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!