FOTD - blast from the past

Hey dolls,

All eye make up in these is from my Urban Decay Naked palette. I normally forget to put something other than carmex lip balm on my lips but I like a nude lipgloss or nude lipstick to add something to the look.

My current fave lip products are:

Rimmel Apocalips in Nude Eclipse - it goes on really easy, smells a bit weird but looks so nice and isn't too sticky.

Rimmel Stay Glossy in Endless Night - such a nice brown shade, nice shimmery gloss and not too sticky.

Rimmel Moisture Renew Lipstick in Nude Delight (700).

Heading to a gig in Dublin City

Trying out my new Bourjois Sweet Kiss Naturel Lipstick

Day out shopping

Another shopping day

I'm currently lusting after some Smashbox products and now thats it's available in Boots its easier to buy :) 

Bring on some better quality make up... if the Irish weather isn't so horrible tomorrow I might run into the city for a quick shop!! ;-) Watch this space!

Lots of Love
xoxo

Drama Queen: Not Leaving the Blog World!!

Hey dolls,

I know I recently posted I was leaving the blogging world but in reality I think I was having a self pity party! I see other bloggers getting lots of comments/feedback/attention on their blogs but I do know they put in a lot more work than I do so I got jealous!! Also, I haven't blogged properly in so long because around this time last week (so a year ago) my boyfriend asked me to move in and I still haven't! Not because I don't want to, not ready or don't love him.... I haven't moved in because he lives an hour away in Limerick and I work in Cork so I couldn't move in until I got my driving licence (which I now have since March 14th), and I'm working here in Cork so can't move yet... nothing would make me happier than living with him and seeing him everyday and I know it sounds like excuse after excuse but it's a lot easier to judge than be in the situation!

So loooong story short I'm still blogging but it's just on hold!! I will post but not on a regular basis just yet until I sort my confusing life out!!

Thank you all for understanding.

Thank you @milkymoles for your lovely comment on my previous post :) xx

Lots of Love
xoxo

Is this the end :-(

I think I may be leaving the blogging world! I will still have Facebook, twitter, Instagram and Pinterest :)

I think I've lost my passion for blogging... Whether its all the spam comments I get, lack of enthusiasm, lack of finance to keep up with demand for new products/looks, lack of interesting posts, lack of readers...

This isn't goodbye just yet but I've a bit of thinking to do...

With the whole moving, not moving, loads of time but no time lifestyle I currently live its tough to find the time and drive to blog at the mo.

Lots of Love
xoxo

How do you do it?

Hey dolls,

I think at the tender age of 23 and half I'm having a mid life crisis! I can't stand this bloody recession! I know everyone feels the same! I'm just so sick of everything! My job is temporary (yes I'm lucky to have a job) but at the same time I'm working my ass off to give myself the best chance of maybe being offer something or even for future jobs elsewhere!

Apart from me having a temp job that's not paying too great for all the growing responsibility I'm getting, my boyfriends contract is ending soon too! S as you can imagine finance is pretty tight!

With finance tight, we can't go on our dream holiday to Florida, we can't move onto 'plan B', defo no ring on my finger for a few years (even though I would do without if the question came up)!

My blogging is lack due to no finance to buy the latest products to haul/review! :(

So I'm no where near a happy girl ATM :(

Anyone have any advice on how I can get a better paying job in Limerick, get a car, my dream holiday, a ring and question during the holiday and move onto plan B which requires savings!!

Having a bad day :( rant over!

Lots of love xx

Blogger Update

Hey dolls,

I must be the worst blogger in the world! I think I blogged twice in 2013 so far! The year is flying by! My laptop is finally fixed so once I get it back this weekend I will have a few reviews based on some new products I got recently.

Hope to be back blogging next week!

Lots of Love
xoxo

Anniversary

Hey dolls,

Today is my 2 year anniversary with my boyfriend! We met online on a site called Plenty of Fish (pof) in June 2010. We first met in person on 21-07-2010 in a shopping centre in Cork. Since then we were friends until the 9th January 2011 when he finally realised a feelings for me and officially asked me to be his girlfriend on 22-01-2011. Since then I've been the happiest lady around! We are such a funny couple if anyone was watching us on hidden camera they'd think what the f***?!?!?! Lol. We have tickle wars, always end up accidentally hurting each other and always have movie nights :) some might the we're crazy ;)

I love him so so much and I'm so glad our relationship has worked out for the best! At the beginning I wasn't sure if he'd ever admit to liking me even though I knew from the beginning he liked me, he just needed to catch up ;)

Now 2 and a half years since we first met we're crazy madly deeply in love and loving life together. Hopefully this year I will be living with him full time and not just n weekends.

Cheesy! ;)

Any questions about meeting someone online? Don't be afraid to ask! Not that I'm a pro!

Lots of Love
xoxo

Home vs Abroad Weddings

Wow I guess I never really thought how hard it was to get married until I researched online at the costs in Ireland of getting married!

I know two couples currently engaged, one couple for some time now, the other newly engaged! This got me thinking who would be walking down the aisle first! The couple engaged longer have been together more than 6 years, the newly engaged couple are together over a year! There are children involved in both couples so this would put a strain n trying to save to finance a wedding!

I just read its about €21,000 to get married in Cork and Limerick in 2013! One of my favourite bloggers (Anna Saccone) and YouTube couple (Anna and husband Jonathan) got married in Italy in 2011 with a budget if 10,000 (approx 60 guests).

Would I like to get married abroad? Well before I saw Anna and Jonathan's gorgeous wedding I never considered it before (it was always my sisters thing to do) and then I saw the cost difference!

Getting married abroad:
Pros:
*gorgeous views
*weather is amazing
*nearest and dearest family and friends attend
*lovely photos of the day
*its different
*Honeymoon and ceremony can double as one
*cheaper
*outside ceremony and reception option

Cons:
*travel
*guests would need to take time off work for few days
*heat could be too much
*super organisation required
*language barriers

Getting married in home soil (Ireland):
Pros:
*get married near home
*traditional wedding
*more guests can attend (after party ceremony)
*most guests invited can attend
*less hassle
*easier to organise

Cons:
*expensive
*bad weather
*hard to get a nice photo background
*stuck with hotel venue
*potential gatecrashers

Funny thing about making a pro's and con's list for weddings abroad and weddings at home I'd probably have my wedding at home because I'm a huge home bird when it comes to anything, I'd love the traditional side, couldn't depend on my closest friends and family having the finances to travel abroad for a wedding and I would need to be hands on when organising and that wouldn't be possible when booking abroad because it'd be all email and phone but can't see what's getting done until its too late!

I'd love to have a photo booth, popcorn stand, cupcakes and old sweet stand at my Irish wedding! Lol. Guess I have to get engaged before planning a wedding! I couldn't imagine the stress!

If your planning your wedding and blogging about it post a link below! :)

Lots of Love
xoxo

My 2013 Resolutions!

Hey dolls,

So another year over and a new one just beginning! 2012 was a bit of a strange year for me... seems to be all a blur of work - which sucks because no one wants to look back at the last year of their life and think 'hmm.. what did I do last year? Oh, I worked!'.

Highlights of 2012:

I hit the all important one year anniversary with my boyfriend

My goddaughters christening

Saw my boyfriend really happy at a Feeder gig

Went to London twice for business

Went to my first wedding that wasn't a relative

My best friend's '21st again'

My goddaughter turned 1

Dublin for Christmas (tradition)

So ya, a lot of goods but at the same time I would love to have done more!! I finally decided on my 2013 resolutions. In the past few weeks of the holidays I've been struggling - with what I don't know! I usually love shopping but just didn't have the drive for it - I think it was the money situation! And then there's working through the holidays and not taking any time off... and I've just been feeling sad I didn't do more in 2012 and wanted to achieve more!

So onto my resolutions:

Move In With My Boyfriend

I had this resolution last year for 2012 and it is my number 1 resolution for 2013. I live in Cork and my boyfriend in Limerick. He lives alone so I prefer to go to him rather he come to me because I live at home with my parents still and like to get away. I'm 23 and feel it is time to get out from under my parent's wing and be independent for once in my life! And obviously I love my boyfriend very much and feel it's time for us to take the next step.

Drink More Water

Probably one of the most common resolutions people take on and few succeed. I took on this resolution last year and failed miserably. I drink way too much fizzy drinks aka Diet Coke. I want to drink more water because it will help detox my body and obviously there are a lot of good side effects to water that I don't need to go into.

Banish Bingo Wings

I'm on a mission to banish my dreaded bingo wings! They have names: John and Jim-bob!! I am desperate to tone my arms and banish these horrible flabby things. My arms are my biggest problem and always wreck my confidence :-( I've looked at plastic surgery but the scaring is pretty bad if it happens and I couldn't take the risk.

No Marraige / Engagement Talk

Ok so, Yes I'm one of those girls that knows what she wants and can't stop hinting / talking about it!! So my resolution for 2013 is to stop talking about it - because for any girl like me who brings it up to their boyfriend/partner and they don't quite react or respond like they'd like it's hurtful! But the hurt comes from my constant inability to not stop talking about it! So I'm not going to bring it up because it will happen when it happens!! :-)

Run The Fat Off

Treadmills are my favourite gym equipment. I love using them more than other products. I want to buy a treadmill instead of a gym membership because a membership at the moment isn't on the cards with the travel I do and I'm very self-conscious at my current weight and I perspire a lot. So exercising in the privacy of my own home seems perfect to me. Also I want to lose weight and living in Ireland walks aren't the ideal exercise choice.

Get Healthy

I know even the skinniest of people I know aren't fit so I won't be aiming for that. I want to get healthy. I'm currently 6 stone overweight for my healthy BMI and body. With Sudden Adult Death Syndrome on the rise, and all the health issues that come with being overweight at my age I need to step it up and exercise!

Baby On The Brain

I want to start getting my body, mind and life ready for a baby! It's not my resolution to have one in 2013 but I want to be healthy. I don't want to get pregnant while at my current weight. I want to have a healthy body for a baby to grow. It is important for me and my boyfriend that I'm healthy before anything remotely close to pregnancy is on the cards. Some people may think I'm crazy because I'm only 23 and I'm not married but everyone has their own opinion!!

My 2012 resolutions here.

Have you posted your 2013 resolutions or seen an interesting resolution post? Why not tweet me a link @lushblush21

Lots of Love

xoxo

Christmas busy busy

Hey dolls,

I have booked no time off over Christmas :( Silly me!! So I won't be posting too much over the holidays - I will be doing a haul and christmas posts but may take a little while to get up! I didn't get to do a Christmas wish list this year either - when I planned to get it done I get laryngitis!! How fun :(

Guess what I'll be burning all over Christmas? :)
Pressie from Xmas 2011.

I will post as soon as I can. Thanks for bearing with me!

Lots of Love
xoxo

Christmas Time

Doll like Halloween

Hey dolls,

My halloween was interesting this year to say the least!! 

I spent Halloween in Limerick again this year. We went out 28th October over the bank holiday weekend. We had our weekend planned out a bit differently to how it actually turned out but because we had another couple coming to spend the weekend it didn't quite go to plan!!

Saturday: The Plan: They arrive at 1pm (at the latest) and we go to Limerick city, show my friend and her boyfriend the city and the Crescent Shopping Centre and we head out for dinner Saturday evening (on suggestion from my friend) at 8pm to Jasmine Palace Chinese.

What really happened: They arrived at 5.30pm, we couldn't go into the city because it was far too late so started to get ready for dinner and ended up 5 mins late anyway. Being late caused unnecessary tension around the house and it wasn't very fair of them to make us sit around the house doing nothing all day :( I forgot my foundation so had to go shopping before going to dinner so ended up going to a pharmacy with a limited selection of foundations!! I was not impressed.

In Jasmine Palace, we had a lovely meal, we missed out on the cocktails because none of us really wanted to drink and just head home for a movie so we opted for a nice meal with fizzy drinks lol. For desert I got the baked alaska. My mom made this at home before so I knew what it was, it was divine in the chinese. Just the perfect size to be yummy and so sweet :) Yummy!! When we got back to the house we watched a movie called The Pact! Scared the jaysus out of me!! :( I didn't watch half the movie to be honest lol. We went to put on another movie but I was too exhausted and went to sleep!

Dessert:  Baked Alaska

Dessert: Bailey's Cheesecake

Happy pouty ;) Me and boyfriend

Sunday: The plan: Lounge around the house, watch some movies, chill on the couch and play the wii. Basically relax before our big halloween night out! Get ready, pre-drink lots because we didn't have the funds to be drinking in the club and head to the club about 11/11.30!!

What really happened: No chance for a rest, we got up and boyfriend had already got his breakfast (he's up really early), they wanted to go to the shop 2 minutes up the road for cigarettes and were gone an hour... couldn't understand how it took so long. No text or anything. I text them saying we're leaving at 2pm for the shops... boyfriend wanted to watch a Man Utd. match too but that didn't happen! We left at 2 when they got back from going to a different shop further away and getting breakfast rolls and not offering to buy us anything :/ We went shopping, I bought some jewellery, hair clips and drink!!

Halloween Night Out: I started getting ready at 6.30. I'd been planning my outfit for a few weeks, the little mix makeup, the fohawk, the outfit...I put a lot of effort in!! I started with my hair, I tied it into 4 sections in the centre of my head going in a line upwards. I think curled each section, back combed it, used lots of hairspray and pinned into place. I used boots essential tipped wavy hairpins for thick hair and regular bobby pins to hold it in place. I didn't get a picture of my hair but you will see it slightly in pictures posted below.

I wore:

Face:
White cream makeup
Maybelline Gel liner
Benefit Thrrrob blush
Katy Perry Cool Kitty Eylure Lashes
Rimmel lipstick in 320
Rimmel Kohl Eyeliner

Clothes:
Tights with bow back detail from Marks and Spencer
Skirt from Inspire in New Look
Skeleton sequin shear top from Inspire in New Look
Red strapped shoes from New Look

Daniel as Marty McFly from Back to the Future

The lovely Marty McFly and his Doll

Little Mix Doll - would I pull off being the 5th Little Mix member? ;)

The R's - burlesque dancer and orgasm donor.

3...2...1... and pose!

Trick or Treat... my cousins the little witch and skeleton!

Happy Halloween dolls ;)

Lots of Love

xoxo

Lead in Lipsticks

Does your favourite brand contain lead?

This information was sent to me in an email from my mom a few months back. The email states this information is from Dr. Nahid Neman from Mt. Sinai Hospital in Toronto. 

Recently a lipstick brand called 'Red Earth' decreased their prices from $67 to $9.90. It contained lead..

Lead is a chemical which causes cancer.

The lipstick brands that contain lead are:

CHRISTIAN DIOR

LANCÔME

CLINIQUE

Y.S.L

ESTEE LAUDER

SHISEIDO

RED EARTH (Lip Gloss)

CHANEL (Lip Conditioner)

MARKET AMERICA-MOTNES LIPSTICK.

The higher the lead content, the greater the chance of causing cancer.  

After doing a test on lipsticks it was found that the Y.S.L. Lipstick contained the most amount of lead!!

Watch out for those lipsticks which are supposed to stay longer..

If your lipstick stays longer, it is because of the higher content of lead.

Test your lipsticks:

Here is the test you can do yourself:

Step 1. Put some lipstick on your hand.

Step 2. Use a Gold ring to scratch on the lipstick.  

If the lipstick colour changes to black, then you know the lipstick contains lead.

What I did this week?

Hi Dolls,

Tuesday 25th September

I love love love Autumn because of the crunchy leaves. Disappointingly there hasn't been many on my walk home because of all the rain and it's too cold to venture out for a walk to find some! I loved walking home from the bus and crunching all the leaves before getting home! 

Crunchy Leaves

Wednesday 26th September

I attempted to get rid of my side-fringe today! I blow-dried it out of my hair. I wanted to see what I'd look like if it was gone because I find it so hard to maintain and it always grows out and I never go to the hairdresser for a trim! And being the sweaty person I am it ALWAYS curls or flicks or goes horrible looking when I go out or even weather wise... the weather is not my fringe's friend! lol. I didn't like it at first because my side-fringe was still too short to look ok and the layers are off so hense the plaited back hair in the pic :P My forehead also looks HUGE! 

No more side-fringe

Also on Tuesday I woke up in so much pain with my back! I was like 'What the...' I've never had trouble with my back before but I struggled to lift my bag and do usual movements! So when I got home from work I took out my dad's massage chair and had a blast at the shiatsu massage! It was a bit sore but felt good after a while and mom also made me try this strange towel exercise that you lie flat on the ground and roll the sore part of your back on the towel... oh my did this hurt! I couldn't get off the towel I needed help getting up! I woke up Wednesday and my back was ok but once I got on my first bus of the morning the pain really got to me!! :(

Home shiatsu massage... I'm in control ;)

Thursday 27th September

Today is my parent's wedding anniversary. I would write the year but my parent's (mom) would rather I didn't. I did mention it last year and did a post on the celebration and a separate one on lots of pics taken on the night! Congratulations for sticking with it this long ;) lol. Only joking. Ah no but in all seriousness though my parents have been great roll models when it comes to marriage and home life.

27th September 

Today I got a bit carried away looking up pups because I saw an article about Camilla adopting in a Jack Russell and he looked so adorable. I was never a huge fan of them before because I always loved more feminine looking dogs like bijon frise or maltese! I looked up DoneDeal at the selection of Jack Russell's and REALLY wanted one! I was going to just get one and surprise my boyfriend but I knew I'd have to say it to him first. We decided to hold off until next year when we're more financially stable and living together properly! I've such a long list of names made up already... consisting of chanel, nacho and snickers ;) HA.

Jack Russell pups (image from Done Deal)

My weekend was spent working on the kitchen so watch this space for a post once it's all done! ;)

Friday 5th October

I saw this picture on facebook on Friday and love it! It's so cute!  my obsession for the cookie monster stems from my boyfriend's nickname for me, Cookie! I've even gotten Cookie and my name engraved on the back of my iPod :D

Cookie Monster

I was also looking up some inspiration for some makeup looks coming soon over the next few weeks :) I love this look Selena Gomez wore in her music video recently (must find the name)!

Makeup look - Selena Gomez

Saturday 6th October

I wanted to dress up on Saturday even just for a little while because I'm sick of looking all frumpy and shitty lately :(

So I wore Urban Decay naked palette on my eyes, did some subtle winged gel liner and curled my hair! This is me attempting to curl my hair for the first time without a sidefrindge - ahh how weird!

FOTD - Saturday

We went to B&Q on Saturday for some more kitchen supplies and I got my boyfriend to sneak a OOTD pic while no one was in the same isle as us ;) lol. I'm wearing a creamy gold shimmer knitted top with a gold studded skull on the front from New Look, turquoise jeans from Dunnes Stores, leopard print uggs from Primark and a small black bag with gold chain detail. And as you can tell my hair started to go flat in the front!

OOTD - Saturday

We popped into Harvey Norman and our favourite couch is still in there so I snapped a pic so we'd remember what it looked like. And obviously Daniel (boyfriend) had to look like he was chilling in the sitting room at home ;) lol.

Checking out our FAVOURITE couch in Harvey Norman's

Daniel headed out with some friends on Saturday night and he had to do an outfit options check. He wasn't sure if he should wear his red Angry Birds t-shirt or his white batman tshirt. He went with the batman one in the end. What a woman :P

Option 1!

Option 2!

And when he headed out I had stocked up on plenty of munchies :D I had diet coke can's chilled from the fridge, meanies, maltesers and a sugar donut! I was going to watch a movie but ended up flicking between The Punisher and the X Factor! I wanted to hear Ella Henderson singing - She's amazing!

Munchies :D

Sunday 7th October

I saw the new gym timetable for October on Facebook for my boyfriend's gym which I'll be joining once I move! It had kettle bells and Zumba on it which I'm really interested in getting into. My only worry is I've heard Zumba is more fun with someone you know but I don't really know anyone that goes to that gym and don't want to drag my boyfriend along!

Also I want to take up Yoga! I think it will help with my asthma, depression, reduce blood pressure, increase mood, it'll help me relax a bit more and be a bit more flexible!

Kettle Bells

Monday 8th October

I was looking up Halloween inspiration for my boyfriend and found this awesome zipper that you attach to your face as you can see from the design on the packaging! It's so cool! I already have my inspiration for this year so I may consider this but I like m idea!

Halloween Inspiration

I found this picture of Jack Osborne's new wife Lisa and I am in love with her hair! I would like it a little lighter on me but I love the cut!! I want this hair... total hair crush going on!

Lisa Stelly - Hair Envy!

Lots of Love

xoxo