'tis the season: the christmas tag;

It's been over a week since I last posted, I'm sorry!  I am up to my eyeballs in assignments and study, which leaves very little time for blogging, but I couldn't leave December pass without making a Christmas post!  Christmas is my absolute favourite time of year, for so many reasons.  I love Christmas trees (yes, we have two), Christmas lights, Christmas food, Christmas markets, Christmas weather... and of course, Christmas presents.  So today's post will be a quick 'un, but a good 'un!  Taken from lovely miss Niina @ It Seems Pretty Obvious.


(1) What's your favourite holiday movie?
They're not 'Christmas' movies, but every year I watch Mary Poppins, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, and Bedknobs and Broomsticks on repeat during the holidays.  When I was little, they were played a lot on tv around Christmas time, so they always remind me of that ~magical Christmas feeling~.

(2) What's your favourite Christmas colour?
I know it's not exactly traditional, but purple is my favourite Christmas colour.  One of our trees is decorated in gold and purple, and our Christmas dinner table is decked out in purple too.  Still festive, but it's less gaudy than dousing the house in red and green.

(3) Do you like to stay in your PJ's or dress up for Christmas?
A bit of both!  I always wear new pyjamas Christmas eve to wake up in on Christmas morning.  Then it's into my Christmas finest for visiting family and eating my dinner, and back into pyjamas for lounging around eating crisps and watching tv.

(4) If you could buy one person a present this year who would it be?
I couldn't buy a present for just one person!  I love buying presents for other people, especially when I find something they'd really love.  How could I possibly narrow it down to just one?!

(5) Do you open your gifts on Christmas eve or Christmas morning?
Roughly 5am on Christmas morning.  It's become a sort-of tradition with my sister Chloe and myself.  Up at 5am, wake the rest of the family, open presents, eat fruit pastilles, go back to bed.

(6) Have you ever built a gingerbread house?
No :( I don't think I even know anyone who has.  Does anyone build gingerbread houses in Ireland?  I'm not even sure I like gingerbread!

(7) What do you like to do on your Christmas break?
I just like to relaaaaaxxx.  The weeks leading up to Christmas are always really stressful, with exams and that, and work is always hectic, so I relish the chance to do nothing.  I like to sit and eat and watch tv and not have to worry about a thing.  Well, for a few days at least!

(8) Any Christmas wishes?
To have a few extra days off work!

(9) Favorite Christmas smell?
The smell of a real Christmas tree mmm.  My grandparents always have a real tree (we never do. boo) and it smells delish.

(10) Favorite Christmas meal or treat?
It's not a strictly 'Christmas' food, but every Christmas morning without fail, the whole family meets at my grandparents house to exchange gifts, drink tea, and eat cocktail sausages.  It's my favourite part of Christmas, so in a roundabout way, cocktail sausages and tea is my favourite meal.

(extra question) What's your favorite holiday song?
A little bit typical, but Do They Know It's Christmas? // Band Aid 1984 (note: not Band Aid 20 no no no) is my favourite Christmas song.  Too good.

I tag all of you to answer these questions!  Thanks for reading, and Merry Christmas!

tag: the blogger tag;

So, I've been tagged by the fabulous Miss April Rose to do the blogger tag.  I've never been tagged before and, I dunno, it's nice to feel like I'm actually getting somewhere with this blog.  Before I get too ~emosh~, let's get on with the questions!  Enjoy!

Rules;
(1)  Each person tagged must post 11 random facts about themselves.
(2)  They must answer the 11 questions posted by the previous blogger.
(3)  They must create 11 more questions to ask their tagged bloggers.
(4)  They must tag blogs with 200 followers or less.
(5)  Those bloggers must be told.
(6)  No tag backs.

11 random facts;
(1)  I'm a total hoarder. Seriously.  I collect pointless knick-knacks and can never bring myself to throw anything away.  My room is full of useless things.
(2)  I hate Alicia Keys.  Like, really hate.  Not just her singing, but her as a person.  And Bruno Mars.  And Ed Sheeran.
(3)  Last night, I caught my cat drinking out of the toilet.  And then she tried to lick my face.  Nice.
(4)  I always always chew gum.  Cherry Airwaves or Extra Ice, thanks.
(5)  My car is named Dustin Hoffman.
(6)  I rub the top of my head when I get angry.
(7)  I talk to my pets in a baby voice.
(8)  Today is my last day of being 20.
(9)  Daisies are my favourite flower.
(10)  I wore a brown dress to my debs/prom.  It was fabulous.
(11)  I much prefer 7up free to regualr 7up.


April Rose's questions;

(1)  What is your most embarrassing moment?
Here's the thing,  I don't get embarrassed that easily.  I don't really get embarrassed at all.  I cry watching Hollyoaks all the time?  I guess that counts as embarrassing.

(2)  Who inspires you?
Emmett Honeycutt.  I know he's fictional, but he doesn't care what anyone thinks of him, he always looks on the bright side, and he has swagger for days.  I want to be just like him when I grow up.

(3)  Your favourite shop?
Brown Thomas or LUSH.

(4)  Coke or Pepsi?

'Tis the season, it's always the real thing.

(5)  What is the one beauty product in your life that you will never stop using?

The Righteous Butter.

(6)  What is your favourite smell?
The smell you get walking past/inside a LUSH store. Mmm.

(7)  Where is your current location?

I'm in room IT120, in college.

(8)  What were you doing 3 hours ago?

Sleeping.

(9)  If you had to have toes for fingers or fingers for toes, which would you choose?!
Fingers for toes.  Toes are creepy, I couldn't deal with having them on my hands.  Plus, the foot-fingers could be useful for picking things up and the like.

(10)  What is something you're scared of?
I am a total scaredy-cat.  Lots of things frighten me.  Creepy crawlies, jellyfish, the ocean in general, horses, being electricuted, getting taxis alone...

(11)  What is your favourite makeup brand?
Urban Decay.


My questions;
(1)  Three beauty products you can't live without?
(2)  Three everyday/household items you can't live without?
(3)  What's your favourite radio station?
(4)  What songs are you currently loving?
(5)  What was/is your favourite class at school?
(6)  Can you do a handstand?
(7)  What songs do you sing in the shower?
(8)  Black or blue pen?
(9)  What's your favourite fast-food restaurant?
(10)  What are your favourite baby names?
(11)  Daddy or chips?


My tagged bloggers;
beautybutterflyxo
oliviaryanxo
coleoftheballl33

Thanks for reading!

top tips: your study vs. your job;

As I've mentioned before, I'm currently a full-time student working towards an honours degree, which means lots of exams, lots of assignments, and lots of pressure.  On top of this, I work 20+ hours a week, which leaves me very little time for study.  Every day, I get asked the same question, over and over.  How do you manage it? Well, I'm going to tell you.  Here's my advice for staying on top of your studies while working.

(1) Attendance Attendance Attendance:  This is the most valuable piece of advice I could give you.  I can't stress enough how important it is to attend every class.  First of all, having less time to revise than other students, you might already find yourself falling behind.  Skipping class is only going to add to the growing pile of catch-up work you've to do.  And, if you find yourself really stuck or overwhelmed, lecturers are always more than happy to help, but only if they know you've been attending.  From experience, if you can't be bothered to even turn up, your lecturer won't be bothered to help.

(2) Get to know your lecturer/tutor:  Following on from my last point, make sure your lecturer knows who you are.  Now, I don't mean on a super-personal level, but they should at least recognise your face and name.  Participate in class.  Don't be afraid to ask questions and make comments.  Like I said, lecturers are always happy to lend a hand if they know that you're making an effort.

(3) Google is your friend:  This is something you should do before asking for help.  If you're stuck on an assignment, or you don't understand something in your notes, google it first.  Take note of the results, see if they make sense to you.  Some of them might, others might not.  Then, if you're still stuck, your lecturer will appreciate that you've at least attempted it yourself and it'll give them a better idea of what help/information to give you.

(4) Make every minute count:  Time is of the essence.  There's not a minute to lose.  We all know that you didn't really  need to watch that episode of Antiques Roadshow, and that you took twenty minutes longer than usual to make that cuppa.  Procrastination has no place in this world of study and employment, and you could have easily written 600 words in the time you spent formatting the headings.  If you utilise your free time properly (including before class starts, between classes, free classes, breaks, and those few minutes after college finishes and your job starts) you'll find that you get much more study done than you realised.

(5) Get stuck in:  When it comes to assignments, the hardest part is mustering the motivation to get started.  It's torturous.  Believe me, I know.  But once you get into it, there'll be no stopping you. And don't stop, unless you have to, or you'll have to go through the whole process all over again.

(6) Keep Calm and Carry On:  Finally, don't panic!  Not only does panicking waste valuable time, but it doesn't achieve anything.  All it does is drain your motivation and make you feel like poo.  Stay calm, have confidence in yourself and your ability, and just get on with it.  You'll be graaand.

Do you have any tips for balancing study with work/home life?  Thanks for reading, and good luck!

november in photos;

halloween! // eddie rocket's for lunch with the girls // joe gilgun as rudy = perfect human // me @ kate's birthday

the righteous butter // announcing the creation of this blog // yummy broccoli // yummy juice

testicles in the fountain // aaron's new hookah // bubblegum flavour! // rennie = lifesaver

max is a sleepy baby // yummy cidona // finally started to tidy my room

empties: november;

I always enjoy reading monthly empties posts, so I thought I'd write one of my own.  Now, I know November isn't quite over, but my schedule is fully booked for the next week or two, and I'm not going to use up anything else in the next two days, so here you go! Enjoy!

(1) Garnier Simple Essentials Toner (for sensitive skin):  Here's where I need to ask, what is the point of toner?  Don't get me wrong, I always use one, but only because I've been told I should.  I just don't know why.  I've used reasonably expensive toners, cheap toners... but to be honest it's all much of a muchness.  They don't really do anything.  Or do they?  Anyway, mini-rant aside, this toner is fragrance free (always a plus), was fairly inexpensive, and as far as I'm aware, it did the job.  I might repurchase this when I need more toner.

(2) Sally Hansen Airbrush Legs (Water Resistant) - Light Glow:  Everyone needs a bit of Sally in their life.  It's like foundation for your body!  I use fake tan quite a bit.  I prefer instant over developer, and I prefer Airbrush Legs over everything!  It's easy to apply (all of my mitts have disappeared so I'm currently using a fluffy sock), it smells nicer than any other tan I've used, and the colour isn't orange at all.  And it has great coverage, which is a huge plus for me and my freckles.  I'll definitely be buying this again within the next few days.

(3) Soap & Glory The Righteous Butter:  I'm assuming that at this stage that I don't need to explain my love for Soap & Glory again.  The Righteous Butter is my ultimate holy-grail item.  This body butter leaves my skin moisturised for days, isn't greasy, and it smells delish (fyi, it doesn't taste as good as it smells).  It's a bit pricey considering how often I buy it, but it's definitely worth the money.  I'm already partway through a new tub!

(4) Revlon Colorstay Foundation (110 Ivory):  I really like this foundation.  It's nice to find one that's actually as pale as my skin!  I buy the one for combination/oily skin, and it works a treat, keeping the oil at bay for hours.  It's an everyday essential, and I've already bought a new bottle.

(5) Natural Collection Pressed Powder (Cool):  This powder is one of the best I've ever used, and it  costs less than a fiver!  It gives some coverage as well as keeping my foundation in place for the day.  There's not much else to day.  As far as pressed powders go, it's a good 'un!  I've already hit pan on my 'new' one.

(6) No7 Beautiful Skin Eye Make-Up Remover:  This eye make-up remover is a godsend (insert choir of angels here).  Give the bottle a shake, pour some onto a cotton pad, and remove all your eyeshadow and eyeliner in one swipe!  Two swipes for mascara and eyebrows.  It's so gentle on the general eye area, which is always a bonus, and it left my skin feeling really soft and moisturised.  Truth be told, I only bought this because I had a money off voucher and it's so expensive (it costs over €10!!), but if I had money to burn, I would buy a hundred bottles!  I'm going to miss it.

(7) Kate by Kate Moss:  I am awful at describing scents, but according the internet, this is "a beautiful scent with subtle blends of lily of the valley, magnolia and roses"?  All I know is that it smells divine, I wore it almost everyday, and I will definitely be repurchasing this.

(8) Motilium:  An odd one, but this month I finished a pack of Motilium.  Available in chemists, these are tiny, magic pills that make nausea go away.  Seeing as I have the immune system of a small child and I catch every stomach bug that goes around, these are a lifesaver.  They're not a cure, but they certainly bring relief.  They also work wonders on hangovers.  I always keep Motilium in the house, so yes, I will be repurchasing these.

What products will you be repurchasing this month?  Thanks for reading!

wishlist: christmas party dresses;

1 / 2 / 3 / 4

The annual Christmas party with work is on this coming Saturday and, alas, I have nothing to wear.  We decided we'd go with a more formal dress code than last year, and seeing as my preparation time has been drastically cut down to just two hours, my dress has to be a winner.  Recently, I've been loving all things baroque/brocade.  The intricate patterns and rich colours are so luxurious, making even cheaper pieces (holla, student budget) look expensive.  Skater skirts and dresses are an all-time favourite of mine, and I've recently discovered that the sheer/maxi combo doesn't make my legs look as stumpy as I'd once feared... Basically, I've a lot of decision making to do before Saturday.

What trends are you loving right now?  Thanks for reading!

thanksgiving;

Happy Thanksgiving!  Although we don't celebrate Thanksgiving here in Ireland, I thought I'd share with you some things (taking my family, pets, and friends as a given) that I have brought me happiness this year.

(1) Ruby and Ruby on Rails:  I thought I'd start off with a rather odd, nerdy one.  Ruby is a programming language and Rails is an application framework, both of which I'm studying this semester.  Despite the obvious stresses associated with being a fourth year student, I'm really glad I chose this class, because it's one of the few modules that I actually enjoy.

(2) Friendship Bracelets:  I don't ever wear jewellery much, but I make an exception for friendship bracelets.  I think that friendship bracelets are just the lovliest, and I adore receiving them.  The one in the picture is a "Swagger Bombs" bracelet  that was given to me by my friend Emma.  Except to shower, I never take it off.  It has nothing but good memories attached to it, and I love the warm, fuzzy feeling I get when I think of how great my friends are.

(3) Lana Del Rey - Born To Die:  Until this album came into my life, I really wasn't that into Lana Del Rey.  Now, this album has become my go-to album for all occasions and emotions.  I'm not great at reviewing music, but I'm always at my happiest when belting out a bit of Lana in the shower.

(4) Twinning's Earl Grey:  This one speaks for itself.  Nothing cures a bad mood better than tea, and this tea is my favourite.  Strong.  One sugar.  A bare drop of milk.  Thanks.

(5) Yankee Candle Trick or Treat:  I believe I've already mentioned my love of burning scented candles, and this candle is by far my favourite scent.  I light it in my room every single day, and it makes my room seem calmer and warmer.  Perfect for a good night sleep.  Unfortunately it's only available at Halloween, because mine's almost burnt out already!

(6) Flowers:  Simple yet effective.  Until a couple of months ago, I didn't really care for flowers much.  Now, even the sight of a pretty bouquet is an instant mood-brightener.

What are you thankful for?  Thanks for reading!

ootd: presentation casual;

Quick post!  Today marked the beginning of in-class presentations for my Management model.  Dress code: smart casual (read: clothes I picked off my bedroom floor, but with a blouse instead of a tshirt).  The blouse, jeans, and pumps are from Penneys.  These pumps are really comfortable, and burgundy is so totally in right now.  The cardigan, which is one of my all-time favourite items of clothing and is unfortunately on it's last legs, is from Tesco (!!).  Eyeshadow is Urban Decay's Midnight Cowgirl, Baked, and Lost.  Then, I just threw my hair up on the top of my hair, and voilà!  Ready to stand in front of the class and stutter for twenty minutes about the Change Management Process.

Any tips on how I could improve my outfit posts?  Thanks for reading!

gift ideas: €20 or less;

(1) Snow Fairy Gift Set // (2) Yankee Candle Cherry Blossom medium jar // (3) Soap & Glory Small Wonders gift set

(4) Melting Clock hanging shelf clock // (5) Melee Mug // (6) Don't Scare Me wooden sign

December is almost here, which means the coming weeks will be full of secret santa, gift buying, and empty pockets aplenty.  Here are six items that I found that would make a perfect gift this christmas, and all for €20 or less!
 
(1) Snow Fairy Gift Set:  It just wouldn't be christmas without Snow Fairy, would it?  This gift set includes a soap, a shimerring body bar, and a bottle of Snow Fairy shower gel.  For those uneducated few who don't know what Snow Fairy is, it's a bottle of delicious, sugary, christmas-time only, cotton-candy goodness available from LUSH.  Perfect for BFFs.

(2) Yankee Candle Cherry Blossom medium jar:  If your friends/family love burning candles as much as I do, and I'm sure they do, a medium jar candle from Yankee Candle would make a wonderful gift.  Not too big, not too small, a medium jar burns for up to 90 hours!  As for the scent, Cherry Blossom is one of my favourites (*hint*) and the jar is so, so pretty, but Yankee have a gazillion scents to choose from, and they always have special offers coming up to christmas, too!

(3) Soap & Glory Small Wonders gift set:  If you haven't already heard, I am a huge Soap & Glory fan and I have yet to try a product of theirs that I didn't like.  So, I would highly recommend this gift set, which includes miniatures of some of my favourite Soap & Glory products; The Righteous Butter (!!!), Clean on Me, Hand Food, Scrub of your Life.   Another thing I love about Soap & Glory gift sets is that the boxes look super cute and decorative, and I always save them and use them for storage.  This gift set is guaranteed to look, smell, and feel more expensive than it actually is.

(4)  Melting Clock:  This quirky clock, available from Littlewoods, hangs from the edge of a shelf/bookcase/cupboard, and you can't deny that it looks pretty darn cool.  Again, it looks far more expensive than it actually is, and it would make a great gift for that art-buff friend of yours.

(5) Melee Mug:  I don't know about you, but I drink an awful lot of tea.  And what's better than a delicious cup of tea?  A delicious cup of tea in a bad-ass mug.  I think we all know someone who is a serial tea-drinker, or failing that, someone who collects weird mugs.  Available from ThinkGeek for just a few euro, you'd be wrong not to.

(6) Don't Scare Me wooden sign:  Don't judge me, I have a perfectly reasonable explanation for this one.  First of all, it's laugh-out-loud hilarious.  Secondly, it's handmade, each one is a little different from the last, making it totally unique (to say the least).  Thirdly, can you think of anything more perfect to give to that one friend with the strange sense of humour?!  And finally, the seller (found this on Etsy, btw) makes several different signs with less vulgar but equally hilarious slogans.

Happy shopping, and thanks for reading!

shoe envy;

(1) Red or Dead Pearly Guvnor // (2) Office Special Bow Wedge // (3) BooHoo Rozinia Platform

(4) River Island Caged and Stud Platform // (5) BooHoo Maisey Wedges // (6) ASOS VIXON Studded Creepers

With November, the month of birthdays, in full swing and Christmas fast approaching, 'tis the season to buy lots of new outfits, and lots and lots of new shoes.  When it comes to foot-candy, I'm usually exclusively a flats wearer.  However, the Holiday Season always means an influx of family photos and, being the 'short one', the extra few inches can't hurt!  As you can see, I am still all up on spikes and studs, and black suede is a staple in my wardrobe, but oh my, that peach/coral is the prettiest colour I've ever seen.  When it comes to heels, I'm in between sizes, which means an ankle strap of some description is a necessity to stop my foot slipping out/me falling flat on my face, and wouldya look at how perfect the pearl strap/anklet on the Red or Dead pair is!  Beautiful.  Anyway, above is a list of shoes I would buy if funding was unlimited.  Thanks for reading!

about me;

Hello!  My name is Shona, and this is my third attempt at running a blog.  Third time's a charm, right?

So to start off, I thought I'd tell you a little bit about myself, let you know what you're letting yourself in for, 'cause I hope we'll have a long and prosperous relationship.

That face, up there, is mine.  I live in small-town rural Ireland.  I'm a student, primarily, in my fourth year of studying Multimedia Applications Development (read: advanced finger-painting and some sums) at Waterford Institute of Technology.  I work part-time as a checkout chick in Tesco, and my name badge has a watermelon on it.  I drive a Ford Ka that still has a cassette tape player in it (currently playing: Give Up Yer Aul Sins).  I have a cat, two dogs, three goldfish, and a tank of sea monkeys.  I have awful taste in movies and tv, and I mostly listen to music that normal humans would call a 'guilty pleasure'.  I have read all three 50 Shades books.

Make-up and beauty are my true passions, and it's a dream of mine to one day qualify as a make-up artist.  My eyebrows are the most important part of my life, I'm fairly sure, and I often suffer from eyebrow-envy.  I've had the same un-businesslike haircut and colour for nearly three years now, and using a straightener is about as technical as my hair styling skills get.  I also have zero fashion sense.  I love seeing how other people dress, but my life spirals out of control when I attempt to translate trends or looks onto myself.  I believe I have mastered the art of using gel liner.  I smell like Soap & Glory almost 100% of the time.

You can find and follow me on twitter, tumblr, and instagram.

And that's about as interesting as I get!  Thank you so much for reading, don't be afraid to comment, and see you again soon!