Little update...

Hey everyone, 

Sorry I've been quiet the last week! I came home from the UK on Saturday after a long and stressful 16 hours of travelling overnight so it was straight to bed for me once I got back. Since then I've just been spending the last week trying to rest, get my energy back up and get into a normal flow of things again. 

I've not been having the best week personally and finding it very hard to give myself any motivation which unfortunately means I've neglected my blog. When my mood gets like this I don't feel like I would be able to give you posts up at the standard I would like to. I'm going to try my best over the weekend and next week to get back into the swing of things and have more posts up! 

Sorry for the lack of posts recently, 

Stick with me, 

Meg x

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10 facts you probably didn't know about me...

Hey everyone, 

As my blog is still pretty recent and a lot of you may not know me I thought it would be fun to fill you all in a bit. I'm going to write 10 things about me that you probably don't know and even people who know me may not know. Here we go... 

1. I have a scar on the back of my head from when I was 8. Me and my brother were playing sing star (throwback right there) and I was winning so he decided he would tickle me to put me off. I fell backwards and split my head on our bunk beds which ended that game.... But I still won. 

2. I used to have a fear of cling film. I know, weird, but I can't stand the stuff. The feel of it, the sound it makes just everything about it makes me feel uneasy. If I was bringing a sandwich to school it would have to be wrapped in tinfoil. 

3. I love painting my nails but no matter what my toes will always be painted red. Never any other colour.

4. I adore the smell of freshly cut grass. 

5. I could watch masterchef Australia over and over again. I am obsessed! At this rate I've probably seen every season at least twice. 

6. I have a strange love for alpacas. I was even given an alpaca teddy for my birthday. 

7. I can learn song lyrics in about two minutes. I only have to hear it once and I'll be singing it for the rest of the day, whether I like the song or not which can be very annoying at times!

8. When I was 6 my mum used to read the 'my secret unicorn' books to me and for years it was my dream to have a pet unicorn( it may or may not still be a dream of mine...) 

9. Everytime I go to an airport without a doubt I go and buy Lucozade Sport and Salt & Vinegar big hoops.... My travel diet. 

10. It used to be my dream to go on X factor as soon as I turned 16. I then realised before I hit that age that I was tone deaf and really can't sing. 

There you go, some random facts about me for you to get to know me a little better! 

Comment some random facts about yourself, 

Meg x 

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DIY Ripped jeans

Hey everyone, 

Ripped jeans are a huge trend at the moment. I've noticed that most shops increase the price for ripped jeans rather than regular jeans and prices can range from anywhere like €30-€60 which is quite a lot for a pair of jeans. My solution to this is DIY ripped jeans! This saves you so much money and the you can personalise your jeans with the rips exactly where you want them and have them custom to you. 

All you will need for this is a low cost but high quality pair of jeans, scissors and some upper body strength. When I'm buying jeans to rip I go with the Penneys/Primark super skinny high waisted jeans, usually in black! These cost £10 in the UK and €13 in Ireland which is excellent for what you get. These jeans keep their shape and colour as well as being a very comfortable fit. At this low cost this is an excellent alternative to buying pre ripped jeans. 

First put on your jeans and decide where you want your rips to be. When you've picked a place cut a little hole in the jeans, than take them off and begin ripping where you have made markings. Try them back on and see if you're satisfied with your rips, if you are then you're finished otherwise keep going! 

This is such a quick, easy and low cost way to spice up any old or new jeans! 

Meg x 

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New hair

Hey everyone, 

While I've been away I've made a change a got my hair dyed a new colour. I get this done every 6 months(ish) because I love to change things up and explore new colours! 

For the last 2 years I've been getting my hair done by Olly Marmon at Chilli Reds Salon in North Finchley, London, and I can honestly say no one does a better job! My blonde highlights have never looked so vibrant, my hair has never felt healthier and the colour last months without dramatic fading. 

Last week I decided to get rid of my pink hair and get a new colour and I went with a shade called 'RV'. This is a plummy colour which over the pink has a lovely gradual fade to it. The colour showed up excellently on my blonde and I couldn't be happier with it. It's nice to have a deeper shade for a while as the last two colour I've had have both been quite vibrant, red and pink. My debs (prom for anyone outside of Ireland) is in October and as I've picked my dress already and won't be changing my colour before then I wanted to make sure the colour wouldn't clash with the dress but I think this shade will work perfectly with it and I can't wait to see how it's going to look. 

If you're ever around the North Finchley area and looking to change up your look a bit or just for a fresh hair style  Chilli Reds is the place to go. Since going to Olly I won't let anyone else touch my hair. 

After a day at Chilli Reds you are guaranteed amazing hair and a pain in your side from all the laughs throughout the day! I'm already looking forward to my next trip back. 

Meg x 

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Celebrating my 18th Birthday

Hey everyone, 

Long time, no speak! Sorry for my lack of posts. I'm away in the UK at the moment and won't be back in the country until the weekend but I've decided to try post a little update. I'm sorry if the layout or font is different to my other posts, I don't have my laptop away with me so I'm making do with my phone until I'm home. 

On Saturday I turned 18 which I guess is quite a bit milestone. This is an age that they say brings a lot of responsibility. Childhood is now over and the adventure of adulthood has officially begun. It was an odd feeling turning 18. I've been waiting for it to come for so long and now that it finally has I'm not quite sure how to feel. 

If you know me you will know I'm not one for going out and would prefer a quiet night in with Netflix and snacks but there were some events happening on my birthday weekend that I just couldn't miss. 

As I'm over in the UK at the moment me and the girls decided to take a trip to Edinburgh in Scotland for a couple of days. On Saturday we did a bit of exploring around the city and then went to a gig in Edinburgh castle followed by a DJ set from Jaymi Hensley in EQHQ Livingston. I have to say the staff in the club were exceptional. They were all very helpful and welcoming. Usually clubs wouldn't be my thing but I can honestly say I had one of the best nights I've ever had. I couldn't have spent my night in any better way. It was an absolutely fantastic DJ set from Jaymi with amazing songs and an incredible night overall with the best bunch of friends. I wasn't expecting to have such a good birthday but I did and I owe that completely to my friends.

 I made memories that will stick with me forever,

Meg x 

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What's in my travel makeup bag?

Hey everyone,

As its summer and lots of people might be going away at the minute or planning trips I felt like this would be a good post fitting for the time. I'm going away for a couple of weeks on Saturday so I thought I would let you all know what I have in my travel make up bag. 

Moistueriser is always an essential for me. Travelling can make your skin very dry so its important to always have something to keep your skin hydrated with you when you go away. I use the 'Simple kind to skin hydrating light moisturiser'. This is available in 50ml bottles which are the perfect size for taking away with you and are suitable for cabin baggage on planes. 

Sticking with bases the next two things I have are my primer and foundation. 
For primer I recently bought the 'Rimmel London Fix & Perfect Pro'. I find it very hard to find a primer that works well in all weathers and even in heat keeps your make up in place but this one does just that. The foundation I use while travelling is 'Rimmel London Match Perfection' in the shade 100 ivory. This is an excellent foundation to take on holidays as it has an SPF of 18 so it protects from the sun and it is also not too heavy on the skin. 
My go to concealer is ' Rimmel London Wake me up concealer' as it is very lightweight on the skin but still has high coverage.

For nights when I go out while I'm away I go a bit heavier with my make up than I would during the day. For this I bring my ' Mac Matchmaster concealer stick' in the shade 5 and use this to contour my face. This adds nice definition and shape to the face without looking unnatural. This product blends out excellently and has a great consistency although I think I need to buy it in a shade darker for times I want to do a heavier contour. I use 'Mac Soft & Gentle mineralize skinfinish' for highlighting. This is a very pigmented product which adds a lovely glow to any area it is applied. This is excellent on top of the cheekbones as it adds a natural highlight to the face. 

For my brows I pack my sleek brow kit. This is my must have for my brows and it's packaging is very compact so it's perfect for bringing away. I bring my old reliable 'Rimmel London Scandaleyes by Kate Moss' mascara in the shade 004 Eye Rock Jet Black. This mascara is one of the best drugstore mascaras I have tried as it both adds volume and lengthens lashes aswell as keeping a curl in them. 

When travelling I find it much easier to just bring one palette that can provide many different eye looks. For this my go to palette is 'Urban Decay's Naked 2'. I love taking this away with me as it has darker colours such as 'blackout' 'suspect' and 'ydk' if you are going for a more smokey night time look and it also has much lighter tones for a more basic day time look. To prime my eyelids I bring 'Benefit Stay don't Stray eye shadow primer. This keeps my eye shadow in place all day and prevents any creasing. 

I bring my 'Rimmel London Stay Matte' pressed powder in the shade 001 transparent away with me. I use this under my eyes, over my cream contour and on my T-zone. This powder prevents any cream products from moving and reduces shininess in areas that may become oily throughout the day. This is excellent while away as it still reduces shine even in warm weather. 

Last but not least is lips. I always carry one of my EOS lip balms away with me as its not only important to keep your skin moisturised but it's important for your lips aswell. I also pack my 'Rimmel London lasting finish by Kate Lipstick' in the shade 03. This lipstick is a very nude shade which works well with most make up looks and is still perfect for more natural day time looks. These lipsticks have a very creamy consistency which isn't drying for the lips while travelling or in a warm climate. 

Let me know what your essential products while travelling are, 

Meg x 

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New additions

Hey everyone,

I know there are probably going to be mixed opinions about this post as I know not everyone agrees with or likes tattoos but as this is my blog I'm going to write about the things I love, tattoos being one of them. A lot of people judge people with tattoos and they can be treated differently to others and I think this is ridiculous. If you don't agree with tattoos yourself that is absolutely fine but it should not entitle you to judge others and what they decide to do with their bodies. Some people see their body as a blank canvas which is there to be made art. I personally don't agree with meaningless tattoos but if you have thought about something long and hard and it has a special meaning to you no one should be allowed to stop you getting it tattooed or judging you for doing so. 

In May 2014 I got my first tattoo which to this day I still look at and love 24/7. This tattoo is 'Stay Strong' on my wrist. Some people may think they know why I got it but for me its almost impossible to put into words. There are certain people who know exactly what it means and they are the only people that need to. Although I love telling people about my tattoos and showing them I think if they have a very personal meaning its important to keep it that way. This tattoo has helped me more than people know and yes you may think 'how can it? its just some ink?' but to me it is so much more! 

Today I got 2 new additions. I got a small robin on the side of my left arm and a quote on my right. This robin has very a very personal meaning to me of a loved one that has passed and now having it on my wrist is something for me to look to and know they are always with me wherever life may take me. 

The quote on my right arm says 'Certamen affert fortitudo' which is Latin for 'Struggle brings Strength'. This quote is very special to me and I have said it to myself repeatedly. Over the last few years I've been faced with many struggles and although they are hard at the time and may seem impossible to get through when you come out the other side you come out 10 times stronger than you were before. Strength is built through personal struggles and experiences. Struggle does not make you weak it makes you the complete opposite. Strong. 

Meg x 

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Understanding anxiety...

Hey everyone, 

I'm going to put a little sort of disclaimer before I start this post in case I get any backlash. I want you all to know I am not doing this as a 'sob story' or for sympathy at all. I am writing this post to spread awareness and understanding. 

If we are close you will probably know this but otherwise you may not but I suffer very badly with anxiety and panic attacks. I don't really talk about it much and I keep it all to myself. This means that people sometimes don't understand why I act the way I do in different situations. I think anxiety and mental illness in general should be a topic more spoken about. Although it has improved in recent years I think there is still a huge stigma around it which needs to be broken. 

If you yourself have anxiety you may relate to some or all of the things I am going to talk about. Anxiety can be triggered for each person in many ways and may effect everyone differently. I'm writing about certain situations to help others who may not suffer from anxiety to understand. 

Not every day is a good day...
Some days our anxiety may be worse than other days. We may just need some time to ourselves to take a break just stick with us.

If we get stressed or anxious if plans change last minute don't get angry with us, its just how our brains work. Some people need to have everything planned and in order in their head before tackling it so anxiety of the unexpected doesn't take over. 

We may need to take breaks or take our time in different situations, we don't mean to do it. 

If we get nervous making phone calls don't pressure us, just send us a text. 

We know our limits more than anyone so please do not push us. 

We may not always be able to put our feelings into words very well but we appreciate it so much when you are there for us and respect how we are and we love you although we may not say it all the time. You may listen to our rants or breakdowns and help calm us when our anxiety is at its peak and we cant put into words how much that means to us.

If we snap at you we promise we don't mean to. Sometimes it can be very difficult for us to cope with anxiety and keeping it all in can lead to snapping at people we love and arguing over petty things but we don't do it intentionally. 

It can take us a long time to build up the courage to do certain things, for example, applying for jobs or meeting with new people, but be patient and we will prepare ourselves and build up the courage to do it in our own time. 

Some mornings we may wake up feeling physically ill or just in a low mood. Don't act like its nothing just because you cant see mental illnesses like you can see a broken leg doesn't mean they are not there. 

There are so many more situations I could mention but I don't want this post to be too long but depending on reaction I may speak more about my experience with anxiety and try to help others struggling with it or even struggling to understand it. 

If you suffer from anxiety remember, you are not alone!!! If ever you feel alone and need someone to go to and don't know who I can be that person for you, my facebook page and twitter are open to send me messages 24/7. I want to help people facing the same struggles as me as much as I can.

This topic is very important to me so thank you for reading, 

Meg x 

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Stepping out of my comfort zone

Hey everyone, 

Sorry I've been quiet for a few days, I was off on my first adventure of the summer over to England for a few days. While over there I was faced with a situation completely out of my comfort zone. Suffering with anxiety I can find it very hard to venture out and do things that I wouldn't usually do. On Friday night I pushed myself and tried my best to leave my anxiety at the door and I couldn't be happier that I did. 

If you know me personally you'll know that I keep to myself a lot. By stepping out of my comfort zone and not trying to let any anxiety I had get to me I ended up having one of the best nights I've had in such a long time. I was surrounded with the people I care about and they made me so much more comfortable in the situation. If you're nervous about doing something out of your comfort zone, push yourself, surround yourself with people you love and go out and live every moment. You never know, you could make some of the best memories of your life. 

Meg x 

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June Favourites

Hey everyone, 

This post is a little different to my last few. I'm going to tell you all about some of the things I have been loving this month. Some beauty, some bloggers and some completely random. 

The first thing I have been loving this month is the Vanilla Candle from Asda. I am a massive candle lover and vanilla is one of my favourite scents, a personal fave being Vanilla Cupcake from Yankee Candle. With my local yankee candle shop closing down and running out of the candles, I went in search of a new one and that's when I found the one in Asda. The jar it comes in is delicately decorated with a ribbon and ceramic heart and the rich vanilla smell is to die for. I've been burning this candle all month and have hardly made a dent in it which shows how long these candles can burn for and at only £6 it was a cheap and excellent alternative to my trustee Vanilla Cupcake. 

Another thing i've been loving recently is skin care. I made a trip to boots and bought the Soap & Glory - Face Soap and Clarity 3-in-1 daily detox Vitamin C facial wash and the Peaches and Clean Deep cleansing milk. The smell of these products alone would make anyone want to try them but after reading and watching so many reviews on them I decided I had to give them a try myself. After only a few days I can feel my skin clearing up already after some bad breakouts with stress over the exam period. I want to get my skin back healthy and clear and I'm hoping these products will help me with that. 

A makeup favourite I have this month is the Rimmel London Lasting Finish By Kate Lipstick in the shade 101. Anyone who knows me will know that these lipsticks are an all time fave of mine and I can be seen wearing shade 03 most days but as that is quite a nude shade I wanted to add a pop of colour coming into summer. 101 is a very muted baby pick/nude which is still simple for the days when im keeping my make up more basic but still adding that pop of colour for summer and I must say I am absolutely loving it and it has become my latest go-to lipstick. 

Not only for this month but for a long time I have loved FacesByGrace23. I absolutely love her blog and youtube channel but this month I've also been loving her snapchats. Snapchat stories are like a more personal version of daily vlogging and I love it. Not only is Grace always looking gorgeous but her makeup is always stunning. She oozes positivity and I find her to be very motivational and inspiring. 

My last but definitely not least favourite for June is Prison Break. All 4 seasons are available to watch on netflix and once you start if you're like me anyway you'll be completely hooked. There's nothing I hate more than when someone ruins the plot or ending of something so I wont do that but if you are into exciting, thrilling series that will keep you on the edge of your seat and have you gasping for breath this is a must watch. Not only is it thrilling but this series will also hit your emotional side and pull you every different way. It is easily one of the best series I've watched in a while. 

I didn't have too many faves this month as for the first 2 weeks I was wrapped in exams but I should have more to tell you all about next month so keep your eyes peeled. Here comes July...

Meg x 

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