Back to blogging basics

Well hello!

I feel like these posts appear more often than posts actually about other stuff (beauty, fashion, lifestyle etc.) so here's to hoping I can put an end to it!

I feel like blogging, for me, hasn't been as easy due to my busy uni life, my summer job and altogether poor time management. I'm currently waitressing at a local restaurant and whenever I get a day off - such as today - I've been opting to do as little as possible.

I only have just over a week left at the job, and after that I'm going to be going abroad for about 5 weeks, which is kinda mad to think about, but exciting at the same time, which is why I am going to be starting a travel diary series and documenting how I'm getting on!

I also haven't been totally happy with blogging lately, due to the fact that I think the name of my blog no longer properly represents what I'm blogging about. I first intended this blog to be more fashion and beauty based, but really, I feel like it's been leaning more towards the lifestyle side of things. With this in mind, I'm planning on perhaps changing the name of my blog as soon as I can think of a name that matches my style (and a name that's available).

SO that is that, and I hope to be back with a blogpost again this Sunday!

Kate

January Loves

At long last, the month of January is almost over! I always feel like January is always such a bleak month, probably due to the end of Christmas and the miserable weather, which for some reason was a lot more bearable with Christmas lights. My January consisted of me sitting at home for the majority of the month and only returning to university last Sunday. Since then I've been trying to get back into the routine of university life again.

Today I thought I would share some of my makeup favourites from the last few months that have become staples in my makeup bag.

The first thing I have been loving is this bubblegum pink nail polish called 'Model Citizen' by Essie. This is one of my favourite shades of pink and I feel so girly wearing this colour.

Next is a mini bottle of Mac Fix+ spray, which I love applying before and after I put on makeup. I got a mini bottle in September to try it, and I'm definitely going to invest in a big bottle as it has so many uses.

The next thing that I have been loving is this highlighter palette by Sleek. I first borrowed my roommates palette and knew I had to get my own. I love to mix the two bottom colours together and I also use my Mac Fix+ spray to enhance the pigmentation.

The final thing is something which I have been using most nights that I have gone out, and they are the Inglot pigments in 22 and 117. I combine these with my Mac Fix+ and I use my Blank Canvas E35 brush for a glittery look.

I hope you enjoyed this post, and I'll hopefully be back next week with another post!

Kate

To 2017

As you may or may not have noticed, I have been very absent on social media and on this blog, due to being busy with university. I also disabled my Instagram, due to the sheer worry that someone might find it (you'd think I'd be over that worry by now, but I guess somethings are hard to get over).

All in all, 2016 was a very eventful year. I haven't really reflected too much, but hey, where better to reflect than on my blog!

 Of course, it was eventful for a start due to a close family member being ill since the end of the previous October, and they were still continuing to get better in the new year. I'm glad that now he is so much better, which means 2017 can only get better!

2016 had one huge resounding blip waiting for me in the middle - the dreaded leaving cert. Of course, this isn't just something that's done within the month, but rather over months with stress, tears and procrastination all being involved. And unfortunately, the stress didn't end on June 23. Nope, it lasted the whole summer until I got my results in mid-August. The stress was for nothing, I got 200 points over what I actually needed, even if I did doubt myself constantly!

Then came university, one of the best changes in my life. I remember the butterflies I felt when we were on the motorway heading into the city, and the nerves I felt for meeting my roommates - would we get along, would they be nice etc. I honestly don't think I could have been any luckier with my roommates, they've both turned out to be such close friends to me.

I also have fallen in love with my university course. I've continued studying Spanish, and with that have taken up politics (which I find so incredibly interesting), and Portuguese, which is such a fun language to learn! The fact that I am now studying what I want has made me enjoy education one hundred times more, proving to me the importance of choosing a course that you'll love.

Along with everything else, I turned 18 in 2016! All this really meant for me was that I can actually get into clubs, which surprisingly hasn't been as enjoyable as I thought it would be. In October, I also passed my driving test, which was so exciting for me because I passed it first time. 

So in reflection of the hectic year that was 2016, I'm looking forward to having an even better 2017 (if that's possible?) and making loads more memories.

Kate 

Pre-Christmas Lush Haul

I love Lush, and I've loved it ever since I was younger too, except then I probably considered it as more of a novelty because of the bath bombs. Yet, as I have gotten older, Lush has become my go to place for my skincare needs. Today (Thursday), I returned to Dublin for my exams, but before I went back to my residences I had to stop off in Lush to stock up!

(Also can we just appreciate how beautiful this bag is?!)

Honestly, I had actually set out to buy Mask of Magnaminty as I heard it's meant to be so good for acne prone skin. Unfortunately, they didn't have it (again), so I decided to try out their Cosmetic Warrior face mask. The smell is a bit strange (garlic and tea tree are a weird mix), but I have full faith in Lush that it will do wonders for my skin, and I can't wait to use this on Sunday to wind down before my last exam.

Ah, Snow Fairy. Such a beautiful shower gel, that I've been getting every Christmas season for a good 3/4 years now. I make a point of buying this every year as I adore the sweet scent and, of course, the bright pink colour. My roommate had recommended Rose Jam, but of course I had to go back to this one!

This is probably my fourth pot of Herbalism from Lush. I wrote a review here last year about it. I honestly think my skin would be in such an awful state if it weren't for this product! As I use a liberal amount morning and night, I needed to get more as I wouldn't have enough for my winter break (which is four weeks!!). Definitely recommend this if you have acne prone skin.

I hope you enjoyed this post! Hopefully I'll have a few more Christmassy posts next week in the run up to Christmas. Unfortunately I haven't had time to plan any fun creative posts this year!

Kate x

Faux Fur Wishlist

If you follow me on Twitter (which you should here, shameless plug), then you may have seen me tweet about how much I've been searching for the perfect faux fur jacket. With that in mind, I have compiled a list of a few faux fur items which are at the top of my winter wishlist.

zara - €59.95

I saw this in Zara in Dundrum last week when I was Secret Santa shopping with my roomie, and the temptation was real!  I feel like this is more of a universal faux fur that could be worn for a night out or just a day out.

Missguided - €75

This jacket has seriously caught my eye. Nearly tempted to splash out and buy it for Christmas!

Pretty Little Thing - €84

At the same time, I feel like you can never go wrong with a staple colour - black. 

Missguided - €90

I always end up looking at pink faux fur jackets, I just can't help it!

PLL - €25.20

While browsing the jackets, I also saw this faux fur clutch bag. I already had a black one from H&M (which broke), and now I have another black one from Stradivarius, so why not add a pink one to my collection?

I hope you enjoyed this post and I'll see you next week.

Kate x

Dorm Tour

Wow it's been a really long time, hasn't it?

Since starting uni in September, life has gone into overdrive and I haven't had a week off (seriously, 12 weeks of classes with no breaks). So with all of that said, I thought I would give a tour of the dorm that I'm living in this academic year!

The room is quite small, but it's actually the perfect size for living in as we have a living room ajoining the kitchen too. My room looks out onto a path beside some trees which is quite nice!

My bed is surprisingly comfortable (thank god)! I went for pink floral covers and my grey throw is from Penneys, but is huge amd perfect for study.

(excuse the messy 'drobe)

We get two rails for hanging up clothes, but I only use one (mostly because I keep forgetting to take more hangers). I also keep my shoes and suitcase in the bottom shelf for tidiness. I also have an Ikea clothes horse which I am yet to use as I usually bring my clothes and wash them at home #lazykatie.

My desk is definitely my favourite part of my room. I bought fairy lights from Penneys which fit perfectly around my pin board! I had thought about pinning up college stuff on the board originally, but I much prefer having cards and pictures of my friends and I on it. I also have a sign that says 'Hola', which I think is appropriate as I am studying Spanish! 

I hope you enjoyed this little insight into my college life, and *hopefully* I'll be back with another post next week!

Kate x

Uni Checklist

As any person is aware, exam results are soon due to be released to the nervous and apprehensive teens who sat the exams. I am, unfourtunately, one of said teens. My dreams of going into my geography exam without any stationary and failing my maths exam have returned once more, probably due to my sub conscious worrying.

Although the results are due, this also means I'll (hopefully) be heading to university at the start of next month to start a whole new era in my life, which is so exciting for me. Even though my brother has already been through all the elements of starting university, there are many things that will be different for me. He went to uni in England, which has a slightly different system, and he lived with our dad for his first year, both things which I will not be doing for my first year. But what two people ever have the same college experience?

I thought it would be a good idea to make a list of checklist clothing items (a bit like a wishlist?) that I'll be needing to either get or bring with me to university.

Staple Shoes

Shoes are probably one of the most important things to have. Every year since about third year, I wore black Vans to school, which makes me want to get a more casual pair for going to uni! I also think it would be good to have a more formal pair of shoes, and I absolutely love the grey brogues from Penneys/Primark.

Bottoms

It's also obviously very important to have a staple pair of jeans to just throw on for lazier dressed days. I absolutely adore my pair of lightwash mom jeans from Topshop, so I'd love to have this black pair too!

Skirts are also a great thing to be able to choose from too, and I'm really loving this khaki skirt from Missguided. It's a piece which could be worn at day casually, yet also dressed up and worn at night too.

Tops & Tees

Yet again, this is quite obvious too, but I think a staple tee such as a stripe tee are a great thing to have, as you can always fall back on them to make an outfit less boring. I also love the lettuce hem t-shirt from Missguided, as it would go great paired with anything. I added a bodysuit to the mix too, as they can be quite useful when you want to wear somehing tucked in, but can't really be bothered dealing with it becoming untucked.

Rain Jacket

Let's be realistic here: it rains a lot here in Ireland, so going out with a rain coat isn't exactly advisable. I've been searching for a pink rain coat like this one from Topshop for SO LONG. This one is also reversible, which means if you want a change to a patterned coat, you can turn it inside out for the gingham pattern!

I hope you enjoyed this post! Good luck to anyone getting results also, and congrats to anyone who already got theirs!

Kate