Collective Haul - Boots, Urban Decay, Michael Kors

Sorry for the lack of posts over the past month, I've just been bogged down with work and college. I hardly have time to think nowadays at all, hopefully I get some spare time soon to get back to blogging. I thought I'd show you guys some of the bits and pieces I've bought over the past while. I'm considering just doing Collective Haul posts in the future as I think it's better than doing numerous ones throughout the month. At least this way and give you guys some feedback on how I like everything.

I spotted these candle holders in Carraig Donn and I fell in love with them straight away. I'm forever picking up bits and bobs so I thought these would look great in my room. They weren't too expensive at €4 each so I'm really happy with them, the colours are perfect for this time of year. I haven't been using these for candles though, I've been using them to store my makeup brushes, lipglosses and whatnot.

As you all know I love Urban Decay Decay palettes, I have quite a few. The Smoked and Naked 2 palette would be my favourites. To be honest when I first seen the Vice Palette online I wasn't too blown away. When I went it store to have a look though it was a totally different story. The Vice  Palette contains twenty shadows that are exclusive to this palette. The majority of shades in the palette are neutral with a pink, purple, blue and greens thrown in. I like how there is a bit of a mixture though, for this time of the year especially you don't want to be rushing out to pick up one pink shadow for a fancy dress. All the eyeshadow are extremely pigmented in this palette, I haven't been having any problems with fallout like with previously palettes. My favourite shadows so far would be Provocateur, Jagged and Muse. I've been using the latter in the crease with Provocateur as the base and it looks so pretty.

I went to Boots on two seperate occasions as they have their amazing 3 for 2 on makeup offer on. I bought quite a bit both times as you can see, there are still some bits I haven't got around to trying yet. I've tried all three foundations I bought and I can't say I think too highly of the Max Factor All Day Flawless 3 in 1 Foundation, it's so thick and doesn't sit on my skin too well. The shade I went for doesn't match my skin tone either so just a bad purchase by all accounts. I may give this to my Sister as she may like it more than me who knows, I just don't want it to go to waste as I paid like €16.99 for it which is shocking. I'm undecided on Maybelline's Superstay 24hr foundation, so I'll keep you updated on that on but my favourite foundation by far was Rimmel's Match Perfection foundation. It has such a lovely formula and blends beautifully into my skin leaving a glowy finish. If like me you have oily/combination skin just add a bit of powder I use Rimmel's Stay Matte powder which is great and affordable. I picked up an assortment of nail polishes from Barry M and Rimmel which I've been loving lately. My two favourite polishes would have to be the Barry M glitter and sparkle ones, there so pretty but a nightmare to get off.  Other purchases I made that are definitely worth the money are the Loreal Colour Riche eyeshadow palettes. I picked up three as the 3 for 2 promotion meant I'd get one for free and I'm so glad I did. I haven't seen too many reviews on these around the blogosphere but they are so pigmented and I've been using them alot so expect a review very soon.

Over the last while I've wanted to treat myself to something for doing so well with Slimming World. I didn't want to buy another makeup palette or expensive beauty products as they'd come and go like everything else. I wanted to have something that would stay with me forever so I decided to splurge on a Michael Kors Rose Gold watch. I was undecided between the diamond and plain face but I finally went with the latter as I thought it would go with way more. I was definitely right, this watch has not left my wrist since I bought it over three weeks ago, it works really well with everything and I couldn't be happier with it. I may start doing fashion posts soon as it's something I've wanted to do for a while now so I'd love to know what you guys think.

Have you treated yourself to anything nice lately?

Laura<3

Random Bits and Pieces for my Room

Having a average size room like mine means if you don't clean it regularly it ends up looking quite a mess. I had a massive clearout recently, first the clothes went followed swiftly by lots of makeup products I haven't been getting much use out of. Both went to good homes, the latter going to my friends who couldn't be happier. Now that my room is looking all spruced up and clutter free, I've been looking out for nice unusual bits to put on empty shelves. If you know where to look it's easy to find nice things, I figured this out quite fast. I bought most of the stuff in this post in Meadows & Byrne and Moss Cottage. The latter is one of my favourite shops to go to, there are always gorgeous one off vintage bits which I love.

I've been going through a bit of a phase where I just buy things when I like the look of them. I may not know what I'm going to do with them at the time of purchase but in the end I always find some use for them. That can be said for two out of the four purchases, on the bottom left hand side you can see the set of five mini vintage glasses. At €14.95 for the whole lot, it wasn't the worst price imaginable. When I seen them at first in Moss Cottage I enquired about the "five egg cups", I was told to my embarrassment they were infact shot glasses. Can you tell I literally never drink? Again I bought the pink and orange glasses on a whim but I know what I'll be using these for. I was thinking of maybe putting them on my bedside to store my lipbalms and eyecreams I use at night. The other two items in this picture were bought in Meadows & Byrne in Dun Laoighre, I had never been to this shop previously but I'll be certainly going back again soon. I wanted to buy a pretty notebook to jot blog stuff in and I thought this one would be perfect. For €4.95 I couldn't really go wrong, it has lined paper also which is a must for me. For some reason I can never write on plain old blank paper, it just doesn't feel right. The Avoca soap is the odd one out, I didn't really need it to be perfectly honest. Paddy was telling me how nice it smelt the whole time I was in the shop, of course in the end I bought. I wasn't too happy that it was the same price as the notebook.

Here are some storage pieces I bought a while ago now. I just thought I'd include them in the post to show you what I've been using them for. In the top pictures are two jars I got in Moss Cottage, I actually picked up two more larger jars as they as are so handy to store stuff. I've been putting products that I'm using constantly at the moment (Revlon Kissable Balm Stains) in these and also bits that I'm hoping to review soon. My favourite purchase for a long time has been this gorgeous shelf from Urban Outfitters. The minute I seen it I fell in love, I knew it would look perfect in my room and fit in nicely with everything. I've been using it to store my mini Laura Mercier Body Souffles and random perfumes. I'm glad I purchased this gem, it has definitely made more space on my shelves while still looking neat and tidy.

Where do you pick up your storage bits for your room?

Laura<3