haul: mua makeup academy cosmetics;

MUA (Makeup Academy) is a cosmetics company that I've heard very much about during my years of creeping through the beauty blogging community, but because it's sold exclusively in-store in Superdrug (which we don't have here, boo) I never had the chance to try any of their products.  Until now!  Last week, I put my debit card to good use and shopped to my heart's content at their online store (click here).  I have to say, I'm very impressed.  There's a great selection of products and colours, the price is a steal (all of this, including shipping, cost less than €40!!), the quality is surprisingly great, and it arrived in just three days!  Delighted.

(1) Undressed eyeshadow palette:  One of the best neutral palettes I've ever used, and it cost just £4!  Unreal!  Full review coming on this soon, so I won't say too much.

(2) Trio Eyeshadow in Eden:  This trio contains a jade green shade with gold shimmer, a mint green with gold shimmer, and a cream/gold duochrome with gold shimmer.  You need to work a bit harder with these to get a good colour payoff, but still very pretty.

(3) Trio Eyeshadow in Innocence:  This trio has a brown/teal duochrome which is mindblowingly beautiful,  a mid-tone shimmery golden brown, with a more peach/white highlight colour than the Eden trio.  So excited to use this one!

(4) Glitter Eyeliner in shades 6 & 8:  Shade 6 has small hot pink glitters with larger iridescent blue glitters.  I have no idea when I'm going to use this, but it's just so pretty and girly!  Shade 8 has gorgeous spring green glitters.  This liner is slightly thicker than the pink one.

(1) Lip BOOM lipstick and Gloss in Cheeky! and It's A Situation:  The idea of this product is that you can wear it several ways: either the lipstick or gloss alone, or layered together to make your lipsCheeky! is a matte, barbie pink colour (quite similar to St. Germain by MAC).  It comes with a pink gloss that is chocked full of sparkly silver glitter.  It's A Situation is red berry colour, with a rose coloured gloss with the same glitter.  Both are very pretty, and the lipsticks are quite nice considering that they're matte, and especially considering the price.  The glosses have a sickly sweet scent, which I'm not a huge fan off, but the colours and the glitter are FAB.

(1) Love Hearts nail polish in  U R FAB and I <3 U:  U R FAB is like a pastel red colour, if that makes sense?  It's more of a reddish colour than a pink.  Perfect.  I <3 U is just a nude/cream colour.  Very pretty for everyday.

(2)  Nail polish in shade 13:  I don't own many green nail varnishes (this is only my second), so this metallic green is a great addition to my collection.

(3)  Nail Constellation in Leo:  Microbeads!  I'm loving textured nails at the mo, and I've never tried a microbead product before.  So excited for this!

(4)  Fur-Effect Nails in Fluff & Cuddles and Fluffy Bobbin:  Fluff & Cuddles is a pink-maroon colour, and Fluffy Bobbin is indigo.  Strange.  Very strange indeed.  These feel almost like suede when applied.  I think I love them, but it's very difficult getting used to having furry nails!

Have you tried any of these products?  Or have you any other MUA products that you'd recommend?  Thanks for reading!

fotd: green eyes and amethyst;

In keeping with my resolution to introduce more colour into my life, here's my first ever "Face of the Day" post, featuring green eyes and purple eye make-up!  This eye look was created using the Urban Decay Vice palette; - Anonymous (cream/almond, matte finish) on the inner corner and brow bone. - Laced (taupe, matte finish) all over the lid and blended up to the brow bone. - Vice (deep purple, frost/duochrome finish) all over the lid, into the crease. - Muse (deep, earthy brown, shimmer finish) in the crease, and along the lower lashline. - Provocateur (mauve, metallic finish with heavy glitter) applied using a damp brush to the centre of the lid. My circle lenses are the GEO Angel Green lenses (14mm and super comfy!), which I bought from Sweet Soul Shop. On my lips, I'm wearing Up The Amp from MAC, with a dot of Soap & Glory's Sexy Mother Pucker in Candy Gloss in the middle. This look is completely different from what I'd usually wear, but I think/hope I still managed to keep it wearable.  I've never been drawn to purple as a colour, but I'm quite pleased with how this turned out.  I hope you like it too! Thanks for reading!

tag: liebster award;

I've been nominated by Sophie @ Burning Into The Night for the Liebster Blog Award (thank you, Sophie)!  The Liebster Award is for new or establishing bloggers with 200 followers or less.  It's a way of promoting these lesser-known blogs, and letting a fellow blogger know "hello, you're only new, but your blog is gr8!!".  I was nominated for this quite a while back, but I didn't want to post it so soon after the blogger tag, so here it is!  Better late than never, eh?

Rules;

(1) List 11 random facts about yourself 

(2) Answer the 11 questions which your nominator set for you 

(3) Create 11 questions for who you choose to nominate 

(4) Choose 11 blogs to nominate with less than 200 followers 

11 random facts;
(1) I used to be fluent in Irish, and I really, really want to get back to that level.
(2) I have a degree in Multimedia.
(3) I'll be getting another one this summer.
(4) I am clueless when it comes to fashion.
(5) I have already broken my 2013 spending ban.  Lots.
(6) I have my septum, smiley, and navel pierced. 
(7) Cold cheese makes my skin crawl, but melted cheese is okay.
(8) I love going to the dentist.
(9) I've made several attempts to start a youtube/vlog channel.  They've all failed miserably.
(10) I've never tried sushi, because I like the idea of it but I'm afraid I won't actually like it.
(11) Seeing people cry on the tv makes me cry.


Sophie's questions;

(1)  Have you been to any concerts? If so, who have you been to see? 
I've been to lots and lots of concerts.  It would take too long to list them all, but my favourites have been Enter Shikari in October 2008, My Chemical Romance in February 2011, and Mumford & Sons in December 2012.

(2)  Favorite band/musician?
I can never narrow this list down!  My all time favourites are Busted, The Rocket Summer, and My Chemical Romance, and at the moment, I'm loving Lana Del Rey and Mumford & Sons.

(3)  What style of clothing does your wardrobe consist of? 
All black everything.

(4) What makes you feel nostalgic? 
Almost everything does!  I have tons of scrapbooks and I collect keepsakes from even minor things.  I love making memories.

(5)  Favorite movie? 
I just wrote a whole post on this.  Read here.

(6)  What inspires you most? 
With regard to make-up, I'm inspired by looks I see in Youtube videos.  In life, I get inspiration from silly quotes from movies, or in Tumblr posts.  Fashion?  All the inspiration in the world couldn't teach me how to dress myself.

(7)  What was the first movie you watched?
Mary Poppins.  Even as an infant I had good taste!

(8)  Did you have any imaginary friends when you were younger? 
I had an imaginary bunny rabbit... Don't even ask.

(9)  Dream job? 
I haven't really figured this out yet, but I hope to be a programmer of some description.

(10)  Do you suffer from any phobias? 
I don't have any phobias, exactly, but I have fears.  Lots.  I'm afraid of creepy crawlies, horses, jellyfish, the ocean in general...

(11)  Who's your hero/idol in life? 
Kim Kardashian.  She's my spirit animal.


My questions;
(1)  What's your favourite tv show?
(2)  What's your favourite online shop?
(3)  Would more money make you happier?
(4)  What song sounds like it was written about your life?
(5)  What three words would you use to describe yourself?
(6)  What's your party piece/trick?
(7)  Do you have any piercings?
(8)  In what way are you different than you were twelve months ago?
(9)  If you could eat only one food for the rest of your life, what would it be?
(10)  What three items would you want with you if you were stranded on a desert island?
(11)  What is the meaning of life?


My tagged bloggers;
beautybutterflyxo
aprilrose-xo
alexandradeanbeauty
thebracesarebreaking
coleoftheballl33
appletoothpaste
ellaybell
cgxox
lauracuddles
asprettyasyouplease
(I'm not following an 11th person with <200 followers :( oops!)

Thanks for reading!

favourites: movies;

Here's a fact about me:  I am a movie junkie.  My attention span is too short for books, and my schedule often means I don't get to watch any tv, but I always have time for movies!  For me, a trip to the cinema is always an occasion, and despite being able to record from the tv and stream online, I still insist on buying dvds.  I find it much easier to sleep with a movie playing in the background, and I have specific movies that I watch depending on my mood.  I just like 'em.  In no particular order (it was difficult enough narrowing it down to five, believe me), these are my top five favourite movies of all time.

(1) The Snapper:  Though this boxset as a whole is unreal, The Snapper is my favourite of the three.  The Snapper is about a girl called Sharon Curley, who gets pregnant and refuses to tell anyone who the father is. Firstly, it's Irish.  'Nuff said.  Secondly, it's hilarious!  Irish humour at it's best.  Thirdly, Colm Meaney is my favourite human.  It's an absolute classic, I'd recommend it to anyone!

(2) Mr. Magorium's Wonder Emporium:  Dustin Hoffman is also my favourite human.  This is the story of teh eccentric Mr. Magorium, his magical toy shop, and the story of what happens when he gives ownership of the shop to the store manager, Molly Mahoney.  I first saw this movie while babysitting my younger cousins, and it blew me away.  It has a much deeper meaning than anyone watching it as just a kids' movie will ever understand.  I don't want to give any of the story away (I really, really want all of you to watch this), but I will tell you that this movie truly taught me to be more positive.  It just makes me feel so happy.  I'm getting emotional just thinking about it!

(3) The Sound of Music:  A classic, I'm sure this one needs no explanation.  This is what I call a feel-good flick, and it's something that I put on when I've a few hours to myself and I need a bit of cheering up.  There's  no better feeling than snuggling up with a good cup of tea and belting out to the words to all the songs.  I think everyone wanted a Maria in their lives at least once, I know I did!

(4) Angus, Thongs and Perfect Snogging:  I will never, ever get tired of this! It's about 14-year-old Georgia Nicholson, and her venture into the world of crushes and kisses.  This movie is full of cringey stories, quirky slang words, and teenage angst, which I can totally relate to.  It's a little bit ridiculous (which tbh it what I like most about it) and you either love it or hate it, but I can't get enough of it!  I wish Georgia's life was my life.

(5) Mary Poppins:  Last, but certainly not least.  I can't remember the first time I saw this, because I was just a baby!  Mary Poppins is a magical nanny (practically perfect in every way) who comes to work for Mr. Banks and his family.  Even as an infant, I was a movie lover, and my parents tell me that I often refused to settle unless Mary Poppins was playing.  I've watched it so many times that I burned through the tape on my VHS!  Hopefully my DVD proves more durable.  This is something I turn to when I want something easy going and lighthearted to watch, and I'll never be bored with it.  It's been my favourite with 21 years now, I don't think that will change any time soon!

As you can see, the majority of these are kids' movies, but there's a reason for that!  I often watch movies when I have some time off from my busy schedule, when I want to unwind and relax, so I much prefer easy going, easy to watch movies that give me a bit of a giggle and lift my spirits.  Now, don't get me wrong, there is a time and a place for a high-powered, suspense-filled, heartstring-tugging action/drama/thriller/horror movies (horror/gore movies are another favourite of mine.  Opposites, much?), but I've always been drawn to kids' movies.  

What are your favourite movies?  Thanks for reading!

favourites: soap & glory;

(Sorry for the awful photo. Life without Photoshop is miserable!)

I have mentioned Soap & Glory too many times already, I know!  However, I've yet to make a post entirely dedicated to this fabulous brand.  Well, today is the day.  Here's a quick run-down of my favourite Soap & Glory products!

(1) Clean On Me:  One of my all-time favourite shower gels, after Snow Fairy.  It has that classic S&G scent that stays on your skin for hours, yet it's still incredibly kind to my sensitive skin.  It lathers really well, and the bubbles are lovely and creamy.  A little goes a long way, and considering the size of the bottle (500mls), it lasts aages.  

(2) Scrub Your Nose In It:  This is a facial scrub/mask which works wonders on blocked pores, blackheads, and blemishes (salicylic acid is a babe!).  It's minty/tea tree scent is delish, and it even smells like it's good for you!  It can be used as a quick-rinse scrub, or left on longer as a face mask.  Or a combination of the two!  The scrubbing beads are quite small so it's not too hardcore but, as with all scrubs, be careful not to over-scrub! I use this once a week, and it really helps to cut through any leftover residue/oil from the weeks make-up, and it leaves my skin feeling soo smooth and fresh.  Five gold stars!

(3) The Righteous Butter:  I best not mention this again or y'all will get tired of hearing about it! Read here, invest, indulge, and enjoy.

(4) Pulp Friction:  And the award for Most Clever Name goes to...? Pulp Friction is a body scrub, which is a 2in1 body wash and scrub.  Perfect for saving time in the shower!  It has a mild fruity smell, which isn't exactly my favourite,  but the product itself more than makes up for that.  I use it primarily to exfoliate before applying false tan.  Because the exfoliating particles are quite small, I can use this more often than other once-weekly scrubs, and I've found that this has made a big difference to my skin. It's the type of product that prompts you to ask strangers "feel how smooth my legs are!". 

So there you have it!  Have you tried any S&G products?  What are your favourites?  Thanks for reading!

2013;

On paper, 2012 was one of the best years of my life.  I passed my driving test, got a Distinction on my degree, turned 21, reached a thousand followers on tumblr... but the reality is that I spent most of the year wasting time and being miserable.  I was unhappy, I am unhappy, but I'm making a promise to myself to not let 2013 pass the same way. 

Every year, I make dozens of resolutions and, although I make them with the best intentions, they're all outlandish, ultimately unreachable and my failure to fulfil any of them leaves me disenchanted.  Every year, the same routine.  But not this year!  I am going to make 2013 my bitch.

2013 resolutions goals:

(1) Eat Healthier:  This time last year, I vowed to lose a shed-load of weight, expecting it to happen quickly with minimal effort.  Go figure, it didn't work.  My health is beginning to suffer as a result of my weight, so this year, I'm going to try something different.  Instead of aiming to just lose weight and get stuck in that miserable boo-I'm-on-a-diet frame of mind, I want to just be healthier.  My insides need a make-over and hopefully, by upping my vegetable and water intake and cutting out as much junk food as possible, I'll stop feeling so ill all the time.

(2) Learn to Cook!:  As is, my culinary skills extend to buttering toast and boiling an egg.  Not very impressive.  I want to cook something from scratch at least once a week, even if it's just something simple.  I'm quite exited for this, if I'm honest!

(3) Stop Dragging my Heels:  A strange one, I'll admit, but I was given knees for a reason.  Plus, the heels of my shoes are getting worn and destroyed from being scraped along the ground with every step.  Bad habit, be gone!

(4) Experiment with Colour:  Every month, I spend a fortune on eyeshadow in every colour under the sun.  What colours do I actually wear?  Beige, brown, black, and more brown.  This year, I want to get my money's worth from my make-up collection, and work on how I can integrate colours into my everyday routine.

What resolutions have you made this year, if any?  Happy 2013, and thanks for reading!

december in photos;

tracksuit, so comfy // testing a board game prototype // camwhorin' // happy birthday to me!

exam snacks // birthday cake // heh // birthday face

demon baby // pretty christmas tree // max sleeping at the tree // ipad!!

amber sleeping on my laptop // babel // non-existent queue @ mumford & sons // barrier

encore // gentleman of the road // pretty girl // beddy byes

amber wanted me to switch channels // corrie mug // amber :3 // treats for santa...

90s DANCE ANTHEMS! // tyson // christmas face // photobooth trickery

haul: december;

This month, with working extra hours, turning 21, and Christmas, I felt like (albeit briefly) the richest person in the world.  This is a collective haul (another blog first!) of bits and pieces that I've picked up throughout December.  Praise the Lord for Christmas sales!

MAKE-UP & BEAUTY

(L - R back row) BIG solid conditioner // Snow Fairy x2 // Sweet Soap of Mine soap duo

(L - R front row) King of Skin body butter // Godiva 2in1 shampoo bar

(1) BIG solid conditioner:  I'm a big fan of Lush's BIG shampoo, but unfortunately they were sold out, so I thought I'd give the conditioner a try.  I'd never tried a solid conditioner before this, and admittedly I found it more difficult to use than solid shampoos 'cause without a lather, I couldn't tell how much I was using.  Nonetheless, it's super creamy, smells (and tastes) delicious, and left my hair really clean, soft and shiny.  A++.

(2) Snow Fairy:  They only had small bottles left, but they were half price so I bought two!  I've mentioned Snow Fairy before, it's fab.  Definitely worth stocking up over Christmas.  Pity it's limited edition.

(3) Sweet Soap of Mine:  Another first for me, as I've never tried Lush soap before.  This pack contains 100g of Rockstar soap and 100g of The Godmother soap (which smells like Snow Fairy).  Seeing as my skin is quite sensitive, I was a bit wary of trying out the soaps, but I've used Rockstar and I'm impressed.  It felt like it was good for my skin, y'know?

(4) King of Skin:  I lovelovelove Lush's body butters, so I picked up King of Skin to add to my collection.  Haven't used it yet, but I've no fear that I'll love this one too.

(5) Godiva:  *Angels voices from Heaven* This shampoo bar, which is a 2in1, is my all-time holy grail hair product.  I use it just as a shampoo, but the added conditioner gives my hair that extra bit of moisture it needs to stay healthy.  The scent isn't for everyone (personally, I love it) but it lasts for ages on your hair, even after blowdrying and straightening/curling. Mmm. 

MAC Up The Amp //  Rimmel Lasting Finish Matte in 107 // Revlon Colourstay Ultimate Liquid Lipstick in Ultimate Orchid

(6) Up The Amp:  This lipstick inspired my growing love of lilac lip colours, and I've been admiring it with months.  Now, I finally own it!  It's an Amplified Creme which, considering I'm usually a matte finish girl, is really smooth and moisturising, and the colour is prettier than I could have hoped for. Delira!

(7) 107:  I've heard so many good things about Rimmel's new matte lipsticks so I picked one up for myself.  107 is the prettiest berry colour I've ever seen, and I haven't found it to be drying at all.  A big plus for a matte lipstick.

(8) Ultimate Orchid:  I fell in love with this colour the second I saw it.  A pinky-lilac with a slight shimmer. Delish!  It has a matte finish, and it dried my lips out a bit, but it's nothing a lick of carmex can't solve!

Eyeshadow in Antiqued // Paint Pot in Rubanesque // Pigment in Pink Opal // Eyeshadow in Paradisco

(9) Antiqued:  Antiqued is a gorgeous copper-brown with just the right amount of shimmer.  And it's a Veluxe Pearl. Yes.

(10) Rubanesque:  My first paint pot!  I feel like I'm moving up in the world.  If you haven't heard, Rubanesque is a peach gold colour with gold shimmer.  I am so excited to use this!

(11) Pink Opal:  Like Up The Amp, Pink Opal is a colour that I've been admiring from a distance but never had the courage to buy.  It's a white/pink duochrome, and I'm scared to even breathe near it incase I blow half of it away!

(12) Paradisco:  My first Frost finish from MAC.  It's a coral/pink colour which is admittedly quite similar to Expensive Pink, one of my favourite MAC shades.  Still, it's pretty and I can't wait to use it.

Sally Hansen Airbrush Legs in Light Glow // Girls Aloud Part Lashes in Sarah // Lady Gaga Fame perfume

(13) Sally Hansen Airbrush Legs:  Read here.  Love it!

(14) Girls Aloud Lashes:  These lashes were a total disappointment!  In the box, they look gorgeous.  They're long, thick, and covered in glitter.  Fab.  But in reality, with the length and thickness of my natural lashes, they just looked odd, and the glitter on the falsies made it look as though they were covered in eyeshadow fallout.  Plus, the glue in box was completely dried out and unusable.  I won't be buying these again.

(15) Lady Gaga Fame perfume:  I reveived a sample of this in a GlossyBox months ago and I loved it, so I spoiled myself and bought a full sized bottle.  I am awful at describing scents, so I won't even try, but it is everything I love in a perfume.  And the bottle looks stunning, too!

CLOTHING & ACCESSORIES

Contrast Sleeve Jacket - Red Herring @ Debenhams // Peplum Dress - River Island

Embellished Collar Blouse - Penneys // Oversized Wolf Print Jumper - Penneys

Black Skater Skirt - Penneys // Grey Hi-Lo Skater Skirt w/ Gold Chain - Topshop

Black and Gold overknee Stockings - River Island // Gold Cherub Necklace - Topshop

** I should probably mention that I'm not posting this to 'brag'.  I bought a lot of these things at sale prices with money I worked hard to earn, or that was gifted to me by my wonderful family.  I am so grateful for their generosity, and the effort that they put into make this milestone month special for me. **

Have you picked up many bargains in the sales?  Happy New Year, and thanks for reading!