New Year - Resolutions?

Hello there! So there are only a few days left now of 2012 and I'm sure that a lot of you are trying to decide on what your New Year's Resolutions will be - or not? 

Personally I think they're a great idea, as it is an excuse to better yourself and change some things in your life which you wish were different. But they can be very difficult to keep and trust me, I know! There have been many, many resolutions which I had made at the start of the year, and by the time Easter rolls around, they are long forgotten about. 

Usually every year I only make one resolution, and this is because if I make more than one, my effort will be divided between them which means I am more likely to give them up. So if I have any advice, it would be to stick to one resolution, and you will find it easier not to stray from your goal.

Another tip I have is don't set yourself unrealistic and vague goals like 'lose weight' or 'eat healthy'. Try to narrow it down to simpler things like 'go for a jog every second day' or 'give up fizzy drinks', I promise this will make it easier and you will keep your resolutions for longer. 

Also, you don't have to give up things as a resolution, most people give up things like chocolate or alcohol, which is such a dramatic commitment that they're not mentally ready for. Instead, take something up, like swimming or blogging - something you're interested in. Resolutions don't always have to be about giving things up.

This year, I've decided to go for a pretty unusual resolution that is pretty different to the typical ones you hear of such as 'lose a stone' or 'stop eating sweets'. I'm going to become a vegetarian.

Even just as I write that, it seems so strange that I would stop eating meats. I am a massive meat eater. All my life I have been in love with all types of meat (except pork!) and I ate a lot of it too. It runs in my family and we always had meat included in every single dinner. So people are going to be surprised when I explain what my resolution is for this year. 

Although I am calling it a New Year's Resolution, I plan on keeping it for the rest of my life (if I can). I'm sure you're wondering 'If you're such a huge fan of meat, why are you becoming a vegetarian?'. Well the simplest answer is for health reasons. I have researched into the benefits of becoming a vegetarian and personally I believe that for me it is a good choice. 

I didn't necessarily decide to adopt this eating plan for animal rights reasons. Don't get me wrong, I love animals and being a vegetarian will have benefits beyond myself, but it was mainly the health reasons that made my mind up. 

I know it is going to be VERY difficult, but I hope it will be worth it, I like to set myself challenges so this will be an interesting task I'm setting myself. I may be writing some blog posts every now and then to show you how I will be dealing with my meat cravings (ha ha!) and what meals I discover on my journeys.

♥

Christmas Is Here!

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Christmas is by far my favorite time of the year!

 I find the atmosphere unique to any other time which makes it special and fun.

 I love looking at people's decorations in their houses so I thought I would show you some of the little Christmas details around my house this year.

We haven't had any snow yet in Ireland (where I live anyway) and since Christmas Eve is tomorrow, it isn't looking too likely (boo!). 

It is freezing here though so at least I can pretend it's snowing by wrapping up warm!

I hope you all have a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

♥

Clothing and Shoes Haul!

Hi Everyone! So this is my first clothing/shoes haul and it really isn't that big of a haul but I thought I would share with you what I picked up :)

• The first thing I got was a cute dress from Pennys. It is navy with a cream lace collar around the neck and is perfect for winter. It also comes in a wine color that has a black collar. I picked it up for my work Christmas party where I had to look quite respectable! It definitely was a bargain for €13!
• The next thing I picked up was a pair of black leather shorts from H&M. They're actually really comfy and flattering and the studs on either side above the pockets add a different touch. I love both leather and studs so this is a 2-in-1 fashion trend right here! They are not too expensive at €25.95 and are so worth it!
• Next I got a pair of green tartan trousers from Pennys which people will either love or hate. I personally love them I think they're different and incorporate this winter's 90's fashion trend. I was skeptical about buying them, but once I tried them on I loved them as they're very flattering and eye catching. These trousers were only €17.
• The final thing I got were these aaamazing pair of heels! They were from Korkys for only €49.99! I know they are pretty boring knock-offs to the Jeffrey Campbell Lita's but I'm not ready to go all out with the crazy designs just yet. They're so easy to walk in and you can wear socks with them which is ideal for Irish weather!

My Bengal Cats

So I wanted to do a sort of animal related post and I though which better animals do write about than my own two cats?! Their names are Phoebe and Luna and they are Bengals (otherwise known as Asian Leopard Cat). They are certainly different to normal cats, to say the least! They really have something unique about them. If you are thinking about getting a Bengal cat then you really have to be prepared to spend a lot of time with your cats because they need a lot of attention, more than regular cats because they are SO active and love to play. Its very rare to see a Bengal on their own, as they love company especially with other Bengals. So it is best to get two Bengals to keep each other company.

Luna is 17 months old and Phoebe is 7 months old, but you really would think Phoebe is older because of her coat. We came across Phoebe a few months ago when she was only 15 weeks old, she was the last of her litter to leave so she was a bit older and took a bit longer to get used to us. We got Luna a few weeks ago from a breeder who decided they weren't going to use her for breeding anymore. We were looked for a friend for Phoebe and decided that Luna would be ideal. She has had two litters but is looking in great shape considering! ha ha! 

Luna

 They are crazy little cats who run around the house chasing each other like dogs! Their favorite thing to do is to play fetch with their fluffy spring toy but they are also very friendly and love to be around people. They are loud and they don't really 'meow' as such, they sort of 'chirp'! They can sometimes be mistaken for your regular tabby cat but they do have different distinguishable features. Their tails are striped and they have leopard print spotted rosettes on their backs. Their tummies are light brown with darker brown spots and they have big strong feet which are bigger than a regular house-cat's.

Phoebe

They are a rare breed and since they are descendants from the Asian Leopard Cat, they have many 'jungle-like' qualities about them. They keep much of their kitten-youthfulness with them throughout their lives and can be a lot more fun than regular cats. Not many cats will play fetch, and these cats also love water! Not only do they drink a lot of water but they will splash in puddles and even jump in the shower! (Not recommended if you don't want to get water all over your house!)

Mini Beauty/Make-up Haul

At the moment I am literally obsessed with buying beauty products (I am slightly worried!), so I picked up a few things recently on my travels. 

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The first thing I got was Johnson's facial cleansing wipes for €1.87 (half price in Tesco!). I've used these before and I like them because they really do take all of your make-up off, even waterproof mascara, without being too harsh on your skin. They're fragrance free for those who have sensitive skin like mine, but they also have wipes for normal, dry, combination and oily skin. If anyone is looking to try out new face wipes then take a look at the Johnson's range, and if you are near a Tesco deff pick them up because they're half price right now!

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The next product I picked up was this Nivea Cleansing Lotion in my local pharmacy for €2.53. I have tried it out and don't actually like it so if you guys want a review let me know. It is a cleansing lotion and is 95% of natural origin. There are no colorants  no parabens, no cilicones and no mineral oils. I bought this to take my make-up off but it really isn't the product for me.

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Next I bought the Maybelline Dream Fresh BB Cream for. This is something I've been wanting to try out for a lonnng time, I've seen beauty gurus raving about it so I thought I'd give it a shot when I saw it for €5.99 in Boots for the buy 1 get 2nd half price special offer. I bought it in the shade medium even though my skin is fair, the light shade did nothing on my skin, it was completely unnoticeable.  I often wear fake tan anyway so I think getting the medium shade was the better option. 

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The second last product I picked up was the Archery Brow Tint & Precision Shaping Pencil by Soap & Glory in the shade Love is Blonde. I haven't seen much hype about this product but my sister had it and I tried it out and loved it! So I bought my own and it really is fantastic. It comes in a darker shade for brunettes as well, but I got the lighter shade.

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The last, but not least, product I picked up was the Dove Summer Glow in the shade medium to dark with shimmer. I know what you're all thinking, its nearly Christmas, what am I doing buying a summer glow product?!? But I have wanted to try out the darker shade for absolutely yonks so I picked it up in Boots when it was half price (of course!). I have used the fair to medium skin one for ages so I thought what the heck and tried out the darker one. (I'll admit the fact it was on sale sealed the deal for me!)

I can do a review on any of these products if you want so leave a comment below, or just to tell me if you have tried these too and what you think of them.

Slán!xo

What Body Shape Am I?

Hi Everyone!

So as I've discussed before, there is no 'perfect' body, yet to help us feel more confident in clothes that flatter us, we need to figure out own body's shape. We all have different shapes and sizes, so I hope this helps a few people to gain some advice on how to dress in clothes that suit their shapes.
You can wear whatever you want, but if you want to know what will hug you in all the right places and make you stand out from the crowd then keep reading!

And luckily for all of us:

Beauty is in the eye of the beholder!

How do I figure out my body shape?

The best way to determine your shape, is to stand in front of a mirror in your underwear, tie your hair back and preferably grab a friend who can give you a second opinion. (Tip: Make sure you and the mirror are both standing up straight, as tilting can give a distorted shape.) You will need to observe the relationship between your shoulders, waist and hips. Note* I have outlined below as to what features each shape possesses. Please remember that not everyone will fall into one of the below categories. This is just a guide and some women possess traits from more than one shape, and if weight is gained or lost, there may be a change in shape.

Quite often, body shapes are inherited. This means that you might have a similar shape to your mother, grandmother or sisters. Although some women are unique and show no similarities, but it is worthwhile looking at your immediate family and taking note of their shapes.

Pear (aka Triangle)
Identifiers:

• Narrow shoulders
• Wide hips
• Small bust
• Your lower half is generally fuller than your top half (hips, thighs, bum)




 

J.Lo has a typical pear shape

Women with pear shapes

If you are finding that you have most of these features, then you are a pear! Lucky you! This is a great shape, you carry your weight on your bottom half, and your top half is usually a lot smaller in comparison. I've included some pictures of celebrities who have the same shape as you do. Rihanna, Jennifer Lopez and Beyonce all have typical pear shapes you can see how they dress and how it works on them. As a pear, your fashion goal is to elongate your body by balancing out your figure so you look less bottom heavy (excuse the pun!).

Well that's great, but what can I wear?

• Anything with a pattern or design that draws attention to your upper half, especially around the bust/neckline.
• Keep your bottom half of your bikini a block color, and wear ruffles and patterns on your top half to draw the eye upwards.
• Attract attention to your shoulders! Wear off the shoulder, one shoulder, puffy shoulders, any sort of detail on the shoulders will look amazing.
• Wear darker colors on your bottom half than on your top half - e.g. dark jeans. This will take the focus off your bottom half. You don't always have to wear black on your bottom half, just make sure that it's darker that your top half.
• Puffy sleeves look great because they further balance out the body.
• Go for clean, tailored lines on the bottom. Keep it simple as to not draw too much attention to the bottom half.
• Flared trousers look GREAT on you, I know they're not everybody's taste, but once you try them you'll see how great your legs look.
• Go wild with different necklines!! You can wear very high neck tops which will fill you out, and you can wear verrrry deep plunge lines which will draw the eye upwards! A necklace to fit the neckline will also look great.
  
  

What should I not wear?

• Try not to wear high waist trousers, or skinny jeans. These will draw attention to your hips and thighs and will be unflattering as you will look disproportionate.
• Avoid dresses or long tops which cling to your hips, go for something that will flare out slightly.
• Patterned trousers are not a great look, so stick with simple bottoms.

The Upside-Down Triangle (aka inverted triangle)

Identifiers:

• Wider shoulders
• Larger chest
• Flat bottom
• Narrow hips
• Great legs are common with this shape
• Top half is generally fuller than your bottom half

Audrina Patridge 

If you are finding that most of these features are very similar to your own, then you are a wonderful upside-down triangle! Lucky you! This is a great shape. You carry your weight on your top half, and your bottom half is less filled out. Here are some pictures of celebrities who have similar body shapes to you. Demi Moore, Renee Zellweger and Naomi Campbell are all famous upside-down triangles. Take note of what they wear, and how it suits (or doesn't!) their figure. As an upside-down triangle, your fashion goal is to take the focus away from your top half, and draw the attention to your bottom half. This will help to balance out your shape and make you look less top-heavy.

Ok, but what should I wear?

Women with upside-down triangle shapes

• Anything bulky around your hips and bum. Ruffles, poofs and tier dresses/skirts look amazing on you.
• Boot-cut, flare and wide leg jeans are perfect.
• Soft, draped fabrics on the top half, this will make your shoulders look softer.
• Keep your cardigans v-neck and unbuttoned as this creates a gap between your fuller torso.
•  Draw attention to your bottom half with bold colors on your bottom half and printed bikini bottoms, trousers and skirts.
• You’re one of the lucky few who can wear tiny string bikini bottoms without a problem. Take advantage!
• Three quarter length sleeves with give the appearance of a smaller bust.
• A good supportive bra is very important as it will make your bust look its best and make you look slimmer up top.
• Dresses with loose fabric at the top and tighter at the bottom will look great on you as it camouflages your shoulders and draws attention to your hips and bum, making them look fuller.

What should I not wear?

• Keep jewellery to a minimum, as too much will bring attention to your upper half.
• Avoid skinny jeans as they will make your bottom and hips look even more petite.
• High necklines, big collars, anything with shoulder detailing.

Hourglass

Identifiers:

• Bust and hips are equal or close in width
• Small, defined waist
• Most likely have a rounded bum

Women with hourglass shapes

If these characteristics are similar to your own, then you are an hourglass! You are very lucky as this is a great shape to be. You carry your weight equally between your bust and your hips and bum. Here are some pictures of celebrities who are also hourglasses. Kim Kardashian, Scarlett Johansson and Kate Winslet are good examples. See what they wear and incorporate this into your own style. As an hourglass, your fashion goal is to emphasize your curves and use your clothes to define your waist.

 What can I wear?

•  Cardigans with deep V-neck and are fitted look great.
• Stick with clothes that are fitted at your waist, it is the smallest part of your torso and will make you look slimmer.
• Sweetheart, V-neck and low squared neckline look great.
• Bikini tops with extra coverage and support are vital! Stick to bikinis that match.
• T-shirts that have an open neckline and nip in at the waist.



Kim has an hourglass shape

• Three quarter length sleeves that stop just before your waistline.
• Sheer, soft and clingy fabrics.
• Simple, tailored jackets and coats with emphasize your figure beautifully, avoid too much detail on the bust e.g. pockets.
• Pencil skirts will look great on you instead of puffy skirts which will make you look too big on your bottom.
• Flared, wide-leg or boot-cut trousers look great on you as well.

What should I avoid?

• Baggy tops which don't show off your waist will make you look frumpy.
• Very high necklines.
• Batwing sleeves.
• Big thick belts. 
• Smock dresses.

Apple 

Identifiers:

• Fuller around the mid-section of the body
• Usually larger bust and broader shoulders and flat bum
• If you gain weight it shows up on your belly and upper body
• Waist is not defined

Women with apple shapes

Jennifer Hudson

If from looking at yourself in the mirror and at the common traits, then you are are an apple, lucky you! Here are some pictures of celebrities who are also apples!! Jennifer Hudson, Jessica Simpson and Queen Latifa are classic apple shaped women. Look at their style and how they dress, this will give you an indication of what will look good on you too! As an apple, your fashion goal is to emphasize you strong points which are your bust and legs, and to camouflage your weaker one  which is your midsection. This will help to balance out your figure. Since the idea is to draw the eye toward those parts of your body that shine and away from those that don’t, you want to show off your great legs!

What can I wear?

• You can wear patterns and details, just keep them to your lower half e.g. skirts and trousers.
• Keep your top half simple with less detail and smaller prints.
• Skirts look great on you, so wear as many as you would like!
• If your bum is flat (which is a common trait of apples) then wear jeans with back pockets. This will give the illusion of a rounder bum.
• Long jackets past your hips will look great because they will elongate your torso and slim you out.
• Go for slim high heels instead of chunky ones to make you look slimmer.
• V-neck are the most flattering neckline you can wear.

What should I stay away from?

• Very skinny trousers, even if you have great legs, they will make your top half look even bigger.
• Do not tuck in your tops, they will cut you off at the waist and you will appear more round.
• Tight or clingy t-shirts, and ones with large patterns on them.
• Puffa jackets!
• High waist jeans or high necklines, keep everything low.

Rectangle (aka. boyish/athletic)

Identifiers:

• Shoulders and hips are pretty much the same in width
• Waist is less than 9" smaller than your hips/shoulders measurement, so no defined waist
• Body is basically straight up straight down in relation to curves
• Often have an athletic, boxy or boyish figure
• If you were to gain weight it would  be distributed evenly throughout your body

Cameron Diaz

So if you have decided that your body shape is that of a rectangle then lucky you! Here are some celebrities who have the same body shape as you. Cameron Diaz, Hilary Duff and Kate Hudson are all examples of rectangle shapes. Look through pictures of them and see of they dress, see how their clothes work on them and try to incorporate this into your own style. It's easier when you have a similar person to have as a reference. As a rectangle, your fashion goal is to enhance your waist and to add curves to your athletic frame.

What can I wear?

• Add ruffles, ties and bows to add curves and dimension to your figure.
• Girly details and patterns are your friend. Go for floral and crochet detailing bathing suits to visually balance out a more athletic frame.
• Jackets should be shaped through the waist to avoid bulkiness. 
• You are lucky because you can wear horizontal stripes.
• Wrap dresses that are A line or high waist in soft drapey fabrics will look great on you.
• Go for prints, they will add more depth to your curves.
• Puffy skirts with detail look great on you as they add curves to your bum.
• V-necks look great as they accentuate your bust and femininity.
• Go with empire line dresses as these will do wonders for your curves.
• Low round necks look great as well because they enhance your bust.

What will I avoid?

• Vertical stripes will make you look less curvy and more boyish.
• Boxy jackets, go for more soft, drapey jackets.
• Wedges, slim heels will make you look more slim.
• On tops, avoid any detail around the waist or under the bust e.g. belts or anything that highlights your straight waist. You might think they will create more curves but they will do the opposite and highlight your straight torso.

The Weight Debate

Hi everyone! I decided to write my first blog post about issues concerning women's weight, size and shape. This is something that I have decided to discuss after reading a very interesting blog post by Leanne Woodfull. It can be a very touchy subject for many people, but it is definitely something that needs to change in our society. 

From a very early age in our lives, we are bombarded with images and advertisements of women who are promoting an "ideal body image". This has lead us as a society to believe there is an alpha body which is better and more attractive than everyone else. Television programs such as America's Next Top Model are giving young and older girls a bad mind set - that these women are the best way that you should look.

The media is constantly shoving women who are more slender than others in our faces, to make us feel self conscious about ourselves by telling us we need to look like them, which is their way of making sales.  They imply that if we want to be happy, get a boyfriend or be successful in life then we need to look like these people.

Yet curvier girls are not the only people who are made to feel inferior to everyone else, slim girls also take a bad hit. We are also given the impression that ''girls with curves'' are ''real women'' and because they have boobs and a bum that they are more attractive to men. That men want women with bigger assets and if they have a flat bum and AA cup then they are man-ish and unattractive. This is completely untrue and a lot of people don't realize how much slimmer girls worry about their size as well.

This has been the case for many years. Women have been confused by being shown that slim girls like Victoria Beckham are better looking because they are skinnier, yet we are told that women like Marilyn Monroe are ''real women'' because of their curves. Women don't know which is better, but the truth is, its neither. 

Every woman is different, and although we could stereotype them into different shapes, we can not be the ones to judge who is better than whom. There are various types of women out there to make this world interesting, it would be boring if we all looked the same.

I firmly believe that the best weight to be, is that of when you are healthy. By that I mean getting enough exercise and having a balanced diet. If you attain these two things then that is your healthy weight and you should work it girl! Flaunt the healthy body that you have and compare yourself to no-one, as you are your own unique self.

Your weight, size or shape does not determine the type of person that you are or can be. No woman is superior to another woman regarding their size or shape. 

Beauty is in the eye of the beholder.

The First Post

Welcome to my blog!

A little bit about me.. my name is Rachel, I'm an 18 year old student living in Dublin, Ireland. This is my first ever blog so hopefully I won't bore you too much but basically I am writing a blog to express my interest in beauty, fashion and make-up but also an evasion for myself and others from daily life. I absolutely love reading other people's blogs which is probably where my interest in writing my own blog stems from.

I will be discussing things, doing reviews for you guys and asking questions so hopefully some people might enjoy what I have to write about, and let me know if you have any ideas!

Enjoy!