Saturday 26 October 2013

Thrift Shop




Sequenced Cardigan / Gorta

So I happened to stop off at my local Gorta shop last week, a regular occurrence as you never know what absolute gem you may find. Boy was I lucky I did this time! As I was thralling through the jackets/cardigans section (and let me tell you in all honesty the selection wasn't great) I happened across a thigh length forest green sequenced cardigan, BOOM. It is beautiful and the detail is amazing! Luckily there are only a few sequences missing and no rips. It's way too big, with thick shoulder pads but I am delighted someone's Nana decided that they didn't want it anymore because it was an absolute STEAL at €10!! 

I had initially decided that I would alter it and wear it as a long loose cardigan, perfect for the Christmas season ahead. However on second thoughts and taking into account how long it is I thought why not transform it into a dress instead?! I would get a lot more wear out of it particularly during the party season and for years to come. I won't be able to do this myself as my sewing skills are quiet limited (to threading a needle really), but I will take it to The Zip Yard in Cork City next week and see what they think. I am very excited!

I will update ye on the outcome!

Nóirín X 

Monday 21 October 2013

OOTD: Hello October









Top / Dorothy Perkins
Cardigan / New Look
Leggings / Dunnes Stores
Boots / New Look
Bag / Zara
Rings / River Island & Topshop

So with the changing weather and ascension into winter woollies, it was time to do a little shopping to update my winter wardrobe! Aoife and I decided a day of retail therapy in Cork City was needed asap. Needless to say we picked up a few (a loooot of) bits and pieces in Cork and in Mahon Point too. Opera Lane is not good for my wallet! So here is my shopping outfit for the day, comfortable and warm and a cardigan in my favourite winter colour; Berry. Love it!

 Nóirín X

Friday 11 October 2013

OOTD: Kimono


Although this Kimono is a summer buy and has about as much warmth as tissue paper its great for the current season transition as it can be worn over thicker clothing without looking too bulky. Today was a lovely sunny day but with a definite chill in the air. It wasn't cold enough for trench coat or chunky knit territory so instead I layered it with a plain black v-neck top.


The Kimono added a little colour to my black ensemble and If I'm being honest I really don't want to see it in the 'summer clothes pile' quite yet i.e. clothes banished to the back of my wardrobe until the return of spring/summer! I kept accessories to a minimum but broke out my Zara bag which I got for a steal in a sale earlier this year. 


Kimono / H&M
Top / Penneys (Primark)
Jeans / New Look
Brogues / Schuh
Necklace / New Look
Ring / River Island
Bag / Zara


Also while my Mom was taking these photos...the doggies wanted to take some selfies so of course she obliged! Big pup on the right is Teddy and little pup on the left is Toby!

Nóirín X



HD Brow Review

I love a full brow on a night out and I have experimented with everything from eyebrow pencils to  eyeshadow but my go to product has to be the HD Brow Vamp Kit. 

I usually have my eyebrows threaded in a local beauty salon, the beautician  recommended I try the HD Brow kit to fill in my brows; as I have quite dark eyebrows naturally but the hairs at the start of my brows are quite sparse.  She matched my colouring to the Vamp edition (HD Brow kits are also available in the Foxy Palette which is similar to Vamp but the shades are lighter). 



1-Dark Brown 
2-Rich Brown 
3-Nude
4-Carbon 

I mix shade 1 & 2 and start applying using an angled brush around the outline of my brows, then I fill in the rest of my brows using a thin eyeliner brush. This palette is very versatile as it can also be used as eyeshadows and if dampened used as eyeliners, the nude shade is also a great brow highlighter. 

The kit does come with a small double ended brush for application and works fine but I prefer using my own brushes. 




HD Brows Vamp Kit. Cost: €25


Tuesday 8 October 2013

OOTD: Autumn in the Country


Hello everyone, we are well into autumn now and luckily we are still experiencing some pockets of sunshine, but it is time to get the knits out from the back of the wardrobe!


Jumper / Topshop 
Boyfriend Jeans / Next
Western Ankle Boots / River Island 
Shades / Asos 

I love the embellished detail on the shoulders of my topshop jumper, I didn't bother with any jewelry as I taught it would take away from the detail on the jumper. I pared western inspired boots with boyfriend jeans for a western / country look.

Talk soon feathers!

A  x

Monday 7 October 2013

Update + Skincare Haul






Well hello there! Its been awhile...Aoife and I would just like to apologise for the (serious) lack of blog posts over the summer months. However this will change from now on and we hope to post once if not twice weekly!

As you can see from the title this will be a skincare post, my FIRST one ever! It includes products I recently acquired from my local Boots and one from Debenhams. A Boots store opened over a year ago in my home town and needless to say I am a regular! You really can't go wrong with their advantage card and their money saving offers. It has definitely opened a door to skincare for me as I never had any great interest until recently. So without further introduction here is a haul of my most recent purchases with a little note on how I'm getting on with them:

1. EAU THERMALE Avéne Extremely Gentle Cleanser. Like many people I suffer from dry sensitive skin. Having a red-cheeked Irish completion also doesn't help in choosing a good cleanser! I previously used a wash off cleanser but found using water too harsh on my overly sensitive skin, boo. I haven't had this problem with the Avéne cleanser as it does not require water for removal. The cleanser is cloudy and slightly runny, a little goes a long way. You simply apply it with your fingers or cotton pad and tissue off after. No water required. My skin isn't irritated from water or the rubbing required from a wash off cleanser and face cloth. So far so good.

2. EAU THERMALE Avéne Thermal Spring Water. I LOVE this product. I've always had a thing for thermal sprays and the Avéne version does not disappoint. Like the Avéne cleanser it is perfect for the most sensitive skinned of us. Your skin feels dewy and refreshed after a few skirts of this beauty. I generally apply this after cleansing and before moisturising, but its great for a post work out boost, a balm for poor skin irritated by shaving or just when your skin needs a good ol' pick-me-up (Advisable when massively hungover). 

3. Sanctuary Deep Cleanse Facial. This was purchased with the 3 for 2 offer at Boots...for free :) Anyway as I am unable to afford the luxury of a spa getaway or a microdermabrasion treatment I thought this would be a good buy. It is a warming charcoal detox mask and is great for those with oily skin. I will be trying this out very soon and might even do a review!

4. ORIGINS GinZing Refreshing Eye Cream. Prior to this product, I have never really used an under eye cream. Shame on me as this is a trooper. Like many women I unfortunately suffer from dark circles under my eyes...regardless of how much sleep I get or how healthily I eat, believe me. This cream brightens and depuffs the thin skinned under eye area. I random purchase but a keeper. 

5. No7 Day Cream (Dry/Very Dry) / 6. No7 Night Cream (Dry/Very Dry). Both this and the night creams are re-purchases. I have been using these moisturisers for months and find this range for Dry/Very Dry skin works best for me, providing adequate hydrating coverage.

7. Hydraluron. Like the Sanctuary facial mask I have yet to use this serum as I don't need it yet. I think this will become a key part of my skincare regime as the winter months progress and the cold weather dehydrates my skin. 

Hope you enjoyed this post and found my own personal incites on the products helpful...and sorry if it seemed rambly at times! I will improve with time (I hope!) Until next time

Nóirín X



Note: All products mentioned in this post were purchased from a Boots store (except the ORIGINS GinZing eye cream which was purchased in Debenhams). All products available from http://www.boots.ie/ and http://www.debenhams.ie/