Beauty Tag!

I'm so blocked when it comes to writing, it's killing me! I'm coming to you today with a tag, because I'm trying to work off the block right now. Bear with me, this isn't my usual style. 

On we go!

SKINCARE

-How many times do you wash your face daily?
I wash my face once a day, but I use cleanser twice a day. 

-What skin type do you have? (dry,oily,combo)
Oily with dry patches. Generally speaking my skin is actually pretty well behaved. 

-What is your current facial wash?
I use the Peaches and Clean Cleansing Milk from Soap and Glory. 

-Do you exfoliate?
Once a day, maybe once every other day. 

-What brand do you use?
I move between exfoliating masks from Lush and Loreal Men Expert Pure Power.

-What moisturizer do you use?
Nivea Q10 Energising Day Cream every day without fail! It's my holy grail.

-Do you have freckles?
Yep. Comes with the territory of being ginger!

-Do you use eye cream?
Sometimes, when I do I use the Nivea Q10 Eye Cream

-Do you or did you have acne prone skin?
I've never had acne, woohoo!!

-Did you ever have to use Pro-activ?
Nope. Never!! 

MAKE-UP

-What foundation do you use?
I move between Estee Lauder Double Wear, Rimmel Match Perfection, and Covergirl Outlast 3 in 1, 

-How about concealer?
Collection Lasting Perfection

-Do you know your undertone color?
I think it's pink? 

-What do you think of fake eyelashes?
I like them, they can really make a look 

-Did you know that you are suppose to change your mascara every 3 months?
I did, but I don't always abide by that...

-What brand of mascara do you use?
Benefit Roller Lash or Catrice False Lash Effect

-Sephora or MAC?
After being in Paris, Sephora all the way! BRING SEPHORA TO DUBLIN!

-Do you have a MAC Pro-card?
Nay! 

-What makeup tools do you use in make up application?
Brushes and my Real Techniques Miracle Complexion Sponge...

-Do you use make-up base/primer for the eyes?
Not always, but when I do I use my Essence I Heart Stage primer

-For the face?
Without a doubt, my Catrice Smoothing Pore Refiner

-What is your favorite eyeshadow (color or shade)?
I love a smokey eye... 

-Do you use pencil or liquid eyeliner?
Both! 

-How often do you poke your eyes with an eyeliner pencil?
Every time, I'm clumsy!!

-What do you think of pigment eyeshadows?
They're alright, I haven't much experience of them to be honest... 

-Do you use mineral makeup?
Not that I'm aware of.

-What is your favorite lipstick?
Ah lads, how long have you got to hear me wax lyrical?! I love my HEMA red, Urban Decay Shame, MAC Faux, to name but three...

-How about lipgloss?
I cannot abide the stuff, it makes me feel so uncomfortable. 

-What is your favorite blush to use?
Catrice Ultimate Color in Rosewood Forest

-Do you buy your makeup on ebay?
Nope. Never. 

-Do you like drugstore makeup?
I love it, often times I will opt for budget brands over high end...

-Do you go to CCO's? (cosmetic company outlets)
Like The Cosmetic Outlet? Sometimes! 

-Did you ever consider taking make-up classes?
Yes, please someone teach me! 

-Are you clumsy in putting on makeup?
Well I don't know how to make my winged liner match, and I've been wearing winged liner for years...

-Name a makeup crime that you hate?
Some girls don't know how important brows are. Also, BLEND DOWN YOUR NECK OMG!!!

-Do you like colorful shades of makeup (lipstick,eyeshadow) or neutral ones?
I like both, I tend to go for neutral eyes and a bright lip. 

-Which celebrity always has great make up?
Emmmm, I cant think of any celebrities...

-If you could leave the house using just ONE make up item,what would you use?
Brows, brows, brows, brows, BROWS!

-Could you ever leave the house without any makeup on?
Of course. I do it all the time. I don't need a full face to feel beautiful. 

-Do you think you look good even without any makeup on?
I've got to say, I feel just as confident without makeup. 

-In your opinion, what is the BEST makeup line?
Hmmmm..... I love Urban Decay, but I also feel incredibly loyal to Rimmel...

-What do you think of Makeup? 
I think it's an incredible thing, you can use it any way you like and express yourself any way you see fit. I think it's wonderful and liberating and fun. 

I TAG: All of you reading this! If you decide to do this tag, send me the link, I would love to read it! 

Amy 

xo

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Things They Don't Tell You About... Break Ups

It's a scary prospect, being single.... I haven't been single for longer than two weeks up until two months ago, so I know exactly how hard it can be. In today's edition of TTDTYA, I'm going to make you feel a bit better about where you're at. Okay? 'Kay, here we go!

1. It's Not Always Going To Hurt

Breakups are shit. Lets all be honest here. They hurt for both parties and they cause ripples that reach far and wide. However, while right now you might be feeling a bit like you got hit in the soul by a freight train, I promise you, time really does heal all wounds. You're going to come through the other end.

2. Junk Food and Movies Help Immensely. 

I've lost count of the number of weekends I have spent with my friends drinking cocktails or wine, eating icecream and watching bad Sci-Fi movies or re-runs of old sitcoms. Time spent focusing on the things you love with the people you love, ignoring the calorie content of everything and indulging in anything you want will take the edge off. Just don't develop unhealthy habits, ya hear?!

3. Clearing Them From Your Everyday Life is Necessary. 

My Ex was one of the greatest people I've ever had the pleasure of journeying through even just a snippet of my life with. I had pictures of us from multiple things, framed and tacked up onto walls and as backrounds on devices. Changing the wallpapers, taking down the pictures, boxing up the stolen hoodies, it all sucked, but it's needed. You can't start fresh with old stuff clogging up your life and soul. I don't want you to forget that person or what they taught you, but you should try to clean the slate. It's over, don't linger on the past.

4. It's Okay to Miss Them. 

I've never broken up with someone and never thought of them again - nobody does that! It's natural and okay to miss them. You will notice that in time you miss them less, you don't wonder how they are or did they ever get that eye test. But if they do cross your mind, it is okay to miss them a bit. They were a big part of your life, you can't erase that.

5. You're Allowed to Fall To Bits, Rebel, Whatever You Want!! 

You've been with "Mr Right" for 7 years, and now that it's over you feel the need to indulge yourself in ways you felt you couldn't before. Go and do what you feel motivated to do. For me it was getting a piercing, taking on more hours in work, sometimes crying while listening to records in the dark, but at the end of the day it all went into the healing process. If you want to get a wild hair cut, tattoo, go on an adventure to Peru for a week, cry into your childhood bear or go out partying every weekend, that's your prerogative.

6. Finding A Hobby To Occupy

 Your Mind Helps 

Taken from Reddit /r/vinyl, Credit to owner

I've been getting into Vinyl a lot lately, and when I'm feeling a bit crap I go onto the internet and look up albums I want, or I go onto Reddit and read things that make me laugh. I took up learning French recently, so that's really occupying my head as learning a language is a pretty decent commitment. I've gotten back into reading too! More time to do things, means more time to be productive!  Vinyl takes up a physical space in my life, Reddit helps time pass when I'm sad, learning French is a way to focus and reading is a way to unwind!

Breakups are hard, but they happen. You will be okay, you will learn from this and grow. It might seem bleak and scary, but that's good, you have endless chances to make yourself happy.

You're brilliant, and you're going to get through this, I promise you.

You're a free agent now, do you, Hunty!!!

XX

Amy

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Where Have I Been??? Life Update

Hi All!!

I'm sorry it has been so long since I actively posted. It's been a rough time, but things are finally settling.

I'm not going to get into the finer details of things, but I feel I owe you an answer, since I've been racking up views, getting emails from brands, and ignoring everyone and everything for almost two months... TWO months. I am such a bad blogger.

At the beginning of last month my relationship of four years came to a close. I made a mistake, I admit it was my fault, and I took the consequences. I can't really say much more than that. A choice was put to me, which I could not make, and so it was made for me. That's just the fact, I'm not scapegoating anyone or pushing the blame away, I take every modicum of responsibility. It was hard, but I've come through it. My friends have been amazing, and my best friend, well he has been my rock. I doubt he reads this but if he does - Thank you Dex, 10/10 would recommend!

Everything slipped, my mental health, my diet and fitness, skincare, the whole lot. I was putting in basic effort, and that was it. Anyways, it's been two months and I'm okay. I've been working and spending a lot of time with people I love. Things like going to the seafront, watching the ferries, buying vintage vinyl, eating burritos and eggs benny, drinking great cocktails and reading have helped me immeasurably, not to mention all the hours I've wasted on Reddit!!

As for blogging, and social media of any kind, I was avoiding it at all costs during the last few weeks. My head was messed up, the last thing I needed was to feel the need to update you all on how crap I was feeling. When I was feeling up to it, I posted here and there.

Anyways, everything is back on a level, and I'm pretty much geared up for a return, I hope you are all ready!!

I love you all, 

Sorry I've been MIA, 

Amy 

xx

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Things They Don't Tell You About: Growing Up

If you follow me on Twitter, you will probably have seen me tweeting about how I feel like a complete sham adult. I feel like a teenager trapped in the body of someone who is technically "an adult female". At the age of 22, I feel like a child with a drinking permit. As such, I feel qualified to tell you a thing or two about growing up.

Image: MemeCentre

If You Don't Know What You're Doing, You're Doing It Right

As a teenager, while everyone around me was making plans for college and careers, I had no idea what I was doing. I had no clue where my life was headed. I was in a bad place, the future had no part in my life at the time. I guess you could say I was rudderless. 5 years later and I've got a job, a life and a positive mental attitude, and still no idea what I'm doing with my life. But do you know what? I don't think anyone does!! 

Be Who You Are, Regardless

When I was in school, I was a bit of a loser. I was the weird kid, the emo girl, I drew and wrote. I briefly had blonde highlights. I spent lunches in the library, free classes in the Art Room, skipped Economics to hang out with the Woodwork teacher. I was not exactly popular, but for the most part I was happy. Looking back on my school life, while I can identify the negative themes that ran through, I'm doubt I would change a thing! I think it's fair to say I found my groove in life. You will too. Don't worry. 

Looking Back At Bad Pictures Will Always Make You Smile

When I was 17 I had black hair, wore black clothes, listened to depressive rock ballads and identified as "Emo". The pictures are horrific but they always make me laugh. If you've been into neon, monochrome, drawn on brows, shiny tights, jelly shoes, brown lipstick or whatever, you will laugh at the pictures, because they came from good times, regardless!! It's okay, we all have awful pictures to look back and cringe at!! 

It's Okay To Not Want To Be A Grown Up

I don't want to be a grown up... I never did. I have a full time job and a life but I also have a substantial collection of teddies and an obsession with cake. I don't know how to dress like a grown up, nor do I know how to behave "in a calm and professional manner". I feel like adulthood was forced on me. It's not fair!!!! 

Do you like being a grown up?

Are you more of a child with a drinking license? 

xo 

Amy

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The Soundtrack to My Life!

So I saw this tag on my gorgeous friend Kayliegh's blog a few weeks back and I'm having awful writers block at the moment, so I'm gonna pretend I was tagged and give this a lash. Be prepared...

Song You Listen To When You're Happy: 

When I'm happy I love to listen to really stonkinly good rock anthems. I want to boost my good mood even further, so I go for something like this: The Darkness; Everybody Have A Good Time

Song You Listen to When You're Sad:

James Blunt is a number one pick for Sad Amy. especially Same Mistake. 

Song You Want Played At Your Wedding: 

Call me an old romantic, but I want to have the first song Chris ever dedicated to me played at my wedding which was Lullaby by The Spill Canvas 

Song You Dance Around The House To: 

You guys know I'm a Zumba nut, so I've chosen a bit of a strange one for this. I cannot stop myself dancing around my house to Major Lazer, Watch Out For This, it just compels me to crack out my best Zumba moves! 

Song You Play in Headphones When Out And About:

Don't judge me for this, but I've an obsession with rappers that bring Miley Cyrus in on projects. She's woeful these days, but when she collaborates with the likes of Will.I.Am, she's untouched. Here's "Feeling Myself"

Song You Listen To When You're Angry:

This song, Broken Crown by Mumford and Sons is my ultimate angry running song. When I need peace on the road, this is what I pick!

Song that Makes You Lose Your Shit At A Party

I'mmmmm sooooo fancaaaaaayyyyy!!!!! If this comes on when I'm out, you best beieve I'm going to belt this out at top volume!! 

Last Song You Listened To

What an absolute TUNE!!! I'm All About It, "it" being this song by Hoodie Allen!! 

Song You Want To See Live: 

Another pick from The Darkness... Yes, I know, they have been a favourite of mine for over a decade, sue me!! I've never seen the Darkness live, but soon, on March 7th no less, I'll be seeing them in The Spirit Store Dundalk for the first time ever, in a venue for 100 people. Eeeek!!! If they play this, I will cry; With A Woman. 

Your Karaoke Song?

Contrary to the advice circulated by the Spice Girls, if you Wannabe my lover, kindly do NOT get with my friends!! 

Song You Work Out To: 

This is a pure, unadulterated LEG DAY tune! Whether it's a run, or its a few rounds of the leg press. here you have: Jason Derulo's Wiggle 

Song With Most Memories Attached: 

How many summer shoots were spent making Safety Dance references, I wonder?? Men Without Hats, what a great, under-appreciated band!!

Song That Makes You Cry: 

If I'm upset, I've an awful habit of worsening the situation with music. Usually Iris bt The Goo Goo Dolls gets me pretty messed up. 

Guilty Pleasure Song

My gorgeous friend Kerrie and I have a bit of an in-joke surrounding this song, and as such when I hear it I always text her or Facebook message her with the lyrics!! Dont You Want Me by The Human League

Favourite Song From a Musical

If you haven't got this movie in your top five, we cant be friends anymore... Professional Pirate from Muppets Treasure Island 

Song By An Irish Artist

Ooooh Hozier, be still my beating heart!!! Angel of Small Death In The Codeine Scene, what a cracker of a tune!!! 

Song Played on An Instrument

You Can Call Me Al, covered by any jazz group, Oh my god. Perfection. 

Song You Hate

I fucking despise The Script, this is just one song by them that I despise!!! 

Favourite Song Of All Time 

Venus Doom by HIM. This song is the title track off the album of the same name, which I have tattooed on my left leg. I've linked the full album for you, because it's a whole story in musical form.

Maybe you've gotten to know me better, I don't know. hopefully some of this music explains my very strange personality better, at least!! 

I TAG YOU!!!!! 

xo 

Amy

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Things They Dont Tell You About... Dieting

Dieting. Probably the number one topic on all our minds in the new year is losing that Christmas weight. Now, dieting is all very well and good, but there are plenty of things you haven't been told about the process...

Image: Google Images

If it really worked, you'd only have to diet once. 

Dieting is a great thing. Go on a healthy eating kick, lose the sugary crap and eradicate the fizzies, hurrah for you and your newly build temple to good health. However, if it really worked like we all think its supposed to, why do we spend so much of our lives trying to shift that last five pounds, when when we've it shifted, going back to our old ways. Diets may work, but they don't work like you think they do, and they certainly don't work for a long period of time.

Dieting might be a great theory, but the practice will suck. 

Sorry to be a Moaning Myrtle here everybody, but diets are only good on paper. I have read up on countless diets over the years, trying to lose my belly fat, and what looks great on paper winds up in an Eddie Rockets binge three weeks in. Find the balance that works for you, stick to that and don't bother with the Atkins or the GI. You'll hate every second of deprivation, so don't even try it. Cutting out something entirely is a recipe for disaster... if you want to get rid of something, wean yourself off it.

Sensible choices win out every time. 

I'd love to have a lean, amazing body like all the Hollywood A-List celebrities do, but do you know how hard they work on their diets? Some of these people don't even do it themselves, they have people to cook for them, to keep them on their diet plans!! How are you meant to measure up to that?? You're not. Make smart choices, instead. For me, that's no added sugar, no added salt, very little bread, brown alternatives where I can for rice and pasta, padding out meals with vegetables, and keeping my fitness up. For you, that might be as little as ten squats in the morning while the kettle boils, green tea and lemon instead of Lyons on weekdays, and a Caesar Salad instead of a panini at lunch. Little, buildable choices make for a much more sustainable lifestyle.

You are allowed to slip. 

Did you know you're allowed to fall off the wagon?? Even as I type this I've fallen off the wagon but every day is a new chance so make it count. Every morning I used to have the strongest, sweetest cup of Lyons gold blend you can imagine, with milk in it. Now I have herbal tea, no milk, no sugar, and that in itself has made me feel so much better. But I do enjoy Mint Crisp Dairy Milk. I love Manhattan Popcorn, and I won't ever turn down Club Orange. Slipping is proof you are human, and its okay. If you eat clean 3 meals and 3 snacks per day, 7 days a week and one day you just crave a Turkish Delight? Have the Turkish and enjoy it, because guess what? It's okay!!!

If you have any suggestions for a TTDTYA post, please leave me a comment!! 

Amy

xo

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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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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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