, I'm looking at floral prints. Floral never seems to go out of style, though the prints and densities of the patterns change wildly from minimalist to headache-inducing. 

Coming in to Spring and Summer we will inevitably see the return of the crop top, so with that in mind... 

Try pairing some high-waisted faux leather leggings or disco-pants with a floral crop top for an on trend outfit perfect for a night dancing. If you want to, throw a black cardigan over the top for a pout-together day time look when the weather warms up. Try adding chelsea boots to keep it casual, and wedges for night-time wear. 

You can find floral prints in any clothes store, but my top picks are Penneys, Topshop, New Look and No Polka.

Other possible micro-trend pieces include handbags, leggings and pieces of costume jewelry. 

What do you think of florals? Overdone or still a classic piece of feminine wear?

Amy
xx 

How to Get The Perfect Mani at Home

Every woman loves the treat of going for a manicure, but sadly they are quite pricey when you attend the salon regularly. Now, I am all for a trip to your Nail Technician, and having your talons beautified, but sometimes, when you're watching the pennies, it can be just as effective to do your own manicure at home. 

Image: Pinterest

Without further ado, I give you my tips for a perfect manicure, (mostly) from the comfort of your couch. 

• Strip off the old, chipped polish with a high quality polish-remover. Sally Hansen makes a fantastic one for no more than €4. Use a cotton bud soaked in polish remover to get all those hard to reach places, like around your cuticle and the sides of your nails. 

• If you need to, now is the time to trim and file your nails; and always file in one direction. Personally, I'm not allowed to have my nails too long for college, but that doesn't stop me filing my nails into a uniform shape to keep them looking their best! 

• Wash your hands. I find that this stops the residue of the nail polish remover drying my nails out. It also take away the awful smell and eliminates the chance of the polish remover causing the skin around your nails to harden. 

• Push back your cuticles or apply a cuticle remover. If you're opting for pushing them back, then use an orange stick to gently push back the cuticle. Don't be overenthusiastic, I don't want you to hurt yourself. I usually trim away the excess with a cuticle trimmer but not all of us have that and it is a step you can totally skip if you want. 

• Apply a good quality base coat.  This will allow your polish to adhere well without staining your nail-beds. OPI Nail Envy or Sally Hansen Double Duty are both firm favorites of mine, though there is a serious jump in the price between each.

• After your base has dried, its time to apply two THIN coats of your chosen polish, start from the middle of your nail and brush straight, then you back and do the left and right sides. 

• Once your chosen color has dried completely, it's top coat time! I haven't found anything as good as the new Rimmel Ultra Shine topcoat in a very long time. 

• Once your nails have dried completely, finish off with a dab of hand lotion, snap a picture for Instagram, and you're all done, darling!!

That's it for my manicure tips. I hope you get some use out of them, because they never fail me! If you have any additional tips, be sure to leave a comment and let me know. I love learning new tips and tricks.

Amy

xx

Motivational Monday 20/1/14

It's almost the end of the first month of 2014, how crazy is that?! 11 months left to go, more or less. So, lets bear that in mind for today have a good time today. Monday isn't all bad, really!

Today, the song to set your week to is a classic, and i know it may not be to all of your tastes, but I can't help but get pumped when I listen to this. I even played this before I went for my driving test! 

Allow me to hark back to my early teenage years of fandom while I scream internally about how much I love this latest album by the one... the only... The Darkness with Everybody Have a Good Time. 

Hopefully this will kick your Monday off with a big smile and a boogie. It's the original line-up, too! 

For our quote, I think it's important to stay with the idea of having a good time... And who better to reinforce the belief that today can be amazing than Ralph Waldo Emerson?! 

Today is gonna rock, I know it. 

Happy Monday
Amy
xx

Micro-Trend: Blue

Following on from my post about the Spring/Summer 14 runway shows of New York Fashion Week, I thought I would make a short series and highlight some micro trends for you. 

Blue is absolutely HUGE this coming season and it's easy to incorporate blue into your look without having to shell out a small fortune. 

I'm conscious that not all of my readers (or indeed myself) are lucky enough to be employed, and a lot of my readership is made up of students too, so I don't want to include anything in this post that may be too expensive. 

Image: adoreabubbles.blogspot.com
(my nails don't ever look this good)

If you are looking for a pop of blue on your nails, then look no further than the budget brand beloved of almost every beauty blogger, NYC. Their "In a New York Color Minute" range has a fabuous offering, Water Street Blue. It's a bright cerulean shade that will see you through the SS14 season with ease. 

A steal at €1.79 in most Penneys. 

Image: project-swatch.com

If you're like me and you love a touch of sparkle, then hop into any decent Tesco and pick up Sally Hansen's gorgeous Salon Manicure gem, Mermaids Tail. 

It's a tad more expensive, at €8.99 but, as we all know, the Salon Manicure range has incredible staying power. 

TOP TIP: Pair it as an accent nail with Water Street Blue for a beautiful, seaside-inspired mani. 

image: topshop.com

If its accessories your after, TopShop is your only man. 

Check out this glorious chunky blue chain. Top a slouchy grey tee and a pair of blue-jeans with this, and you'll look effortlessly chic, even on your laziest day... 

If you wanted to dress this up you could pair it with a black high-waisted skirt, a crop top and some killer heels. A pop of color will instantly add interest to any monochromatic outfit. 

Buy it HERE for £12.50.

You could also hit up your nearest Penneys and get yourself a beanie, or a scarf, even a cardigan! I have to say, this micro-trend just blue me away! Geddit? 



What do you think of the blue micro-trend? Will you be incorporating it into your everyday look?

Stick around for another Micro Trend post coming soon!!

Amy
xx

The TAG of All Knowledge!!

Hey ladies,

Today, I am unveiling my very own TAG post and I hope it takes off! I've got 10 questions, because 10 is my favorite number. I decided to make up this tag because I thought of one awesome question and decided that a TAG was the best way to get it out there. Of course, to get the ball rolling, I will answer the questions myself and then I'm going to tag 5 of my favorite bloggers to do this. 

1. If you were a rock-star, what items would you demand on your rider? 

If I was a rock-star, I don't think I would demand anything totally insane, to be honest. Gummy-Bears, lactose free milk, the biggest mug for my tea that they had around, and that would be it. I mean, I suppose if I was a diva, I'd go for stuff like gummy bears with all the clear ones picked out and put in a separate dish, a bone China tea-cup and a chaise-lounge... 

2. If you could afford any designer piece, be it clothing, shoes or accessories, what would it be and how would you style it? If you can, post a picture.

Oh lordy! I think I would go for something that I would get a lot of use out of, like this pair of Jeffrey Campbell Litas.

Image: Pinterest

3. What kind of a teenager were you? Goth? Princess? Nerdy? 

I was a straight up freak. I had awesome friends but I really didn't have any cop on at all. I was pretty bookish and got good grades and stuff, was totally addicted to Haribo and generally didn't have much cop on til I turned about 15/16. I then discovered "Emo" and that was me for the duration of the Leaving Cert. 

4. This one is a bit morbid. If you could have any quote as your epitaph, what would it be and why?

I would probably go for the quintessential "Amy" thing and have a lyric from HIM or something. The only quote that sticks out at the moment is "To find yourself, you need the greatest possible freedom to drift", which was said by Francis Bacon, though I don't know to whom. 

5. What fictional character would you most like to have dinner with and why?

Oooooh. I mean so many people come to mind. King Joffrey Baratheon from the Game of Thrones books, just to see if he's as much a bitch as I think he is. Four from the Divergent trilogy but post-Allegiant. People who have read it will know why! Neville Longbottom, Luna Lovegood, Tyler Durden and maybe Michael Schofield from Prison Break. I like a lot of fiction so this is a hard one for me. 

7. Tell me about your first ever make-up purchase.

The first item of makeup I ever purchased was a matte black Urban decay eye-shadow which I still have, surprisingly. I didn't really bother with makeup until i got into my Emo phase so that would explain it... I should probably throw it away but it's still awesome and I hardly use it because of the nostalgia attached. 

8. It's the year 2020, where do you hope to be in life?

I would like to be working in the food industry full time, cooking. I would also hope to be living with Chris. It's my goal for the end of 2015 for us to be living together some place nice. I would also hope to be comfortable in my finances. I'd also hope to still be blogging, duh!

9. What is your drink order of choice when you go out? 

Southern and Lime, please, barman!

10. We all have a "Dirty Sexy Crush", so tell me: Who is yours?

David Caruso from CSI Miami (It's the voice, ladies, and the ginger), Ryan Tubridy (I love him) and also Jeremy Clarkson (He's an arse but hilarious). God I can't believe I'm admitting these things for all the internet to see! What would my mother say?! 

Now, it's time for the fun part. I hope that you guys enjoy this, and I hope you share it around so everyone can have some fun with it. 

I TAG: 

Robyn @ Robyns Rants and Raves 

Natasha @ Natashas Wonderland

Mags @ Magatha May (I miss her blogs, so maybe this will incentivise her to get back on the wagon!)

Kayliegh @ Kayliegh Land

Jamie @ Polka Dot Kisses

I hope you enjoyed this post, guys! 

Amy

xx

10 Day Challenge Day 10; 1 Picture of Me

I've really enjoyed this challenge, and so I leave you with the last post: a picture of me. 

Here you go! This is one of my favorite pictures of myself that I've ever taken. It was taken during the summer last year. I hope that's not cheating!! 

I hope you enjoyed this challenge as much as I did. 

Amy

xx

10 Day Challenge Day 9: 2 Songs.

#10 secrets // #09 loves // #08 fears // #07 wants // #06 places // #05 foods // #04 books // #03 films // #02 songs // #01 picture of yourself.

Two songs. Two. Songs. 

2. The Safety Dance - Men Without Hats 
 This is the ultimate in cheese but I don't care, if you haven't heard this, you need to! 

1. Bleed Well - HIM

One of my favorite songs, from my favorite album by my favorite band. Enjoy.

Tomorrow is the last day, with 1 photo of myself, oh no!! 

Amy xx

Red Lips; Red Hair Steps Out In Fanny Crown Paris

Good Morning my lovelies!

A while back I received word from the lovely Amy over at Fanny Crown Paris, inviting me to be a part of a competition they are running for bloggers. I was intrigued so I quickly had a flit around their site, before replying to the email telling them I was in! How much fun am I going to have styling one of their a-mazing dresses?!  If you are a fellow blogger and want to hop on the bandwagon, you can find all the details, rules and other notable tidbits on their Contest Information Page. 

What They Say:

How to join the contest:
All you need to do is pick a dress from our collection and tell us why you like the style, how you will style the dress (e.g. makeup, accessories, etc) and the occasion you would wear it. It's that simple.

Prizes up for grabs:

• 1 x Grand Prize: Write an article on any dress and get a chance to win the dress free of charge, shipping fee included!
• 3 x Exceptional Articles: Win a 100€ voucher for exceptionally written articles.
• Unlimited x Qualified Articles: Get a 50€ voucher for any qualified articles. We have up to 97% approval rate.

When you see the dress I've chosen to style, you may be thinking "What the hell, Amy?!", but I couldn't help myself! It was like a siren call. Anything baroque and show-stopping grabs my attention and makes me go all "magpie". It's just so fabulously glitzy, and seeing as I have an end of year ball to attend, for college, it would be the perfect ensemble to step out in!

Before I give it all away, I want to talk about the in-built features that come with ordering a dress from Fanny Crown. 

When you pick and immediately fall in love with one of Fanny Crowns jaw-dropping dresses, there is a feature to customize your chosen gown. This means you can give all your measurements (Hips, Waist, Bust, Height and the Hollow of your neck to the floor) and have your dress tailored to fit you exactly. How cool is that? Another awesome little note to remember is ALL of the Fanny Crown Paris dresses come with a built in bra so you need not worry about any "slips of the nips"!

You can also pick from a multitude of colors that are absolutely to-die-for! However, being me, and being Red Lips; Red Hair, I opted for a stunning burgundy and silver number with a low back that I'm pretty sure will give my boyfriend heart failure!! 

Without further ado, I give you my pick: The Baroque Sequins Burgundy Strapless Designer Dress. Grab a bib, you're going to drool!

At the center of this piece we have the absolutely glorious handmade Baroque Sequins Burgundy Strapless Designer Dress. I love the pattern on it, because it really reminds me of the many hours I spent in Art History. To this day I still have a penchant for all things Baroque or Baroque Inspired. I chose to accessorize this outfit with tough "rock chick" elements, and who is more of a rock chick than Betsey Johnson? I chose the Betsey Johnson "Bbela" peep toe platform pumps for their red sole and glittery beading, which picks up and accents the red glitter in the dress. The Valentino "Rockstud" studded cuff and Marc By Marc Jacobs Hair-ties add a very chic get still elegant twist on the popular "arm candy" trend. My favorite part of this whole look has got to be the Black Fringe Leather Clutch by Miss Jolie London. 

Finish the look with a fresh face, smokey eyes, lashings of a volumising mascara, a glossy Nars Oxblood manicure (don't forget about your toes either!!) and matching lipstick in Future Red, and finally, a spritz of Hypnotic Poison by Dior. Darling, in this outfit, you are going to rock that party!

There you have it; How I would style that fabulous dress from Fanny Crown Paris. Honestly, I think I may have to invest in it, there will be a hole in my heart without it. I guess I'll have to wait until the competition closes, though! 

I have also been given my very own Red Lips; Red Hair 15% discount coupon for my lovely readers to use on the Fanny Crown website, which is valid from today (16th January) to the 16th of March. 

Just enter RLIPSRHAIR14 when you get to the checkout page! 


While I'm here, I would just like to say thank you to Fanny Crown Paris for letting me take part in such a fun, creative and all-round awesome competition, it's been a great experience! 

You can find Fanny Crown Paris on the following media platforms:

Their Website,

Their Blog,

Twitter,

Pinterest, 

Facebook, 

I hope you found this post helpful and if you did, drop me a comment and let me know. 

Amy
xxx

10 Day Challenge Day 8: 3 Films

#10 secrets // #09 loves // #08 fears // #07 wants // #06 places // #05 foods // #04 books // #03 films // #02 songs // #01 picture of yourself.

I love films so this will be another tough post for me. 

3. Never Let Me Go. This film is based on the book of the same name by Kazuo Ishiguro and its amazing. I was gutted after I watched it the first time and it still remains one of my most favorite Sci Fi movies. 

2. Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter. I know, not the most factual of movies but a bloody great movie for entertaining you solidly. I watched this with my cousins during the summer during a pretty dramatic night. It's a great film, you should check it out. 

1. Dirty Dancing. This gets the #1 spot because it's the earliest film I remember seeing. I must have seen this when I was about 5 or 6 and I love it. Always have, always will. Patrick Swayze was a babe. 

Oh we're getting close to the end guys!

Tomorrow, 2 Songs. 

Amy xx

10 Day Challenge Day 7: 4 Books

#10 secrets // #09 loves // #08 fears // #07 wants // #06 places // #05 foods // #04 books // #03 films // #02 songs // #01 picture of yourself.

4 Books. Who made this challenge up anyways? 40 books wouldn't be enough scope!!! GOD! I'm just going to talk about what I'm currently reading, because I have multiple books on the go always!

4. Anna Karenina - Leo Tolstoy. This is an amazing book, but the only word that I can use to describe its size, length and density is a TOME. Proceed with caution on this one.

3. 11 Doctors; 11 Stories. This is an anthology by 11 different writers and so far I am quite enjoying it, though I only read it on the bus to college so its been unloved since I finished up for Christmas. Soon, though... 

2. Will Grayson, Will Grayson - John Green. John Green is unarguably one of my favorite writers of YA fiction and a very nice chap to boot. I got to meet him last February in the RDS at a signing for the Irish Launch of his most recent book, The Fault in Our Stars. 

1. Game of Thrones; A Song of Ice and Fire - George R. R. Martin. This book is brilliant and I'm slowly getting through it. I love the detail in it compared to the show. 

Hey I actually did it! 

Tomorrow, 3 Films. 

Amy xx

10 Day Challenge Day 6: 5 Foods

#10 secrets // #09 loves // #08 fears // #07 wants // #06 places // #05 foods // #04 books // #03 films // #02 songs // #01 picture of yourself.

Go and put on your "Eating Trousers" and then let me take you through my 5 favorite foods. This will not be a calorie neutral post.

5. Mashed Potatoes. The ultimate comfort food. They're amazebeans laced with real butter, maybe a smidge of finely diced onion and some parsley. Oh I'm drooling just typing about it!

4. Chicken Fajitas. Possibly my favorite "go-to" food, for the ease and flavours. Oh I love whipping up fajitas any time of day, but that may be the penchant for spicy food talking!

3. Chicken Taryaki Soba (from Wagamama). I get this every time I go to Wagamama and it never ceases to amaze me. Its sweet but its tart and the sauce is thick and beautiful. The noodles are always perfect and the chicken is tender, juicy and delicious. A+, Wagamama. 

2. Gelato. Not technically something I am meant to have, being lactose intolerant, but every now and again I have to do it. I love bubblegum gelato the most. Yum yum,

1. Burritos. I have had a long standing burrito addiction since late August of 2013 and I cannot go without mentioning them. They are my Kryptonite.

God I'm hungry now... Hope you enjoyed this post. 

Tomorrow: 4 Books. That could be a hard one. 

Amy xx

Motivational Monday 13/1/14

I bet theres a few of you reading this who have made the resolution to join the gym, and are now two weeks into the new year and finding it hard to stay motivated. I'm here for you, buddy!!

When you feel like quitting, thats when you enable BEAST MODE!! Run an extra mile, do 20 more steps, squat one last set, get on that leg press and keep going. If you puke, pass out, or die, THEN you can have a break.

Remember, every step you take is a step further in the right direction. This weeks song is Tiptoe by Imagine Dragons. "Don't let them know we're coming, hey yeah, tiptoe higher!"

See you next Monday, I hope you'll be aching from a few hard work-outs!

Amy
xx

Trend Talk - SS14 @ Fashion Week

If you have been around my blog for any length of time, you will know that I'm not terribly "fashion forward". I admire fashion, but that's it. I'm not very good at being "chic" or ahead of the curve by any stretch, but I know what I like, and I know what I don't like. So, with that in mind, I'm going to take you through the trends of the moment that I am digging in a big way, and the ones I hope don't take off for the sake of my sanity.

I think we'll start with the trends I don't like. 

Sheer: 

Can someone explain to me why it's "chic" or "trendy" to wear a see through dress? I just don't understand. 

To me, the idea of anything sheer, with the intent of flashing your undies is absolutely ridiculous. I feel sorry for that model in the picture above, you can clearly see her chest and that, to me at least, is the furthest thing from sexy. It leaves nothing to the imagination... 

Cat-Suits/Playsuits:

I really don't understand the appeal of cat-suits or play-suits. You need to be a certain kind of person to pull them off and I'm just not. I have no clue why people like them. Onesies are okay when they are being worn to bed but nothing more is acceptable. 

 I really don't like this play suit pictures above, I don't get what is appealing about it at all. To me it looks like thermal underwear that I would wear to an outdoor shoot. I will however cut some slack for the one below, because it has some aesthetic merit. I reckon someone like Gwyneth Paltrow would rock it.

I could go on and on about trends I don't like, but I think it would be best to move on to trends I'm really digging! On we go!

Wednesday Addams Esque:

I love all things black and gothic, even though I have put those days behind me myself. I still have a penchant for monochrome, despite having my own personal style evolve. One particular designer that stands out is Betsey Johnson. She's the wild-card of the fashion world and she makes the catwalk fun, at least in my estimation. Check out my top picks from her new line!

I would easily wear both of these in a heartbeat!! The pomp and frill is girly enough to make these fabulously gothic dresses wearable and very on trend for the coming season. I will definitely be taking some inspiration from these and pulling a full on Carrie Bradshaw at some point. 

Leather: 

From full on biker, to chic accents, I adore leather and the fact that it's going to be in for another season has me all a-quiver. Not that I am one to sheepishly follow the crowd, but when it's in style, I feel like I blend a bit easier.  

Carmen Marc Valvo, (a name I have never heard of, if I'm honest), seems to hit the nail on the head for the woman who doesn't want to be totally leather-clad. A small accent is enough to keep the outfit trendy without shortening the lifespan of the piece. 

Carmen Marc Valvo @MBFW2014

Gatsby Glam:

Any of you who follow me on the Twitter will know how much I adore the Great Gatsby, and I'm still obsessed with it. It's a sickness! With that in mind, any excuse to keep the 20's alive is alright by me. Check out this offering from Diane Von Furstenberg... 

Diane Von Furstenberg @ MBFW 2014

Doesn't it look amazing? It totally captures the opulence of the filmic era as well as the style of the time itself. Well done, DVF!! 

Well, there you have it, some of my favorite trends for the coming season and some cringe-inducing design choices. What do you think of the upcoming trends? Do you wait with bated breath for Penneys and TopShop to unveil their new lines? Drop me a line! If you like this kind of topic, I will try to publish more.