Summer Is Coming

 

 

 

Game of Thrones pun aside, with the change of season, I have added a few new pieces to my wardrobe of late (cheap and cheerful as per!) and I just wanted to share and maybe give you some inspiration to spruce up your threads for the sunnier months. It's amazing sometimes how a few new additions can make all the difference and help to create a host of different combinations with existing items in your wardrobe. On my summer wish list were 1) A light knit, 2) A Bardot top, 3) A pair of brogues and 4) A summer dress, all of which came in handy during my glamorous staycation in Courtmac last week!

 

I picked up this crotchet style cream knit in the Topshop sale lately and find it perfect for layering. It's lightweight enough for Summer, yet still substantial enough to keep you warm in the chilly evenings. A baggy fit and a slouchy neckline makes it all the more comfy too. I styled it with a pair of ripped jeans from Only (softest things ever, by the way!) and my faithful Stan Smiths.

 

 



 

 

 

 

 

 

Next up is a really pretty Bardot top I picked up in Zara recently. This has been a great little transitional piece for me as it looks great with flats and a simple pair of jeans, or dressed up with a pair of heels and a chocker. The pale blue shade looks really crisp and summery and even better with a bit of a faux glow ;) My exact one seems to be out of stock on the Zara website, but I have linked similar here. Plenty of stores doing lovely versions of a classic piece.

 

 

Finally is a dress I picked up from Penneys. It's a really pretty dusty pink shade with lace cut outs and a frill overlay at the bust (very Downton Abbey-esque!) The dress comes with a slip and flows really nicely, well worth the €17 I paid! I paired it with a gorgeous pair of brogues I picked up in Clarkes recently. The Mahon shop had only one pair of 4.5's left, so really it was fate! They make me feel like I should either be the most stylish granny on the block or like I should be in Made in Chelsea....let's hope for the latter!

 





 

 

That's all folks! Hope everyone is having a lovely summer and, as always, thanks for the read.

 

Love,

Amy.x

 

 

Bums N' Roses

 

 

Following on from my last post all about denim, I've raised the bar a little this week with a slight twist on a classic pair of blue denims. There is nothing better sometimes than simplicity and a white tee paired with some skinny jeans is a winner on everyone. If you're thinking that this age old combo needs a bit of a style overall however, look no further than embroidered jeans. I recently spotted a pair on Zara's website and fell in love. From the front, they just look like your standard pair of light wash denims, but the back is where the magic happens! Not only do they have an embroidered rose patch on the back pocket (which I am completely diggin'), but on the ankles they have the embroidered slogan 'love always', a really playful little detail. What I love most about these jeans is that whilst they are really unique, they are not too much of a  statement as to make them unwearable. The Devil is in the detail with these bad boys ;)

 

 

 

 



 

 White V-Neck Tee- H&M / Jeans - Zara / Ring - The Great Frog 

 

 

To dress it up a little, I think the denims look lovely with a pair of heels and this Missguided faux suede jacket. I've had this little biker jacket for a few months now and I've gotten so much wear out of it as it is so versatile and the colour ties in beautifully with the stitching on denims. It is available in a multitude of shades as well as in tall or petite, if you're a shorty like moi ;)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

So from me and my swan friend, bye for now :) Bottom line, you won't have a bum deal with these jeans! (Sorry, had to be done...)

 

 

Thanks for the cheese ;)

 

 

 

                                    Amy. x

 

Three Ways to Wear Denim

 

 

For most people denim forms a core part of our wardrobes. When a sartorial crisis strikes, it serves as the perfect solution- namely, "Jeans and a nice top"! Whilst I love the laid back simplicity of the classic pair of well fitting jeans and a white t-shirt, denim has the capacity to greatly exceed this primitive form. It can be dressed up in a way that might not be expected whilst retaining the comfort factor we all know and love it for.

 

 

 

Starting off with the basics, here is a classic way to wear denim. Although the struggle can be REAL in finding the perfect pair of jeans to suit your body, it's a glorious moment when you find a good match. For me, I really like Gap or Fat Face as the quality and fit of the denim is superb. Above, I'm wearing a pair of Gap light-washed distressed jeans from a good few years back with a hybrid Topshop jumper.  I purchased the jumper before Christmas and have gotten so much wear out of it since (see link above). It's super soft and looks well with both jeans and skirts.

 

 

In keeping with the laid back vibe of this outfit, I teamed it with my Stan (THE MAN!) Smiths. These shoes have been one of the best purchases I have ever made, hence the shouty capitals ;) Running around college, or at the weekend these shoes are perfect in terms of just how comfy they are. I bought them in Office before Christmas and have been hard pressed to part from them since.  

 

 

Another classic way to wear denim is in the form of dungarees. When it comes to this trend I must admit I am somewhat of a hypocrite. Having berated my mother for years and years about how overalls should be worn by mechanics and left in the garage, I have come over to the dark side of late and grown to adore them. It's a cliché but it was never so true, mothers are always right! The pair I'm wearing above (in my awkward "quick get the photo so we can go for cake!" poses) are a cheap and cheerful Penneys number. I teamed it with a Timberland wool scarf and a grey denim jacket with jersey sleeves, that may or may not be from the men's section of New Look, which I may or may not have purchased the same one as a male friend..........................

 

 

Just as easily as dungarees can look laid back and casual, they can equally be styled to look a bit more sophisticated. By simply changing my shoes and accessories, I went from 9-5 mechanic to oh you think you fancy?! in 3.5 ;)

 

 

The sunnies I'm wearing are just €4 from Penneys and such a good dupe for those glorious Dior ones! I also think pairing a white or cream blouse underneath would give a very Alexa Chung effect and let's be honest, who wouldn't want that? ;)

 

 

My vaguely Ron Burgundy-esque boots with red marbled heel are from Topshop (bought with a voucher which made them even more sweet!) I like that they come up a little higher than traditional ankle boots and the unusual design of the heel caught my magpie attention. Be warned though, these babies are not an all day shoe, best for a few hours tops or risk becoming cranky because your feet hurt!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Finally, pinafores have become a wardrobe staple for me in recent times. They're just so easy to throw on and look super cute; toddler chic one might say ;)

 

 

The one I have on here is an old Littlewoods one, but New Look have a very similar one here. With just a simple jumper underneath, it's cosy but looks a bit dressed up too. (Also, shout out to my Zara Kids coats which I've had since I was twelve and seems to be growing with me!)

 

 

 

My Timberland boots give a well needed height boost, but most importantly they are extremely comfortable to wear all day, either in college or for a full shift at work.

 

Accessories wise I kept it quite minimalistic with this look, simply wearing a dainty necklace, my silver watch and a Newbridge Silverware beaded bracelet- a recent 21st birthday present which I adore :)

 

That's all for now, I hope you have enjoyed this post and thank you so much for reading. A massive thank you to my little stars Emily and Dearbhail for taking the pictures!

 

Love always,

 

 Amy. x

 

 

 



Current Beauty Favourites

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Well well well, haven't I been an inconsistent blogger lately! Apologies for my extended hiatus but with college, work, Christmas and everything else in between on the go, I found myself with little to no time to devout to my blog :( Today I'm back with a little spiel about some current favourite makeup gems. The past few months I've discovered some great products I'd like to share with you all. Perhaps this post will give you a little inspiration for a fresh New Years Eve look, or simply to add a few new bits to your makeup collection. Bonus points: most are cheap and cheerful! Without further ado, here are my recent finds. Hope you enjoy :) 

 

 

 

First up is a beautiful new addition to my perfume collection, 034 "Oliva" from the perfume bar, Ydentik, situated at 35 Princes Street Cork. I've spoken of my love for this perfume bar before and "Olivia" is another scent that does not fail to impress. Although I will always remain staunchly loyal to my beloved 212 "Fierceness" (an almost exact replica of Abercrombie & Fitch's,"Fierce"), I have been reaching for "Olivia" very frequently over the past few months. To me, it is vaguely reminiscent of Jo Malone's, "Wood, Sage and Sea Salt" in that it has very fresh top notes but has a certain spicey/woody undertone which gives a slight masculine feel, something I adore in a perfume. I have the 35ml bottle, which is the perfect handbag size and affordable at €14.99. If you bring the bottle back, refills are two euro less, an added bonus :) The staff at Ydentik couldn't be more helpful and can even combine scents to help create your perfect perfume.

 Over to a few base favourites now and first up is Garnier's "Moisture Match Illuminating Light Lotion". I loved this moisturiser from first application. It's non-greasy, fast absorbing and with a subtle but beautiful fresh citrus scent. Enriched with SPF 20, Vitamin E and light reflecting pigments, this product claims to make the skin look more radiant and I really feel it does. I usually apply this twice a day, just before bed and again when I wake up. It's light enough to apply under make up and really enhances whatever foundation you use over it. At around eight euro it won't break the bank either!

Over this moisturiser, I have been applying the Bourjois "Radiance Reveal Healthy Mix" foundation in No. 52, "Vanille", which I think may be my favourite foundation of ALL time (bold statement, I know!) It just gives a beautiful, natural look and gorgeous glow whilst providing a flawless medium coverage. It makes you look like you lead a life of eight or more hours sleep every night without fail, practise yoga every morning and live on a diet of kale, quinoa and goji berries, whilst concealing the truth: excessive caffeine consumption, the fact that one too many celebration tins disappeared over Christmas and a sleep deprived reality! As good as this foundation is, I don't agree that it lasts the 16hrs  it claims and if you have oily skin, I don't think it would be a good match as it does come up very dewy. All in all a winner though!

 For an under eye concealer, I've been loving the Maybelline "Eraser Eyes" in the shade "light". This concealer claims to be anti-aging and certainly does deliver great coverage. Unlike my diet, it actually does contains goji berries!




 Coffee and copper have been a recurring theme in my makeup for the past few months and the products above are the main players! Coffee coloured lips seem to be ubiquitous at the moment and Rimmel's "Coffee Shimmer", combined with their "Cappuccino" liner achieve the look perfectly. The latter is a great dupe for Mac's "Styled In Sepia", but for a fraction of the cost! Jumping on the copper bandwagon, Mac's pigment in the colour "Copper Sparkle" certainly unleashes my inner magpie! It can be applied all over the lid, or simply in the centre of the eye and would, in my opinion create the perfect New Years Eve makeup look! For obvious reasons, it's best to do your eyes before your base when working with this product! It does get a tad messy! Tie the coffee/copper theme together by using some of Revlon's Highlighting Palette in the shade 030 "Bronze Glow", which is a great dupe for Bobbi Brown's Shimmer Bricks.





























Another makeup look I've been sporting recently has been Mac's "Heroine" lipstick, a little bit of eyeliner and lashings of mascara! "Heroine" is a bright purple lipstick (as you can see!) and a matte formula, my personal favourite especially if it's a bold colour. It's not actually as scary as it seems in the bullet and looks beautiful on. I've been really liking it lately, especially when I wear it with a light grey turtle neck. What I love about "Heroine" is that it's really versatile; it looks great in winter, but equally I think it would be lovely in summer with a tan and just a white tee shirt.
Being somewhat of an eyeliner newb, I've found that Soap & Glory's "Supercat" eyeliner helps me achieve a semi-presentable cat-eye flick. This cult product stays in place for the whole day and really is a true carbon black. It has a felt-tip style applicator which makes the whole affair a bit easier, although not "foolproof" if like me you're prone to having a bit of an unsteady hand!
For mascara, I've been using  L'Oreal "Miss Manga Punky". A word of warning with this one, it's a bit of a marmite product! The formula is very wet, which can get a tad messy if you don't leave it to dry for a minute or two. What I love about this mascara is the length it gives. It really gives a doll-eyed, wide awake sort of look. Especially when I use it in conjunction with the Maybelline "Lash Sensational Lash Multiplying" mascara it gives such a dramatic effect. I've gotten some lovely compliments lately about my lashes, and "Miss Manga Punky" is certainly the one to thank for that, not my genes!

That's about all for the moment, thank you so much for reading. I hope everybody had a lovely Christmas and a happy and prosperous New Year to you all. Thank you to everyone who has supported my little blog since it started. I know I am only a small fish in a very big pond, but I appreciate the support so so much.

Lots of love,

Amy. x

 

 

Anxiety

 

 

 

 

“Crying helps me slow down and obsess over the weight of life’s problems” (Sadness, Inside Out, 2015)

 

It’s never easy or enjoyable to write about things that affect you, especially if like me, you’re an intensely private person.  It is however, sometimes necessary. As I have hinted at before in previous blog posts, I’m not the most easy-going humanoid to have ever graced the planet. I have always been a worrier, but there are periods when this becomes greatly intensified. Living in a state of constant anxiety, being so highly charged, is a vulnerable place to be.  Like an exposed cliff, you leave yourself open to erosion. I think in Ireland, there is still a kind of hush hush attitude existing around mental health issues. Whilst pockets of conversation have opened up about depression, anxiety remains somewhat hidden in the shadows. In my opinion there is a wide misconception about anxiety, with many people believing it is synonymous with fear or worry. Coming from someone who gets extremely anxious, believe me, it greatly supersedes worry. I often find it cathartic to read papers pertaining to anxiety and found one definition particularly enlightening. Alan Hunt defines fear as “a realistic anxiety, an immediate response to fear or danger, and anxiety as a non-immediate apprehension”. This illuminates why sometimes the trigger(s) for anxiety may be unclear.  I think the stereotypical British “stiff upper lip” mentality exists in Ireland too, albeit in a less eloquent format! How many times have you reciprocated a question of how you’re doing with the blasé “Era sure I’m grand” response, when often this couldn’t be further from the truth.  I have to give a chuckle when I hear (often but not always) an elderly person talk about a person with depression or anxiety saying, “Poor man his nerves are at him”. This seems so misguided and highlights that as a culture we supress more difficult issues, such as mental health with broad sweeping statements.

With this underlying tension regarding such issues, it makes the subject difficult to broach. When I, on occasion, manage to put my stubbornness aside for five minutes and muster the courage to talk to someone about feeling anxious, I find it difficult to articulate the emotion.  Talking about it makes me more anxious, but equally not talking about it makes me feel like I’m going insane. It’s exceedingly tough to try and vocalise your convoluted thought processes to someone else when often you yourself can’t untangle the web. Overthinking really is a bitch (excuse the language, this blogpost is rated 12A).  The other issue that talking to someone else creates is a fear on their behalf. Whilst I understand that they are wary of saying anything that will further exacerbate your anxiety, “I don’t know what to say to you” is the statement I fear above all else. I’m not looking for sympathy or some miraculous solution, simply reassurance; a reminder that life and emotions are transient. Although this anxiety, a constant noise in my head, will probably never fully disappear, it is comforting to be reminded that calmer periods follow a storm.

October has been one extremely testing month for me, which is what inspired this blogpost.  Primarily, college seemed to get exceedingly difficult out of nowhere. Essay tittles seemed to amplify in complexity and deadlines all fell together. Compounding this was the pressure of the weight of these marks, a treadmill of thought stressing that these marks help to determine what degree I get: DON’T FUCK IT UP, AMY!  replaying in my head 24/7. There was little to no time for breaks and I felt completely frazzled, my brain stretched to its absolute limits.  Feeling overworked is certainly a trigger that heightens my anxiety. It surfaces a fear of underwhelming myself or other people. Although I managed to get all my assignments in on time, this did not serve to quell my anxious mind, as the knowledge that this is only the beginning of the workload began to creep in. Stress in college is only one of the things that heighten my anxiety. Other things may include: conflict, making mistakes, or certain social situations. A lack of sleep has made the situation considerably worse this month. Whilst I have not yet found a method of coping with anxiety, I have found some things that help diminish the feelings of panic. I include them here for the benefit of my fellow nervous nellies:

 

 

• When you’re in a state of panic, try this: Look around you and find five things you can see, four things you can touch, three things you can hear and two things you can smell. This is called grounding and certainly helps me when I’m at my worst.
•  Lavender is your friend. Use and abuse it.
• Download the Calm app. It’s free and includes a variety of really calming nature sounds, like the beach and the rain. You don’t need internet to use it, which means it’s readily available whenever you need it. It also includes a guided mediation, which isn’t really my cup of tea but it may suit some people.
• Whilst my cynicism and stubbornness prevents me from engaging with those preachy self-help/change your life type books, I have always been a fan of TedTalks. They seem more normal, more realistic and often help me gain a little perceptive. Below are three  of my favourites:  Hibernate, Adapt or Migrate (Summer Beretsky); Be The Warrior, Not The Worrier (Angela Ceberano) ; The Power of Introverts (Susan Cain)
• Music serves as an instant de-stressor. I have spoken before about my affinity for Keaton Henson, in particular his orchestral album Romantic Works. Specifically the piece “Elevator Song” helps soothe me. Another calming song I play on a loop is “Those Days” by KAASI. Conversely, I find motivational music helps me get out of an anxiety slump where I can often feel useless. I have mentioned their work before, but Public Service Broadcasting really does the job here! My top uplifting tunes from them are: "London Can Take It" , "Spitfire" and "Everest"

 

I hope this post hasn’t been too rambly, or self-indulgent! I understand that so many people feel this way, which is partly my reason for writing this. Thank you for giving it a read. Until next time,

Amy. x



 

Current Favourites

 

 

 

As August closed in and we begin to jump into the chaos that is September, I thought I'd share some of my favourites from the past few weeks. I have to confess that I'm not too sad to see the back of the dismal summer. Whilst the hiatus was reasonably enjoyable, I have to admit the novelty wore off quite quickly for me. I'm a creature of habit and crave routine and the sharpness that it restores in me....I know, WILD, right? ;) Without further ado, I'll crack on with my little discoveries over the past few weeks.

 

First and foremost, I think we can unanimously agree on the brilliance of US presidential candidate, Donald Trump on the quality of his articulate, intelligent debates of recent times. Not to mention his adulation of women ("slobs", "dogs" etc.) and how this greatly serves the feminist cause....

 

 

I am of course being facetious classing Trump as a "current favourite". It seems absolutely laughable that Tump, who's agenda for America seems so misguided, compounded with the fact that he has been forced to declare bankruptcy four times, is actually being considered as a serious contender. In many ways, following the debates he has given has been a guilty pleasure of mine, because there is something quite fascinating about how ludicrous the situation is. It's pretty dire when you can genuinely class his hair as better than the quality of his debate...

 

 

Anyway, tangent aside, time to get cracking on my actual current favourites! Fashion wise, my go-to dressy outfit of late has been a co-ord set from Missguided. It features white shorts with a deep red floral embroidery around the border  and a crop top with a split back in the same pattern. I absolutely love this outfit as I think it looks far more expensive than it actually is. The shorts were just €14 with the top coming in at €28 and free delivery to boot. I wore this outfit on a staff night out as well as last night showing my face to Fresher's Week! I decided to pair it with rose gold jewellery as I think it compliments the burgundy detailing well. I simple wore a delicate necklace, a watch from Penneys at €9 and rooted out a suitable clutch.

 

 

 

Now, when it comes to skincare, I have to admit that I'm far too lax. If there's an option to use a face wipe, nine times out of ten I'll give in. I have been marginally better recently however and it's all down to a cleansing oil I've been obsessed with, the Úna Brennan Super Facialist Vitamin C+ Skin Renew Cleansing Oil jeez, that's a mouthful...Full of some really nourishing, natural ingredients, like olive, grapeseed and rosehip oil, this cleanser is a real tonic for the skin and leaves a velvet like texture once removed. I normally don't like the feel of oil products on my skin, but I can put up with this one for the results it gives. When it comes in contact with water it turns into a milky consistency too, so it's pretty bearable! Like the other ranges by Úna Brennan, the Vitamin C+ products really don't disappoint and leave a nice radiant finish. Whilst it is a great make up remover, I have been using a separate cleanser to remove my eye make up, because I do have quite sensitive eyes. For that task, I've been using Lancôme’s Bi-Facil Makeup Remover (a recent present from my legend of a granny!)  This is a bi-phase product, so just needs a bit of a shake before applying some to a cotton pad and using all over the face. I just use this as an eye makeup remover and have absolutely been loving it, because it doesn't sting or cause any redness to flare up around the eyes.

 

 

Y'all better let me finish before you deem me as crazy when you hear my next favourite, it's the Nivea Men Post Shave Balm, which I have been using as a primer! Although this sounds very bizarre, it actually kind of makes sense as it contains glycerine, an ingredient in a lot of primers. YouTuber,  NikkieTutorials pioneered this ingenious idea and so many people have followed suit. Last month I decided to jump on the bandwagon and give it a go and I was surprisingly impressed. Not only is it less expensive than a lot of primers, I really felt it made my skin feel more soft and made my makeup go on very evenly. Whilst some people are put off by the notable masculine scent, I actually really like it, although it does not linger long once you apply your makeup. Give it a go if you're in the market for a new primer :)

 

The stunning beauty blogger and YouTuber, Fleur de Force, has recently launched a false eyelash collection in conjunction with Eylure and the results are uh-mazing! I have tried out the individual lashes and absolutely love them in terms of comfort, wear time and just how natural they look. Undoubtedly individual lashes take a little more time to apply then strip lashes, but they are a lot more lightweight and last much longer. A thumbs up from me!

Another new(ish) favourite collection of mine are the Kate Moss Nude Range from Rimmel available in six shades. I have loved the Kate Moss lipsticks forever and the nude collection certainly didn't disappoint. The shade I have been sporting recently is no. 42, more of a peach toned nude. The formulation of these lipsticks are amazing, really creamy and last a decent length of time. They have a slight sweet smell, but nothing too offensive and the packaging is also b-e-a-utiful, which I know shouldn't matter, but it somehow does! A great price point at €6.99 from Boots as well.

Onto slightly more random favourites now and the star find has to be Choc Shot from Sweet Freedom. Described as "liquid chocolate", I couldn't agree more...this must have been sent from the Gods! I've been putting it on everything from fresh berries to porridge. It's such an enigma to me that this can be categorised as reasonably healthy (the only ingredients are natural fruit extracts; apples, grapes & carob, water, cocoa, rapeseed oil and natural chocolate flavour ) because it tastes like liquidised chocolate brownies.....running to Dunnes this second, I bet? ;)

A second sweet favourite of mine is the Lindt salted caramel dark chocolate. As soon as you open this, the scent of it hits you and there's no turning back! There's just something about that classic sweet/salty combination that just can't be beaten. A necessary purchase to make those soon to be upcoming essay deadlines mildly easier! Speaking of back to college, I also invested in some of the Penneys rubber hair ties, which don't leave a kink in your hair when you take it down #winning #girlboss

 

 

The tv series that I binge watched in August was the gripping thriller starring Jamie Dornan and Gillian Anderson, The Fall. Set in Northern Ireland, it centres on a married bereavement counsellor, Paul Spector (Dornan) who appears to have the perfect life, both domestically and professionally. The reality couldn't be more opposite however. Spector is quickly established as a lethal individual who thrives on elaborate killings, always selecting female victims of a similar profile. He continues to avoid detection and his addiction spirals out of control. Each episode of The Fall ends on a cliff-hanger; it's the classic "just one more episode" type series that's well worth a watch. Both Dornan and Anderson prove phenomenal actors and the sub plots and themes picked up throughout the series reflect some of the grievances of the country, abuses in the church, violence in the North etc.

 

Last, but not least, I've really been loving chilled out music at the moment. Kiiiiinda deep-housey! Check out my top five tunes below:

 

"Those Days" - KAASI

 

"Fantasy" Alina Baraz & Galimatias

 

 "Say You Love Me" (remix) - Jessie Ware

 

 "Fade Out Lines" - The Avener, Phoebe Killdeer

"Goodforme" - El Train

 

 That's all from me :) I hope you enjoyed this weeks post and thank you so much for reading,

 

                                                                         Amy.x