Lovely Gifts from MakeupLand2011

For the last few weeks I've been a little stressed out by upcoming college assignments and deadlines. I'm not a good person when it comes to working under pressure, I just get really anxious and can't wait til I get everything done. When I arrived home from work to resume finishing my assignments I spotted two boxes on my kitchen table. I knew that Chie aka MakeupLand2011 was sending me some packages but I had no idea they would comes so soon. She told me a little while ago that she was sending me over a belated Christmas box and Birthday gift. I was surprised I was getting another Christmas gift as she already sent me over a lovely Sephora by Opi Cinderella set which I love and use alot. The shades are really me and I've worn every polish quite a bit, Chie knows me too well. We've already done quite a few beauty swaps and she always send me over such amazing products.

Chie was way too good to me, I was shocked when I opened up these two boxes and saw what was inside. Many of the products like Benefit's The Bronze of Champions palette, Tarte Amazonian Clay 12hr blushes  and Bdellium brushes aren't available in Ireland so I can't wait to start using these. I've taken the brushes out of their packaging already and they are super soft. I'm going to use them to apply my makeup today so I'll let you know my thoughts. Chie went to IMATS earlier this year and I mentioned that I'd love to try the Too Faced No Makeup Makeup palette. This is one of their new releases and it instantly caught my eye when I seen it on their website. The packaging is so pretty, I love how Too Faced palettes come with step by step instructions on how to create different looks. I'll keep you guys posted on how I get on with this one. I'm sure that I'll be using this a lot over the Summer months when I don't want to wear as much makeup. She also sent me some lovely Bath & Body Work goodies. I have a new favourite scent from them, Warm Vanilla Sugar which definitely sits up on a pedestal with Pink Chiffon. Chie picked me up the shower gel, body lotion and body spray in this particular scent, these travel sizes last for a good while too. Leading on from bath and body products, I'd never heard of Marianella Soaps before Chie sent one to me as a part of my gift. This product smells amazing like a mixture of vanilla and coconut which you guys probably already know are my favourite scents. I'm looking forward to try this out, it's a rejuenating soap for face and body. I've never really used this kind of soap on my face so I'm interested to see what it's like.

The little blue bag in the top picture is great, it's a Minimergency kit from Pinch Provisions. This little set contains 17 beauty and personal care essentials which is pretty cool if you ask me. I have never owned anything like this so I think it would be great to have for emergencies in my handbag, it's so tiny it won't take up any room at all. I kinda wonder how they fit so many essential in here. For putting all my new goodies in, I'm loving this Sephora Makeup bag. I love how it's see through as it makes things so much easier when I'm trying to root things out. This bag is pretty spacious too so I'll definitely be using it for upcoming trips. Lastly anyone who knows me knows I love Taylor Swift. She's my favourite artist and I'm such a big fan of hers, I've already seen her twice in concert. I have tried her first perfume Wonderstruck and when I heard she had a new one coming out I couldn't wait for it to hit our shores. Chie sent me over the Enchanted Wonderstruck rollerball  and this scent doesn't disappoint. I'll definitely be picking one up when it launches in Ireland, hopefully in the near future.

I'm so happy with this package, it definitely took the stress out of doing my assignments. Oh before I forget Chie sent me the most yummiest cookies, they were chocolate peanut butter flavoured. I may have treated myself to one or two I'm not going to lie. They reminded me of Reese's, if you love peanut butter and chocolate you have to try them. I can't thank you enough Chie for your lovely gift, I'll have to send you a package very soon. Now that most of my assignments are out of the way I'm so much happier. I miss blogging, I can't wait to get back to posting regularly once the school year is over in May. It can't come quick enough.

Is there any brands from the States you'd love to have on this side of the pond?

Laura<3 

What I Got For Christmas - The 2012 Edition!

Christmas time has come and gone already, now we have New Years to look forward to. Before I get too ahead of myself I thought I'd show you guys some of the gifts I got over Christmas. I wasn't expecting so much this year, I'm so delighted with everything I got. This year was definitely the year of haircare bits and candles! As you probably all know the weather has been horrible lately, gloomy and wet comes to mind, so I had to use the flash in some of the pictures below hope you don't mind too much.

My parents bought me the Remington Pro Volume Heated Brush, this was my surprise gift and I hadn't been expecting it at all. I've used it twice since I got it and so far so good, I love it! It give my hair a extra boost and a salon like finish. I feel it also leaves my hair less frizzy and alot more sleek. My sister and brother both picked me up some Yankee Candles so I'm stocked up on my all time favourites, Christmas Cookie and Christmas Cupcake for a while to come. If you haven't tried either of these scents I recommend them both, even though they are in fact Christmas candles I'd happily burn them all year round. I know most of the festive Yankee Candle stock goes on stock around this time so it's definitely worth popping into your local store to see if you can pick them up for a relatively cheaper price. From experience I know these candles can be ridiculously expensive. so all these will definitely last me well in 2013. Before I finishing ranting about Yankee Candles I better mention the one my Mom gave me, it would be rude to leave it out. It's their Chocolate Layer Cake candle which is from the new Eat Deserts First range (crazy name I know) . It smells amazing, if chocolatey scents aren't your thing then this definitely isn't going to be one for you. Another thing that I love about this candle is the gorgeous packaging, the nicely trimmed lid makes it look like something you'd find in a Bakery. Besides beauty products, I also got alot of new books to read. I love nothing more than sitting down with a good book over the Winter months, what else would I be doing in this horrible weather! I got a good assortment of books which you'll see below that I'm really happy with. I love the Pretty Little Liars series so I was delighted that I received the prequel, can't wait to start reading this soon. I've wanted to start doing book reviews for ages so let me know if it's something you'd be interested in.

My boyfriend bought me some gorgeous beauty bits which I can't wait to start using sometime soon. For ages I had my eye on the Chanel Holiday Collection eyeshadow quad and I was talking about it none stop, when we were out shopping last month he definitely picked up on the hints! The cranberry shade is so pretty and I can see myself using this alot. I don't have too many Chanel products (maybe one or two at the most) so I'm happy to add this to my collection. He also got me the One Direction concert dvd!! I'm a big fan of their music so I'm looking forward to watching this! My favourite member of the band is Niall, I just don't see all the fuss surrounding Harry at all to be honest. I didn't really get clothes as such for Christmas but I did get a lovely bag (from Mom and Dad) and Wintery boots (from Nan). I haven't taken the latter off since I got them, there just so comfy and they make me that extra bit taller which I need.

I got a few nice bits for my room from my Aunt and Uncle. I'm in love with the perfume bottle, it has a really old fashioned feel about it. I can tell already that this is going to be one of those items which will take pride of place on my dresser, I'm already making room for it. They also bought me these gorgeous storage boxes. I love the black and white design, I don't have a theme in my room at all so these fit in really nicely. I've put some makeup products in them already that I want to review soon. Lastly I exchanged gifts with my International Youtube friend Chie, she sent me over some gorgeous products from the States. I love how both sets she sent me are collaborations with two of my favourite Disney movies, Cinderella and Alice in Wonderland. I've used EOS lip balms before and I love them so I can't wait to try out these three. She also sent me over three Bath & Body Works Festive minis which all smell amazing. We need to get one of these stores over in Ireland soon!

This is a way bigger post than I expected it to be so I'm going to do a individual post showing you all what I bought in the Post Christmas Sales. I didn't buy too much so I assure you it won't be as long as this one.

Was Santa good to you this year? What did you get for Christmas?

Laura<3

Gifts from Spain & a Little Sidenote

This time last week my parents arrived home from Spain, a whole ten days of sun, good food and the beach. I'm not going to lie I was a bit jealous seeing as the weather hasn't been the best in Ireland lately. I may need to take a little holidays myself soon, I'm missing the sun it feels like it's jumped into Winter so quick.

When my parents go away they always bring us kids back a few gifts, this time was no different. They picked up most of the goodies before they even got on the plane in Dublin, only one product was purchased in Spain and you can probably guess what that was. The present I was most surprised by was Jo Malone's English Pear & Freesia. I already have another Jo Malone perfume in my collection, Nectarine Blossom & Honey, I picked it up on the way to Manchester in July and I love it. I'm so happy my parents bought me this scent as it can be worn on it own or over Nectarine Blossom & Honey to give it's own unique scent. On the airplane my Mom picked me up these two sets, Liz Earle's Beautiful Skin Kit and Bourjois 5x Colour Pop Nail Kit. I can't wait to start using both of these, the latter contains so many pretty bright shades which I'll be rocking on my nails very soon, keep an eye out for some NOTD posts soon. You all know I love Liz Earle so I'll definitely be using this little travel kit alot, all the products included are not full sized but still decent and perfect for holidays. Last but not least the folks actually picked me up two bits from Spain, first is this gorgeous owl necklace, it's quite big so I think it will dress up any outfit. The other gift was the most sought after Bioderma, I haven't ever tried this before and after hearing so many reviews I wanted to see what all the fuss was about. I've used it once or twice already and I do like it but it hasn't completely blown me away. I'll use it a bit more and let you know in a future review how I've been getting on with it.  I was so happy with everything my parents picked me up they are seriously way too good, I don't think there enjoying the weather were having at the moment at all.

Just a bit of sidenote for you all, I start college tomorrow YAY! The time has certainly flown by since I announced I was going back. I'm nervous and excited about the whole experience, I'm hoping this will be third time lucky. I think I have everything sorted for going, I went a bit over board with the stationery shopping, which was to be expected I think. My Nanna got me a lovely bag in Warehouse for college, I adore it and I have a feeling I'll be using it outside of college too. Enough of the rambling I'll get back to why I wrote this sidenote to start with, as I'll be working and going straight to college from there, none of my time will be mine anymore. I want to give a 100% to college this time not like previous years so I may not be able to post as regularly as usual. I will be putting up posts but maybe only once or twice a week so I won't be gone completely, I hope you all understand.

Laura<3

Beauty Goodies from the States

Living in Ireland means alot of beauty brands aren't readily available. Don't get me wrong, we do have amazing brands at our fingertips in Boots but when it comes to American brands like Bath & Body Works, Tarte and Fresh, there nowhere to be found.When Chie from MakeupLand2011 (great reviews and tutorials on there) offered to pick me up some bits a little while back of course I said yes. We've done a couple of swaps together in the past year or so and she knows exactly what products I like. First on my list was Bath & Body Works Pink Chiffon, this stuff smells amazing and if you read my August empties you would of seen that I just ran out.  I was so disappointed when I couldn’t get my hand on the Danmari palette ages ago, we couldn’t get it in Ireland and it seemed to sell out like hot cakes in the States. Chie emailed to let me know that Nordstrom were bringing out a exclusive palette similar to the coveted Danmari palette and that she could pick it up for me I was delighted. Last week the postman knocked with a big box from the States I knew exactly what was inside. I had to rush to work meaning I couldn't open it til I got home but it was definitely worth the wait. It was like Christmas opening up this package and I absolutely loved every little thing. Chie sent me over the Nars palette (AMAZING!) and three products from the Pink Chiffon range that I really wanted so I was beyond happy. She also included some surprises, Bath & Body Works Minis, Fresh lip balm set, Revlon products, the list goes on. Needless to say I'll be stocked up on Bath & Body Works for a long time. I don't want to go into much detail on everything yet as I'm definitely going to pop up some review posts in the coming weeks. I just want to say also a big Thank You to Chie for sending me over all these lovely products, I really appreciate it so much.

Is there any brands that you have problems finding in your country?

Laura<3