February Wishlist

With January finally over, it's time to look to Spring... I'm compiling a wishlist of the things I would love to have for the beginning of the spring season!

Top of the list are Toms. I'm utterly in love with Toms, what an amazing shoe, with a brilliant ethical ethos. I used to be all about Crocs. They were my Number 1 all time ffavouriteshoe. For years, I never wore anything else. Toms have now filled that void for me!! Toms shoes are not only wonderful for their fashionable prints, colour range and ability to always be bang on trend, but also because of their #OneForOne giving programme. Toms use their profits not only from Shoes, but also from Sunglasses, and Coffee to supply the people of Third World Countries with new shoes, sight treatments and clean water respectively. I think I speak for everyone when I say there is no such thing as Buyers Remorse when you treat yourself to a pair of these amazing shoes.

In February, I don't intend on buying four pairs, but I would like to have another 2 maybe?? The black wedges would be wonderful for work, and the cream crochet ones would be nice for adding a casual girly element to any outfit.

Then I want to get some new Running gear. If you follow me on Twitter, you'll know I'm working up to doing a half marathon this year, and for that I'm going to need some serious running gear. I will be investing in some more Under Armour Sports Bras, because they are absolutely wonderful for keeping your knockers in check while you run. Then some Nike Running Tights for training would be nice! Nothing says serious runner like compression gear. I need a new running watch desperately, something with GPS to track my mileage, instead of my phone! Finally, the Asics Gel Noosa. I've been lusting after these for a long time and soon they will be mine... Oh yes!!

Finally, I have a fashion inspiration wishlist. I want to invest in some oversize sweaters for the early spring season, like the white "Ballin" and black "Normal People Scare Me" ones in the vision-board above. I want to get some good quality jeans, like the River Island ones included above. I need new glasses too, so I'm going to save up and get some Ray Ban Wayfarers. As for accessories, I'm all about representing the things I love, as you all know, so some nice new Arrow rings would be much enjoyed!! 

What are your wishlist items for February?

Let me know!! 

Amy

xx

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Things They Don't Tell You About... In Laws

In Laws... I know you shuddered reading those two tiny words, you can admit it to me, because I do to. Anyone in a longterm relationship can understand; The In-Laws are an ever present fixture in your life, whether you know it or not. 

Image: Valley Girl Gone Country 

Before I go into this I must preface this with a disclaimer. I'm in a relationship for almost four years now, and I refer to his Mam as the MIL. That's just handier for me than anything else. And since this relationship is a stable, loving and has been very much maintained over the last four years, I can confidently make the assumption that it's not going anywhere any time soon. So with that said, I'm going to get into it. Lord, here we go!! 

You wont ever be good enough...

You may have been working under the guise that his or her mother and/or father loves you. You're a shining beacon of love and stability for their child, after all. But they don't. Yes they may be extremely fond of you, think you're amazing as a human, but most of the time parents are never happy with their son or daughters partner. If you're going out with the oldest or god forbid an only child, you're up shit creek. Sorry, but there it is. You could be married for 10 years, have 3 kids and be as in love as when you were starting out, and you wont ever be good enough for their firstborn. You might as well accept it now. Unless you take a bullet for them, you're always going to be "upgradable" in the eyes of the In-Laws. 

You are allowed to hate them...

Personally, I've nothing but great time for C's family, but there are those of you out there not so enamoured by your OH's folks. I promise you, that is 100% okay. You are allowed to not like them, you're allowed to hate them. What you're not allowed to do is to bitch about them to your OH. They wont thank you for that insight. Yes the MIL might rearrange your kitchen cupboards or comment that the newly polished mantel is dusty, but you just need to find a neutral source to rant and rave to. If I have to rant, I'll always pick someone who doesn't know the parent I'm ranting about, and go at it like a woman possessed. Hating them is absolutely okay, but you have to let it out to someone who your effing and blinding wont hurt. 

In Laws have in laws... 

It seems like the world is adept at forgetting that to be an In-Law, you will probably have had to have an In-Law experience yourself. You could learn a thing or two from yours. If they're awful, just plain mean and you despise them, do everything in your power to remember how they made you feel, and then use that to be the best In Law you can possibly be when the time comes! If you're having a great time with yours, then aspire to be like them in the future. The cycle doesn't have to remain the same. If you hate them, cling to this and remind yourself that you hated the whole debacle, so your kids wont have to worry about you being an arsehole to their spouses. 

There you have it, 3 things that don't crop up as common knowledge about your Mother and Father in Law. 

I hope this helped, or at least was mildly enjoyable to read! 

If you have any other topics you want me to cover, just name it below! 

Amy

xx

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Review Tea Tree & Peppermint Intensive Treatment Hand Pack

I'm no stranger to a good mani. After years of archery callouses making my hands look gnarled and ugly, I've come to treasure the gift of supple, well cared for hands. I'm a bit of a hand cream addict, really! Soap And Glory is my brand of choice, but when I spotted this intense treatment in my local chemist, I knew it needed to be mine!! So I snapped it up and counted down the hours until I could slip the gloves on and enjoy a 20 minute relaxation break. 

These particular gloves have a host of active ingredients which aid in the treatment of even the driest, most Sahara-tastic hands. In this pack your gloves contain; 

• Tea Tree,
• Peppermint,
• Rose Flower, 
• Shea Butter
• Collagen, and 
• Vitamin E

These ingredients go to work immediately, penetrating the skin of your hands for deep lasting moisture. I've found with these gloves that they can be even better and more rapidly effective, if you can wrap your hands in a warm towel after you've slipped the gloves on. Then when the towel has cooled down, massage your hands through the gloves and allow them to cool in their own time. 

When you're done, remove the gloves and rub the remaining product on your hands in. This particular treatment leaves your hands cool and refreshed - great for us in the office, typing all day, week in, week out. Follow with an at home manicure, and you're going to feel like a new woman! (Or man, I suppose!!)

This particular treatment was 1.99 and it does the job really well, my hands feel refreshed and rejuvenated and smelling like peppermint. A must for a weekly pamper night!! 

Have you tried this? 

What are your thoughts?

Amy

xx

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Review: Maybelline Dream Matte Mousse

In today's post, I'm revisiting my 16 year old self. I repurchased my old staple foundation, Maybelline Dream Matte Mousse. I'm in the shade 04 Light Porcelain.

Marketed towards Oily and Normal skin types, this foundation used to be the great love of my life. As I've gotten older, I've learned more about my skin and the application of foundation, so I've been getting along with this product even better than I did six years ago.

It's lightweight, has nice coverage, and doesn't doesn't break me out! I think the last point is great because at 22 I'm more prone to break outs than I ever was at 16.

To apply, I take a small amount of the product from the pot with a cotton wool bud, (because my lengthy acrylic nails are not conducive to scooping foundation from a pot) and dot it around my face. I press and buff it into my face using my Blank Canvas Cosmetics F22 brush. If more coverage is needed, the cotton wool bud trick happens again but the product is popped on the back of my hand, the brush dabbed into it and then buffed over the areas extra coverage is needed.

All round, I have to say I quite like this foundation for a slightly airbrushed look, it blends out flawlessly and doesn't sit heavily like a lot of foundations can. It lasts very well and I noticed very little breakdown during the day. Two thumbs up from moi, darlings!

Maybelline Dream Matte Mousse is 11.99 in Boots nationwide and comes in 15 shades. 

Have you tried the Dream Matte Mousse?

Let me know how you got on with it! 

Amy

xx

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Things They Don't Tell You About... Tattoos

People will always tell you all the things you should know about getting inked, the pain, the after-care, etc! But there are things people don't tell you. I don't claim to know it all, I'm not heavily tattooed by any standard, but I've enough indelible doodles on my body to know a little bit. 

Image: Ravenhart @ Deviantart via Google Images

People will look at you. 

Maybe in a negative way, or maybe they're admiring that amazing vibrant mandala on your elbow, but they will look, and possibly stare... They may pass comment too. That one can be more hurtful especially when it's negative, but you might as well be prepared. If they pass comment, just remember that they're usually not trying to be rude. 99% of people who've commented on my ink since I was 16 have not actually been arseholes, rather, their comments make them just seem like an arsehole. Do not rise to the person(s) who are looking/staring/commenting. 

Regret is okay. 

We as humans don't know what tomorrow is going to bring, much less ten years down the line, or by the time we are eighty. You might love your new old school sparrow today, tomorrow and for the next ten years, but if the day comes where you don't love it so much any-more, well, contrary to the prevailing opinion, that's okay too!! I've six (or eight, depending on your perspective) tattoos that I've accumulated since I was 16, and I'm going to say this right here, I kinda, sorta, maybe a little bit regret ONE of them. And even in saying that, regret may not be the right word. It's just not as great as it could have been. If in future I decided that I don't want it any-more, it's cool, I can get it lasered off or covered up. Never let anyone tell you that they "told you so" when you were twenty that you would regret it one day, that's not their place, and frankly it's rude and ignorant. 

Some people wont like your body art, and may ask you to cover it up. 

This one is not included in my first point because it's not the same. Out on the street, do what you want, wear what you want, nobody can say anything. However, if your lovely mammy or daddy or anyone who is a static part of your life has an issue with your body art and they broach the topic in a respectful manner about keeping it under wraps, you might be as well off to work with that person. Take work as an example; In my job, my boss doesn't really have an opinion on tattoos, they just are. However when he asked me nicely would I mind covering them in work, I was more than happy to comply. Why? Because I'm sound, and I understand that not everyone is as nice as he is about them. 

You're not a unique snowflake (No I don't mean it like that) 

Of course, there are instances where you have a 100% custom piece of work done and it's one of a kind, but all around the world there are people getting inked at all hours of the day, and there is going to be someone who has something similar, maybe the same subject matter or theme. You might think your lego superhero sleeve is the most original idea to come to light, but there's always gonna be a guy who has something the same or similar. You may be the only person with a certain combination of pieces, but no way are your individual pieces unique... sorry! Unless of course its a portrait or something, I suppose! 

Facebook messages will abound...

Sometimes when you're reasonably well coloured in, people will message you on Facebook totally out of the blue, including a link to some corner of the internet with something like "What do you think about this for my ankle?" underneath it... And you'll be expected to advise said person on the placement and design of whatever they're thinking about getting. Rest assured that the person wont get it, and will message you again in 6 months time with a new idea. 

Anything nice will surprise people...

You have a good job and you're rocking a chest piece? You mean you're not sitting on the dole having the taxpayers pay for your body art?! Wow!! You have a strong religious faith and have a set of sleeves?? No way!! You have 3 lovely, charming, well mannered kids and a husband who love you and respects you? How can that be?! People don't expect high achievement from tattooed folks even in this day and age. They don't expect eloquence or manners or any nice qualities in general... It's so annoying. I can have tattoos and still be a moral, ethical, polite and well rounded human. In fact, you probably wont find nicer people than the coloured in kind! 

I hope that this was mildly enjoyable to read, and I hope you enjoy my TTDTYA... series! 

Leave a comment down below if there are any topics you want me to cover! 

Amy 

xx

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Pamper Day Essentials

January. Freezing cold, howling winds, driving rain and the prospect of bills... Ick!!! Christmas is well and truly dead, folks!! With all the people aiming for healthier bodies, healthier minds and setting goals to blend the two together, it's important to remember the spirit. 

Pamper days make the whole body, mind and soul feel SO much better. From aching muscles to badgering thoughts and generally feeling run down, you need to take some me time. So, grab these essentials, and enjoy an afternoon to soothe your soul along with the mind and body. 

Music. 

I've been revisiting my favourite band in a big way lately, but whatever you are loving at the moment will do. Pure Heroine by Lorde is a wonderful album for playing in the background because of the beats, if you're open to suggestion! Not everyone can relax to Finnish Love Metal like I can, eh?!

A Hot Bath or Shower. 

If you have a bath, run it. Put some nice bubbly scented foam in it and let the warm water melt your stress away. If like me, you've only got a shower, then find some beautifully scented shower stuff and a pouffe. Wash your hair first, and apply a hair masque (Penneys have a great Argan Oil one for 1.50 a tube!), let that sit while you get washed and relaxed. I prefer showers to baths because I can think better for some reason, but you can do whatever you prefer!! 

Slap On a Face Pack.

So many brands make amazing face packs. Montagne Jeunesse make single sachets in a wide variety, that you can pick up in Penneys and pharmacies nationwide for under 2 euro. They do mud, peel off, exfoliation, you name it, and they combat a variety of skin issues. If you feel more upmarket, you can get the Boots Essentials 3 Minute Clay Mask, or the No.7 Beautiful Skin Pore Vacuum Mask. Both of these options are incredible and can be used on all skin types! If when you're done with your mask you need another, Image Skincare do the most amazing Vital C Hydrating Enzyme Masque which you can actually leave on overnight, if you want. 


Moisturise. 

Now is the time to moisturise yourself, and then you can hop into that awful onesie you have hoarded for this very occasion!! I've been shuffling between Cocoa Brown Chocolate Whip, Dove Silky Nourishing Body Cream and Argan Oil Body Butter, but obviously you can use whatever works for you. Once this step is complete, it's time for the onesie!


Do Your Nails. 

While your mask is doing the job, grab your nail kit, we all have one! Strip off the old chipped polish, and give yourself a nice manicure. I'm sure you know the steps, but if you don't, my gorgeous friend Kayliegh has you covered with her At Home Manicure Guide. Do your toes too, while your at it... I know you've been putting it off!! 


A Good Book. 

Put down the phone, flip down the laptop. Grab a good book, whatever you like to read. I always like to wind down with some good Chick-Lit or YA Fiction. LA Candy by Lauren Conrad is a great, easy, un-complicated read for just such and occasion!! If you need something more stimulating, you should pick up Woman in The Making by Rory "Panti Bliss" O'Neill. It's a riot, deeply moving and a wonderful love letter to Dublin City as it grew and changed into the city we know and love today. 

Pamper sessions aren't about looking good, but about doing things to make you feel good. The actions you take to relax and feel better will make you look lovely no matter what. Don't worry about your hair, you fabulous creature you!!! I know you're gorgeous under that turbie towel!! 

What are your go to Pamper Session Essentials?? 

Amy

xx

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Tattoo Aftercare Secrets!

Freshly Inked... 

Tattoos are a major gra of mine, from the smell of the tattoo shop, to the stencil and placement to the pain. Yes, I enjoy the pain. I'm able to compartmentalise myself pretty well and so even if I'm in a lot of pain while under the gun, I will sit like a rock. It's probably in be to sit so steadily because I've an awful short fuse for fidgeting.

While I love all aspects of tattoos and admire the qualities that make artists great, I have to admit the healing process sucks the most bitter of lemons! I don't like the throbbing ache you've to deal with for a week, the tight itching skin and the peeling. I honestly don't mind cleaning and minding it, hell when you've shelled out as much money over the years as I have, you wont mind either. Its not the process, it's the irritations that go with it. So here's my list for minding your new ink, that your artist didn't tell you.

First and most important... Follow your artist's after-care instructions to the letter!! They know what they're doing, and they know what's best for your fresh work.

Take preventative measures. Clip and file your nails so they're not long or sharp. I do this every time I get work done because scratching your new body art is detrimental to it. I love my nails, but I love my investments more, and even with the most rock solid determination, you will still scratch unconsciously when you're asleep. I know, I've woken myself up trying to get at new ink...

Peeling and itching like a mother...

Change your bedclothes. I know this seems ridiculous, but there's a reason you cover your pillows when you've a fresh ear or facial piercing - hygiene is everything! Buy dark sheets and a dark duvet cover, that way if your new work weeps during the night you wont have an ungodly smudge on your lovely silk bedding! Keep it for when you're planning new pieces.

Try not to sweat for a while. Avoid running, gym sessions, zumba, etc until your healed up. If you have to zumba or run, take it handy, ok?? Just avoid pools and the like at all costs. I'm serious. Chlorine is evil.

Carry your lotion with you everywhere. I've learned that tight, dry, itching flaking skin will drive you nuts if you don't moisturise it slightly. Find somewhere private and reapply a light layer of your lotion over your new tattoo. Trust me, even if you're in some quasi-public space, wierd looks are better than slowly losing the will to live from itching skin.

Find what works for you and stick to it. Personally, Bepanthen (the plain nappy rash ointment) is my lotion of choice for the first 2 to 3 days of healing, and after that it's over to my good buddy E45. This time around, I've found a brand called CaraDerm and their seaweed soothing lotion is the biz! The same goes for soap. Dove plain soap is usually my choice, but Sanex 0% is great too. If you're unsure, get your artist to recommend something and then go hunt it down.

Arnica!! Arnica tablets will set you back around 6 euro. They are tiny little things but they are the absolute shizznit. Arnica tabs will take down your swelling and bruising in double quick time. If like me, you bruise and swell like nothing else on earth, you need arnica. Zinc would be good too, it's helpful for your natural defences and since you're healing a very nicely designed open wound, you'll be needing all the help you can get!

Patience, grasshopper. It's going to heal, just give it time, okay?? Don't pick, don't rub, don't scrub, don't worry. It will get there.

Enjoy your new ink, and remember two weeks of irritation is nothing for a lifetime with your new art! 

Amy

x

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