giveaway: one hundred followers;

Hello, lovelies!  On Thursday, I reached 100 fabulous followers, so to celebrate I've decided to host my first ever giveaway!

One lucky winner will receive a Soap & Glory Lid Stuff eyeshadow palette in What's Nude (gutted I didn't pick one up for myself, it's gorg!), as well as a L'Oreal Paris Colour Riche Confetti top coat.  This giveaway is open internationally. To enter, simply fill out the Rafflecopter form below.  The only mandatory option is to follow this blog via GFC (link)!  There's a few extra entries up for grabs, too.  Simple!  The giveaway will close on Friday March 8th (that's two whole weeks away), so get entering!

a Rafflecopter giveaway
(p.s. I'd just like to mention that I bought these prizes with my own hard-earned cash as a special thank you for all you lovely, lovely people.  Thank you so much for following!)

Thanks for reading!

review: soap & glory sexy mother pucker;

I'm sure I don't need to mention at this stage how big a S&G fan I am, and these glosses are no exception.  I've read/heard mixed reviews about these, so I thought I'd throw in my own two cents!

Let's get the negatives out of the way first, shall we?  These smell horrendous.  Although you can't smell them when they're applied (thankfully!), the smell from the tube can be really off-putting.  They're also quite sticky, which is a big no-no for a lot of people.  However, the only thing that I really disliked about these glosses is the tingling tongue/mouth if I was unfortunate enough to lick my lips when it was freshly applied.  Very unpleasant indeed!

Now, onto the positives!  First of all, I have tiny lips, so the "LIPSWELL™ Volume Boost Technology" in these really sold them to me.  I haven't noticed a huge difference, but a little is better than none!  It does tingle quite a bit, which is expected from a plumping gloss, but not so much that it's uncomfortable.  Second, these are so moisturising!  The formula is very thick (which some people might see as a negative), but it sinks in nicely, and I found it worked wonders on keeping my lips smooth and soft   Sexy Mother Pucker comes in a great range of colours, too, from a dark neutral to a shimmering pink, and it's also available as a clear gloss.  The glosses are quite sheer, but they do give a lovely hint of colour. 

Overall:  I love Sexy Mother Pucker!  I mean, I'm not a big fan of lipgloss in general, but I own three of these!  I will definitely repurchase these, maybe some of the other colours, when I start to run out.

Rating:  8/10

thirty before thirty;

I've been inspired by Annie's post @ appletoothpaste, and I've decided to write my own list of thirty things I want to do/achieve/experience before my thirtieth birthday!

(1)  Get a first on my honours degree. (I got a second! Close enough!)

(2)  Get my masters degree.

(3)  Move out of home.

(4)  Live in a different country. (I now live in Gloucester, UK.)

(5)  Eat sushi. (Delicious!)

(6)  Get a new car.

(7)  Get a Rottweiler.

(8)  Finally get the tattoo I've been planning with years.

(9)  Find a mascara that I really love. (Soap & Glory's "Thick & Fast" has become a holy grail product.)

(10)  Go on a date.

(11)  Go on a date on Valentine's Day.

(12)  Go skydiving.

(13)  Qualify as a make-up artist.

(14)  Go on a holiday without my parents.

(15)  Have cosmetic surgery.
(16)  Have blonde hair.
(17)  Learn to walk properly in heels.
(18)  Own a pair of Louboutins.
(19)  Fly first class to anywhere.
(20)  Get married.
(21)  Meet Bryce Avary.
(22)  Take my sisters out to dinner in an actual restaurant. (Nom nom nom.)
(23)  Work in a job I actually like.
(24)  Taste everything on the menu at Costa coffee.
(25)  Go to Mardi Gras.
(26)  Meet Gale Harold.
(27)  Have my dream kitchen.
(28)  Own a pair of Wildfox Couture Bel-Air sunglasses.
(29)  Watch every episode of Sex and the City.
(30)  Receive a bouquet of flowers.

 In December, I turned twenty-one, so I think it's about time I get a move on in regard to making something of my life.  I mean, in the grand scheme of things, nine years isn't a long time.  I know a lot of things in this list mightn't seem very important, but it's often the little things that make the biggest difference, and a small sense of achievement is better than none!  In that same vein, I hope I haven't set my sights on anything too outlandish.  I'll be keeping this list updated, crossing things off the list as they (hopefully) happen, so watch this space!

If any of you have written a post like this, please leave your link below!  Thanks for reading!

happy birthday, babies!

 Max

Bailey

Today is a very exciting day indeed.  This is just a quick post to mark the fact that my puppies babies, Max and Bailey, turned one today.  Yes, today is their first birthday!  This means that their first anniversary as part of this family is just a few weeks away.  Seems like yesterday that they were teeny tiny babies, and I was meeting them for the first time.  Sigh.  They grow up so fast!

(Just after we brought them home.  So little!)

Thanks for reading!

photos by shona #1;

This semester in college I'm taking a digital photography class, which means I'm actually learning how to use my DSLR for reasons other than taking very high quality Facebook profilers.  On Monday, to get some snaps for an upcoming assignment, a few of my classmates and myself took a trip to the Guillamene Cove in Tramore. It was cold and windy, but ultimately very productive, as I managed to take most of the photos I need for the assignment handup.  That afternoon in Photography class, while it was still quite sunny, our lecturer took us on a walk around campus to put some of the theory we were learning into practice.  I'm really enjoying this class, I'm really happy with some of the photos I took today, and I'm really looking forward to improving my photography skills.

Keep in mind, I'm still a total beginner.  Aside from owning a "fancy" camera, and the theory I've learned over the past few weeks, I know very little about taking a good photo.  My photos mightn't be the best, but I'm learning, and it's a start!

Have you any tips on taking a better photo?  Thanks for reading! 

new shoes: studs and spikes edition;

I'm not usually a shoe girl.  I don't own that many pairs, and my Dr Marten's have been my go-to for every occasion with over a year now.  But these past two days have changed me.  I'm a notorious flats-wearer, so when I saw these studded hi-tops for just €15(!!), I had to have them.  They're so cute, and right up my street!  I can't remember the last time I wore heels, but I'm willing to make an exception for these spiked beauties.  Since imitation Litas began popping up in every shoe shop around the country, I've been waiting for imitation Damsels to do the same.  Seems I've got my wish!  And for just €40!  Very pleased indeed.

fotd: barbie girl;

Another "Face of the Day", another colour I never thought I'd use.  As with my last fotd, I made it my mission to use some colours from my make-up collection that I wouldn't usually reach for.  Today's choice: pink, inspired by the pot of Birthday Girl (a gorgeous barbie-pink with fuchsia glitters) by Sugarpill I spied in my eyeshadow drawer.  So glad I finally plucked up the courage to use it!

To achieve this eye look, I used:

- Mayebelline Eye Studio Colour Tattoo 24hr in Pink Gold as a base.

- Pink Opal by MAC in the inner corner and as a brow highlight.

- Birthday Girl by Sugarpill all over the lid and blended up.

- Laced by Urban Decay to blend the lid colour and highlight together.

- Muse by Urban Decay in the crease and along the lower lashline.

On my lips, I used S&G's Sexy Mother Pucker in Pink Apricot, one of my favourite glosses.

I hope you like this look as much as I do!  Thanks for reading!

review: mua undressed palette;

 (Sorry for the awful/dirty picture, I just couldn't hold myself back from using it!)

The Undressed palette is MUA's answer to Urban Decay's Naked palette and, I assure you, it doesn't disappoint.  At just £4 (less than €5, holy moly!!) this palette is a steal!  Available here.

 It includes 12 neutral shades, from a pale shimmer, through golden tones, to an intense black.  (C'mon girls, we all know how difficult it is to find a highly pigmented black shadow!)  It has two matte shadows, and the rest are packed with a gorgeous satin shimmer that sticks really well to the lids (without sliding halfway down you face, leaving you looking like a disco ball).  The pigmentation and colour payoff of each shade is impressive, needing just a quick swipe to give intense coverage.  As for the texture of the shadows, they're very creamy and smooth, not chalky at all.

(Top row shadows. Swatched on a base of UD's Primer Potion)

(Bottom row shadows. Swatched on a base of UD's Primer Potion)

Downsides?  There's little to nothing I dislike about this palette.  The packaging isn't exactly pretty; it's quite plastic-y and flimsy, and I don't think anyone like those sponge applicators.  But those are just minor details, and for that cheap-as-chips price tag, I can easily overlook them.

Overall:  I would recommend this palette right down to the ground!  It's a perfect addition to any make-up kit, and has quickly become a favourite of mine.  This quality for that price? You can't go wrong.
Rating: 9/10

Have you tried this palette? What are your thoughts?  Thanks for reading!

january in photos;

max being a cutie // james corden is a babe // I GRADUATED!! // peach iced tea, mmm

i actually cooked breakfast // day out with emma // fancy water at lunchtime // organised my make-up, finally

cuddling with amber // pewds is a babe // night time face // naptime with max

early morning face // chillaxin' in class // college is bleak // new blog posts

fur-effect nails, hmm // best cuppa I ever made! // digital photography class // tattoo want

naptime with max and bailey :3