Holiday Style - Swimwear 

Hi everyone, this is my first blog post in a really long time. I have just finished completing my degree and finally have some spare time on my hands once again. 
I am hoping to do some updates to my website and write more posts over the next while so keep an eye out for those. 
I thought I would start back with a swimwear blog post because everyone is going to be going on their holidays soon and who does not love holiday shopping ;) I am going to Mexico in September and cannot wait to start filling up my suitcase with bits and bobs.
Anyways I hope you like it. 

Shauna 
xoxo  

 €22 ASOS 

Click Here

€47 River Island 

Click Here

€30 H&M 

Click Here

€25 Bershka 

Click Here

€40 Zara 

Click Here

€70 (approx) Jaded London  

Click Here

€76 (approx) Lahana Swimwear  

Click Here

Lashes by Flutterby 

Hello everybody, I hope everything is good. First off I want to apologize, I know I said I was going to try to do one post a week and it has not really happened, anybody who is in final year of college will understand my struggle. I am coming up to my last few remaining months and I cannot wait to be able to commit to my blog full time once again.  

Anyways back to today's blog post, I am going to  be talking all things eyelash extensions. I have been getting my lashes done in the same place for a long time now and I always get asked questions on them whenever I get them done so I thought I would write a blog post. I have done one before however that was a good while ago now and I wanted to do an updated one.

  For anybody who is not familiar with Flutterby, they are a styling, makeup, hair and all things fashion company run by mother and daughter Nicole and Shauna Spain. I will leave all links for them at the end of this post if you would like to check them out or get any more information. 

If you are not too sure what exactly eyelash extensions are they are basically semi-permanent lashes which are glued on to your natural lash and usually last anywhere between 4-8 weeks. 

 What does your appointment actually entail?

The process of getting the actual lashes on is very easy, all you have to do is lie on the bed while Nicole works her magic. She has such a gorgeous set up in her studio with a duvet and cushions on the bed and she always asks if you want to get under the duvet. It is so comfortable you could honestly nap for your entire appointment. Nicole is so lovely and will chat to you the whole through your appointment. 

Does it hurt?

No, getting the actual lashes on is not sore. The only discomfort you may experience is afterwards when taking the tape off with the light but it is not really a big deal!

How long does the appointment take?

Depending on the look you want to go for your appointment will last anywhere between one hour and half - 2 hours, if you are looking for a dramatic and fuller look it may take slightly longer. 

Can I opt for a more natural look?

Before you begin your appointment Nicole will always ask what type of look you are hoping to achieve from your appointment. I have ranged from natural to dramatic depending on what time of year it is - I usually go for a slightly more natural look for holidays as I know I will not be wearing too much makeup and around Christmas time I will ask her to make them fuller and curlier.

More of a natural look.


How long will they last?

 The longest I have gotten out of my lashes is 8 weeks. People always seem so surprised when I tell them this and I have heard so many stories of people telling me that they have gotten theirs done only to have them fall out a week later, this has never happened to me. I have worn mine in Orlando and Mexico in really humid heat, the pool all day and they have stayed perfect! 

 
My lashes after six weeks! 

How much do they cost? 

Nicole charges €45 which is pretty good considering how long you get out of them. She also offers refills for €35. I have seen many places charge over €70 for eyelash extensions. 

Does it damage your natural lash? 

To be honest I have not experienced any damage to own lashes as I have quite thick and long natural lashes however every so often I will take a break just to let my lashes breathe and ensure the thickness stays. I know some people who have quite sparse lashes are afraid of getting them done but once you do not pick the lashes out you will be fine.

  

I think I have answered the most common questions I get asked. If you have any more just let me know and I will answer them for you. 

If you would like to get in touch with Nicole here is here links;
Instagram: Click Here
Facebook: Click Here

I hope you enjoyed this blog post and if you do go to get  your lashes done please let me know how you found them and be warned you will get addicted!! 

Until next time, 
Shauna 
XOXO

Skincare: Pre-Cleanse Dermalogica Review

( source: dermalogica.ie)

Hi everybody welcome back to a new blog post. I am going to try really hard to do as many posts as I can this year, however, as I am in my final year in college I am not too sure how this is going to play out.(I'm sure many of you will understand the struggle!!)

This weeks post is a review of the Dermalogica Pre - Cleanse. I recently put a poll on my Instagram stories in relation to creating more content based on skincare and a lot of people voted yes so I will definitely be doing more skin related posts/reviews over the next while.

You may not know this but I recently started a new job as part time receptionist in a spa while I am in college. I am learning so much about skincare and different products. It was in here that I was introduced to the Pre - Cleanse from Dermalogica and I am so glad I was! 

According to Dermalogica this should be used as 'Step Zero' in your skincare routine. Basically the skincare mantra for a long time has been to cleanse, tone and moisturize, however, now we are recommended to carry out a 'pre - cleanse'. You may have also heard it being refereed to as the 'double cleanse'. 

The Dermalogica Pre-Cleanse is a lightweight oil which melts any excess sebum and makeup off the skin prior to the use of your daily cleanser. The idea of this is to ensure your cleanser can fully do its job. 

The key ingredients of this product include:

Apricot Kernel Oil 
Sunflower Oil
Vitamin E 

Directions for use:

1. Dispense one pump into dry, clean hands.

2. Massage onto face (still dry) focusing specifically on any problem areas / congestion.

3. Add water to emulsify the oil and once again massage face.

4. Wash off any excess oil off the face with warm water.

The Verdict:

I absolutely love this product! It has become part of my daily skincare routine and I honestly do not think I could live with out it. I use it every morning and night even if I have not worn makeup that day. It leaves my skin feeling so soft and this combined with my cleanser I feel my skin is genuinely clean. 

If you are looking for something that will literally melt everything off including mascara and eyeliner then I recommend this to you 150%. 

The only downside to this product is that it is quite expensive at €44 per 150ml, however, in saying that one pump is sufficient per use so it should last you for a while and I promise you will not be disappointed! If you are interested in purchasing this product you can do so here.

If you are wary of spending this much money on a product you have never tried before, Dermalogica do offer a travel size which you can purchase here.

Let me know if you have used this product before and what you thought of it or if you do purchase it let me know how you find it!

Until next week, 

Shauna
xoxo

12 months-12 books

For 2017 I decided to set a goal of reading one new book every month. Ever since I was a little girl I have loved sitting down or going to bed and getting caught up in a different world. I do not really have a type of book I like to read, if something sounds good to me I will give it a go. Even though this is not fashion or beauty related it is something I love to do so I thought I would share what books I have read and my opinions of each. Unfortunately, I did not reach my goal of a new book every month but I only missed out on one so I made it 90% of the way! 

January:  The Trap

This book centers around a woman called Linda Conrad. Twelve years previous she found her sister brutally murdered in her apartment. Linda saw the killers face as he escaped but he was never caught. Fast forward to the present day Linda is a well-known author who does not leave her house by choice. One night she spots her sisters murderer on the t.v - he is now a well-known journalist. Knowing that nobody will believe her she decides to write a book about a woman who was murdered and how they find the killer. Linda never grants interviews or public appearances however she decides to grant one interview to her sisters murderer in order to trap him and get him to confess. 

The start and the end of this book I found really easy to read and I did not want to put the book down. However I found the middle to be quite slow and actually did not look forward to reading it everyday. Because of this it took me a lot longer to read than a book of this length usually would. To be honest I would not recommend this book, I found it quite hard  to read and felt some parts of the book could have done with not being there. 

Rating: 2/5

Click here to buy

February: The Light Between Oceans

This book follows the life of Tom Sherbourne and how he lives his life after fighting in World War I. Following on from the War, the book guides us through Tom and his wife's Isabel's lives on the island of Janus Rock, where Tom works on the Lighthouse. After two harrowing miscarriages Isabel believes motherhood is not for her. However, one day a boat washes up on shore with a dead man and a crying baby. The two decide to keep the child however they must now live with the consequences. The rest of the book takes us through Tom and Isabel's lives and how they cope with what life throws at them.

I absolutely loved this book! From the very first page I could not put it down and wanted to find out what happend in the story. It is a book filled with every emotion and I fell in love with the characters. I laughed, I cried and I smiled a lot while reading this story. I wish I could go back and start it all from the beginning once again. I would 150% recommend this book, it is definitely a new favourite for me.

Rating: 5/5

Click here to buy

March: My Not So Perfect Life 

Katie Brenner comes from a small country side village in Somerset where she was raised by her father. All her life she dreamed of living it up in London. She has finally landed herself a paid job in a large company in the city, however, it is not as glamorous as she imagined it would be. Living in a tiny flat with not so glamorous flatmates, a long commute and no money it is not exactly the dream she has always longed for. Her boss Demeter has the perfect life which Katie longs for- perfect job, house, family, looks and clothes. Things begin looking up for Katie until she finds herself let go from her job. With no money to stay in London she moves back to Somerset to help her father and his partner set up a glamping company. The rest of the book follows Katie and how she deals with life on the farm whilst trying to look for a new job to move back to London. 

If you have ever read a Sophie Kinsella book then you will know that you will love her book before even reading the back cover. Filled with laughter and smiles it is the perfect pick me up book and so easy to read! If you are looking for something light-hearted and easy to read then this is the book for you. 

Rating: 5/5 

Click here to buy

April: The Wives of Bath 



This book centers around the lives of two couples - parents to be Amanda and Hugo are the flash couple who have the private maternity clinic booked and ready to go, whilst, Alice and Jake  have opted for an at home natural birth with whale music and no medicines what so ever. 

The story follows the lives of these two couples and how they cope with life as  parents. Amanda has found that motherhood is not as glamorous as she thought and decides to disappear back to her career leaving Jake to look after the baby. Alice faces her own problems trying to raise their child the Eco-friendly way as Jake wants. 

To be honest I did not think this book was going to be anything amazing and I was pleasantly surprised. It was such an easy book to read and made me laugh a lot. If you are looking for something fun and not too serious this is perfect! 

Rating: 4/5 

Click here to buy


May:  All The Light We Cannot See: War Era Novel 



All the Light We Cannot See, follows the lives of two young children, Marie - Laure who lives in Paris with her father and has been blind since the age of six, and, Werner an extremely intelligent orphan who lives in Nazi Germany. The book brings us through the lives of these two young children during World War II and how their lives become interconnected on a path of survival. 

This book for me was another favourite. From the moment I read the first page I knew I was going to like it. If you like books that are set in the War era's then you will definitely enjoy this book. 

Rating: 4/5 

Click here to buy

    
June: Big Little Lies 



This story follows the lives of three mothers in a beach side town in Australia. Jane has recently moved to the small community and is immediately taken under the wings of Madeline and Celeste. Whilst under these wings and amidst the drama of young children attending school we learn the secrets of each of the three women. 

Drama, secrets and lies make up this story and it is definitely one you will not want to put down! 

I loved this book and had actually watched the TV series before I had read it so I had an idea of what was going to happen. The book is slightly different to the show so even if you have watched it I would definitely recommend you read it.

Rating: 4/5

Click here to buy 

 July: A place called Home 



During the middle of the night, Ayesha takes her daughter and leaves her home, husband and a whole life of pain behind her. Boarding a bus to London she hopes to build a new life for herself and her daughter. 

Hayden, a former pop star who keeps himself hidden from the world has previously opened his home up in the past. When a current house guest asks can Ayesha and her daughter stay with them Hayden reluctantly agrees. 

The book follows the lives of the guests of the house and how potential enemies can threaten to damage they life they have built for themselves. 

When I got handed this book to be honest I did not think it was going to be amazing or stand out in any way and was I surprised. This book was an instant heart warmer and I could not put it down. 

Rating: 4/5 

Click Here to buy


August: The Secret 



The Secret is a self-help book based on the power of positive thinking. It is primarily based on the 'Law of Attraction' which tells us whatever we think we attract for example if we really believe and envision that some day we will win the lotto then some day this will come true. It also says the same for bad thoughts and hence the reason we should think positively. 

This was the first type of these books I have ever read and while I did enjoy it I found it at times quite hard to read and sometimes found it a little bit silly. However,there are things that I have taken from this book and have tried to put into reality. 

My favourite thing about this book was how positive I felt whilst reading it, I really felt as if I could achieve whatever I set my mind to and I suppose that is one the most important lessons of the book. 

Rating: 3/5 

Click here to buy


September: None :(

This was the one month I did not read a book what with going on holidays and starting back in college I just did not have the time.


October: Oh my god what a complete Aisling

 

This story follows the life of a country girl - Aisling, who spends her life working in the 'big smoke' i.e Dublin and commuting back home to Ballygobbard. When a holiday  to Tenerife does not take the turn she was hoping for with her long term boyfriend Aisling ends things and the story centers on how she handles life from this moment. 

I think this was my favourite book of the whole year! It made me laugh so much and cry, but it is one of the best books I think I have ever read. If you are from Ireland and have an inkling or knowledge of the countryside then you will find this book hilarious and you will find out we all have a bit of Aisling in ourselves!

If you read one book from this post please make it this.

Rating: 5/5 

Click here to buy

November: A Walk Across the Sun  



Ahalya and her sister Sita are members of a wealthy family in India and enjoy good education and a comfortable up bringing.When a tsunami wreaks havoc and kills all family members expect for the two girls, they make the painful decision to find refuge at a convent in Chennai a long way away from home. Enduring this painful journey a man agrees to drive the girls to the convent however, they have stepped foot into the wrong car and are soon sold into the Indian sex trade.

This book is at times not the nicest to read however it is a story which has basis in reality. It shows us the strength of unconditional love and is a strong reminder that not all people are bad. I really enjoyed this book and it helped me to remember I am lucky to live in a safe home.

Rating: 4/5 

Click here to buy


December:  The Couple Next Door 



Anne and Marco are attending a dinner party in their next door neighbors home. The babysitter who was supposed to mind their baby Cora cancelled last minute. They decide to leave the child in bed, bring the baby monitor next door and check on her every half-hour. Everything is running smoothly until the couple head home and find the front door slightly open, both parents run upstairs to find their sweet baby girl has been taken from her cot. 

Suspicion immediately centers on the parents and secrets which were once hidden begin to emerge to crack the puzzle. 

My last book of 2017 was definitely a huge hit!I literally could not put this book down from the first page, I had to know what happened in the story. If you have read  'The Girl on the Train' then expect the same vibe from this book. If you think you know what is going to happen trust me you do not!

Rating: 5/5

Click here to buy



There is my books that I read in 2017,I hope you liked this post please let me know if you like seeing book reviews because if so then I will continue for 2018. 

Shauna 

   XOXO    

Knitwear - Jumpers 

Hi everybody, I am back and ready to embrace the world of blogging once again. I have been very quiet on my social media pages and the actual blog itself, I just was not feeling very motivated towards it. After a few weeks off and time to get my head around final year in college I will hopefully have lots of more posts for you to read! 

Seen as we are almost in winter I thought I would do a post on my favourite jumpers that are out at the moment. I love all the knitwear that comes in around this season and find it so handy (and cosy!) to throw on a jumper in the dark and cold mornings. 

River Island €60.00

Click Here

River Island €50.00

Click Here

Topshop €46.00

Click Here

Stradivarius €22.95

Click Here

Bershka €27.99

Click Here

Zara €49.95

Click Here

VaVaVoom €38.99

Click Here

MissGuided €27.00

Click Here

There's my favourite jumpers. I hope you all enjoyed this post and I will be back next week with a new one!

Lots of Love,

Shauna

xoxo