Hey everyone,

As you probably know by now, I am a nail art fanatic. I'm not ashamed to say I own too many nail polishes, and I never go a day without my nails painted. Of course, I do have a day or two here and there to let my nails breathe, but 99% of the time my nails are adorned with designs. I get alot of comments from people both here on my blog AND in the real world, asking how I do my nails. Alot of people tell me they simply can't do nail art, so I decided to create a new series on the basics of nail art. 

First things first: you will not become a nail art wonder woman after reading these next two posts. I've been practicing the intricate art of nail art for about 4 years now, and I'm still learning. Practice makes perfect, and over time your weaker hand will get stronger. I'm right handed, but my left hand is very steady at this stage. Another little note to add- I am no expert! I'm simply sharing my tips and tricks.
Supplies;
• I would recommend getting into the habit of applying a base coat before painting your nails, as it prevents your nails from getting stained and provides a smooth surface for you to paint on. I'm currently using Essence studio nails base coat, although I wouldn't say it's amazing in all honesty!

• A top coat is also vital for keeping your designs in place. There's been many a time that I've woken up to chipped nails the morning after spending 30 minutes painting them- not fun!

• For basic designs, a dotting tool is perfect. I bought a pack of 5 on eBay for around €1, just search 'dotting tools' and loads of options will come up. If not, there are plenty of homemade options to choose from. The end of a bobby pin, a toothpick and a used up ballpoint pen are all great alternatives!

• Another extremely useful tool is a double nail art pen. I bought a pack of 8 for €15 in Hairspray but they are quite easy to find- I know Harrods sell them and a few drugstore brands sell solo ones! These are perfect for drawing tiny designs with the nib, and stripes with the thin brush. I would recommend a black and a white one to start off with, as they pretty much go with anything.

Designs;

Above are a few simple designs I drew out on paper. All of these can be accomplished with the tools listed! You can also check out some of my previous simpler nail designs for inspiration here, here and here.
There you have it! The basics to nail art. My next post in the series will be about more intricate designs, so stay tuned!

Will you be trying your hand at nail art any time soon?
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Beginner's Guide To Nail Art: #1 Back To Basics

3.26.2014


Hey everyone,

As you probably know by now, I am a nail art fanatic. I'm not ashamed to say I own too many nail polishes, and I never go a day without my nails painted. Of course, I do have a day or two here and there to let my nails breathe, but 99% of the time my nails are adorned with designs. I get alot of comments from people both here on my blog AND in the real world, asking how I do my nails. Alot of people tell me they simply can't do nail art, so I decided to create a new series on the basics of nail art. 

First things first: you will not become a nail art wonder woman after reading these next two posts. I've been practicing the intricate art of nail art for about 4 years now, and I'm still learning. Practice makes perfect, and over time your weaker hand will get stronger. I'm right handed, but my left hand is very steady at this stage. Another little note to add- I am no expert! I'm simply sharing my tips and tricks.
Supplies;
• I would recommend getting into the habit of applying a base coat before painting your nails, as it prevents your nails from getting stained and provides a smooth surface for you to paint on. I'm currently using Essence studio nails base coat, although I wouldn't say it's amazing in all honesty!

• A top coat is also vital for keeping your designs in place. There's been many a time that I've woken up to chipped nails the morning after spending 30 minutes painting them- not fun!

• For basic designs, a dotting tool is perfect. I bought a pack of 5 on eBay for around €1, just search 'dotting tools' and loads of options will come up. If not, there are plenty of homemade options to choose from. The end of a bobby pin, a toothpick and a used up ballpoint pen are all great alternatives!

• Another extremely useful tool is a double nail art pen. I bought a pack of 8 for €15 in Hairspray but they are quite easy to find- I know Harrods sell them and a few drugstore brands sell solo ones! These are perfect for drawing tiny designs with the nib, and stripes with the thin brush. I would recommend a black and a white one to start off with, as they pretty much go with anything.

Designs;

Above are a few simple designs I drew out on paper. All of these can be accomplished with the tools listed! You can also check out some of my previous simpler nail designs for inspiration here, here and here.
There you have it! The basics to nail art. My next post in the series will be about more intricate designs, so stay tuned!

Will you be trying your hand at nail art any time soon?
post signature
where to find me >
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Hey everyone,

Today's outfit features yet another bargain- a €3 skirt from Penneys! I've been lusting after one of these style skirts for weeks now, and after buying this beauty I can't wait to buy more. I think it's the kind of skirt that can be worn in any season- like this outfit for the colder days, or with a floppy hat and sandals in the Summer. I like my clothes to be versatile, so when the seasons change, I don't have to buy a complete new wardrobe! That's what fashion is all about- using what you have to create a different masterpiece every day. 

My hair and makeup were very Veronica Lake inspired, with waves and bright red lips. The red really contrasts with the cobalt blue skirt, but I think they complement each other beautifully. Yet another vintage inspired outfit!







Blouse- Bershka
Skirt- Penneys/Primark
Necklace- Penneys/Primark
Ring- New Look
Socks- Penneys/Primark
Shoes- Schuh*
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Items marked with a * were sent to me for consideration. All views are my own! Read my full disclaimer here.

OOTD- Hollywood Glamour

3.24.2014

Hey everyone,

Today's outfit features yet another bargain- a €3 skirt from Penneys! I've been lusting after one of these style skirts for weeks now, and after buying this beauty I can't wait to buy more. I think it's the kind of skirt that can be worn in any season- like this outfit for the colder days, or with a floppy hat and sandals in the Summer. I like my clothes to be versatile, so when the seasons change, I don't have to buy a complete new wardrobe! That's what fashion is all about- using what you have to create a different masterpiece every day. 

My hair and makeup were very Veronica Lake inspired, with waves and bright red lips. The red really contrasts with the cobalt blue skirt, but I think they complement each other beautifully. Yet another vintage inspired outfit!







Blouse- Bershka
Skirt- Penneys/Primark
Necklace- Penneys/Primark
Ring- New Look
Socks- Penneys/Primark
Shoes- Schuh*
post signature
where to find me >

Items marked with a * were sent to me for consideration. All views are my own! Read my full disclaimer here.
read article
Hey everyone,

I recently attended the Pro Beauty Show in the RDS and picked up a few new polishes [of course!]. I purchased my first set of O.P.I nail varnishes, as they're extremely difficult to get in Ireland, and they were only €6.95 each! One of these was a frosted metallic blue called "dining al frisco". I realised how beautifully it would look with my Essie "no place like chrome", so after two coats of the blue, I used a sponge to dab silver at the top of my nails. 

When I arrived in school the next day, a few people told me it reminded them of the movie 'Frozen', and I completely agree! I honestly think Frozen is one of the best Disney movies in years, and Idina Menzel plays Elsa perfectly. Hope you like them! You can buy a set in my shop here.



Are you a Frozen fan?
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'Frozen' Inspired Nails

3.22.2014

Hey everyone,

I recently attended the Pro Beauty Show in the RDS and picked up a few new polishes [of course!]. I purchased my first set of O.P.I nail varnishes, as they're extremely difficult to get in Ireland, and they were only €6.95 each! One of these was a frosted metallic blue called "dining al frisco". I realised how beautifully it would look with my Essie "no place like chrome", so after two coats of the blue, I used a sponge to dab silver at the top of my nails. 

When I arrived in school the next day, a few people told me it reminded them of the movie 'Frozen', and I completely agree! I honestly think Frozen is one of the best Disney movies in years, and Idina Menzel plays Elsa perfectly. Hope you like them! You can buy a set in my shop here.



Are you a Frozen fan?
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where to find me >
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Hey everyone,

For those of you who mighn't recognise the title of this post, it's a mock of 'Rosie the riveter', the symbol associated with feminism during world war 2. The reason I've named my post after it, is because of the hair! The 'we can do it' symbol features a woman with a strong fist, and a red handkerchief wrapped around her hair. I decided to pay homage to Rosie by trying out the hairstyle. The leopard print dress mixed with the leather gives a very rockabilly look, don't you think? I love getting inspiration from the past- I'd say I was born in the wrong era, but in all honesty, I can't decide what era I belong to! I'm forever lusting after the clothes from the 50's, the 90's, the 20's, the late 1800's. 

In other news, my first writing-for-a-newspaper experience went rather well. My article about the local St. Patrick's Day parade is being published in the local newspaper tomorrow, and I can't wait to see my name in print! 




Dress- small boutique in Dublin
Jacket- Penneys/Primark
Headscarf- vintage [Lucy's Lounge in Temple Bar, Dublin]
Tights- Penneys/Primark
Boots- Doc Martens
Lipstick- Kate Moss for Rimmel

Do you get inspired by the past?
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OOTD- Rachel The Riveter

3.19.2014

Hey everyone,

For those of you who mighn't recognise the title of this post, it's a mock of 'Rosie the riveter', the symbol associated with feminism during world war 2. The reason I've named my post after it, is because of the hair! The 'we can do it' symbol features a woman with a strong fist, and a red handkerchief wrapped around her hair. I decided to pay homage to Rosie by trying out the hairstyle. The leopard print dress mixed with the leather gives a very rockabilly look, don't you think? I love getting inspiration from the past- I'd say I was born in the wrong era, but in all honesty, I can't decide what era I belong to! I'm forever lusting after the clothes from the 50's, the 90's, the 20's, the late 1800's. 

In other news, my first writing-for-a-newspaper experience went rather well. My article about the local St. Patrick's Day parade is being published in the local newspaper tomorrow, and I can't wait to see my name in print! 




Dress- small boutique in Dublin
Jacket- Penneys/Primark
Headscarf- vintage [Lucy's Lounge in Temple Bar, Dublin]
Tights- Penneys/Primark
Boots- Doc Martens
Lipstick- Kate Moss for Rimmel

Do you get inspired by the past?
post signature
where to find me >
read article
Hey everyone,
Over a month ago, I attended a one day makeup masterclass at the renowned LA College Of Creative Arts in Dublin. The class involved tutorials and tips in makeup and hair. For the first half of the class, it was fully instructional, and I honestly learned so much. It's extremely important to learn about the basics before you can advance! The second half of the class was the practical. Using our new tricks, we go the opportunity to give ourselves a makeup over using their products. We then got to chose a background for our very own photoshoot! I went for a berry lip and a golden-taupe smokey eye. I'm thoroughly pleased with the outcome- not only did I learn alot, but I got some lovely pictures too!

photos by Justin Reilly

You can read more about LA Creative courses here.

*In other news, happy St. Patrick's Day everyone! I spent my day reviewing my town's parade for the local newspaper. I can't believe my writing is finally going to be printed!*
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LA Creative Makeup Course & Photoshoot

3.17.2014

Hey everyone,
Over a month ago, I attended a one day makeup masterclass at the renowned LA College Of Creative Arts in Dublin. The class involved tutorials and tips in makeup and hair. For the first half of the class, it was fully instructional, and I honestly learned so much. It's extremely important to learn about the basics before you can advance! The second half of the class was the practical. Using our new tricks, we go the opportunity to give ourselves a makeup over using their products. We then got to chose a background for our very own photoshoot! I went for a berry lip and a golden-taupe smokey eye. I'm thoroughly pleased with the outcome- not only did I learn alot, but I got some lovely pictures too!

photos by Justin Reilly

You can read more about LA Creative courses here.

*In other news, happy St. Patrick's Day everyone! I spent my day reviewing my town's parade for the local newspaper. I can't believe my writing is finally going to be printed!*
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where to find me >
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Hey everyone,

I realise I've been quiet lately but this week has been quite the whirlwind. I was at a gig, then my sister's confirmation.. I honestly just haven't had the time to blog! Luckily, things are back to normality now and I got some nice shots of my outfit for the confirmation yesterday. I got sent this dress from Endora, a new Irish clothing website, and I absolutely love it. I felt very elegant wearing it, and it was a perfect fit. I'm one for buying clothes online, as I'm always dubious about sizing, but the 10 fit just fine. The material is quite stretchy anyways, but also very soft. I got lots of compliments whilst wearing it, especially due to the lace and pattern detailing. I threw on my new leather jacket for a more biker-chic style, paired with studded black heels. 

We had a really nice dinner in a local hotel, which also proved to be a good backdrop for taking photos!





Dress- Endora.ie *
Jacket- Penneys/Primark
Shoes- Penneys/Primark
Clutch- vintage
Necklace- Penneys/Primark

song title: Fancy- Iggy Azalea ft Charli XCX
post signature
where to find me >

Items marked with a * were sent to me for consideration. All views are my own! Read my full disclaimer here.

OOTD- I'm So Fancy

3.14.2014

Hey everyone,

I realise I've been quiet lately but this week has been quite the whirlwind. I was at a gig, then my sister's confirmation.. I honestly just haven't had the time to blog! Luckily, things are back to normality now and I got some nice shots of my outfit for the confirmation yesterday. I got sent this dress from Endora, a new Irish clothing website, and I absolutely love it. I felt very elegant wearing it, and it was a perfect fit. I'm one for buying clothes online, as I'm always dubious about sizing, but the 10 fit just fine. The material is quite stretchy anyways, but also very soft. I got lots of compliments whilst wearing it, especially due to the lace and pattern detailing. I threw on my new leather jacket for a more biker-chic style, paired with studded black heels. 

We had a really nice dinner in a local hotel, which also proved to be a good backdrop for taking photos!





Dress- Endora.ie *
Jacket- Penneys/Primark
Shoes- Penneys/Primark
Clutch- vintage
Necklace- Penneys/Primark

song title: Fancy- Iggy Azalea ft Charli XCX
post signature
where to find me >

Items marked with a * were sent to me for consideration. All views are my own! Read my full disclaimer here.
read article
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