A Look Back Over 2012 & My Hopes for 2013

When I look back on 2012 there's alot of positives to take from it. I've done so much this year that I'm very proud of indeed.

First off I joined Slimming World way back in April, when I started I would never of imagined that I could achieve so much in a short period of time. In my first month, I lost 1st 3lbs which I was literally ecstatic about it. Every week I was excited to go to class to see how I was doing. I started doing Slimming World Updates here on my blog after the first month. I wasn't too sure if I wanted to put my weightloss journey out there but I'm so glad I did. You guys have been such and amazing support and to read your comments on those posts seriously make my day To see some people go as far as saying I'm a inspiration to them is very overwhelming it has to said. I'm happy that people that something from it for themselves though too, I know how hard it is to lose weight. I had tried so many weightloss programs and none of them worked for me. When Slimming World came along I wasn't too pushed on going until my Mom said what can it hurt to go and give it a try. I'm so glad I listened to her in the end, she's such an amazing person and I owe alot to her. Since I started way back in April I've lost over 6st which is insane! I couldn't be happier, it is hard work but once you get into the program I found it's all plain sailing from there.

At the end of July I went over to Manchester to do a PR Internship. I yapped so much about this when I was going so I'm not going to tell you guys what you probably already know. I really enjoyed the whole experience. The people I worked with were so sweet and I took so much out of  my time there.While I was there I went to a see Team GB play in Old Trafford which was amazing. I'm big into football if you didn't know already, I've been to Old Trafford before to see United play. They lost that game to a fairly terrible side so my boyfriend may say I'm not a good luck charm when it comes to seeing his favourite side win. I went to see Morrissey in the MEN too.  Before I went I wasn't the biggest fan but now it has to be said I love the man. The gig was amazing and seeing as he doesn't play them too often, it was great to experience him sing live. I went to two other amazing concerts during 2012, Florence & the Machine and The Cribs. They were both amazing live, definitely two acts that I would love to see again. I also did alot of shopping in the space of ten days whilst I was in Manchester, surprise surprise. I always feel that the makeup is so much cheaper over there. There's some brands like Sleek and Look Beauty that you can't get over here, so I love picking up some bits from them. I've been to Manchester three times now and it's definitely a favourite destination of mine. I think I may plan another trip over there very soon.

Last but certainly not least I've met some amazing Irish bloggers throughout the year. It's so nice to meet someone when I've been reading their blog for so long. There's so many Irish bloggers, old and new now and I enjoy reading all their blogs. The Beauty Blogging Community is huge and I love how it's such a friendly community and everyone is so welcoming. I can't believe I'm going to be blogging two years at the end of April. It's true what they say, time goes fast when your having fun. I hope to meet some more of you this year, it's so nice to meet like minded people who love all things beauty related too.

Looking back over my 2012 Goals post I was happy to see that I accomplished some them. This a why I prefer to write up some small goals as opposed to a New Years resolution as I'm not likely to fail on these. This year I put a bit more thought into my goals and came up with this list.

Take Chances and stop being so indecisive 
In simpler terms take more risks. When it comes to making big choices I never can decide what to do so I definitely want to take more chances this year.

Travel 
I have a couple of holiday destinations I'd love to visit in 2013. One of them being Paris. I went back when I was 13 so of course I don't really remember it too much. My boyfriend and I are thinking of going before Summer so watch this space. If I do go I'll take lots of pictures to show you guys!

Save money and use up more makeup - 
pretty self explanatory this one! Being a makeup addict I doubt I need to buy any more makeup this year. This is never the case though, I always cave and buy new things I don't need.

Blog Regularly - 
with college and the like I know this may be pretty difficult but I'm hoping to get at least 3 or more posts up a week. I think this is manageable with my current work load so any more posts than this and I'll be happy.

Learn another Language
I've always wanted to learn another language I took French in school and I remember loving it. I hope during 2013 I can improve on my French and also brush up a little on my Irish. Both my Brother and my Sister can speak fluent Irish so let's just say I'm a tad jealous!

Continue doing Slimming World and hopefully reach my target by the end of this year!
As you all know 2012 has been such an amazing year for me when it comes to weight loss. I join Slimming World back in April and since then I've lost over 6st. I'm on cloud 9 at the moment about it, it still hasn't sunk in. The only issue I have is getting new clothes all the time, my bank balance is seriously declining.

Pass my Theory Test and Finally Learn How To Drive
This has been a goal of mine for an awfully long time and I've never gotten around to doing it. I don't know what it is every time I go to organise my Theory Test I end up putting it off for one reason or another. I think I may be just scared that I won't pass but finally this year

Get College over and done with
I was lucky enough to head back to college this year. I'm doing a Diploma in Marketing, PR,Sales and Advertising and so far I'm really enjoying it. I think doing the PR Internship in Manchester during the Summer of last year really showed me what line of work I'd like to get into in the future. The assignments I have been given has really taken up alot of my time so that's why I guess I haven't been blogging as frequently as I would like to.

Read More
I'm a big book worm if you didn't know already and I have a mountain of books to read. I have a Kindle but I like physical books to fill my shelves with at home. My Aunt's friend gave me the full  Game of Thrones book series recently, I can't wait to get stuck into them as I've been hearing really good things. All the books seem to be huge so I know it's going to take me some time to get through. I'm hoping to start doing some more book reviews and my blog, it's something that I know I'd enjoy alot.

I have some really exciting things planned for 2013 which I can't talk about yet but when I can you'll hear it first here. I'm looking forward to seeing what else this year has in store for me. I'm hoping to get tickets to see Ed Sheeran in concert next weekend so maybe that will be my first gig of 2013. I just wish the tickets weren't ridiculously expensive.

What's your hopes and dreams for 2013?

Laura<3

2012 Beauty Favourites

I know I'm a tad bit late with my 2012 Beauty Favourites but I wanted to still put it up so I hope you guys don't mind. Last year has seen alot of amazing beauty releases, some I've absolutely loved and as always some I didn't think were worth the hype. I have quite a few beauty products to show you so sit back and enjoy.

I haven't tried too many foundations over the last year, as I've been sticking to the ones that I feel really work for me. One of the new foundations I tried this year which quickly made it in my favourites is Urban Decay's Naked Skin foundation. I've featured this foundation in other favourites posts over the year. I've had it since the middle of the Summer so I'm surprised it has lasted for so long. There's a great shade range for this foundation which pleased me alot. I use the 2.0 which is the second from lightest shade and it suits my skin tone perfectly. I like how this foundation is light on the skin but has quite buildable coverage aswell. I've always been really impressed with Urban Decay's range of products. You'll see another one featured in this post, I bet you can alreay guess what it is. I've seen on their website that they've just released a BB cream. I can't wait to have a look at this when it hits counters over on our shores soon.

Like I said in my November favourites I couldn't possibly pick one favourite out of these brushes. They've definitely replaced any other makeup brush in my collection. I've bought quite a few Real Techniques brushes since they were released in Boots, I hope they add to the range. I find them very affordable in comparison to other brands like MAC, Bobbi Brown etc. They do a even better job in my opinion, I hope they have new additions to the range in 2013 as I know I'll definitely be buying them for sure.

Since I started using Rimmel's Stay Matte powder in early Summer, I've gone through almost four. I don't see a point in forking out on expensive face powders when there's a product like this in Boots. It comes in a number of shades, I stick to transparent as I always end up picking ones that are way too dark for me. The packaging may not be like you'd get when buying from a luxury brand but it works and that's all that should really matter. This is always in my makeup bag just in case my skin goes a little on the shiny side and I need to touch up. I do believe it's around the €7 mark so it definitely won't break the bank. I seen the gorgeous new lip products that Rimmel are bringing out showing up on plenty of blogs so I can't wait to try them when there released. Going from the products that I've already tried from the brand they haven't disappointed.

This gorgeous palette wasn't brought out in Ireland so I was really lucky when Chie sent it over to me for the States during the year. I had seen so many posts about the ever popular Danmari palette so I was really excited that they brought out this shortly after. The All About Cheek palette contains a bronzer (Laguna), a highlighter (Albatross) and four blushes (Angelika, Luster, Orgasm, Gaiety). I've been using this palette a hell of alot this year, the shade selection is brilliant so I really can't fault it at all. It's also very compact so great for travelling, which I'm hoping to do more of in 2013!

I wish the brand Sleek was more readily available over here. I know we can get it online but nothing beats going into a shop and swatching products to your hearts content. To do this I must wait til I head over to Manchester with the boy, who is super patience and doesn't mind me browsing different makeup counters/stands for hours. One of my favourite buys from the brand during 2012 was their Face Contour Kit in Light. I heard so much talk about this product before I bought it so I was really looking forward to picking one up for myself. This is great for bringing out my cheekbones and giving shape to my face. Sometimes I find that the bronzers in these sets can be too dark but that wasn't that case with this at all and I was really happy with it. The highlighter included in the kit is brilliant and I've been using it alot aswell. There's also a decent size mirror in this which would work really well for touch ups and the likes. For the price you can't go wrong with this and I can see myself picking up another the next time I'm away.

I featured this brow kit by Fashionista* in my December Favourites and I have nothing but good things to write home about it. Before 2012 I would of never worried too much about my brows and I always left them as they were. After I started using brow pencils I realised that your eyebrows really do frame your face. I use to get mine waxed quite alot but now I've found myself leaving them to do there on thing as I've found they haven't been growing as much. I finally settled on using brow powders as opposed to pencils as I feel there easier to use and the latter also seemed to break on my anyway. The Fashionista Brow Kit contains 3 different brow shades and a gel. I don't use the tweezer or brush included, I've been using the Blank Canvas Pro Deluxe E30 alongside this kit and it works great. I know that this brand is hard to come by in Ireland but if your in the UK you should be able to come by it no problem.

Another Rimmel product that I've been flying through in 2012 is their Wake Me Up Concealer. Before get started on this product, I'm just going to put it out there that I didn't like the Wake Me Up foundation. I think I may of liked it a little to start but my relationship with this product dwindled quickly. I found it to be way too dark for me and just didn't sit right on my skin at all which was disappointing for a product that at the start I loved. On the other hand the concealer is brilliant. I use the shade Ivory and it works fine for me. I'm on my third tube of this so far and I'm nearly all out so next time there's a 3 for 2 promotion in Boots I'm going to have to pick up some more. Brightening up my eye are plus giving amazing coverage this concealer is the bomb for me. If you didn't get on too well with the foundation like I did I recommend giving this a try either.  It's not too pricey so if you don't like it I'm sure someone else will.

My favourite mascara from this year has to be the Giorgio Armani Eyes to Kill*. Its a given that this is a expensive product but definitely one that I will be repurchasing in the New Year. This is exactly what I want in a mascara, it doesn't clump and it gives that extra bit of much needed volume to boot. I've had mine for a while now so I'm happy to say that it hasn't dried up like I found the YSL Faux Cils did. The packaging itself is also very luxurious, it's almost metal like and kinda heavy.

I've definitely seen myself using alot more eyeliner throughout 2012 and one I've been using for the most is Soap & Glory's SuperCat Liquid Eyeliner. I wasn't expecting too much from their makeup range, I can now put my hands up and say I was proven wrong. This is one great eyeliner, it literally doesn't budge all day and I've been using mine pretty much ever since I've bought it.

The Naked 2 palette got released in early in 2012 and I've been using it alot this year. All the neutral shades are right down my street. This palette contains 12 shadows that would be perfect for looks from day to night. I use mine for both, my favourite shades in the palette are Bootycall and Verve, I've almost hit pan on them. After I bought this back in January of last year I've been totally neglecting my original Naked palette, it does make an appearance now and again but not too regularly. A new spin off on the Naked palettes, The Naked Basics Palette has just been released over the past month or so and I love it so far. I included it in my December favourites post but seeing as I haven't had it for too long I didn't want to add it in. If you haven't seen yourself yet, it's definitely one to look out for indeed.

Seeing as I'm not eating anything sweet at the moment, Lush's Popcorn Lip Scrub has been a lovely treat for my lips over the Winter months. Like alot of people I get horribly dry lips, unattractive I know and this stuff is a lifesaver. I love lip scrubs from Lush and I've tried quite a few of them already but Popcorn by far is my favourite. It smells and tastes amazing! These lip scrubs come in at around the €8 mark and there shelf life is a year so I feel they are definitely worth the money in my books. I know it's pretty easy to make homemade lip scrubs, I've seen plenty of "how to" posts but I don't think I'd have the time or patience to do it. Being honest I'm also not graced with being highly skilled at making things so it would probably be an epic fail!

My favourite lip product discovery of 2012 was the Revlon Just Bitten Kissable Lip Balm in Honey. I went a bit mad when these first launched so I have quite a few shades floating around my room but Honey has to be my most used one. I find that this particular shade is perfect for everyday and gives an extra something to my daily makeup look. These are really moisturing aswell which I love. When I run out of Honey I'll definitely be repurchasing it, I don't think that will be for  a long time yet though as I still have plenty left. Again there is a great range of shades to choose from if you don't think Honey would be your thing!

My first extravagant Jo Malone purchase came back in July when I was heading over to Manchester. I decided to fork out on one of their fragrances as I had been doing so well with Slimming World. After having my Mam driven mad with smelling numerous perfumes I finally went for the gorgeous Nectarine Blossom & Honey Cologne. It smells amazing and I've been using it alot. When I first bought this I told myself that I'd only use it for special occasions but sure that's never the case at all. Since buying this I was given another fragrance from the brand, English Pear & Freesia which I love aswell. I'd definitely recommend trying them both out.

During 2012 I've fallen in love with more Bath & Body Works products. Pink Chiffon is a range of theirs that stands out for me the most. It smells amazing I've been using this alot since Chie sent it over to me. I fell in love with it after she sent me a over a travel sized Pink Chiffon body lotion for my birthday back in Februay. I've been a big fan of this scent ever since. The Triple Moisture Cream feels really nice on my skin and leaves it feeling lovely and soft. The tube is huge so I feel that this will last me for a while yet.

Before I forget I do have two random non makeup related favourites for 2012. They are not pictured but I do love them both alot. First up is Taylor Swifts's new album, RED. I have this literally on repeat on my Ipod it's such an amazing set of songs. I've been lucky enough to see Taylor Swift twice in concert in the past three years. If she tours with her new album you'll know where to find me! It's so hard to pick a favourite song from this album as all the songs are great so I had to pick two. My favourite songs for the CD itself are Red and 22, there both such catchy tunes and I love them lots. My other favourite for 2012 is Slimming World and what it has helped me achieve last year. You can check out my progress since I started back in April here.  I promise I'm going to got into this topic more on my "Thoughts on 2012" post in the next few days. For now all that I'm going to say is that this program really changed my life. It seemed like the perfect time for me to lose the weight and I couldn't be happier.

I'm sure by the end of 2013 we'll have discovered more beauty products that we've all been loving. I for one can't wait to see what new products grace us with their presence during the year. I already have my eye on a few bits that I've seen make the rounds on some blogs. I definitely feel that 2013 is going to be another big year for new product release for sure.

I'd love to hear what made it into your 2012 beauty favourites!

Laura<3

My Pre-Christmas Haul!

With Christmas just around the corner and all my gifts finally wrapped under the tree, I thought I'd show you guys my Pre-Christmas Haul. I've been quite reserved this time around in comparison to past years, I haven't gone too wild (leaving that for the SALES!). I have a sneaky suspicion that I'll be buying alot more clothes in JanuaryThere was a couple of things I've had my eye on for a while so over past month or so I purchased them. I by no means picked them up all at once as I definitely don't have that kinda money at all.

I wasn't completely blown away with any of the Boots Star Buys this month. I bought the Fearne Cotton Hat Box at the beginning but other then that nothing really called out to me at all. That is until I spotted Soap & Glory's The Best of All gift set. This gorgeous pink bag contains 9 full sized products, it's all about presentation for me so when I seen this I had to buy it! In the bag you also get some S&G coupons which you can use on products next year, some of them seem really good too so I look forward to using them. There's some bits in here that I haven't used before like the Smoothie Star Body Milk which smells amazing by the way! The only product I probably won't be using in this gift box is the mascara. I've tried it before and I wasn't overly impressed by it, the brush is ridiculously big. Besides that small issue I can't wait to use all these S&G goodies, they'll definitely take me far into next year.

Last week in Kiehl's I did splurge a little and I bought three of their lip balms which came in this gorgeous tin. I fell in love with the design isn't it so pretty? I thought this would be great for storing some makeup bits in, it's one of those things that would look beautiful on your bedside table on display. In the past I've tried their lip balm and I was really impressed by it. I've never bought a product from Kiehl's yet that I didn't like, that just shows how much I highly rate this brand. This set contains a original lip balm, a mango scented balm and their tinted lip balm which has SPF 15. The box I bought was ready made but I do believe you can choose what three balms you want to include or if lip glosses are more your thing you can fill it up with them. I do recall the latter being a little bit more pricier though. I doubt I'll need to be buying lip balm for a long time, I should be stocked up til mid 2013!

After seeing this set on one of my favourite blogs, (Essie Button if you're wondering!) I had to pick it up. This set was by no means cheap but the products you get in it are amazing. I tried their Almond Shower Oil a couple of months ago and fell head over heels for it. I've always wanted to try some more bits from this particular range but they always came across as that little bit too pricey for my liking. After seeing the review post over on Essie Button I went into my local L'Occitane and saw the amazing saving (even in euro!) for myself so I scooped this up right away. Off the bat everything in here smells amazing, if you've tried their shower oil already your bound to like all the other products in this box. The only product that doesn't have a distinctive almond scent for me is the hand cream for some reason, I have no idea why! Last but not least I adore the packaging, it's such a enchanting design. I'm definitely one of those people that keeps pretty boxes for storing makeup and the like so you bet I'll be holding on this it's too nice to toss out.

Lastly I bought some goodies from Catrice and Essence. If you haven't heard of either, there both European brands, that are super affordable. I know their products are available in the States now but I don't think there available yet in the UK which is such a shame. I got a couple of products from their new limited edition collection, Fabulous 40ties (see what they did there!). At present I've used the eyeshadow palette and eyebrow lifter, I can safely say I love them both. The pale pink shimmer shadow in the palette could be a bit more pigmented but I couldn't really expect more from something that cost €5 really. I was lucky to get my hands on the Catrice Berlin Collection Eye and Cheek palette in Penneys (Primark) they only had the testers left on display but when I was going up to pay for the Essence Winter hand creams I spotted one at the till. What are the odd of that happening, I was really happy to get my hands on this as it's such good value for what you get inside. I may do a post featuring just this with swatches and a review in the New Year hopefully. Back to the Essence Winter Collection Hand Creams, they all smell amazing. I went a bit mad and bought all three but I guess you can never have too many. Well I can't anyway, I always carry them around in my bag. There €1.49 which just shows you how great this brand is as the products themselves are huge and there sure to last a while. All the hand creams smell like festive drinks, the three scents are Gingerbread Chai Latte, Caramel Hot Chocolate and Apple Cinnamon Punch. At first I was loving the Caramel Hot Chocolate option but since then I've done a complete 360 and changed my mind in favour of the latter, Apple Cinnamon Punch. It smells so good, I may have to purchase a back up before they all sell out before Christmas.

Have you bought yourself any goodies before Christmas or are you patiently waiting for the SALES to begin?

Laura<3

Vaseline Limited Edition Lip Therapy Blogger Challenge

Over the past few weeks a couple of bloggers and myself took part in a challenge. We were sent out a plain tin of Vaseline Lip Therapy with a mystery limited edition flavour. Our mission if we chose to accept, was to figure out what the flavour was exactly. This was harder than I was expecting it to be, after looking over the hints for a good part of a week I finally came up with my answer. Sparkling Pink Champagne, here's how I came up this. Firstly I'll show you the clues we were all given.

candle=sparkling, a balloon=pink and champagne truffles=champagne

I love this new flavour, it tastes super nice like pink grapefruit, it's definitely up there with my favourite Vaseline Rose Lip Therapy. I'm sure it will go down a treat when it's launched, sure everyone likes a bit of bubbly now and again.The challenge wasn't over yet, our next mission was to design and decorate our own tin. I was really excited about this aspect of the challenge as it's something I've never done before. When it came to designing my tin, I wanted it to look like something I'd buy myself if I seen it sitting on a shelf. Along with the tin I got sent alot of little cute decorations to use. First I decided to use both pink and gold glitter, I mixed them together to get a nice rose gold shade which I put all over the centre of the lid. I love this colour, must admit I'm a bit obessed with it at the moment. Around the edges I used a couple of pink hearts of different shades, I thought they were so pretty and I didn't want to leave them out. Along with bright pink star in the center, I put tiny little beads in each mini heart. Bordering the tin I used an assortment of pink and silver gems to finish the design. What do you guys think??

That's not all I have to tell you guys, if I guessed the flavour correctly and my design skills wow the Vaseline folk, not only do I win a trip to Paris, I also get the same trip to give away to one of you lucky people. I have only been to this beautiful city once back in 2003, which seems like years ago now so it would be so amazing to get the opportunity to go again. What's even better is being able to give one away to you guys, you are all lovely and so supportive. If you would like to get your hands on this new Limited Edition Vaseline Lip Therapy they launch in a weeks time (5th September) in Selfridges. At £3.49 you can't really go wrong, they last forever and I always have one in my handbag. If you want to hear more about Vaseline and their new releases you can check out their facebook page here.

What new flavour would you like to see Vaseline Lip Therapy come out with next?

Laura<3

May Favourites

Sorry I'm coming to you with my May Favourites a week late, everything has been so hectic lately. I can't believe it's June like where has half the year gone? I didn't do anything too exciting during May, I did get around to booking my Manchester trip, I'm glad it's finally all done. Any places you think I should visit while I'm there? During May the weather was pretty good, so I definitely made the most of it.While writing this post it's pouring raining again so it was short lived. I've been loving a mixture of products this month.

I bought No7's Blend & Contour brush ages ago and I wasn't expecting too much from it. This has become my my favourite brush for applying eyeshadow to the crease. I own MAC's 217 brush but I actually prefer this and find myself reaching for it more. It's the perfect size for travelling as it has such a small handle. If you have a No7 voucher this will only cost you in and around €2 which is a bargain. You may be wondering why the brush looks brand new, that's because it is. My other one needs to be cleaned so I thought I'd show you the nice one instead.

My nails have been peeling and breaking alot lately, it bugs me. Earlier in the month, I spotted Sally Hansen's Diamond Strength Cuticle Cream for half price so I thought I'd give it a go. Since I started using this it has done wonders for my nails, it is a bit on the tacky side which means I use it at night. The sickly sweet scent is something I can also look over as it works so well.

There's been much talk about this product throughout the beauty community lately. I bought this at the end of April and I was shocked at the price. €36!!! I've read that this can be used in numerous different ways. When I wake up in the mornings half asleep, I spritz a bit on my face. The smell certainly wakes me up and I feel refreshed. I do this every day without fail so it's definitely made it's way into my morning routine. I will be repurchasing this again but I think I'll get the small bottle off Feel Unique as it's cheaper and better size for travelling.

It took me ages to find this in Boots and I'm so glad I did in the end. The Bourjois Magic Nail polish remover makes taking off nail polish a breeze. I know on the packaging it says it works in 1 second, I'd say more 10. It's simple to use and reasonably priced at €6.99. I heard this shouldn't be used with glitter polish as it will wreck the foam inside. Another few words of wisdom, do not knock this over with the lid off you will get polish remover everywhere. Trust me I know!

This is one of those products I could sit and smell all day. It has a light sweet scent which isn't over powering in the slightest.  I got this in a set with three other body creme, Creme Brulee is my favourite along with Creme de Pistache. They both smell yummy. The product itself is really moisturising and sinks into my skin right away without leaving me sticky. I dread finishing this as I'll want to repurchase it again and boy is the full size pricey.

Last but not least I have a lipstick from MAC. I've been using Syrup on my lips pretty much everyday for the past month. It's such a lovely wearable shade for day and night. I have quite a few MAC lipsticks and this may be my favourite. I always have Syrup in my makeup bag, it has a permanent place there. I'll be buying this again once I run out, I can see that being pretty soon as I've used half already.

Do you have any plans for the Summer? What made it into your May favourites?

Laura<3

Slimming World - An Update

Four weeks ago I started my weight loss journey by joining Slimming World. In My 2012 Goals I mentioned getting fit but until recently I've let that slide and never got around to starting anything. I've joined a few of these groups in the past and to be honest they never worked for me. I would get on great for a while and then lose all motivation completely and leave. I can't say that has happened with Slimming World, I could probably say it's the best thing that I've joined all year.When you start up you pay a registration fee of €18 and every week after that it's €9. After seeing how well my Aunty got on with the program I couldn't wait to start. My Mom and I go to our meetings every Tuesday and it's so great to have her support. 

As I said I started this class a month ago, I went in with no expectations. I feel when you aim high sometimes you can be let down so I just take it one week at a time. I couldn't be happier with the results I've seen in the past four weeks, since I started I've lost 1st &3lbs in total. This has never happened on any other plan so I was definitely encouraged. I feel like my diet has changed in the past month, I've cut down on portion sizes and also drink so much water (like a camel). I also made a decision to stop eating bread/sweeties. I don't really have a sweet tooth at all so I haven't been missing the odd chocolate now and again. I was totally surprised with the bread as I thought it would be much harder to cut out but it really wasn't. After taking all these things out of my diet, I can tell you that I have a new found love for hummus (low fat variety). I hated it as a child but now I can't get enough it tastes so good.

Exercise wise, I've been walking alot more. I haven't started the gym as of yet, in the past it hasn't been my favourite place to go but this is a new chapter in my life so it's worth looking into. I've heard spinning classes are amazing even though your apparently wrecked the next day, so I might give them a go. My sister's fiance Keith has also been helping me fitness wise as he's a trained personal trainer and nutritionist so it certainly helps to have support. 

Laura<3

January Favourites

It's hard to believe this is my first monthly favourites post of 2012! January went by so quickly because I've been so busy lately. Now February is upon us, one of my favourite months of the year as it's my birthday! I'm not celebrating a big birthday this year as I was the big 21 last year. I don't have anything too extravagant planned, I'm just happy with the time off. I have quite a few products this month I've been impressed by.

Soap & Glory Pulp Friction Scrub

I got this gorgeous product in the Soap & Glory Big Splendour Christmas set. Pulp Friction is a great scrub, I like the way it not only gets rid of dry skin, leaving my skin lovely and smooth but also gives a great lather. Almost like a shower gel and scrub in one as it foams up. I just love the fruity scent.

Nars Duo Eyeshadow in Kalahari

I bought this duo from Asos along with Silk Road in early January. I'm not a big fan of Silk Road as it has a lot of glitter in it which I wasn't expecting. Basically it leaves me with bits of sparkle all over my face. Definitely not a look I was going for. On the other hand I love Kalahari, I use both shades on the lid with darker browns in the crease. I find both shadows in this duo work way better on their own as opposed to together. You can see swatches here.

Bourjois Sweet Kiss Lipstick in Rose Corset

Rose Corset is my first ever Bourjois lipstick. This is such a gorgeous everyday shade, it is a bit on the bright side but I love it. I also think the purple packaging is really pretty!!

Revlon Lip Butter in Cotton Candy
I got some Revlon Lip Butters as a christmas gift from Chie (you can check out her amazing beauty channel here!). We can't get them yet in Ireland, so I was thrilled when she sent me these. When I haven't been wearing my Bourjois Sweet Kiss Lipstick I've been wearing Cotton Candy. My lips tend to get dry, so aswell as moisturising this lip butter gives a great pop of colour. I'm almost out of Cotton Candy so I can't wait to get another when there released here. You can check out my review with swatches here.

MAC Studio Careblend Powder in Medium

I bought MAC Studio Careblend Powder in Duty Free at Dublin Airport in September. As you can see I've hit pan on it. This powder gives a natural even finish to my skin (no cakiness in sight). If your looking for a full coverage powder this isn't it. Studio Careblend has sheer/medium coverage.

Marshmallow Blends Coconut Ice Scrub Bar

I ordered alot of products from Marshmallow Blends at the start of the month and this was one of them. I love this scrub, it smells amazing and lasts for ages. I'm definitely going to repurchase it soon.

Origins Ginzing Eye Cream

I use Origins Ginzing Eye Cream every morning before work. It brightens up my undereye area which makes me happy, as I don't look like I have dark blue bags going to work. I thought this eye cream was quite expensive when I bought it but I've been using it for over a month now and I still have loads left.

Loreal Super Liner Carbon Gloss Eyeliner & Loreal Voluminous Carbon Black Mascara

I bought these two products straight after Christmas and I've been using them none stop ever since. I don't know how I didn't have both products already. I've been using Loreal's Super Liner everyday since I purchased it. I like how it doesn't budge one bit all day, it's now my new go to eyeliner. I have so many mascaras at the minute I always switch them around. Loreal Voluminous Mascara is the one I've been using the most out of them all over the past few weeks. I have pretty long lashes, so I love how this adds a lot of volume to them without the clumps.

What has made it into your favourites this month?

Laura<3

January Empties

I've come to the conclusion that I'll always finish skincare products. For some reason they seem to have taken over my last few empties post. My mission for February is to finish more makeup products. I have so much makeup I feel like I'm cheating when I buy more after I finish skincare products. That said this month has been good as I've finished thirteen products in total.

The Body Shop Strawberry Shop

A free gift with purchase in The Body Shop, I'm glad I was given this as I probably would of never tried it otherwise. Strawberry Shower Gel smells yummy!! I liked this product alot and I'd consider buying another bottle the next time I'm in The Body Shop.

Liz Earle Cleanse & Polish Hot Cloth Cleanser

I think all my monthly empties post so far have contained Liz Earle products. I must fly through the stuff. My favourite cleanser at the moment I can't rave about this enough. I wish Wilde & Green was closer to me as I'll have to make another trip there very soon to stock up. If you want to see my review you can check it out here.

Molton Brown Skinboost Nourishing Tonic

Another skincare product I use on a daily basis is the Molton Brown Skinboost Nourishing Tonic. More like a serum, I apply this before my moisturiser. This product is full of nutrients which gives my tired skin a boost in the mornings. Sadly this skincare range is being discontinued so I'm hoping to find something a product like this. Any suggestions?

Montagne Jeunesse Dark Chocolate Deep Cleansing Mud Masque
I've heard such good things about Montagne Jeunesse face masks. I'm saddened to say I didn't see much of a difference after using it. I'm going to try another one soon, maybe this mask didn't agree with my skin.

Garnier Simply Essentials 2 in 1 Makeup Remover

I don't like this eye make up remover one bit. I just don't like the oils that are in it. My eyes are left feeling uncomfortable after taking my makeup off with this. I much prefer Garnier's Simply Essentials Gentle Eye makeup remover. It may come in a smaller bottle but it's a much better product.

Clean & Clear Morning Energy Skin Brightening Daily Facial Scrub

This is definitely not the best facial scrub I've ever used. Saying that I do think it's a nice product, Morning Energy Skin Brightening Daily Facial Scrub was gentle on my skin and got rid of all the dry patches around my nose. I also love the citrusy scent.

No7 Quick Thinking 4 in 1 Wipes

My favourite wipes ever, I always stock up on these with No7 vouchers. If your looking for these wipes at counters, they don't look like this anymore. When No7 released their new skincare range, they changed the other products packaging to fit in with the new stuff.

Sure Clear Aqua Anti Perspirant Spray & Impulse Tease Body Spray

You'll be able to find both these sprays in my bag all the time. I do change up the scents a little bit now and again. Tease and Goddess are my favourite Impulse body spray scents, so I'll always have either one of them.

Lush Creamed Almond & Coconut Shower Smoothie

Creamed Almond & Coconut Shower Smoothie was one of the products I got in  Lush's Seasons Greetings gift set . I was so sad to finish this stuff as it smells amazing. If you like vanilla scented products you'll love this. Luckily my mom got me a replacement during the sale.

Nars Pro Prime Multi-Protect Primer SPF30

I really got a feel for this product as the deluxe sample lasted a long time. This was a great base for my makeup and it contains a SPF. The only thing stopping me from buying Pro Prime Multi-Protect Primer is the price. Wow this is expensive!!

Benefit Speed Brow Quick Set Brow Gel

I've had this product for quite a while and it was a splurge on my half. I remember the sales assistant telling me about it and instantly thinking it was going to be the best thing in the work. Definitely not the case and you can get cheaper alternatives in other shops.

Soap & Glory The Daily Smooth Body Butter

I loved The Daily Smooth so much I bought the full sized bottle as soon as I finished this one. Aswell as being so moisturising, this product smells amazing!!

Have you tried any of these products??

Laura<3

My 2012 Goals!

Can't believe I'm writing my first post of 2012. 2011 brought me a mixture of good and bad moments, but definitely more good times than not. I made myself a list of goals for 2012 that I thought I'd share with you all. I don't like calling them resolutions as that sounds rather constricting and they more than likely won't happen. Anyway if you want to change something in your life, there's nothing stopping you from doing it whatever the time of year. I really can't wait to see what this year has in store, if it's as good as last year I'll be happy!

My Goals

Be Healthy

This is a pretty broad goal. This year I want to start going to the gym aswell as eating healthy. I'm going to start eating the right things first and continuing on from there. I'm really not a fruit and vegetable person so I have to work on that. I only like apples and carrots, don't know what's wrong with me. This goal always starts well and ends badly so this is definitely one I want to stick to.

Read More

Looking through my room today, I've seen so many books I haven't read yet. If I counted them all I'd get a headache. I think the reason for this is work, so I'm going to challenge myself to read maybe two books a month. I also have a sneaky suspicion that my Parents are getting me a Kindle for my 22nd birthday in February. I'm hoping to have some books read by then, maybe not them all but some. Currently in the middle of The Maze Runner trilogy, so far so good I like it.

Travel

Travelling is a big goal of mine. I love exploring new places and seeing different cultures. I doubt I'd be able to afford to go to some tropical destination in 2012 but it won't stop me going to some destinations around Europe. I've been to Paris, Sardinia, Barcelona, Albufeira (Portugal) and Manchester, I loved everyone of these place so much. I'd like to go back to Barcelona but I also want to visit somewhere new. Two places I have in mind are Edinburgh and Rome, if I go to both of these places by they end of the year I'll be extremely happy!

Blog Regularly 
Firstly I find it so hard to believe that I'll be blogging for nine months at the end of January. Time goes fast! I love blogging so much and I've met so many amazing people in the past couple of months. Working alot sometimes prevents me from getting regular posts up which can be annoying. I'm hoping that in 2012 I can get up a few posts a week (at least two). I enjoy writing posts and reading all your responses in the comments. If there is any particular post you'd like to see this year, let me know!

Save Money
Seeing as I want to travel this year, saving is a must. I have no problem with saving money but I do feel I could put away more. I do spend quite alot on makeup and skincare, I feel a spending ban may come into play sometime in 2012.

Use up More Makeup
Since starting to write monthy "Empties" post I've certainly used up alot of products. Hopefully this year   I finish even more. I may challenge myself to finish five products before I buy a new one. I think this is definitely going to be a hard one for me so I can't wait to see how it goes.

That's all my goals, six in total. I'm hoping to achieve them all. I may do a update every month or so to let you know how I'm getting on, undecided as of yet.

Have you made yourself any goals for 2012?

Laura<3