Tag: family

New Year, Same Me

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Aloha all you beautiful people!

I am sitting here happy as a clam all toasty and wrapped up in an extra layer of fat that I put on over Christmas and just thinking about the coming year and everything that it’s going to have in store.  With 2018 just around the corner it got me thinking about all of those New Year Resolutions that we make and then worry ourselves over to inevitably not stick to and feel horrible about ourselves which is why

my new years resolution this year is to not make a resolution

I am positively giddy about the fact that I am not going to starve myself for a week in order to attempt losing weight.  I am over the moon that I am not going to beat myself up that I haven’t learned a new skill or taken up a hobby.  I am on cloud nine that I am going to continue to drink just a little too much at the weekends therefore ruining my Sundays.  I am ecstatic that I am going to have the first take out of 2018 and not feel a pick of guilt because I said I would cut down.

For years now I have busted my balls trying to become a ‘better person’ in trying to stick to these ridiculous goals and then spending the following 10 months hating myself that I never completed or stuck to them.  Well, enough is enough!  No longer will I waste my time on these stupid resolutions in order for me to feel down on myself.

Don’t get me wrong, I plan on accomplishing some things this coming year but none that I will write down and beat myself up about if I don’t change.  For example, I really ought to start driving, clear out the pile of clothes I am in denial about, eat a little healthier and maybe put away some money in a savings account.  To me those are like – life changes for a better state of mind, not a resolution that I need to force myself to change.  I find resolutions very unhealthy and a lot of emphasis gets placed on them, especially at this time of year.  It’s basically like saying to yourself ‘you weren’t good enough this year, let’s try again for next year.’  Of course there are some bad habits that we all would like to shake but again, I am not going to get myself down in the dumps about it.

If you are someone that loves making resolutions as a way of trying to ‘improve’ yourself then go for it – Godspeed – however, I am not one of those people.  I can’t wait to wake up on New Year’s Day hungover, crawl out of bed and straight for the Diet Coke and take away menu because I am not placing myself on some strange diet that requires I eat a cube of cheese three times a day.

DG6n3

I am looking forward to maturing slightly next year.  I feel like the year I turn 27 I really need to get my ducks in a row.  That being said, 2017 I moved in with Joel in our cute little rented house in Belfast (my stuff takes up 95% of it, his 5%) and I have accomplished a lot this year.  Can’t wait to see what 2018 has to offer and I can’t wait to not have to force it with New Years Resolutions.

Happy New Year!

Amy xo

The Best False Eyelashes

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From light and fluffy to thick and dramatic I have compiled a list of the best eyelashes on the market to make the most of your eye make up.

It may as well be scientific fact that all eye make up looks look better with a pair of eyelashes applied.  Whether you are a novice when it comes to picking lashes or even applying them then hopefully this post will help.  With so many styles and variety or prices it can be daunting selecting a pair that best suits to amp up your lashes.

Before I even get into the best eyelashes, it’s important that you know how best to apply them or at least the basics of applying.  I always find it best to use tweezers to remove the lashes from the packaging and then lay them on your eyelashes to measure if they fit or not.  If not then grab some small scissors and trim the band – NEVER trim the hairs on the lashes or you’ll end up with weird looking stumps.  Using eyelash glue place some on the lash band and most importantly, wait for the glue to become tacky – about 30-60 seconds is more than enough.  Don’t try to stick it on right away or it’ll become a hot mess!  When the lash is ready then using tweezers or a lash applicator tool apply to your lashes while looking down into the mirror.  I always find it best to put the lash on and put pressure onto the middle of the eyelashes and then to push down the outside, then the inner corner.  Once the lash is applied use your tweezers to press your own lashes with the false eyelashes to move them closer together.  Regarding mascara, it’s personal preference when you put it on.  I prefer to use mascara first so as not to destroy the lashes and you can get longer out of them.

I know, I know it is very easy to write down how to apply them but when it comes to the actual application of them it’s much harder to get the hang of.  When you do get the hang of applying them, you will be thankful!  Your eye make up will never look better…

Ardell Demi Wispies £5.49 2299737

These eyelashes are one of the first pairs that I ever became obsessed with.  They are a staple in my Make Up Kit for clients as they perfectly suit every need and every eye shape.  They are the ‘goldilocks’ lash in that they are just right and are easily stacked (double up the lash) if you want a fuller look.  The lash band itself is incredibly lightweight which makes for an easier application.  Definitely a great starter lash and not as expensive as others which makes for a great ‘practice’ lash too.  The great thing about Ardell lashes is that they come with a mini Duo Glue in the pack.  Duo Glue is one of the more popular glues on the market and is the glue that I personally use.

http://www.boots.com/ardell-fashion-lash-demi-wispies-false-eyelashes-10099662

Eyelure Naturalites ‘107’ £5.40

downloadConsidering these eyelashes were the very first pair I ever used I couldn’t not put them into the list.  The are very full straight lashes with a slight curl on the end. The lashes themselves although fuller are still extremely lightweight so you won’t have drooping tired eyes.  The lashes create a cat eye look which is great for a smoky eye or even a winged liner look.  Again lash glue is included however, I prefer to use the Duo Glue so might be worthwhile picking up a tube of this as it is sold on it’s own.  I don’t reach for these lashes as often as I used to however, not everyone likes the wispy fullness of other lashes and these are a perfect alternative!

http://www.boots.com/eylure-naturalites-false-eyelashes-107-10007605

https://www.beautybay.com/accessories/ardell/duolashadhesive/

Red Cherry Lashes ‘Stevi #43’ £4.49 

41fj5YYTwgL._SX355_.jpgNot only are these an absolute bargain of an eyelash but they are high quality and offer more of a ‘natural’ look.  Similar to the previous two lashes mentioned the Stevi lashes offer graduated length so they look fluttery and feminine.  I find these lashes very comfortable to wear and can be reused so long as they are looked after and removed properly.  They don’t however come with glue hence the lesser price point however lash glue as previously mentioned, is easy to pick up.  A lot of beauty bloggers, you tubers, etc tend to use these eyelashes as because again they go with every eye look and even look great on their own.

Red Cherry Lashes Style #43 (Stevi)

House of Lashes ‘Iconic’ £14

house-of-lashes-iconic-1Bold.  Spiky.  Dramatic.

If that’s what you want from your eyelashes then you have come to the right place.  Although they are spikier they still create a very soft look while still being a dramatic lash.  These lashes are extremely popular with beauty You Tubers and you can get a good bit of wear out of them.  They are more expensive, but more luxurious.  Also the House of Lashes lash glue is amazing!  The glue is latex free and waterproof which makes this a perfect go to for those with more sensitive eyes with a tendancy with watery eyes.

https://www.beautybay.com/accessories/houseoflashes/iconic/

Lilly Lashes ‘Mykonos’£30

mykanos_round_yes_copy_grandeThese. Are. My. Favourite.  You can use these 20-25 times and are real 3D Mink Lashes which is why they are on the pricier side.  That being said, I think they are excellent value for money!  These lashes are flirty, fluffy and give a full finish which lifts every single eye look and transform it into an Instagram worthy look.  They are definitely on the more dramatic side but because of the fluffiness they still look normal.  Dramatic lashes are grand so long as they are fluffy, try to avoid any that are all the same length otherwise you’ll end up with caterpillar eyelashes – not a good look!  Fluffy is the way forward.

That brings my list to an end as I have a disgusting amount of eyelashes.  I hope this list helps if you are struggling to pick the perfect lash for your peepers as it took me years to realise what lashes worked and what ones don’t!

Happy lashing!

Amy xo

 

 

Snacks

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Before I even say hello I just have to say that never have I been hungrier in my life than I was when writing this post.  So thanks to this post I think I gained a stone.

Hello Fellow Hungry Hippos,

You have in fact read this title correctly.  This is not about delicately delicious morsels that I cooked up in my Nigella style kitchen with methods for you to follow.  No brownies, no homemade, no nothing.  This is about those so-tasty-should-be-illegal things that you can bulk buy from the likes of B&M or Home Bargains for about £1.  If you are reading this and you don’t have B&M or Home Bargains, I pray that one day either opens near you and you can experience the wonders they have to offer.  Or go online.

Anyway, I am a snacky person.  My locker in work is full of snacks.  Hence why I am pushing into a new dress size and believe me I am going up not down.  My mouth is already watering thinking about the snacks I am going to write about.  I have compiled a list of my go to snacks but please understand I do not eat all of them every day.  Just… some of them.

WARNING! Seriously unhealthy food to follow, if you are a health freak or on a diet please know, I am sorry.  Click away.

  1. Popnotch Popcorn.  Pop-Notch-builds-new-factory-to-grow-sales-abroadSomething you must know about me… I love popcorn.  I go to the cinema just so I can have popcorn.  Is that bad? Anyway, my favourite popcorn to have actually comes from near my fabulous home in Northern Ireland.  They have so many flavours and they even have little packets for kids.  They have cute little popcorns with sayings on their packaging and to be honest, that’s what sold it to me firstly.  Now, I make it my aim to collect all the flavours!  My favourite is the Sweet & Salty Popnotch Popcorn.  If you are from Northern Ireland, do yourself a favour and pick up a pack! Nom nom nom… (PS. check out their website it is so cute http://popnotch.co.uk/ )
  2. Houmous.  Marks--Spencer-Reduced-Fat-Extra-Virgin-Olive-Oil-Houmous-best-and-worst-hummusOh my GOD, hello?  I will dip anything, anything into houmous.  Be it carrot sticks, celery or a bloody chocolate bar.  I am being serious.  A Mediteranean spread which works great with pitta breads, bread sticks, carbs, etc and my favourite comes from M&S.  The Deli Reduced Fat Extra Virgin Olive Oil Houmous is unreal.  It’s handy when you are wanting a snack that will actually fill you and not leave you full of guilt instead.  Be warned though, the garlic can be a little overpowering so maybe pop a mint after if you are on a work break.302572-Malteser-120g-box-Edit1
  3. Chocolate.  Ah duh.  All chocolate, all colours.  Say no more.  The perfect little boost to get you through the day hour.  I can’t pick one chocolate brand or bar as my favourite because… that’s crazy.  However, malteasers are a fantastic snack.  The little boxes you can get make me happy inside – that’s the kind of shit I get in B&M… they are always £1.
  4. Apple & Peanut Butter.  178388494_XSSo this CAN be a healthy snack so long as you choose a natural peanut butter.  I don’t normally pay much attention to the peanut butter I am picking and whether it’s healthy or not I just pick the one I know tastes good.
  5. Chip n Dip.  eng_pl_Doritos-Mild-Salsa-Dip-2571_2Be it Doritos and Salsa, Plain Crisps and Sour Cream Dip or Pringles and Nutella (trust me) chip and dip is seriously under rated as one of the best snacks out there.  In fact, why not go the whole 9 yards and just make nachos… oh, maybe that’s a meal and not a snack.  No matter whether it’s movie night with the gals, a hangry lunch break or a sneaky pig out sesh chip n dip is always the answer.
  6. Tayto Cheese & Onion Sandwich.  51Cijd1oJcLFirstly, if you aren’t Irish you can probably just skip this point as there is no other crisp that will suit, so don’t try.  The Tayto Factory produces one of the greatest crisps I have ever tasted, and I have tasted my fair share of crisps.  Not only is the bag of crisps itself an amazing snack, but put a bag of crisps in between two slices of bread and butter and you have got something that will make your insides warm and fuzzy.  In fact… brb making a sandwich.
  7. Cuppa and biscuits.  JS31975398Okay, so while this isn’t your average snack it’s one of the best.  There is nothing that a cup of tea can’t fix and pair it with your favourite biscuit and you are onto a winner.  I am a ginger nut, chocolate digestive lover with an occasional cookie rather than your fancy biscuit.  I like to keep it old school.  The question is do you dunk your biscuit?  If the answer is no, I can’t associate with you.  There is simply nothing better than a biscuit that has been dunked into the perfectly made cup of tea.
  8. Cheese & Crackers. My favourite end to any dinner party.  I mean, yeah sure the company and the entertainment is okay – but cheese and crackers is just the ticket.  Any cheese, any cracker and a glass of port wine (or Schloer… always Schloer) will always win.  MS_FD_F06C_00095006_NC_X_EC_0.jpgM&S always do a cracking cheese board, especially for this time of year as as I write this, it is less than a week to Christmas.  M&S have a wide variety of cheese boards that suit every taste and price.  That being said, I prefer to create my own cheese board picking my favourite cheese and crackers.  My favourite crackers to have with cheese are oldies but goodies, Jacobs crackers.  They may seem boring to some, but I love them and they suit every cheese.  William Jacob made a damn good cracker way back in 1850!   5000137415970_280_IDShot_3.jpeg

 

 

 

That brings us to the end of my list of favourite snacks because if I keep going on I will ruin my keyboard with drool.

I hope you enjoyed reading this and I didn’t make you too peckish!

Amy xo

Products I Will Not Repurchase

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Salut my lovely lil peaches!

So today’s blog post is not intended to be a rant in any way – but I know that’s exactly how it is going to end up.  Before we get stuck in however, let me paint you a picture and make you jealous…

It’s Friday. Friday night.  Friday nights are Amy nights.  Joel is working late, I am nursing that sweet sweet bottle of wine, I have carbs in the oven and a selection of bangin’ movies ready to be watched.  On the other end of the spectrum I lost a nail on each hand and it’s throwing me off typing properly… so in 20 seconds I’ve gone from relaxed typing in my happy place to angrily slamming the delete key because I made a mistake.

Anyway, let’s move on.

This list of products are items that I have used once or twice and effing hate and weren’t worth the money spent.  Some of the products might surprise you as some are classed as ‘Beauty Must Haves’ but they simply just didn’t work for me.  Saying that I don’t like a product doesn’t mean that I don’t like the brand itself, in fact some of the products I absolutely love the brands.

I have taken one item pretty much from every category of make up so read on to see what products I regret buying and will not repurchase!

  1. Benefit Porefessional.  232313690This one is just a serious NOPE for me and my skin which is a shame because I see SO many beauty bloggers and You Tubers rave about this product but for me, it dries me the hell out.  When I put my foundation over it, the primer lifts off and then sits patchy over it.  My skin is dryer so really I shouldn’t use this for my skin type anyway but whatever, it didn’t work for me and I will not be repurchasing!
  2. Maybelline New York Dream Liquid Mousse.  Maybelline-Dream-Satin-Liquid-Foundation-10-Ivory-30ml-555762Okay, I guarantee this foundation will be someone’s number one go to and it is so hard to get the perfect foundation but this one is so far away from perfect I could feel my skin cry.  It gave me pores and lines I didn’t even know I had.  I really tried with this one, I actually used the whole bottle trying to make it work but it just wasn’t happening.  Every time I wore it, it ended up seriously chalky.   Coverage wise it ended up blotchy too, but it was deceiving because it looked great for the first half hour and then turned to shit.
  3. Laura Mercier Powder.  s870618-main-hero  I KNOW.  I only bought this because every beauty blogger I watch uses it.  This powder I don’t mind as much but it doesn’t last long on me at all.  I bought it originally to ‘bake’ with, which was fine but it sucks so much moisture out of my skin that it makes me look even dryer than I already am.  I would repurchase if there weren’t so many other great powders out there that I already have.
  4. Benefit Hoola BronzerBenefit_Hoola_Bronzer_Powder_8g_1495706290.  Sorry to come for Benefit again, this one is just purely personal preference because I prefer a warm toned bronzer and this is probably the most cool toned bronzer I have ever used.  In saying that, I don’t mind it as a contour shade but for the amount of times I actually contour it wouldn’t be worth repurchasing.  I actually don’t like the packaging either, I always find that when I get to the end of my Benefit blushers I dig around the outside and lift too much product and it doesn’t go on nicely, you know?
  5. Charlotte Tilbury Beach Sticks.  charlottetilbury_beachstickgroup001Not specifically this one, but all cream blush sticks ever.  I hate them.  All of them.  I can’t get to grips with these products to be used over foundation, etc.  Also, I myself am pretty familiar with how make up works but to a regular person this is definitely a ‘lie in drawer and never wear’ kind of product.  I have tried blush sticks over and under powder, on their own with and without foundation and I just hate them. Sorry.  Although ‘Beach Stick’… I like the name.
  6. Anastasia Dip Brow Pomade.  Idipbrow-medium-brown loved this product when it first came out, it was revolutionary and while I was on the thick instagram brow trend this product was brilliant.  Since ABH came out with this, there have been so many dupes released and it just so happens that they are better.  The ABH pomade goes dry after it’s been open awhile and can be hard to spread out so because there are so many other affordable products that are in my opinion better, that’s why it’s on this list.  For those interested, my favourite dupes of this are Make Up Revolution Eye Brow Pomade and the NYX Tame and Frame Tinted Brow Pomade.
  7. Urban Decay Naked Smoky Palette. fdb82e9d00942d6fe20cc0b84b6e4e2a Sooo, I will not be buying the other palettes (1,2 and 3) as well but not because I regret buying them.  They were absolutely amazing at the time, amazing for when I was just starting out doing make up.  As I have progressed in make up and learned more things and tried more brands I have just found that for the money I can get a lot more.  The Smoky Palette however, I just couldn’t do anything with it.  At the time that it came out I think that those who were interested in the Naked palettes could have done a smoky eye with the palettes they already had.  To me, this is a waste of money because you don’t need a whole palette just to do a smoky eye.  Not only that but the actual pigment in this palette wasn’t very strong and the colours were very hard to blend out and looked like a hot mess rather than a smoky eye.
  8. Kylie-New-LipKit-PenelopeKylie Jenner Lip Kits.  Oh my God. Oh my God. I just hate these.  I am not a huge liquid lipstick fan on the best of days but these ones in my opinion really suck.  All liquid lips are drying so aside from that they are always blotchy on my lips, so to get a decent colour I either have to put down a lipstick first in the same colour which – what’s the point? Or I have to put on about 4 layers of the liquid lipstick and that dry AF.  On the other hand – colours are lushhh.

 

That’s pretty much all I want to list as I don’t want this to drag on forever – because it could.  With my job I buy a lot of products to try out and then review them to hopefully help people with what they should and shouldn’t buy.  So don’t buy any of this.

LOVE YOU.  Drop me a message about any products you have tried that have been horrible for you, I weirdly like hearing about products that sucked.

Amy xo

Me, Myself & I

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Hello Earthlings,

This blog post flies at you from my sofa where I am sitting cross legged with a large glass of wine on one side and a bag of salted popcorn on the other.  I felt the need to post about something and I am not lying to you when I say I look absolutely ghastly.  So, for fear of destroying my camera with my current state I have taken to writing another post.  Seeing as I have nothing planned regarding a post I think I’ll have a post about me.  Because, why not?  In fact, let’s get some questions and I’ll answer them… because I am drunk and lazy.

  1.  Tell me the 3 best things about you.  I knew this was a bad idea.  I guess I am creative, I am fuuun and I make really good roast potatoes.
  2. Are you single/in a relationship?  In a relationship, just had our 2 year anniversary
  3. On a scale of 1-10, how strict are/were your parents? Like a 6?  They weren’t relaxed but strict when they had to be, yano?
  4. Who was your worst teacher? Why? Miss Sloan, P1.  She terrified me and made my mum take me to the hospital for tests because she thought I wasn’t growing fast enough and was accused of malnutrition.  I was like, really small.
  5. Who was your favorite teacher? Why? Miss Lavery, P5.  She had a guitar and made times tables exciting.
  6. Which would you pick: being world-class attractive, a genius or famous for doing something great? I feel like I would be a genius, as a genius I can go on to do something great and become famous.  So two out of three ain’t bad.
  7. Who are the 3 greatest living musicians? Keith Richards, Jimmy Page and Madonna
  8. Childhood crush? All of McFly.  I wrote to them… still waiting on my reply DOUGIE
  9. If you could change one thing about yourself, what would it be? Not a thing.
  10. What was your favorite toy growing up? I didn’t really play with toys, but the thing I always carted about with me was a case of art stuff.  I was always drawing.
  11. Name 3 celebrities you most admire. Julia Roberts, JK Rowling, Kate Winslet
  12. Name a celebrity you think is lame. Justin Bieber
  13. Which of your friends are you proudest of and why? My friend Jenna has conquered her fear of velvet.
  14. What’s the most beautiful place you’ve ever been? I haven’t been many places but I think Ibiza is amazing.  There’s far more to the island than meets the eye.
  15. What are your 3 favorite movies? Goodfellas, Frozen and Dirty Dancing.
  16. What’s the right age to get married? Any age, so long as you are with the right one.
  17. Tell me 3 things you remember about primary school. We did Pop Idol in school and me and my friends did Steps 5678 and it was amazing.  There were gypsys that stayed in the field beside our school and we were told to stay away from the bushes. A wasp landed on my floral headband and that was one of the scariest moments of my life.
  18. What would you do if you were invisible for a day? I’d fuck with Trump and freak him out.
  19. If you could time travel, where would you go? I’d go see dinosaurs for sure.
  20. If you could live in any TV home, what would it be? Does the White House count?  I’d probably still pick Monica’s Apartment, Friends.
  21. What’s your favorite ice cream flavor? Chocolate!
  22. Would you rather live for a week in the past or the future? The past, but the week chosen would have to be surprised.
  23. What’s your best childhood memory? Walking around the lane with my Granda.
  24. What’s your favorite holiday? I went down to Ballybofey with my family including my Granny and Granda.  I don’t remember a lot about that holiday but I remember I had a great time.
  25. If you could eat only 3 foods for the rest of your life, what would they be? Pizza, Pancakes and a jar of Nutella.
  26. If you could have dinner with anyone from history, who would it be? Johnny Cash.
  27. What’s your favorite childhood book? Alice in Wonderland ORR Harry Potter
  28. Who would play you in a movie of your life? Ooh, Clemence Posey
  29. If you could be an Olympic athlete, in what sport would you compete? Eating.
  30. Tell the person to your right your favorite thing about them. My wine appreciates the love I have for it.
  31. Do you ever talk to yourself? When and what do you say? ALL the time.  I couldn’t even sum it up in a sentence I say so many things.
  32. What’s your favorite smell in the whole world? Joel.
  33. What’s your favorite time of day? Around 9.30, I don’t know why but I feel a sense of calm wash over me at that time every day.  Maybe it’s because I know I can go to bed soon.
  34. What’s your favorite season? End of Summer
  35. What’s the one food you could never bring yourself to eat? Fucking brussel sprouts.
  36. What is the sound you love the most? David Attenborough’s voice
  37. What 3 famous people, living or dead, would you want at your fantasy dinner party? David Bowie, Morgan Freeman and Joanna Lumley
  38. If you could ask the President one question, what would it be? Why won’t you delete your Twitter account?
  39. If you could pick a new first name, what would it be? Lara
  40. What’s your pet peeve(s)? People walking slow – I know I am not alone on this one.  I hate the word ‘moist’ and the feeling of a toenail catching on a duvet is enough to make me actually vom.
  41. Do you ever count your steps when you walk? When I was younger I did… I was curious how many steps it used to take me to get to places.
  42. What’s your favorite kind of sandwich? For me, you kinda can’t beat a ham and cheese sarnie?  But I love a Tayto Cheese & Onion crisp sandwich.
  43. What’s your dream job? Lady who lunches
  44. Cake or pie? CAKE
  45. What is the scariest movie you’ve ever seen? I can’t remember the name of it and refuse to google, but I watched it with my friend and fucking shit my self it just freaked me.  I think it was called Sinister?
  46. If you could travel anywhere in the world, where would it be? South Africa
  47. Who’s your celebrity crush? Any Marvel character (Chris Pratt and Chris Hemsworth I am looking at you boys)
  48. What fictional character do you wish you could meet? Dumbledore
  49. If you could be great at one sport which would you choose? Ultimate Frisbee
  50. What’s the first thing you do when you get home from a trip? Collapse on my bed
  51. Would you rather spend five days exploring Disney or New York City? DISNEY
  52. Whose parents do/did you wish you had? What a horrid question… my own!
  53. If you could shop for free at one store, which one would you choose? SEPHORA OBV
  54. What personal trait has gotten you in the most trouble? Being a sassy hoe
  55. Which celebrity chef would you most like to fix you a meal? Gordon Ramsey, then I would judge him
  56. What is the best piece of advice you’ve received? Love yourself, no matter what
  57. What do you like to do on a rainy day? Paint or do make up
  58. What is your favorite thing about the beach? The smell.  I wish I could bottle it and sell it.
  59. What is your favorite Disney movie? Nope, too hard.  Frozen I guess because I watched it pretty much every day sometimes twice a day for two years or so.  
  60. Which of the Seven Dwarfs is most like you? Dopey 😦
  61. If someone made a movie of your life would it be a drama, a comedy, a romantic-comedy, action film, or science fiction? A comedy because I am hilarious
  62. Name a product or service you love so much that you’d happily be that company’s spokesperson. Mr Kipling…
  63. If you were guaranteed to be successful in a different profession, what would you want to do? Oh guaranteed success?  I would cure cancer, then do their makeup
  64. As a child, what did you wish to become when you grew up? I wanted to be in the FBI and I remember telling my Granny that I wanted to be a sausage roll.

Okay… there were so many more questions but I am at the bottom of the bottle and I just don’t think I can go on anymore answering questions otherwise I’ll start getting too honest.  I need snacks… I might go put on lil pigs in blanket now.  IT IS CHRISTMAS.

If you enjoyed this then please do let me know and I can do more posts like this, instead of JUST make up.

Peace out xo

26 Things I Learned In 26 Years

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Hello Readers,

This one comes to you not from a place of ‘do what I do’ or ‘my way is the right way’ but, simply these are a collection of points that I have learned over my 26 years – fast approaching 27 – on the planet and how I have survived this long.  If any them happen to make you feel a little better, more centered and generally happier then brilliant, if not well I am sure the read will pass the time.

  1. Cherish your friends and family.  I cannot stress this enough because to mad lib Kelly Rowland, when life takes over it’s easy to get swept up in day to day life.  Don’t forget about the ones who loved you  before your current distractions ie. Binge watching Stranger Things instead of eating family dinner.  Don’t roll your eyes at your mother when she tells you to phone your Grandparents because one day, not everyone will be around that dinner table or at the other end of a phone call and you will regret the time not spent together.
  2. Don’t give in to peer pressure.  Obviously, you say?  Think back… how many times have you done something just because someone else did it?  From small things to the biggest of things, never let anyone influence you heavily enough to sway your opinion from what you want and don’t want to do.  Your friends are going to Uni?  Great, you don’t have to right now.  All the troops are going out on the sesh?  So what?  Make every decision because you want to, don’t be a follower.
  3. Nobody is perfect.  No body is perfect.  For the longest time I felt so uncomfortable in my own skin.  It took a lot to get over judging myself based on appearances and how I looked in clothes, what way I had my hair, etc.  Now?  How you see me is how I am.  I worked hard to become confident no matter what size I am, what my skin is doing and how those jeans look on me.  Years ago, I would use bags to cover my stomach and drown myself in clothing that was unflattering to try and hide what I thought were ugly parts of my body.  Ironically, the size I was then is now my goal weight and even though I know changes can be made for a healthier lifestyle – I remain confident in myself as I am.
  4. It’s OK to make mistakes.  As Bob Ross once said, “we don’t make mistakes, we have happy accidents.”  It’s down to those happy accidents in the last 26 years that I have the personality that I have, the views that I have and I honestly don’t regret a single thing.  Even the really bad mistakes.  As any right minded adult would have told you when you were younger ‘mistakes are there to be made’ and it’s from those mistakes that we learn and grow.  Basically, regret nothing.
  5. Never apologise for being yourself.  This is something I realised that I can do recently.  To me, I am unapologetically me – I shouldn’t have to explain myself to anyone, or have to apologise for the actions that I do.  Unless the actions you do are horrific, but on the whole I will not apologise for who I am.  If you don’t like it, then it won’t affect me if I don’t see or hear from you again.  Life is short, I will not waste it apologising.
  6. ‘It’s not like it is in the movies.’  Sometimes it is.  Some will tell you not to get hung up on looking for that fairy tale movie kind of life.  I’m telling you, never give up.  Who says your life can’t be like a movie?  Make your own God damn movie.  Our lives are exactly like the movies, it’s just that a movie is 90 minutes or so long compared to a life of 90 years or so (hopefully).  Don’t rush, your movie scene is coming and when it does and you find what you have been looking for all that heartache and uncertainty will all have been for something.  It led you to this point.  Granted, Ryan Gosling or whoever your on screen crush is (John Cusack) will probably not pop up but something or someone even better will.
  7. Be. Happy.  Find what makes you truly euphoric and surround yourself in it.  This is why my house is filled with fairy lights – Joel drew the short straw when we moved in as I pay for the TV each month but he pays for the electric… sorry.  Whether you take 10 minutes out of your day to do a crossword puzzle or you go for a walk to clear your head or you just simply watch your favourite TV show to be happy – I recommend you do it.  It’s the only way we will actually get through our day.
  8. Dance.  Not only is it seriously fun but research shows that dancing can actually improve your mental health.  I’m not saying you need to go out and take ballet lessons but dancing is freeing, and so fun.  I dance while making dinner, standing in work, doing my makeup and even when I am not listening to music I break out into spontaneous dance.  I went out last night sober as a judge just so I could dance.  That’s dedication.
  9. You don’t have to be married young like your Facebook friends.  A new day, a new engagement or pregnancy blasted all over social media from people 23 and under.  While this is perfectly normal and acceptable, it doesn’t mean everyone has to be at it.
  10. You don’t have to pick one thing to be good at.  When I was in school I thought I was going to have to label myself as one thing career wise.  Like, people are good at cooking and are a Chef, people are good with math so they are an Accountant. Why do we have to pick one thing to be good at?  I am a Make Up Artist, that’s not all I am.  I learned that I am good at loads of things and don’t want to label myself as just one.
  11. It’s OK to not make picture worthy dinners.   Leading on from the last post, this is something I am not good at.  Don’t get me wrong, I can feed myself (a lil too much) and make tasty dinners but they look so unappetising whereas every plate of food on Instagram and Pinterest looks like it walked straight off an à la carte menu – and that’s ok!  I’m just surprised I haven’t burned the house down.
  12. Surround yourself with people that will support your interests.  One of my earliest memories is using my grandparents wooden staircase as a table, my legs fit through and I would sit there for hours upon hours drawing.  Drawing anything.  I was a very creative child and didn’t come from an overly creative family.  SURE, they liked my drawings and told me I was good but when I got to secondary school and I was doing Art at GCSE and A Level for example, I became more of a hindrance.  My art got in the way, it covered the dining table and was a mess, basically.  I wasn’t encouraged to do anything with my love for art and it was treated as a hobby.  7 years later, I can’t help but wonder where it could have taken me career wise had I stuck with it or been encouraged.  My point is, whatever your passion is and whatever makes you happy (see #7 again) surround yourself where possible with people who encourage and nurture.
  13. Pancakes & Pizza.  Are my happy foods.
  14. Social Media is bullshit.  Don’t get me wrong, it’s amazing and the impact it has had on our lives is detrimental to our relationships and businesses but all in all, a lot of it is bullshit.  More specifically, the lifestyle gurus and the people you follow on instagram because they talk about how amazing their life is and how they got their shit together, they are here to motivate you and help you get your life on track too.  Bullshit.  They are normal people, with normal lives with Final Cut Pro and Photoshop.  Do not compare yourselves to strangers on the internet.  Get off the app and go live your life.  I post make up on my Instagram – I do not have a made up face all the time.  I am sitting in sweats and a tshirt that should have been in yesterday’s wash and I have yet to remove last night’s crumbly mascara from my under eye.  It’s 12.34pm.  IDGAF.
  15. Don’t resent your job.  We all have our bad days, do not get me wrong but just remember this, if you are unhappy in it – get a new job.  Your job pays for your rent, car, clothes, heating, food and drink.  Think of those less fortunate unable to get a job, are homeless and starving (I know, I know… dramatic) the next time you moan about getting paid to be somewhere.  Also, remember you are more than likely replaceable so be careful who you moan to.
  16. Listen to music you like.  My Dad introduced me to some of the greatest music I have ever heard and I will be eternally grateful to him for that.  In school, I was made fun of for liking artists like Stevie Wonder, Paul Weller and Elvis Presley while everyone else was in love with some boy from 5ive.  Because I was made fun of I tried to pretend that I didn’t like the music I liked.  Oh God, I have to stop this is making me sound like a sad child.  The point is, don’t listen to music or watch movies just because the are the norm.  Listen and watch because you want to.
  17. Teenagers are so annoying.  On the bus, on the street and probably in their own houses they are so annoying.  I like to think that when I was that age I wasn’t as annoying as they are but the reality is that if anything, I was probably more of a pain in the arse than all of them put together.  I think I am jealous… youth! Yoooouth!
  18. The ups and downs of getting ID’d.  When I was Under 18 it caused me to sweat profusely when I was ID’d because I would hate getting denied.  There is very little more humiliating than having to put back the alcohol that you were denied.  18 years old hits and sees a smug Amy walking into Winemark and skulking out with a a large bottle of WKD and West Coast Cooler because honestly, that’s all it took.  Skip forward to now, and I can’t even get ID’d getting into a damn nightclub.  I told the security guard last night that I didn’t have ID, sorry and he simply shot me down with ‘and? on you go’.  I’m done.
  19. It’s OK to not be OK.  Yes, although you should always strive to be happy, live your best life, bla bla bla…  It is still OK to not be OK.  It’s OK to want to have a duvet day.  It’s OK to do nothing on your day off because you’re too tired.  It’s OK to struggle, to reach out and talk to someone.  Without this blog post taking a turn, just promise yourself that if you are having a bad day you will talk to someone and not let it eat you up inside.
  20. Primark leggings are not your friend.  I learned the hard way that they are see through and I need to stop buying them.
  21. Failing is normal.    When I flopped out of Uni, I thought this was the worst thing but as my mum told  me everything happens for a reason.  J K Rowling (hero) in her twenties was broke, suicidal and felt like she was failing.  As of last year she is worth £650 million.  Steve Jobs was fired.  Everyone fails at something, it’s having the courage and the strength to pick yourself back up and try again is something that I learned how to do in my twenties.
  22. Take care of yourself. Take that vitamin, eat that veg, walk that ass, buy the better skincare and take better care of yourself. The inevitable is happening, you are getting older. That McDonald’s you ate when you were 16 evaporated off your hips, and now it clings to them like white on rice. In order to have a happy, long life you may need to make some changes!
  23. Opinions are opinions. Believe what you want to believe and respect that others will not have the same opinion. From what kind of apple is best to politics, listen to others opinions.
  24. Save. Save what you can, when you can. My advice? To set up a direct debit to a savings account for yourself no matter the amount. It all adds up and when the time comes that you’ll need a few extra coins it’ll be there waiting for you.
  25. Sleep. It was uncool to have a bedtime when you were younger. Now it’s the part I most look forward to. Not only does it feel great climbing into bed, especially with new PJs and fresh sheets but a good night’s sleep really does contribute to our overall health. So away and have a nap!
  26. Love yourself. Similar to a few points already but I just really mean it. Love yourself for everything that you are and everything that you do. Once you accomplish that my friends, you can accomplish anything.

Happy living,

Amy xo