Friday 28 December 2012

Birthday & Christmas

    Christmas week has been a busy one for my family and I, those of you who know me in person know it was my birthday on the 24th and then Christmas the day afterwards. Quite a few people have already uploaded their Christmas post but I thought I'd include my birthday and Christmas gifts together. Now to go through the stupid but necessary jargon of "I'm not showing off what I've been bought, I'm simply presenting images of said gifts to you etc etc." I do know some people are less fortunate than others but these selected photos are a combination of two heavily gifted events, so I hope you can enjoy what I've been bought (I know I will) and maybe see something you want to pick up yourself. Links will be provided under each image! 

Topshop || Studded Fedora Hat || £28.00
Urban Outfitters || Slogan Photo Album || On SALE £10.00
Lush || You're A Star Gift Box || NO LONGER IN STORES
Lush || The Comforter Bubble Bar || £4.25
Lush || Snow Fairy Shower Gel || NO LONGER IN STORES
Lush || Bubblebeard Re-usable Bubble Bar || NO LONGER IN STORES
Lush || Bubble gum Lip Scrub || £5.25
HMV || Gift Card || Price Range £10+
Starbucks || Gift Card || Price Range £10+
Revlon || Just Bitten Lipstain & Balm || £5.00
Revlon || Just Bitten Kissable Stain || £5.00
Topshop || "Clueless" Lip Pencil || NO LONGER IN STORES
Dior || Waterproof Eyeliner || £18.00
Topshop || "I Hate You" Shirt || £22.00
Topshop || "Oscar Wilde" Shirt || £22.00
Amazon || Kindle Paperwhite || £106.00
Topshop || Tall Super Soft Metallic Leigh Jeans || NO LONGER IN STORES
Topshop || Metallic Shopper || £15.00

Sunday 16 December 2012

INTERVIEWED || Megan Jane Lillie

    Now I haven't done an interview with somebody for quite some time now, so I thought I'd have a little look around at who's blog has taken my fancy recently. Over the past 2 months or so, I've occasionally spoke to Megan through Twitter and Instagram so I thought why not interview this lovely lady? I'll leave all of her links down below after the interview, if you guys want to check her out!




Friday 7 December 2012

Christmas Presents For The Whole Family Under £25

Top Row - Jones Clock £22.40 || Cream Flowers £22.40
Bottom Row - Lilac Candle £4.80 || Cream Block Calendar £16.00
    
    The first photo set would be for the woman of the house, not every woman wants a several boxes of chocolates off their family members. I feel these pieces can be adapted to your home interior extremely easy as 3/4 are neutral white / cream shades. The 'Carol Lake' candle is available in a variety of different colours but I felt the lilac shade would bring some colour into the home, for the New Year.

    All these items are quite simple but can be the difference of a chic look to your kitchen or a more relaxed and comfortable feel to your lounge area. These presents would also work very well with girls in their later teens (17+) as they could have a strong love for interior design or be heading out to university next year. 

Top Row - L'Occitane After Shave Balm £16.57 || Burberry Scent £22.68
Bottom Row - Chunky Knit Socks £7.00 || BaByliss Grooming Set £20.00
    
    As you've probably guessed, the next photo set is for the male in the house. With 'Movember' ending this month, I'd imagine some men may of kept the facial hair as it's quite cold right now in the UK. So why not treat them to some new blades and after shave balm to treat that rough skin. Ladies should know how damaged your skin gets after shaving your legs numerous times especially over the winter period, so why let his facial skin suffer the same punishment. 

    They'll have no excuse to be smelly anymore with thick cable knit socks to not only keep their feet warm but trap the smell inside. As well as that, the Burberry scent will keep them smelling sweet with a warm masculine under tone in time for the New Years Eve party and long afterwards.     

Top Row - Nurse Kit £9.10 || Hamster & Fun house £11.00
Bottom Row - Superplay House £20.00 || Flitter Fairy £14.00

        All little girls under the age of 11 would love everything and anything from this photo set, they may be simple toys but a child's imagination can go far with the littlest things. They can pretend to cure everybody of their winter flu, or care for that hamster they've always wanted. Which ever it is, there's a diverse variety of toys for little girls this year.

    You don't need to pay crazy prices do treat your little girl to something as simple as a toy house or a magical fairy princess with sparkly wings. This way you can buy more and more gifts with the money you're saving through these cheaper Christmas presents. 

Top Row - Fire Engine £14.00 || Mini Racer Cars £12.50
Bottom Row - Mike The Knight ABC Book £16.00 || Magic Trick Kit £4.99

    Lastly it's the little boy's turn to be spoiled rotten on Christmas for under £25. You can never go wrong with buying a young lad numerous amounts of toy racer cars, let them think they're racing in the F1 championships. If they're into service cars that make load noises, the fire fighter engine is the perfect present. Being larger than toy cars they can feel like they own the street, as they speed around their bedroom saving their toy figures.

    If fast cars doesn't appeal to them, why not introduce them into the magical world of illusion with the simple 12 piece magic kit. You never know, it may set them off for a long successful career into magic. (It's how Derren Brown started out) If they're a little younger, you can get them the musical alphabet book with 'Mike The Knight' and they can learn with their favourite characters from the TV show. 

Thursday 6 December 2012

TAG | Christmas Questions

    I thought I'd do something different today and answer a few questions from the Christmas 
Tag that's been floating around peoples blogs. I wasn't tagged by anybody, but after reading Megan Lillie's (http://thumbelinalillie.com/) it got me thinking of what my answers would be. So without further a do, my Christmas Tag.

Sunday 25 November 2012

NOVEMBER 2012 || Monthly Round Up

    I'm slowly turning into an old record, as to why I'm not blogging as regularly as I wish. Looking up though, I'm slowly getting the main chunks of coursework out of the way as we head towards December. I am to post at least once a week once we enter December, I'm not making any promises but I'm 80% sure this will happen. I have been quite bogged under with work and only getting home at 5:30pm from 7:00am all I seem to do in my spare time is complete work and sleep. But less about my college schedule, here is a short round up of the items I've purchased this month. 
£1.97 Per Sachet
£1.64 Per Can
JE £4.89 WSS £6.74 OTD £8.99
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I've not had any use out of the 'Aussi' conditioner sachets yet, neither the 'Sure Women' deodorants so I'm unable to give my opinion on the products but I have high exceptions. As for the books, I've recently finished 'Jane Eyre' so a review will be up in the next couple of weeks. I'm roughly on page 10 of 'Wide Sargasso Sea' and 'On The Road', but as they're thinner than 'Jane Eyre' I'm sure to of read both books by early January. So keep an eye out for them. 
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Friday 2 November 2012

Daily Makeup Routine | Product Reviews

    Here's a quick overview of the products I use on a daily basis, I hope this can give you an insight to how products perfume and their qualities. If you have any queries please leave them in the comments section below and I'll be sure to reply with a helpful comment. Enjoy! 

£29.50
£29.50
    I've mentioned this foundation on numerous occasions to many other people asking for recommendations, as this is my holy grail product! Using this product for roughly four months now, I can't talk any higher  about it. As this foundation is higher end, I was cautious to get the correct shade and make sure I was investing my money into something useful. The lady at the concession stand was very lovely, giving me a colour test with three different shades. I was also tested with both 'sheer glow' and 'sheer matte' as I was unsure on what balance my skin was during the purchase. 

    I would definitely advise any newbies to Nars or any other higher end brand, to get a colour test and try a variation of foundations you may be interested in. I was always cautious of feeling like I was wasting the shop assistants time, but honestly that's their job. You get the correct product and they sell something, so everybody wins. I wish I remembered the lady's name, as she told me she used to run a blog herself when she was a teenage, so that would've been interesting to check out.  

£11.99
£11.99
    Some of you who have used 'Nars' foundation in the past, will know they actually recommend to use your fingers to apply the foundation. As the mixture is quite thick but not heavy on your skin, the heat from your fingertips helps to work that into your skin. However, the idea of applying something that will be on my skin for most of the day with my fingers is not appealing. Now obviously if you was to use that method, it's advised to wash your hands prior to wash away the grease / dirt. Yet being a little bit of a germs freak, I'd feel I'm massaging some disgusting germ into my skin.

    That's why I purchased a 'Real techniques' stippling brush. Throughout my history of applying foundations I've always used brushes, as I personally find it a quicker and easier process. 'Real techniques' are known for their outstanding quality in brushes and I stand by the hype! Costing slightly more than most stippling brushes, they're worth the extra few pounds out of your purse. I'm looking into purchasing their concealer brush along with my first proper concealer, which will be a new experience for myself. 

£7.99
£7.99
    The third item is something I also speak fondly about and it's the new formula for 'Max Factor 2000 Calorie' mascara. Prior to this mascara I used '17 Peep Show' for a couple of months but this has beaten it. The mascara thickens and lengthens your eyelashes to a length that accentuates your natural length, without looking too fake.  I feel that, due to my lashes being a reasonable length already this boosts the overall look. 

    Different to many mascara wands, 2000 calorie uses soft but firm bristles that aren't plastic to allow the mascara to attach itself easily to your lashes. I hardly ever notice clumping on the wand ever since I bought it. The thickness of this wand fits the length of your lashes perfectly, resulting in less effort / movement needed to reach all your lashes. 

€17.50
€17.50
    The final product for my everyday look (as I've lost my peach melba blush) is this khol pencil I purchased back in Easter during a trip to Venice. Before this item, I never used higher end eyeliners as I thought they were a waste of money. I would settle with Superdrugs own value brand for around £5, treating myself to this eyeliner I will never look back. Dior is a commonly used brand in my household, as my mother and nan have a soft spot for their lip glosses. The application is extremely soft on your skin, giving you a consistent thick line. The formula to this, is very rich for an eyeliner giving the consumer the best experience. If applied above your lash line, there is no smudging leaving residue near your eyebrows. 

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    I hope these product reviews have helped others who are curious around daily makeup routines. As you can tell from the products, I'm not extravagant with my makeup as I put more attention into my hair and outfits. If you've tried any of these products please comment down below your opinions!  
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Wednesday 31 October 2012

REVIEWED | Kate Nash || Fri-end? Music Video

    Now I'm a self confessed Kate Nash fan, since she burst onto the screen in 2007 with the single 'Foundations' I've been hooked ever since. Kate took a break after her latest album 'My Best Friend Is You' in 2010 and has returned with a vengeance, releasing a new music video and free download in commemoration of halloween. Breaking the boundaries of her previous 'sweet but blunt' approach to songs, Kate has roughed up music making it more experimental, creating a fresh view on the music horizon. Criticised for jumping on the grunge bandwagon after her release of 'UNDER-ESTIMATE THE GIRL' Kate kept to her new found roots, with her latest single 'Fri-end'
 ©myignorantyouth
    Without giving away too much of the new music video (which I will link below) it follows the theme of halloween party, where Kate is dressed up as a rather glamorous vampire, accompanied by many different characters. Myself like other fans are awaiting the release of her EP (hopefully in time for christmas) and after her latest UK tour, which went down a storm we'll be graced with more tour dates for next year (fingers crossed). What do you think of Kate's new turn to music, do you like it? Comment are welcome below...

'Fri-end?' Music Videohttp://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=EUW2pugyIAw

Monday 29 October 2012

INTERVIEWED | Lois Clare Flynn

    Over the past 48 hours myself and Lois have been exchanging emails, regarding interviews. I've asked her the questions and this morning I was pleased to see a wonderful response, to every questions. Not skimping any corners, when answering. So I present to you the interview with the lovely blogger - Lois Clare Flynn


1) So the first question, I really ask everyone is when and why did you start blogging?

    I started my blog at the beginning of this year, mainly because I wanted something extra to do with my free time! I've seen bloggers in high fashion magazines and attending exclusive fashion events and I wanted to be one of those people. Also, the network of beauty and fashion blogs is so vast, I particularly love reading product reviews so I know if a certain product is really worth it!

2) Like myself you're very into your nail art, is there any inspiration behind your nail art?

    It depends really! Sometimes I like to keep things seasonal - like my recent firework nails which are perfect for bonfire night... last Halloween I even painted cobwebs on my nails! Also I love floral and ombre nails in the summery months. If I'm stuck for an idea I always turn to youtube or my trusty Wah Nails book. It's full of ideas to recreate with basic steps and pictures to help! Failing those two, I turn to my favourite design - leopard print, super versatile and customisable it looks great every time.


Sunday 28 October 2012

TOPSHOP | Top 4 Autumn Boots

    Topshop have always had their place in my heart, they've got such a large fan base among teenagers and those who know a few things about fashion. From my experience, their clothes are not the only good aspect about the brand, their shoes are outstanding. So I took it upon myself to pick out (in my opinion) the top 4 boots for autumn / winter. These are in no order or preference and I've tried to choose a boot for certain occasions (party/work etc)

£90.00
    
    The first pair of boots to stand out to me, were these wonderful heavy duty boots. The cut out section around the heel / ankle makes these boots rise above any others on the market right now. During LFW we saw many designers introduce shoes, with sections cut out. Jeffrey Campbell did this stunningly, with his classic collection of heels and flats. Storing those killer heels for one night, these boots can grunge up your outfit without tip toeing around the dance floor.

    Obviously with these boots being for autumn / winter, the section cut out to some may be inconvenient if the weather is rather harsh. Although that problem can be solved quickly, with the use of tights or socks. Keeping those cold heels, a bit more toasty. Another advantage to the removed section, would be no blisters. For those of you who have problematic feet like myself, wearing in boots is tedious and at times very painful. This task is alleviated, allowing you to enjoy your boots to their full extent. 

£95.00
   
    These are the first pair of two 'everyday boot' that I have chosen for this post. The patent finish and fringing to the boot, upgrades the boot to a more outlandish / statement piece. Rather than a casual boot (which is the 2nd everyday boot) When I saw these, I had an image of myself wearing these down Manchesters high street with a very simplistic outfit, carrying my shopping bags. I've been eyeing up these boots for such a long time, I'm waiting to just crave and purchase them before they sell out.

    Strangely, for years I was very anti-patent anything as the extra shine created a tacky effect. Yet with the additional texture of 'crocodile / snake skin' as well as the patent finish, this sets off the boots perfectly allowing you to notice the animal skin effect. Lastly the cap gold toe is the icing on the cake so to speak. Other brands like Primark have brought the cap toe into their new season but are unable to be as subtle but genius as Topshop.

£68.00
   
   These are the second pair of 'everyday boot' that are more understated and plain in comparison to the first pair. Whereas these boots are just as nice as all the others, they are more practical to set off a more detailed outfit. Or something to throw on if you're running chores or going to a concert that night. A more traditional version of a black, laced up boot they're much cheaper than the previous pairs by roughly £30 here and there. 

    The three ribbed section around the ankle, allows you to wear a thicker material with easy comfort such as thick jeans and socks. This feature is also useful as, previously I've bought boots that fit in the feet but are too tight around the ankle, stopping me from wearing them. A note I might point out though, is with the lacing being at such an angle and height your feet are pulled into the boots. This just secures the foot but can cause some rubbing to the feet, so bare this in mind when purchasing.

£50.00
    
    The last pair of boots, are a more sophisticated going out / work boot. Normally if I was to wear a heeled boot I'd go for a chunky, thick heel or even a platform. It's a weird thing and I don't know whether it's just me, but I find it easier to walk in a thick heel than a little kitten heel, like in the picture above. However these boots seem to stand out to me, it might be the sudden boost of court heels in Company magazine but I'm warming to the concept.

    Being much cheaper almost by half, this makes them even more tempting to try out. Like the other (2.) boots, they have some patent detailing, which being small looks very classy and sophisticated. With some gold metal detailing above the court heel. If I get around to purchasing some court heel I will mostly definitely do a blog post on the experience and difference to higher, thicker heels.

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    Hope you like my little post of Topshop's boot collection, I will be hoping to purchase some of these boots over the next few months, or at least get dupes to give my opinion on them. If you've bought any of these boots, or know any good dupes please leave a comment below as that will help out brilliantly. 
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Cut Out Boots - here.

Crocodile / Snake Patent Boots - here.

Basic Lace Up Boots - here.

Court Heeled Work Boots - here. 

Friday 26 October 2012

REVIEWED | Kate Moss Lipstick

     I've been eyeing up this new collection ever since I heard rumors of its release a couple of months ago. When Kate's first lipstick collection came out last year, I purchased one lipstick and wasn't fully enticed to buy another, due to shimmers in it. However with matte lips being in fashion this year, I was glad to find out Kate's collection followed this trend. I bought two of her lipsticks, as they were reasonably priced at £4.00 each and the colours attracted me.

 

    The first lipstick I picked up was the darker shade (107) which doesn't have an actual name to it. (Neither does the lighter shade.) Having many dark shaded lipsticks, I thought this would go well with my collection as I have a soft spot of dark lipsticks. Again as mentioned before both lipsticks are matte, however the darker shade is slightly dry when applying on the lips. This doesn't interfere once the product is on your lips, leaving a nice finish thats lasts a good few hours.


    The second shade I picked up (110) is a much lighter and coral shade, I own one other coral shade from Topshop. Yet I've never warmed to the colour but this shade has darker undertones, suiting fair skin types. I prefer the lighter shade overall, due to the ease of application and I'm forcing myself to wear lighter tones for a change.


Swatches 108 top 110 bottom

Fagan x