Fools on Parade

Lately all I've been wanting to do is go out, take millions of photos on a disposable camera and find a way to create something so visually appealling with them that I cannot express my thoughts in words, bit deep but you get me? I've been scrolling through tumblr a lot lately just drooling over all of these photos. It makes me want to go out & explore all the places in my area that I've never been to before and just capture every moment. Cutting out the crap and just taking plain, simple photos of the environment and objects that sit in front of me. Creating art out of the everyday things that we, or should I say 'I' take for granted. I've been a fool for not realising the beauty of the things I see each day & so I thought I'd write this little rambly, chatty post for today to pretty much express my new found appreciation of everything. I've also only just noticed that all of the photos above are blue,  I guess I've been drawn to that colour today - cool!

I think I'll leave you with some songs to listen to that match my philosophical (if that's what you'd call it) mood:

Arctic Monkeys- Secret Door (title inspo) // Foals - Milk & Black Spiders

*all photos taken from Tumblr

Moody Monday 03

I've been loving the whole tartan craze this season and i think it's fair to say that I am borderline OBSESSED! I mean, who could resist red & green plaid? I know I can't! This collection of tartan beauties is just a tiny portion of some of the stuff I've been eyeing up lately.

The first being a tartan pinafore-y playsuit thing from New Look. How cute is this?? Chuck me over a pair of docs or chunky boots & a simple tee and this is a winner in my eyes! Paired with a leather jacket, this could quite possibly be the cool outfit on the planet (in my opinion).

This PVC and tartan dress from Topshop is another treasure I've spotted. Grungy, cute and versatile rolled into one, this piece is perfect for all those not too casual, not too dressy days. Paired with chunky boots, tights and a tee this look is pretty with a hint of edginess - AMAZING!!

My favourite of all the pieces has got to be these tartan cigarette style trousers. Quirky yet elegant, these trousers are a must have (for me anyway).  Styled with a simple back cami and gold jewellery these are perfect for any occasion, I love em'!

Finally, this collared tartan top from Zara is so darn cute! It's peplum style makes it perfect for any shape or size & it's collar adds that extra little hint of prettiness! I just need it! Paired with black trousers and heels, this top can look both dressy & casual - result!

Have you been liking the tartan trend? 

Feelin' Feline w/ L'Oreal

Wow, it's been quite a while since my last post. Last week was definitely the most hectic my life has been in a while (I might do an update), so yesterday I thought I'd treat myself to a new product. As you may know from other posts of mine, I love love love winged liner & I always seem to be on the hunt for the perfect eye product! When I spotted the new L'Oreal stall at my local pharmacy I couldn't resist having a good ol' rummage through they're liners & ended up picking the 'Super Liner Perfect Slim' one! It cost me £4.99, which isn't too steep in my opinion plus the packaging is AMAZING!

The tip of the liner is super slim making it perfect for creating flicks, wings or lines of any thickness. It's also sooo easy to just glide on and go (rather than having to dip & apply). As far as I'm aware it's only available in 'Intense Black' but the pigment is great, it does apply pretty dark so I guess you need to be quite careful if you're in a rush! Lastly, it's really long lasting. It doesn't come off easily during the day, however wipes off like a dream with regular cleanser or eye makeup remover! It's a winner!

Have you tried this before? 

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Moody Moody 02

It's been a week since my last post (I've been pretty busy!) & so today you'll be seeing another 'Moody Monday' post, woo (or not!)!

I've been loving florals & in particular, floral trousers - I just gotta have a pair! I especially love this pair because (if you don't already know) I love blue! I've also been on the hunt for a pair of really fitted (with a little bit of baggy-ness) trousers & so these combine 2 in 1, result!
As for tops, I'd definitely keep it kinda cool and wear a black cami (this one is from Topshop) just to tone it down a little make the trousers more of a statement.
I'd also pair it with chunky boots from H&M to add a little edginess and make it more me (plus, who doesn't want to wear comfy shoes??)!
I've also been loving cuffs (they're just AMAZING!!!), this one is pretty plain & adds a little hint of elegance.

So that's it for this weeks 'Moody Monday'  some songs I've been listening to are;

Alt-J - Fitzpleasure // Bastille - These Streets // Arctic Monkeys - Old Yellow Bricks

Moody Monday

So, I've decided that I'm going to start little mood board posts on this blog every Monday (maybe not every, but I'll try!). I'm going to call it 'Moody Monday' because: 1.on Monday I'm pretty moody & 2. I'm bad at puns but I thought this one fitted quite well (haha!).

This past year I've developed a real love for vintage/biker/grunge style clothing. I don't mean I like to dress in black leather from head to toe, but I do like to sprinkle some of it into my outfits (just to edge it up a little). Leather jackets in particular have become a staple, I picked up the 'Clean Biker Jacket' from Topshop back in January & now every time I wear it I feel like I need a moped or motorbike to complete me (probably not the greatest idea)!

I've also been loving chunky boots! Whether they be Chelsea, Biker or Cutout - I've been feelin' the need to try on every single pair (well, maybe that's an exaggeration but I just love em'!). This pair from Boohoo.com are next on my list - that platform, eh? AMAZING!

The sun hasn't been out as much but I can still live in hope, right? So I thought I'd include these sunnies into the mix as they're just too cute! I'm loving the bridge bar - so retro, plus the round frame gives that effortless vintage (HAIM sister - esque) vibe! Love it!

I guess that's it for my first 'Moody Monday' post. I might just leave a couple of songs below for you to listen to if you're feelin' like a bit of music.

M83 - Outro // Julian Casablancas - 11th Dimension // Foals - Providence

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They're Real!

Yesterday, I took part in the #bbloggers chat on twitter & read so many negative tweets about this product (whattt?). I received this as a Christmas present last year & ever since, I've loved it! So, I thought I'd get the magnifying glass out & do a little review (or investigation) on this 'Marmite'- like product.  To start off, Benefit have got it all right on the packaging side of things, the bottle is really lovely! However, for (a quite hefty) £19.50, you'd only expect to have the best bottle about! 

The formula, for me, is amazing! It's doesn't flake or crumble throughout the day (woo hoo!) & it's staying power is magnificent - making it perfect for if you have a busy schedule! The 'jet black' colour (which I'll admit I was a bit wary of) makes lashes stand out (result!). When I first received this I wasn't too sure about the wand, I've never been a fan of plastic wands & I initially thought that the bristles were quite stumpy, but I find that it works perfectly with the formula to create thick, voluminous lashes (what more does a girl want?)!

I have to say, I'll definitely be repurchasing this (& will probably gift this to friends too!) as I love it so much! So...yeah, I'm a fan!

Have you tried this product? What do you think?

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Sky High with Midi Rings

Today I'm wearing Rimmel's 60 Seconds polish in Sky High. I adore this colour, it's so bright & just makes me think of the ocean (despite it's name!). I'm loving turquoise shades at the moment, they're just so pretty! As well as the colour I'm loving the 60 seconds range - the packaging doesn't lie which is great, meaning I don't have to sit awkwardly and not touch anything for ages (especially as I can't sit still for a minute) woo!

I had to take these snaps outside as it's pretty groggy & the lighting indoors is a total nightmare. I'm strangely liking cracked paint effect in the background - it's a bit different!

I finally opened my midi rings after days of just staring at them. I absolutely love delicate jewellery the daintier the better, for me anyway! I'm probably going to wear these until my fingers turn green (that's the issue with cheap jewellery!) as they go with everything! Plus, they're plain & don't make a huge statement - perfect!

Brilliant Buys

I've been a little reckless when it comes to shopping these past couple of weeks. Last week I did a haul (that you can find here) on bits & pieces I picked up in Primark. So...yeah, I've gone a little mad on the shopping front (forgive me!).
I dropped into H&M on Saturday & had no intention of buying anything until I spotted these Wine Corduroys on the 'Sale' rail. I couldn't believe my luck because they were in my size (which is very, very rare) plus, they were reduced from £35 down to *drum roll please*, £7 (what a bargain!).
I also picked up this black cut-out dip hem dress. It was really hard to get a good photo of it because it is super long but I think I'll give a little post of it's own! It was £19.99 & I spotted it a month ago and decided not to buy it (I gave in!).

If you've been keeping up with my blog you'll know that I have developed a slight love for rings. I've been on the hunt for a pack of midi rings because they're so cute! So when I spotted these delicate little midi rings I just couldn't say 'No!'

Just received this, this morning but I also bought 'Submarine' by Joe Dunthorne on Amazon. I literally searched for this in every book shop (around me, obviously) & couldn't track it down so I had to give up the ongoing battle & buy it online!

So...yeah! That's my little haul!

Have you been shopping lately? 

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Feelin' Zesty

Today's polish is a little more daring than usual. I've decided to go with a bold orange as the sun is starting to disappear (aww!) & I need something else to brighten my day! This is Tangerine Queen by Rimmel London & I have to say I love it!! I've always been a fan of Rimmel nail polishes as I find they're really long lasting, plus they have every colour a girl could ever wish for! The consistency is fab & it takes seconds to dry (what more do you need?)!

I love this shade, it's super bright and I think it would look really good against a royal blue or navy outfit to add a little 'pop' of colour! I'm not sure whether it suits my skin tone though, because as always I'm very pale, but 'Who cares?' - I love it!

For £2.99 I think this polish is a real steal, it's great quality & basically has everything I look for in a nail product - amazing!

Battling Breakouts | La Roche-Posay Effaclar Duo

Today's post is something a little different. I'll be focusing on a skincare product that sadly didn't work for me despite lots of positive reviews I encountered.
During my exams a couple of months ago my skin started to breakout pretty badly (more than likely due to stress, lack of sleep & a rather rushed, unhealthy diet). Once I had all of my exams over & done with, I decided to do something about my skin and so went to my local pharmacy. I intended on purchasing some benzoyl peroxide gel or cream but instead, I was recommended La Roche-Posay Effaclar Duo by the pharmacist. I never really tried 'La Roche-Posay' before, but I always considered it to be a 'high end' brand with a price tag to match. This tube cost £13.00, which to be honest gave me high hopes as I assumed it would have to be brilliant!

The consistency is really strange, it's like a really watery gel. I kind of feel like it's confused as to whether or not it's a liquid or a gel.  However, it does smell lovely and fresh - like lemon!

The bottle states that this can be applied morning & night and that it works as an excellent make-up base.
I used this morning and night for 6 days (probably not the best idea) & experienced a stinging sensation on the areas it was applied to, as well as this, it dried my skin up completely leaving it looking rough and flaky no matter how much moisturizer I applied, ughh. Taking all of this into account, I saw absolutely no improvements & so it was an absolute waste of time for me. Oh, and if you're wondering it took roughly 4-5 days for my skin to restore it's moisture again! This is just my experience with this product, obviously it will work differently for others but I feel that it's not as great as it is made out to be!

Have you tried this product? Or any other products by La Roche-Posay?

Shopping Splurge + Update

Hi guys, it's been a while! Well, I guess 3 days isn't that long but it certainly feels much longer! As you can probably tell from the title, this post is going to be filled with lots of goodies I picked up whilst in the city. I took a glance in my wardrobe recently & felt like melting at the sight of all my sweaters, jumpers and jackets (I really underestimated this heatwave) so I was in need of some light, sun-suitable clothing that could see me through the heat. I stopped at Primark first (which explains why this post is so 'primark heavy') & picked up quite a lot of bits.

I've been in need of more basic t-shirts and tops as I just throw them on when I'm lounging around & decided to pick up a couple of 'boyfriend t-shirts' basically, baggy t-shirts! I'm a huge fan of baggy tees & love wearing them tucked into skinny jeans or skirts - these cost £4.00 so I couldn't resist (they're the two tops at the bottom by the way!)!
 I also picked up two cropped sweaters which I liked (they are the next two in the picture) as I thought they'd be great to chuck on at the beach when it starts to get a little cooler - as far as I can remember these were £6.00 (not bad!).
And lastly I grabbed two turtleneck crop tops. As these were £2.50 I just thought 'Why Not?' & threw them into my basket - I guess I can dress them up with high waisted trousers, shorts or a skirt.

While I was walking around I spotted these tribal print leggings and thought they were amazing! I also kinda got them to wear with the black crop top & because I don't ever really buy jazzy trousers. Then, to tone it down I grabbed these 'acid wash' or light denim jeggings - as they're so comfortable and easy to wear with anything, perfect for warm weather!

To top off the clothing I purchased this little ring in the style of a spring (ooh! That rhymes!) it was only £1.50 & if you've been reading my previous posts you'll know that recently I've been loving gold rings! As well as gold rings, I've been loving chains & spikes and when I saw both of these combined in this necklace I knew I had to get it, plus, it was only £2.50!

After Primark, I went for a little browse in HMV. I've been loving The Strokes recently and decided to buy their album 'Angles' which was £8.99 (woo!). I also went ahead and bought Arctic Monkeys 'Favourite Worst Nightmare' - I was debating whether or not to buy this because I already know all of the songs on it but it's that good of an album I couldn't say no! 

So... yeah! That rounds up my haul, well done if you made it this far! But on a serious note, Primark have some really nice things in at the moment - so if you haven't already, I would definitely recommend going for a browse! 

Now on to the update! I've reached 50 followers (woop woop!) I just want to say thanks to everyone for following me - I appreciate every follower & comment left and think it's so cool that people actually like my blog & read my posts! So, thanks guys for helping me reach my first milestone!

Bold In Gold

I've really been loving gold lately; gold necklaces, gold rings & now gold eyeshadow. I never really bother with eyeshadow, but when I do I like to keep it subtle & I find that this gold shade by Barry M does the job perfectly! As you can probably tell from my previous posts I am a huge fan of Barry M products - I just think they're great quality and super affordable (everything I want in a brand!). As far as I can remember I bought this shadow in Boots for in and around £4.50 (which I think is reasonable enough). It's in the shade 09 & think it's called 'Tan', but I'm not sure. What I do know however, is that it is reallyyy shimmery & is quite heavily pigmented - brilliant! 

I've had this for roughly 10 months and have used it sparingly (because a little goes a long way) & I haven't even created the slightest dent - great! I also love love love the packaging! It's super sturdy and doesn't feel like it's going to crack or break any time soon & so does a great job of protecting the eye shadow (great if your clumsy like me!). 

Have you tried this product?

I put some new shoes on & suddenly everything is right

Hello there! Last week I was taking a bit of a browse at shoes on SportsDirect.com, I didn't really intend on buying a pair... until I saw these bad boys! To be completely honest, it wasn't the actual style of the shoe that made me want them, it was the colour (as sad as that sounds!)! I’m a real sucker for pastel colours & this pastel blue (almost duck egg blue) had me sold! The best thing was however, the fact that they were reduced from £29.99 to £17.99 (what a bargain!!)! Unfortunately, I can't find them on the website to link them!

So, the shoes are suede and so soft – amazing! The design is pretty plain which means they’ll practically go with anything, but as you can probably tell from the above photos I’ll more likely be wearing them on days when I feel a little casual! I guess you could probably wear them with a bright dress if you wanted to tone it down a little during the day and keep it comfy! They’re lace up, but for some reason I think they look better with the laces tucked in (but that's just me!), they're super comfortable and so soft on the inside, so your feet aren't going to blister (woo!)! I'm not usually one for wearing trainers, but I love these! What do you think?

Also, I'll leave you with some shoe related songs that you can check out if ya feel like it!

Paolo Nutini - New Shoes // Foster The People - Pumped Up Kicks // U2 - Get on your Boots  // Mac Miller - Nikes on my Feet

Once in a Blue Moon

Today I found myself shifting through my little collection of nail polishes & once I spotted this lying at the very bottom of the bag I fell in love ( ugh, how cheesy!)! I completely forgot I had this polish & felt like I struck gold because it just summarized my mood today (woo!). I could only describe this colour as a milky blue (if that makes any sense?), it's quite a soft colour & isn't bold or intense on the nails. I really love wearing this colour with gold jewellery - It gives a little nautical vibe (ya gotta love it, right?).

The shade is 'Blue Moon' by Beauty UK & I must've bought this almost 3 years ago (pretty old!) but I'm sure it's still available in shops or drugstores. As much as I love this colour, the consistency of the polish was really watery and it took up to 4 coats to achieve the colour above! As well as this, it took forever to dry (bad if you're fidgety like me!)! According to the website, this polish costs £1.99 & so I guess the quality is reflected in the price. I'll definitely be looking for a similar shade by Barry M or OPI. I love it so much! 

Do you recommend any similar shades?

Snaps & Songs

This week I've been posting quite often & as I was short for ideas I thought I'd do a cute little 'week in snaps' post as I've really been making the most of the lovely weather! I've always loved photography & getting the camera out from time to time, but sadly due to exams, horrible weather (which often means terrible lighting) & procrastination (or laziness as it's otherwise known) I just haven't got round to taking many photos. So hopefully by doing a little post like this I can learn to get out & use my camera more than I have been!

Wearing Barry M Nail Paint in Berry Ice cream featured in this post // Homegrown Organic Strawberries picked & almost eaten with my very own 'green fingers' // An old foresty snap I found whilst looking through my camera

Another oldy I found of some abandoned boats (n'aww) // A real gem of a snap - my neighbour's cat lounging in the sun (laaaz-y) // A lipstick I've been loving at the mo' featured in this post

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That's 'Snaps' covered, now on to Songs! So basically, I thought I may as well add a little music into the mix and include songs I've been listening to this week. I'm constantly listening to music - sometimes I get a little 'set in my ways' & don't explore other genres or artists' music so, hopefully this post can encourage me to do that!

Bastille - Overjoyed // Arctic Monkeys - Do I Wanna Know? // The Vaccines - Melody Calling

The 1975 - Chocolate // Alt-J - Fitzpleasure

So, that's today's post! If you would like me to do more of these kinda posts, give me a little comment below & I'll see what I can do!

Do you like any of the songs or artists I've mentioned?

Wingin' It

I'm a huge fan of winged liner & so I'm constantly on the hunt for eyeliners that are long lasting & afforable. I had my eye on the Maybelline New York Lasting Drama Gel Eyeliner for a while & after reading a number  of good reviews I made the purchase. I got this in Boots for £7.99 (which I thought was reasonable enough!). It's in the colour 08 Black Gold, and is pretty much a black gel with gold shimmer in it but appears a dark brown / bronze-y colour on the lids. The 'stay power' of this liner is brilliant!! I mean, I can wear it all day and it will not budge. It's also really pigmented & a little goes a very long way - I've had this for a month now and have used it every day - it still looks like I've only used it once!

The packaging is sturdy -it comes in a cute little glass pot with a silver cap aswell as a little brush for application. The brush is just the perfect size for lining the eyes & allows you to create lines however thick or thin you want! Overall, this product is great - it has all you'll ever need in 1 little pack , so whether I feel like wingin' it or keeping in subtle I'll definitely be reaching for this!!

Have you tried this product before?

Now Playing: Foals - My Number // Miike Snow - Paddling Out

Lilac Lovin'

It's super sunny here in Ireland (for a change) & so I've grasped the opportunity to wear bright colours with both hands! I spotted this Barry M Nail Paint a while back in Boots for £2.99 and thought 'Why Not?' I never really bought bright nail polishes before that because as you can probably see I am very, very pale & thought that bright colours would exaggerate that, but BOY was I wrong!  

Rings // H&M - featured is this post │  Barry M Nail Paint // Boots - featured in this post

The polish is in 'Berry Ice cream' and is a lovely pastel lilac colour - perfect for sunny, summer weather. It has a glossy finish and much to my surprise it is super long lasting! I wore this polish throughout my exams and despite the furious note taking and revision plus all of the fidgety nervousness I experienced - It did not chip for a whole 7 days!!  For the price I paid I am more than happy with the quality of this polish and would definitely recommend  it to anyone looking for a brilliant, yet affordable nail polish!

(I also just noticed how much lilac is in this post - Ooops! I never realised I liked it so much!!)

Have you ever tried Barry M Nail Paint?

Rimmel | Lasting Finish Kate Moss Lipstick

I haven't posted in a while (a little while too long) & so thought I'd do a little post on a product I've been loving at the minute - Rimmel's Lasting Finish Kate Moss Lipstick in 08. I've never been one for wearing lipsticks or tints, I've always been a Vaseline or Chapstick kinda gal and so I was curious to see what lip colours would suit my complexion (plus I kind of wanted to brighten up my makeup routine!). I rummaged through all of the Rimmel lipsticks before choosing this one & I mean they have a fantastic range of different shades and formulas for fantastic prices! 

Shade 08 can only be described as a blue-toned pink shade and personally I think it looks quite berry-ish on the lips. I bought this thinking it wasn't going to be very pigmented, but I was surprised by the quality of it and discovered that a little goes a long way - amazing! On me this colour looks very natural - it happens to be a tiny bit darker than my natural lip colour and so just emphasises my lips a little. The finish is quite shimmery & dewy, it reflects light making the lips appear fuller and  it just generally adds a pop of brightness to my everyday makeup look during the summer.

The packaging of the product is sleek and durable allowing it to withstand the many obstacles & objects that are kept in your handbag. My only issue with this product is the fact that the shades aren't given names - a cute name would be much more memorable than a number & would make it easier to find a shade if it was recommended to you! For £5.49 I think this lipstick is brilliant (a real bargain!) & I will definitely be repurchasing this shade and some of the others in the future - I would definitely recommend this product!

Have you tried this product before?

Summer Break ☀

Saying as today is the longest day of the year I thought it would be nice to do something a little different from the usual... So here it is!
The summer break has begun for me (yesss!!) and as always I'm taking advantage of having to do nothing but lounge around all day, everyday - Great, right?! Not really! Every summer I seem to fall into this 'get up late, go to bed late' routine & it does nothing but prevent me from doing exciting, productive things. This year however, (queue the amazing plan that is not so amazing!) I have compiled a small list of little things (best to keep it simple!) I can do / work towards to make my break that little bit more exciting! It's not the neatest  - but I guess it's kinda cute & shows what a bit of boredom and sunshine can make you think about.

Most of the plans are achievable (except for number 4 - but I guess it is possible!) so I can't see why I couldn't tick them off. Hopefully I'll make the most of the free time I have (whether I will or not is a different story...) but I'll keep you posted on how the list works out for me!

Also, saying as I'm feeling the summer vibes I'll leave you with a couple of songs that I listen to that make me think of summer & sun;

Vampire Weekend - A-Punk // The Drums - Let's Go Surfing // Vampire Weekend - Holiday

I swear, Vampire Weekend just make the best 'feel good' summery songs - give them a whirl (if you haven't already!) & tell me what you think or if you've made any plans for Summer!