Five thing's I'd tell 16 year old me!

Hello Lovelies! I thought I'd do something a little different for today, back away from the beauty, fashion, food. I've seen quite a few posts going around of what people would tell their teenage self and the most recent one I read was from my wonderful blogger friend Becca over at thatsobeckah!, I was inspired to do something similar so here you go!

You don't have to please everyone.

This is something I did a lot growing up, trying to be nice to everyone and help people out. I still do it till this day but I've learned to help those who help me and who are nice to me, but if I knew back then that not everyone will return the favour and to choose who you help, wisely, life would have been a lot less stressful. 

Wear what you want. 

I wasn't conservative with my clothing in my teenage years, but I was very particular about what I wore and felt weird wearing tracksuits outside the house. Now I don't mind what I wear outside, it doesn't matter who's staring at you, that maybe they envy your clothes and aren't laughing at those shoes and trouser combo. Something I wish teenage me learned earlier on. 

You don't need to wear Make Up everyday!

I was one of those teenagers who hated leaving the house without make up, in my teenage years I was lucky to not get many spots, but I think wearing make up everyday has made my skin prone to spots over the past two years. They've calmed down now as I don't wear make up everyday and even when I don't, I don't feel self conscious. 16 year old me, you need to rewind, take off the green eye shadow (what was I thinking), and embrace that clear skin!

Enjoy your freedom!

Yes school was hard on my brain, the long hours, the constant amount of work, homework every night and exams, but it was a lot easier then college. I find college more enjoyable, the learning, the people and it's something I want to do! School was really easy workload wise looking back now, and it was fun, but 16 year old me hated school because I think it's a natural reaction for all 16 year old's. 

Also enjoy the pocket money and constant stream of concerts, once you become a college student your grant isn't going to get you into one gig!

Boy's aren't everything.

Okay, as a teenager I wasn't that bothered if I had a boyfriend or not, and then when I hit 18 I was kind of feeling put out because it seemed all my friends were getting closer to relationships then me, but if there's one thing I learnt once I left them 16 year old teenage years behind and hit the older teenage years, is that yes, a boyfriend is nice, but sure it's not the end of the world. You'll find someone eventually, but until then work on yourself and the right person will come along when you least expect it! How cliché is that?

There you go, five things I would tell 16 year old me. Of course I can probably think of ten more things, but I'm not going to drag this out. Also I'm curious?...

What's one thing you'd tell 16 year old you? 

Comment below, I'd love to know!

Until next time..

Stay Fab!

-Melody x

That Perfect Every day make up look!

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Hello lovelies. I'm back with a quick step by step guide for that every day natural make up look everyone wants to perfect and who better else to explain this every day look? 

Why miss Lauren Croke, Make up Artist/student whom formally did this step by step look which quickly became the most viewed post on my blog! 

So let's get down to business with the lovely Lauren, here's her tips, tricks, advice and guide on how you can perfect that every day make up!

"Every girl knows that even a simple day time look requires a good amount of products. No matter what make up look you are going for you will need a handful of products. Here is a step my step guide to the perfect every day make up look.

FACE:

Make sure you have moisturiser on your skin and leave it sitting for at least 5mins to let it soak in. 

Primer is next and I have started to use this boujiour primer, as I find it is a great dupe for benefits pourfessional.

Next apply your foundation  using a buffing brush or foundation brush. I have used L'oreal true match foundation in colour golden beige as I find that it's good coverage and matches my skin. 

Then use a lighter shade of concealer to brighten up under your eyes to give you a fresh look, I prefer to use Rimmel Match Perfection Concealer as it has a highlighter in it to give that dewy glow. 

Then finish the base using a translucent loose powder, any will do,  to set it all in place.

To finish of just add a bit of bronzer to your cheeks and temples to add a bit of warmth and colour to your face.

EYES & EYEBROWS:

For a daytime look you just really want a nice clean eye.

Apply mascara to the top and bottom lashes, I like to use benefits they're real! mascara as it makes my lashes full and long and then using a subtle brown Maybeline eyeliner pencil to the lower water line and upper corners of the eye just to give your eye some definition.

If wanted you could add some bronzer to the crease of your eyelids with a fluffy eyeshadow brush to give your eyes more of a pop. 

Filling in your eyebrows is always important as your brows shape your face. I do so with a Rimmel eyebrow pencil in colour dark brown.

LIPS: 

For that perfect everyday look all you want on your lips really is a natural colour . You want something that will make your lips look lush at the same time and I find that Mac "syrup" is the perfect colour for an everyday , out and about look ! It is a subtle colour but also gives your lips that but of a pop and shine."

There you have it lovelies, the perfect quick fix every day make up look. Of course you don't have to have all the cosmetics Lauren mentioned, but if you want,  you can try the products for yourself and just make do with what you have and what suits your face. 

You can find Lauren on twitter, she'll be happy to answer questions, give advice, or just talk about beauty. 

You can also check out her instagram for pics and tricks. 

For help and a quick guide Lauren recommended the video below for beginners to make up or the natural look! 

Courtney Lundquist

Stay Fab!
-Melody x

Fblogger Talks // Fashion, Trends and the Spring Season! - Part One

In part one of my 'Fblogger talks' mini-series , I spoke to Irish fashion bloggers Brenners Mc Goo from Brenners Mc Goo Blogger, Shona Hanlon from Sh0gbot and Christoper from Christopher-Fashion, who is based in Canada. We discussed all things fashion fails, trends, Spring/Summer and the guys gave me some top tips for this season to share with you all!

What made you start blogging?

Shona: I started blogging way back in 2010 but after I got too busy with college I ended up deleting it. I started a new one in June last year because I was unemployed and had the time to put into it but also because I just felt blogging was made for me and I'm really passionate about it. Since I started working again I had to push it aside temporarily but I'm going back to it now as I have settled into my job and I really miss it!

Brenner’s: I started blogging when I moved back home to Ireland after studying in the UK and having lived in the south of France. I noticed how many alternative shops were in the UK and the boho hippy fashion in France and decided to make it my goal to find alternative shops here in Ireland.

Christopher: I started blogging as a summer project, when I had nothing to do and I was bored. It then developed into a love for sharing my thoughts and personality with the world. 

How has your own personal styled evolved over the years?

Shona: My style has changed massively like most people I imagine! I, like a lot of people, had a teenage 'goth' phase where my hair was black and pin straight and all I wore was black. After that I was a typical barbie, everything was pink and my hair was long and blonde. As I hit 18/19 I became an alternative fan, and I pretty much made up my own style and the hair colour changed frequently too! Soon after that I started college where I was all about the rocker look with quirky and unique accessories. Now I find that I'm settling down I'm loving classier looks as I get closer to 25, but I don't think I'll ever lose my rocker edge.

Brenner’s: I have gone through so many phases, in my first two years of college, I chopped my hair up in a pixie style and wore hippy-ish clothes, then I started wearing punk/grunge clothes and now I love to wear 50's pin up and boho clothes in the summer and dark gothic clothes in the dark depressing winter.

Christopher: When I was five, all I would wear were boot cut jeans and t-shirts. At ten, it was coloured skinny jeans and high tops. Now, I prefer black skinny jeans, combat boots and cardigans, I also like coloured striped shirts and neutral pants.

What’s your worst ‘fashion fail’ or something you regret wearing?

Shona: I'm a 90s kid so the fashion fails are endless! From rip offs to diy tie dye shirts and scrunchies we were just the coolest kids around.

Brenner’s: To be honest, I don't regret any of my fashion choices throughout the years, they signify my changing, growing personality as I grew up and I love to look back on them.

Christopher: I think everything before my teen years were bad fashion years for me. I used to be obsessed with the grossest, weirdest, most disturbing outfits. Things that didn't match at all, and pants I would step on the ends of because they were too long. 

Is there anything that has been ‘in fashion’ over the past year or two that you want to see gone?

Shona: Crop tops and jumpers just need to goooo! Apart from making girls feel self-conscious if they can't wear them they just never look good.

Brenner’s: I generally don't follow trends, I just do my own thing. If I like it, I buy it. I do wish people would stop tucking their track-suits into their socks though. Maybe that's an inner city Irish thing.

Christopher: I think that bright colours, on bright colours, like neon on neons, they have to go! They were so popular in teens in 2014 here in Canada and I'm super sick of that. 

Do you have any style advice for ladies heading into Spring?

Shona: Ladies, if you don't have time to follow current fashion trends or are not sure where to begin, just relax. With spring/summer there are many fail-safe trends to choose from that you most likely already own. Florals, dresses, colours (yellows, blues, pinks) and monochrome/minimal or whites are pretty all round current picks for spring/summer.

Brenner’s: I would encourage you ladies to be fearless, don't shy away from being different. Stand out from the crowd with bold lip colours and crazy coloured hair. Embrace your individuality and smile confidently. A smile is the best accessory of all.

Christopher: I think that faded greys, yellows, and greens paired with blacks will be everything. If you haven't already purchased a pair, I think you're in need of plain black combat boots!

Stay Fab!

- Melody x

My Happy, Healthy and Hilarious Life!

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Hello Dolls, Lovelies and wonderful people of the world, that was a very positive happy start to a blog post wasn't it?
Maybe there's a reason for that!
We're well into the new year of 2015 now and the Monday blues have hit my poor mind more times then they should, actually the Monday blues have probably hit me all week long.

Over the past two weeks I've been trying to think of things to get me out of that January Jam and help towards a Funky February. Okay I'm sorry for the puns, but it's late and my mind likes to play on words.

This year I've vowed as not a resolution, but a promise to myself, to better my mind, my body, my friends circle, my work life, home life and everything I do. I know this is something I've often told myself I should do, and sometimes I'd focus on one thing, but I've decided now is the time to focus on everything.

To better myself and my mind, from worries and midweek frets I've taken five small steps that should lead to bigger outcomes with time, and I thought sharing them here, might somehow help someone somewhere across the globe!

Small Steps for a bigger and better, life!

Step One: Rid the bad vibes!

So this may seem like something an old school, bleach blonde, surfer 'dude' would say in only Hollywood movies, but no, its coming from my brain. So how do you rid those bad vibes? 

Focus on something that makes you happy. It doesn't have to be this big colourful spectacular. All you need to do is focus!
For example, I've started to focus on my writing more. Writing makes me happy, and with writing comes staring at a black and white screen sometimes, but it's what I focus on. When I stress, I write, when I'm happy, I write, it's something I've decided to reward myself with, no matter how I'm feeling. So maybe your focus is video games with friends, or drawing, or dancing around your room to old 80's songs and singing into a hairbrush?

no matter what your focus is, as long as it makes you happy in some way, then it's perfectly okay to me!

Step Two: Find comedy in everything!

I don't know if it's just my personality blossoming or I'm on the verge of a mental breakdown, but no matter what I've done in life, I always seem to find some hilarious pun in it! I could be standing in line at Starbucks, or doing a bit of retail therapy and I would find myself laughing at a products name or Witty advertising! I just seem to laugh, and yes sometimes I have to force myself to find the humour but guys, just laugh, even if you think laughing at a billboard with a funny advertisement in public is weird, or that text messaged you received from a friend is slowly breaking your funny bones to pieces, just laugh!

Nobody is going to remember you as the guy/girl who laughed on the bus, you'll probably never see them again! So if you find something funny, as long as it's not insulting or hurtful to another person, then just laugh!

Step Three: Days off!

Work, college, school, home life, everything turns into stress, especially once a new year hits! You get the annual Christmas bills and the assignments begin to pile up, but it's not the end of the world.

This is something I'm trying to still teach myself now, to take a day off. I take breaks throughout the day, but sometimes when I'm really into an assignment I forget to break and breathe and end up panicking, and I'm a complete ball of stress 90% of the time. So guys, please remember, and remind your friends or family to take a day off, stay in bed, watch as many hours of Netflix as you want, play some video games, stay up late, go out with friends, and enjoy life!
One day off out of 365 days in a year isn't going to kill us!
We must all remember to take a day off!

Step Four: Music!

This may be very cliché but music really does help, it's what many people use to calm down and I am one of those people. Recently my music taste has evolved beyond boy bands and pop chart hits and I've found solitude in the slowest, creepiest and weirdest songs if I really think about it, but it's those songs I find myself clicking to at night time before bed, when I take a quick breather from life and relax. Whatever your music taste is, take ten or fifteen minutes out of the day to just lay on your bed or couch, put in your earphones, relax and listen to the music.
I listen to music for most of my day, but it's background music for when I'm on the bus or walking, I'm still doing something. So my advice is to take ten to fifteen minutes, maybe before bed and really relax and really listen.

Step Five: Have someone!

This step might be a bit confusing, or misleading but it's the easiest step of them all. To focus on one person, when you're happy, sad, or you don't know what you feel, it's good to have somebody.
I know sometimes people don't want to talk about problems and feel as though they have nobody, but with the powers of the Internet, you can connect with someone who feels the same, I've seen it happen numerous times through Tumblr and I think it's a wonderful thing. I have one solid person I go to when I'm happy, sad, or confused. I don't necessarily talk about my problems, I just drop them a text and enjoy the conversation because I know in about five minutes I will be laughing away and forgetting my problems for a few seconds.

So please, whoever you are, have someone. A friend, a family member or an Internet friend (but be careful of the Internet guys and the info you give out!). Just make sure you have somebody who you can just talk to and chill with and live life with. Everyone has got stuff to deal with, but having someone to just have a normal conversation with can help!

There you have it, five steps I'm focusing on at the moment to help better myself, I have a few more aimed more at the body but I thought what's most important is your mentality!

Until next time,
Stay Fab!
Melody x

The Versatile Blogger Award

I'd like to say a massive thank you to the wonderful Amy from batwings and lashes. So I'm a little unprepared as I never expected to be nominated for anything and it might not be the biggest award in the world, but it's nice to know people actually read the stuff I write and like it. 

Also, like Amy, I never knew this award existed until I was nominated, and to say it's a little encouraging gem in the world of blogging is an understatement.

A few basic rules to share with you all once nominated/awarded, all you got to do is thank the blogger who nominated you, nominate 15 other bloggers whom you love and then share seven facts about yourself. All these rules can be found on the versatile blogger award webpage.

So once again Thank you Amy, and here's seven random and cringe worthy facts about myself.

1. I'm addicted to Starbucks signature caramel hot chocolate. It may be overly priced but my inner chocolate lover self seems to focus more on the product in the cup than the money I'm handing over on a weekly basis. I have cut down though as the calories are immense and as a student, it's hard to spend 5 euro a day on hot chocolate.

2. I've been writing since I was nine. I started writing about the Bratz as I was super obsessive with the Cartoon. I would write spin-offs to episodes I had just watched. The first one I ever wrote and I still remember to this day was just after an episode about prom, but instead of it all ending in happy ever after I made all the girls lose their dates and limo and have a horrible prom night and fight, and I think it ended somewhere along the lines of them going on a camping trip to make up and bond once again but that also ended horribly, I was a little..evil in that sense, but I didn't understand perfect fairytale endings like that back then.

3. I am a huge Disney lover, I grew up on Disney and it shall forever be in my heart. I've learnt a lot of morals and life lessons through old Disney films. My all time favourites are the main originals as I call them, Beauty and the Beast, Aladdin (I love Genie), Snow White, Seeping Beauty, The lion King, Lilo & Stitch and my all time favourite has to be The Little Mermaid. I also love Monsters Inc and after Disney took over pixar I suppose I could add that into my favourites too.

4. I love old school Hollywood films, Marilyn Monroe is my ultimate woman as I call her. I know she had her issues but what I took from her life is that even if you have your issues you work hard, produce good work, live life, have as much fun as possible, and unfortunately her issues took the best of her. I also love Jane Russel, Audrey Hepburn, James Dean, and many more.

5. I am a reformed fangirl, using my previous boy band fangirl powers for good now. Less dramatic wailing and more cries and screams for beauty bargains and my favourite movies. Yes I still may have boy band crushes, and go to see boy bands live, but I swear my days of pushing up front to glimpse a band member are far behind. Unless it's The 1975, Bastille or some like Nicki Minaj!

Okay maybe my fangirl days aren't that far behind me. Oh well, I have some good memories growing up.

6. A few of my favourite songs are, The 1975- You, Fountains of Wayne- Stacy's Mom, Nicki Minaj- Win Again, Ellie Goulding- Your Song (Love her version). I tend to listen to stuff that makes me feel happy, and good, as I'm a pretty bubbly person and love a good sing song, so anything catchy, up beat or just plain beautiful, I will love.

7. I love animals, especially Snow Leopards, Panda's, Elephants, and of course Cats! I'm known as the crazy cat lady, they are my ultimate loves. As I say they're perfect for a lazy person, no walking, just cuddles and of course I love their Sassy personalities. I have had four cats in total in my 20 years of life, Unfortunately one ran away and another one passed away, but I have Fluffy, whom I've had for 17 nearly 18 years and then the newest addition to the family, little Ariel, who is going 3 months this month.

That's the facts, now here's my nominee's.

I Nominate:

Kate from The Fashion Chain

Nadja from Throw Me Something Beautiful 

Rachel from Rachy Ray Babe 

Cat from Mentally Beautiful

Nicole from Nicolette 

Hareem from I Heart Me xo

Sophie from Follow Your Arrow

Rosie from Rosie Louise Love 

Nadine from The Parma Violet

Filomena from Enhance Whats Yours

Sarah Jane from Sarah Jane Allen 1993

Chris from Christopher's Fashion

Immy from Immy Op 

Niamh from The Perks Of Being Niamh 

Sarah from Classic White Milkshake 

It was hard for me to just pick 15 people but I finally did it, until next time..

Stay Fab!

-Melody x

Revlon: Lash Potion™ Volume + Length Mascara- Review

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Hello Lovelies, Welcome back. So Yes it's been a quick few days since my last post, and yes I have yet another banging review for you all.

So as of late I've been in Dyer need of a new mascara, the old one I was using just wasn't cutting the chase.

At first I was attracted to the holographic colours more then anything, and originally I did think it may have been a new crazy liquid liner, but as the name says, it was in fact mascara!

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Revlon: Lash Potion Volume and Length Mascara advertising campaign was faced by Emma Stone. One she is beautiful, two she is one of my favourite actresses and three, well her lashes did look great in the advertisement.

Now from the name Lash Potion, you're automatically thinking this bad boy is going to give you the ultimate natural false eye effect without being those 'false lash effect' mascara's. Well dear readers, this mascara pretty much is a potion in itself.

The only con I have found is the product can be a bit too wet. I have learnt a trick to stop extra product getting onto the wand for myself, so I have stopped this effect, but be warned that there may be more mascara on the wand then you first anticipate.

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The endless pro's are, it gives your lashes a full effect, it dry's quickly so if you sneeze half a minute after applying it's okay. The packaging is cute, which is a plus for me because I love a good packaging, nothing better then sparkles, colour and holographic writing, and also it's a decent price, you only need one swipe of the wand and lashes are complete. Plus the wand is sturdy, flexible and gives great coverage!

I would give this mascara a 8.5/10.
Lash Potion is available at Boot's for €14. 

W7 IN THE BUFF, Eye Colour Palette- Review.

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Hello Lovelies, Happy New Year! Unfortunately I had to take an unscheduled Holiday Hiatus from the Blog, but I'm back this year, 2015, with fresh ideas and some real goodies to discuss.
First off, lets discuss my newest addition to my Make Up Palette drawer, W7's, In The Buff!

I'm a lover of natural colours, I used to wear bright colours, which still full my oldest Mac Palette, but once I grew and transitioned with Make Up, I became a lover of natural browns. My go to eye make up look from day to day is a brown smoky eye, I just change up the shades and intensity depending on my outfit.

I haven't heard much from the W7 Brand in a while. I'm a bit addicted to NYX, and Mac as of late so I haven't ventured back through old unused make up brands. I will soon though and promise to Blog about all the oldies and goodies.

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The W7 Palette I currently own is the In The Buff- Natural Nudes. 

This palette contains 12 light to dark nude shades. Mainly shimmers but includes matte shades also. I love to mix dark matte shades with a shimmer cream or white on the inner corners to highlight and brighten the eye.

I've used this palette multiple times for both day wear and evening wear and I am in love.

The main thing I love about this palette is that each colour is so pigmented, one swipe of a brush is really all you need, and it is easy to blend and build upon for a darker look. Also the affordable price of £10 or €12 is a bonus!

The W7 range also holds multiple Palette choices, so if natural nudes aren't for you, and you want a dark smoky eye then you can search the range and find a palette for you on their site.

It's also a dupe for the Urban Decay Naked Range, just in case you can't afford that luxury at the moment.

If you have any more questions feel free to comment below and ask and I'll be happy to answer anything about the palette in detail.

Stay Fab!
Melody x