Pinspiration ~ Winter Nails

Hi Everyone!

As you'll probably know by now, I love all things Christmas including Christmas nails! I did  a similiar post to this last year and it is probably one of my most popular posts, so I thought I'd update it a little bit...
Disclaimer- all images were taken from pinterest

I think all of the five designs above are super cute and festive. They do look a little bit difficult but you can always buy nail stickers from ebay etc or if you're getting your nails done over Christmas ask the nail tech if they can achieve any of they above designs! My favourite of them all is probably the first and the last picture. They last design looks slightly frozen themed which of course I love and the first design is just gorgeous!

I have also seen lovely designs on fake nails in Pennys/Primark and I did actually pick up a box. They were only €1.50 so I said why not. I'm usually not a fan of fake nails so I'm going to try them out and do a small review on them next Monday. Hopefully they'll be work out well because they're super cute, similar to the second design above actually!


So they are my picks for this Christmas! What's your favourite ?

Erin X
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Fushia Brushes Review

Hi Everyone!

I went to the Pro Beauty Show in the RDS back in October, my main goal for the day was to find a good set of brushes because I really want to build my brush collection. Since all the brands do discounts at the pro beauty show I thought that this was the perfect chance. It was, all of the brands had great deals on, I bought a few brushes from Blank Canvas Cosmetics and a few from Crown Brushes but I was completely sold on the Fushia brushes. They had in my opinion, the best deal. They were doing 12 brushes and a brush case for only €25!!! Amazing deal, but I'm always cautious when things aren't too expensive because usually if something is very affordable the quality isn't as good. But I am delighted with the results...




First of all, how gorgeous is the packaging! How expensive and luxurious looking are they! I'm obsessed with these brushes, they are such good quality. They are extremely soft and feel amazing on your skin. I love both the eye brushes and the face brushes, they are both fab! My favourite out of all of the is probably the foundation brush. It applies my foundation so evenly and leaves a lovely finish on it.

They only brush that I don't use on a regular basis is the contour brush, I find it doesn't have enough bristles in it and I much prefer the Black canvas F10. Other that that I really can't fault the set at all. The wash really easily too, no bristles have come out at all since I started using them over two months ago.

The case is also a favourite of mine. It is great for storage but especially for travelling. I had previously been using a triangular case from Spectrum Brushes and while it looks really cool, it isn't very practical. So I have swapped it for the Fushia case. It can hold loads of brushes and it's long enough so that it doesn't press into any of the brushes, forcing them to lose shape. It's also really easy to clean.

Along with the brushes and case, I bought the Fushia Beauty Blender. I don't have much to say about it except that it's much bigger than the Real Techniques one and in my opinion it doesn't do a great job. I always tend to use my RT one and only use the Fushia ones when I'm washing my RT one. It;s not that the Fushia one performs badly, I just prefer the texture of  RT. I got it for €3 so it's not a waste at all!

You can buy Fushia from http://www.fuschia.ie/ I know that I will definitely be back trying so more Fushia products at the next Pro Beauty Show in March! Have you ever tried these brushes ?

Erin X
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The Ultimate Christmas Gift Guide

Hi Everyone!

So I have done loads of gift guides and decided to put them altogether in one handy post. I love Christmas and buying everyone presents but it can be a little bit overwhelming when you have no ideas on what to get people. So here are my little gift guides that will hopefully help you and make your Christmas experience that little bit better!








So there you have it all your Christmas planning basically done haha! 

Erin X
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The Perfect Winter Scent - Black Musk from The Body Shop

Hi Everyone!

Perfumes are something I never really invest in, mainly because I always seem to get four or five every Christmas from family members and they last me the entire year. Usually I always go for a fruity, really sweet smelling perfume but it's now winter time I was on the hunt for something more seasonal. I don't really know what exactly I was looking for until I got an unexpected delivery from the lovely girls over at The Body Shop. They treated me to the new Black Musk Eau de parfum and perfume oil. I could not have been more thrilled.


It was exactly what I was looking for. I'm quite useless at describing scents but to me it smells really rich and musky, almost like chocolate (See I'm useless). Regardless they are beautiful scents. I have never tried a perfume oil before so I was super intrigued. It's actually super simple to use, you just put the oil where you would spray your perfume, it's not one bit messy and absorbs into your skin super fast. It's actually a pleasure to use. Too many times I have sprayed some perfume and it's ended up in my mouth or in my eyes. So this makes it really easy to put the scent exactly where you want it.

I usually use both the perfume and the perfume oil together. I find that using both really makes the scent stay longer. I use the oil first then the perfume! I have to say, I have completely fallen in love with the Black Musk range and have received so many compliments when wearing it! If you're in the market for a new perfume then definitely call into your nearest Body Shop and pick it up, if you're not just go in and smell it, it's gorgeous!

What's your go to Winter perfume?  

Erin X
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#IrishBloggersgetFit - Week 3

Hi Everyone!

Ok let me be really honest, this week was a complete fail! I only managed one workout this week and somehow managed FOUR takeaways! I know I know, major slip up! So here's what happened...

I've had a tough few weeks everything was getting on top of me, I was having small panic attacks and anxiety has been keeping me up all hours of the night. Things started to look up at the start of the week but I was just mentally exhausted. I managed my workout Monday evening, ate well and felt great. Tuesday was a different story, when I got home from work I lay down on the bed for two mins to rest and I just couldn't drag myself up and out of it again. I was just wrecked! I thought that's ok I need to have rest days too.


Wednesday came however and I had a major assignment that I HAD to get done, it was causing me to be really anxious and stressing me out like crazy! So I spent all day/evening doing the assignment and at about 11pm it was finally done, however I had missed my workout. I didn't worry about it too much as college needs to come first and I thought that two days isn't so bad.

Thursday and Friday are a bit of a blur to be honest, all I know is that I was really really tired We had run out of food and by the time we noticed all the shops were shut so takeaway was the easiest option. Saturday and Sunday were the same, I had great plans but they kind of fell flat.

So as you may have already guessed I didn't lose any weight this week, in fact I gained weight, the exact 1.4lbs that I dropped last week!

New goals - 
  • Drinks lots of water
  • Workout everyday
  • Eat clean everyday
  • Restock the fridge regularly 
  • Plan days and meals
  • Don't give up!
I think it's ok to have bad weeks, it's a lifestyle change and not a diet. It's going to take time. At least now I feel like the other shoes has dropped so I can just get over it and start fresh! 

How was your week ?

Erin X
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Gift Guide - Secret Santa Edition

Hi Everyone!

So it's that time of year again when names are being pulled out of a hat and you're assigned secret Santa people. It can be super difficult to buy for people on a small budget, most secret Santas I've been involved in have had pretty small budgets of €20 or €30. It's especially difficult when you mightn't be close with the person or know many of they're interests. So I've come up with a little gift guide to try and help you out. Hopefully you'll end up with a lovely present to give and stayed within budget.





Karma Necklace - This is such a beautiful delicate necklace. It goes with everything, it's the perfect length for dresses, t-shirts, everything. It costs €20 which is an absolute steal as it's so pretty. This would be a perfect gift for your secret Santa present.

DIY -  With such a small budget, making something like a hot chocolate kit or and Ice Cream Sunday box is a really nice touch that doesn't cost a lot! This would suit both men and women so it's ideal. There are loads of tutorials and ideas over on Pinterest and YouTube.

Soap and Glory Once Upon A Lime - Coming in at only €14.50 over on Boots.ie this is a treat for any beauty lover and anyone who needs a little pampering, fantastic brand, great products and amazing price!

Grooming Set  - This one is for the males, they all need a grooming set so treat them to the Champneys essentials spa grooming set! It's comes in at €23.00 over on Boots.ie, which is really good considering you  not only get the actually grooming set but you also get an anti antiperspirant deodorant as well as a body wash!

Jamie Oliver Glorious Oils -  Any foodie would love to get this set for Christmas. This little set has three beautiful oils that will bring new life to your food. It comes in at only €14.50 over on Boots.ie so it's super affordable and a lovely little gift.


I hope this helped ye out a little bit, if ye have any more suggestions, leave them in the comments for everyone else! 

Erin X
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#IrishBloggerGetFit - Week 2

Hi Everyone!

So following on from last week (which you can read about here) I started strong. I was more determined and motivated. I had a plan and for the most part I stuck to it. They say that the second week is always the hardest, but after a disastrous week 1, there was no where to go but up! I made an eating plan and sent it to Claire to make sure it was ok, with her help I created a pretty good food plan that I'll be sticking to for this week too.

So Monday was great, did my workout, kept to the food plan. Tuesday however did not go well. The PMS Monster arrived and I spent most of the day in bed nursing a sore tummy. There was also a lot going on and mentally I wasn't in a great place so I had a pack of M&Ms and a mug of Hot chocolate. To be perfectly honest, I don't regret it. There's no point in denying myself something that I REALLY REALLY want as it's something that won't last long term. This is a lifestyle change not a diet. So I figure it's OK to give in sometimes.


Wednesday and Thursday were good, I had another two crappy days but I forced myself out into the cold and did my workouts.  Friday came around and it was time for my cheat meal and boy did I cheat! I ordered myself a delicious satay chicken and fried rice from the chinese and a can of coke. I also missed my workout because I was just exhausted after a crappy week.

Saturday and Sunday went ok too, woke up super early on Saturday to make sure I did my workout. I did 2.7km in 24 minutes. Hopefully my timing will get better the more I train. I did well with food too. Sunday diet wise was good but I didn't get my workout in unfortunately life gets in the way sometimes.




I feel good about week 2! I lost 1.4 pounds which I am delighted with. I think my biggest fall down was preparing lunches. I did excellently with breakfast and dinners but lunches were a struggle. So my aim is to do super well diet wise this week and really stick to my plan. I also want to keep up the workouts and really test myself.

I hope you all had a great week!

Erin X
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My Christmas Wishlist!

Hi Everyone!

Now that we're well into November, I have absolutely no shame is talking about Christmas! Christmas is my favourite time of year, so exciting! As you'll know from THIS post, I'm not great when it comes to receiving presents. I much prefer to give them. I've been told I'm very hard to buy for so I'm done up a Christmas Wishlist for those who are going to buy me a present but haven't a notion what to get me. Disclaimer -  I will be super thrilled with any present that anyone gets me, this post is just for those who would rather get me something they know I'll love than guess what I'd like.



Plum Handbag : I seen this bag in Newlook and I just think it's gorgeous, it's big and sturdy enough for me to carry both my college work and all the stuff I bring in and out to the office everyday. It's also just gorgeous!

Sleek Makeup Face Form - I have been eyeing this up for months, but haven't actually seen it at any of the sleek stands that I've been to. I've heard amazing things about it so I'd love to get my hands on it!

Origins Face Mask - I've heard so many amazing things about the face mask, I'd love to try it out. But at €30 I can never justify it on my student budget so this would be a lovely treat !

NeoStrata Enlighten Illuminating Serum : Neostrata is a brand that I adore, I've heard great things about this serum and I'd love to get my hands on it!

A holiday - This one I will admit is cheeky considering I'm off to berlin in a few weeks but I have gotten the travelling bug and I'm obsessed with Amsterdam. I'd love to go there for a long weekend!

Boots - I really need a good pair of winter boots that are really warm and comfy for when I go to Berlin, I love the look of these ones from New Look, they look super comfy and they look like they'd go with any outfit!

Books -  I love books, especially books like the So Sue books which are super inspirational, I'd love to read both Suzanne's books and Joanne Larby's new book ' FairyTales'.

NeoStrata Spot Treatment - Again I love Neostrata and have heard amazing things, so this would be a lovely little stocking filler.

Nutribullet - I love making smoothies, but the blender I have now is getting a little old and I think it's time to upgrade. What I love about the Nutribullet is how easy it is to NOT make a mess! It's expensive but I would definitely get  lots of use out of it!

Of course there's lots of things I would like but I'd be happy with anything! 
What's on your Christmas wishlist ?

Erin X 




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Manicure Monday | Sally Hansen Wine Not

Hi Everyone!

Happy Monday I hope you all have a great week. Today on my nails I have the gorgeous Sally Hansen nail polish in 'Wine Not'. First off I love the name of this polish! Sally Hansen is one of my favourite brands for nail polish. Such good quality and I've never had a bad experience. This polish is a gorgeous burgundy wine red. It's perfect for this time of year. I actually got this at the Elite Munster Blogger Event in August and I'm so delighted with it!



I love the brush with this polish, it's big enough to cover each nail in about two strokes. The formula is a dream, applies really easily and smooth. I applied two layers but you could definitely get away with one if you're in a hurry. Another thing I love is how fast it dries, no more waiting around. It literally dries in about 3 minutes. I have worn this polish before and with a top coat, it last at least four days without any chipping!

If you're looking for a great quality seasonal nail polish definitely check out this polish from Sally Hansen. I really can't recommend it enough. It retails for just over €7 I think, but you can find it in select Dealz for only 1.49 which is a complete steal because it is such a great brand for nail polishes!

Have you tried any Sally Hansen nail polishes ? 

Erin X
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#IrishBloggersGetFit Week 1

Hi Everyone!

If you're following any of my social media platforms then you'll know that myself and a few other bloggers are taking part in a 6 week fitness challenge with Claire from Volta Fitness. The aim is to be fit for Christmas. We all have different goals, mine in particular is to shed some pounds for Christmas!



The first week is always the hardest right? Not off to a great start as I spent most of the first day on a train/bus. Sometimes life gets in the way and that's ok. I didn't let it get to me as I knew I'd start properly the next day and count that as my first day.

SO day two came and I did the shopping and filled the fridge with healthy food. Went for a long brisk walk/run. Did my cardio workout. What I found was that I didn't like walking in the dark, I went at about 8.20pm as it was the only chance I got but felt uncomfortable. I think I'll have to get my workouts done in the morning.



Day 3 came and I did my workout, but afterwards I went to the cinema and had a large popcorn and large coke. This would have been fine as a treat but then we went to supermax afterwards. Day 4 came and I was feeling crappy. I think it was just because I hadn't had the best start and I was just frustrated. So I took all my frustration out in my workout. If you follow me on snapchat then you'll know how exhausted I was afterwards. My lungs were burning, my legs were like jelly, I felt sick! Of course after a bit of water and about 30 minutes, I was back to normal but my spirits were up and I felt really good after working hard.



Day 5 I had a sports day at college, so spent half of that day running around. I was exhausted. I didn't mind missing the workout because I felt that I had basically done it throughout the day anyway. I didn't eat very well though, only had about two meals and they weren't the healthiest. Day 6 came and went, I was mentally exhausted from the week and had very little motivation for anything. I went to the cinema to unwind and it worked a trick because I woke up this morning with renewed energy and motivation.

So today, day 7 my only slip up has been having a mug of hot chocolate oh and I had sausages and a fried egg for breakfast. My workout was really good, I went running/walking and I felt like I ran much better today. I forgot to time myself which I'm raging about and the nike running app wouldn't work so I don't know how far it was either! Regardless I'm just home and I'm sweating buckets! I am happy with today, even though I had my slip ups. I went shopping and got lots of healthy foods, made my weekly food plan and did a really good workout even though it's miserable outside!

What I learned this week is that preparation is key. I've heard that phrase a million and one times but after this week I really believe it! My goal for next week is to focus more on my diet and just making sure that I get a really good workout in everyday!

SO that's been week 1, make sure to follow me over on snapchat to follow me throughout the week! 

Erin X

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Botanics Night Cream Review

Hi Everyone! 

Today I'm talking about the Botanics All Bright hydrating night cream. I have been intrigued by the Botanics range ever since it launched in Boots. I love the simple pretty packaging and have heard fantastic reviews.So when Boots had a special offer on I decided I would pick up the All bright night cream. It was only €4 and it's been well worth every penny. 



I really really like this night cream. It's only slightly scented, which I like because sometimes if a cream is too scented it can irritate my skin or the smell might just annoy me. So Boots mission statement is " The Botanics radiant Youth Skincare range is bursting with natural antioxidants to help skin stay younger longer" Essentially, it's promising to hydrate you skin and brighten it. But does it actually work...

 For me it definitely does. I got my skin analysed by the lovely Olivia in Elizabeth Arden Shaws counter in the Crescent recently. The results said that my top layer of skin in certain areas (around my nose, forehead etc) were quite dry but the layer underneath that was very hydrated. Olivia said that whatever products I had been using were definitely working. I owe my hydration levels to this night cream as I'm a divil for drinking water. To help with the dryness on the top layer, I just need to exfoliate more.

So this cream definitely works, I always notice a difference if i don't use it. My skin isn't as soft or as bright. I am too young to know whether or not it is any good at preventing ageing but I'm sure it doesn't do a bad job. The consistency of the cream is quite thick, it almost feels like a serum rather than a moisturiser. The tub has 50ml in it and to be honest, I've had this tub since June and I've barely made a dent in it so it will last you ages!

I love love love this stuff and for only €4, a complete steal! I will definitely be repurchasing and I'm eager to try out the Botanics day cream too.

Have you tried anything from the Botanics range ?

Erin X




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Soap and Glory Flake Away Review

Hi Everyone!


So I've heard a lot about Soap and Glory from through blogsphere and was really excited to finally try something from the range. I'm always cautious about trying new brands as I tend to have super sensitive skin. The packaging from this range is lovely, it's bright, it's fun and it's pink. While browsing the aisles of boots one day, I decided that enough was enough, I simply had to try out this range. I had previously watched a video by Sinead Cady talking about her favourite exfoliators and she had mentioned Flake Away. Even though I love my Cocoa Brown Tough Stuff, I do like to try new things from time to time. So I picked up one of smaller tubs, I think they're almost sample sizes and I think it cost around the €3 mark. So how did I get on...




Not very well to be honest. I found the smell to be very sweet, too sweet, so sweet it almost makes my stomach turn. But if you're into very strong sweet smells, you'll probably love it. The consistency is quick thick and hard to spread over your body. I found I went through this in no time at all, even though I only used it when I ran out of Tough Stuff! It is however a very gentle exfoliator. If you have sensitive skin then this might work really well for you.

For me however I love to for an exfoliator to really do it's job and almost leave me feeling a little raw afterwards. I just don't get that with this product, it's nice to use sure, but I won't be repurchasing it. I'll be sticking to my Tough Stuff! I'm annoyed that I didn't like this because now it's put me off or a t least made me very hesitant to trying anything else from Soap and Glory.

Have you tried any Soap & Glory products? 

Erin X











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Favourite Bloggers | October

Hi Everyone!

Today I'm going to introduce you to four fantastic bloggers that I have been obsessed with all month! I read so many blogs during the month but these four were my favourite and I kept going back to their blogs. Sometimes it can be quite difficult to find new blogs, even though there are thousands, probably millions out there, but here are four fabulous blogs that you need to be following!



Rachbeautique : Rachael is the fab blogger behind Rachbeautique. She does a mix between beauty, makeup, skincare etc. She is currently studying beauty therapy in college so keep an eye on her blog for lots of tips and tricks. I unfortunately haven't gotten the chance to meet her yet, but she seems like such a lovely genuine lady. I also love reading her posts as she gives great detail and always has fab pictures! My fave post from her this month was THIS one.

Pamslivelovefashion :  Pam is the wonderful lady behind Pamslivelovefashion. I have actually had the pleasure to meet Pam a couple of times at different blogging events and she is so nice and warm and welcoming! I love her blog, it's probably one of my favourite fashion blogs of all time. I love her style of writing and whenever she posts, I just have to read it straight way! My fave post from her this month was THIS one.

Passionsandpreening : The beautiful Alison is the amazing blogger behind Passionsandpreenings. I've never met Alison but feel like I've known her years. She's absolutely lovely. When I was going through a difficult time in August with my health, she was there every day on snapchat with kind words. Aside from being an absolute dote, she's a great blogger, she also makes YouTube videos too so make sure you check that out and subscribe. Alison writes great reviews and you should def check out her blog. My fave post from her this month was THIS one.

Rebelle - Ution  : Priscilla is the gorgeous blogger behind this blog. Priscilla is a fellow Limerick blogger and we get on really well. I always admire Priscilla's blog, she's such a talented writer and really inspirational. She writes about body confidence, beauty, her amazing tattoos and sex.  This month she wrote THIS  post and it really resonated with me. She is so brave for sharing the correct information about abortion (as it's illegal to do so here in Ireland) I'm sure it helped lots of people, it definitely helped me! Definitely go and check out her blog!

So they are the fab bloggers that I've been loving this month!
What blogs have you been loving ?

Erin X
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A Little Lush Haul

Hi Everyone!

I was shopping up in Dublin last week with my mam and I couldn't go to Dublin and not call into Lush. It truly is one of my most favourite shops and always makes me super happy. I was excited to try some of the new Christmas Limited Edition stuff as well as invest in some new skincare bits. I've shown everything I got in the video below....





What are your favourites Lush products ? 

Erin X
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My Pink Story | Breast Cancer Awareness Month

Everyone deals with cancer in one way or another, either directly or indirectly. Either way, it's unpleasant for everyone involved! This month is breast cancer awareness month, so I've decided to share my story. My pink story. I was inspired to write this after watching a video by Louise from Sprinkle of Glitter on YouTube, you can watch her video (here).

I just want to say that these are just my memories, things may not have happened exactly how I remember them but this is what I remember...



So my very first encounter with cancer was my granddad, he passed away from lung cancer many years before I was born, before my dad even met my mam, so to a certain extend it didn't really effect me. Except for the fact he wasn't there of course. When I was 16 (2011)  unfortunately my beautiful grandmother passed away from lung cancer too. Now that was hard. Up until then I had never lost anyone. She had suffered with emphysema for years and in the last few months of her life, she developed lung cancer.

But it wasn't until my granny, a truly incredible woman, developed breast cancer that I was truly effected by cancer. I can't really explain or properly describe how much she meant to me other than, well, she was my granny. My granny was a tough lady, been through a lot but always came out the other side smiling. I could sit here all day and write about how amazing and wonderful she was and it still wouldn't do her justice. She was truly an incredible woman. I think she developed breast cancer around Christmas 2008/2009. I was in first year of secondary school at the time. I'll never ever forget the day when my mam told me. I just remember being really shocked, I had obviously heard about cancer but it never entered my head that someone I loved could ever have to fight it.

SO a few years passed, I didn't notice much of a change to be honest, expect I went to the hospital a few times with my mam and granny for her treatments. I only really remember because we always went to pizza hut afterwards. The next vivid memory I have is October 10th 2011, I remember this day in particular because it was my birthday. My granny had had an operation to remove her breast. I remember travelling to the hospital after school with my mam. My granny was in good form and I remember leaving relieved, in my head I thought it was simple, the cancer was in her breast, they had just removed it so obviously now she'd be ok. And she was ok, she had a few sessions of radiotherapy and was given the all clear.

Unfortunately shortly just before Christmas the cancer came back and this time it was stronger and grew quicker. Because my granny was diabetic, they couldn't operate again as her skin wouldn't of healed quick enough and the chance of getting an infection was too high. Instead she underwent radiotherapy. Around this time, I decided it would be a great idea to go to Africa and climb the highest mountain, Mt.Kilimanjaro. I started training and was due to leave for Africa in June.

SO in January of 2012, I started training. We had to choose a charity to raise money for and for me it was a no brainer, cancer research, in particular breast cancer research. So while I was off climbing my mountains, my granny was facing much greater ones. Then she started to get really sick, she was moved into the hospital. I can't really remember how long she was there. I just remember that my routine was go to school, do homework, go to the hospital, then train on weekends.

In April 2012, I'm not sure whether she was actually getting better or she whether her health was staying constant but she came home. I remember my mam and I spending a full weekend going all around the country trying to get the proper chairs, toilets, shower seats etc all ready for when granny was coming home. And she did come home, she had a hospital bed and all the equipment at her house. My mam visited almost every single evening after work, I often went with her too.

I, the eternal optimist truly believed that she would get better. You see many years before this, I must of only been about 4 or 5 years old, she had had a massive heart attack. I was too young to understand this of course, all I knew was that granny was sick. I remember my dad trying to explain it to me one evening while my mam was in the hospital with her. He said something along the lines of "granny is in a dark place at the moment". So off I went and got my little art pack together and made my her a paper candle. I even remember getting two of the kitchen chairs and the sweeping brush. I put the sweeping brush between the two chairs, horizontally, wrapped a sheet of paper around it. My dad stapled it together and I started painting it with glitter, green glitter, purple glitter, blue glitter. I then coloured in a flame which my mam later cut out in the shape of a flame and stapled onto my candle.

In my mind it was so simple, she's in a dark place so let's light a candle and then it won't be that dark anymore. When my granny got better after the heart attack, she said she loved it of course and she put it only her kitchen dresser, where it still sits almost two decades later. Anyway now I'm rambling, my point is, she had always gotten better, no matter how bad things got, she always got better. This time however she didn't get better.

I remember my mam telling me one Tuesday morning, that granny had had a fall and granddad couldn't lift her up. She told me to take my brother to school and she'd ring with any updates. Usually I always do what my mam says (you know to a certain extent, I'm not claiming to be the perfect child by any account), but this time I just had a feeling it was different. I'd never seen my mam so scared. She didn't argue when I said I was coming with her. So we raced over to my grannies house, calling an ambulance on our way. We arrived before the ambulance, I don't remember much of what happened at the house, the next thing I remember is being in the ICU in the hospital, my granny had slipped into a coma, but had come out of it just as quick.

While my mam and uncle were sorting things out with the doctors, I was left with my granny. This was the last conversation I ever had with her. I'm not even sure what it was about, I think she asked about my french test that was coming up. I just remember holding her hand really. She was put into a private room that evening and my mam started making phone calls to all our relatives to come and say goodbye. She passed away on the Wednesday night. I remember waking up on the Thursday (not knowing yet that she had passed on) to my dad in the sitting room, which was strange because he was always in work for like 8am, no one had called me for school, so I knew something was wrong. The next few days were a blur.

She died just 6 weeks before I left for Africa. While on the mountain, my body found it really hard to adjust to the altitude. On summit night/day, I was struggling like really struggling. I had started hallucinating and it was the strangest thing I've ever experienced. I had lost both of grandmothers in the last year and when I was on the mountain, I had completely forgotten they'd died and kept thinking I could see them further along the trail. I maintain to this day, they only way I got to the top was with their help. They say everything happens for a reason and I'm a firm believer of that. Perhaps she died at that time so that she could help me when I needed it the most, maybe that's just something I tell myself for comfort.

My point for writing this post wasn't to blabber on about arguably one of the most difficult times in my life, it was to raise awareness. We need to find a cure. We need people to get tested regularly. I really hope that this post reaches those who need to read it. If you're due a check up or a scan please go. Stop putting it off and just go, it could just save your life and save your loved ones suffering.

I miss my granny. I miss her hugs. I miss her giving me a sneaky fiver when my parent weren't looking. I miss the afternoons we spent baking. I miss her taking my side over my mams. I miss her cooking at Christmas. I miss everything about her. 

Here is a link to the Irish Cancer Society where you can donate here Or you can simply text CANCER to 50300!


Erin X
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Benefit They're Real Mascara VS W7 Absolute Lashes Mascara

Hi Everyone!

I have heard so much about the W7 Absolute Lashes being a dupe for the Benefit They're Real Mascara, so today I'm putting them up against each other. While there are a lot of similarities, I don't really think it is in fact a dupe. I found the They're Real mascara to be far superior. Here's why...


Below is a picture of my lashes before any mascara had been applied and it's very obvious that both mascaras did a great job. But if you look closely you will definitely notice a difference (don't look too close my eyebrows are shocking)



The wands themselves while they are quite similar are still different. I found the bristle on the They're Real mascara to be much longer and not as sturdy, which worked well when applying the mascara because the bristle moved with the lashes!


You can definitely see a difference in the two in the pictures above. I found the Benefit formula really separated the lashes well and gave it great volume after only one coat, where as I found the W7 formula to be a little drying and I really had to work to get it to separate lashes and get any volume.

The staying power of both of these are pretty much the same, I did however find the W7 formula to flake after a while and leave a bit of fallout under the eye. They're both as difficult to remove as each other too, I found an oil cleanser like the Lancome Eye cleanser the best for removing them.

Over all I don't think Absolute Lashes are a dupe for the They're Real mascara and even though I probably sound quite negative towards the Absolute Lashes, I do actually like the mascara. It's a great budget mascara and something that I use on a regular basis. It's great for day time. I do feel that the They're Real, while it is expensive is worth it. It's a fantastic mascara that gives a fabulous dramatic effect and requires very little effort on your behalf.

Which would I recommend ? It depends on your budget, if you're not worried about money then I would go for the Benefit mascara but if your budget doesn't go that far the W7 is a great alternative, not a dupe but a good alternative!

Have you tried either of these ? What did you think ?

Erin X
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Pinspiration | Halloween Nails

Hi Everyone!

Happy Monday I hope you all have a great week. Today I'm here to share so nail art inspiration for Halloween! I love Halloween and everything that comes along with it including Halloween themed nail art. So I scoured Pinterest as I always do when I'm looking for inspiration and these are the looks that I thought were super fun and relatively easy...

All images are taken from Pinterest!

I love the looks above and I hope to try some out, if I do find the time I'll bring you all along with me either on snapchat or Instagram both of which are 'chasing ruby chat'. So let me know in the comments which one is your favourite...

Erin X
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Seventeen Stay Time Foundation Review

Hi Everyone!

I've been using this foundation from Seventeen for a few months now, maybe since the end of July. I can't remember where exactly I had heard that this foundation was a really good affordable full coverage foundation, but to whoever said it, thank you! If you've read my blog for a while or seen any of my YouTube makeup videos, then you'll know I have problematic skin. I used to have acne, it's cleared up quite a bit in the last few years thankfully but I still always opt for a full coverage foundation, as I've been left with scars and still suffer breakouts. The problem with getting a really good full coverage foundation that doesn't break me out, is that it always costs a fortune!

Enter Seventeen Stay Time foundation, a budget friendly but high quality product. This is one of the first foundations that I have continuously loved, no matter how my skin is behaving. It is definitely FULL coverage and very build-able. It can be a little tough to work into your skin, I always apply it with a stippling/foundation brush and then go back and blend it with the Real Techniques Miracle Sponge. It works amazingly well with the sponge.



It has an SPF of 30 which I think is amazing for a foundation. On the skin it can feel a little heavy but to be honest all full coverage foundations do feel a bit heavy. It has been compared to the Estee Lauder Double Wear foundation quite a lot, but of course it is only a fraction of the cost. This foundation will only cost you €8.19 and is usually always on a 3 for 2 offer in Boots. Also this is exclusive to Boots, so you can buy it in store or online at Boots.ie.

So Seventeen say that this foundation will last for up to 25 hours, I have only wore it for 16 hours at the very latest and to be fair it did last very very well. My skin is a little weird, I have a dry nose but my forehead and the area beside my nose would typically be quite oily. What I did notice is that the foundation would cling to any of the dry patches after about six or seven hours, so if you have dry/very dry skin, you may want to give this foundation a miss as it does have a matte finish. Also if you have a fine lines, after applying it, leave it for about 5 minutes, then come back, smooth out any creases and then set it with powder.

This foundation as far as I can tell comes in about 6 different shades and it is one for us pale girls. I use the shade soft Ivory and it suits my skin really well. There are even lighter shades available too. I love this product and it is an absolute favourite of mine. I will definitely repurchase it and would 100% recommend this to you.

Have you tried this foundation or any other products from Seventeen ? 

Erin X
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Autumn Inspired Makeup

Hi Everyone!

Today I have a makeup tutorial for you, as you know I'm obsessed with all things Autumn. So obviously my makeup looks change from Summer to Autumn. This is a look that I've been wearing quite a lot recently as you'll know if you follow me on snapchat 'chasingrubychat'

Almost all of the products used were from affordable drugstore brands, so it just proves that you don't have to spend a fortune to end up with a good look. I personally love this look and the colours are very autumnal, so let me know in the comment what you think and don't forget to subscribe to my YouTube channel for more videos like this.





Erin X
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My Favourite Autumn Lipsticks

Hi Everyone!

SO you may have guessed by now, if you've read any of my previous blog posts , that I LOVE Autumn. I love everything about it including the darker more dramatic makeup. I live for darker lipsticks, they suit my skin tone a lot more than bright ones and I just love the dramatic look of them. SO without further ado, here are my top five Autumn lipsticks...






Sand Storm - This beauty is from Wet n' Wild. I always pair it with the brown lip liner from Pennys and the two of them together are just a dream. This is my favourite nude for Autumn. The lipstick itself is great quality. It's creamy but doesn't slip and slide all over the place. I find it to be quite hydrating on the lips too, very comfortable to wear.

Vamp it Up - This beautiful deep purple is also from Wet n' Wild. I do find this lipstick to be quite drying, it's beautiful when it's on and I absolutely love how dark it is, but I do sometimes have difficulty actually applying it. I usually use a lip brush to apply it, so it does take a few seconds longer to apply. however once it's on your lips, it's not drying and feels very comfortable to wear.

Rimmel 107 -  You guessed it, it's from Rimmel. The camera didn't quite catch how deep this red actually is unfortunately, but it is a lovely deep berry red that's perfect for Autumn. I usually pack away my orange reds and pink reds this time of year, always opting for deeper berry tones. It's quite creamy so I do like to pair it with the Penny's red lip liner. They work really well together and I always get compliments when I wear them.

Ghost Berry - This beautiful colour is from Ghost and can be purchased from Debenhams. This is in fact a lip crayon, and it's possibly my favourite one. It's very hydrating and feels amazing on my lips. It's has quite good staying power as well which is very impressive. This is my everyday go to lippie and I actually featured it in my September Favourites HERE. 

Cherry Bomb - Another amazing lipstick from Wet n' Wild, you just can't beat the value. Amazing products for only €3!!! This is a  beautiful, purple red colour, almost ox blood red/plum. It's lovely and comfortable on the lips and doesn't slip and slide. The staying power is insane with this lipstick, even if it's worn away, because it's quite dark it will actually act as a stain so you don't need to top up as often! LOVE love love this lipstick! 

So there you have it, my favourite Autumnal lipsticks, what's yours ?

Erin X
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Turning 21

Hi Everyone!

So today I'm 21. I'm not sure I feel about it, it's kind of anti climatic if I'm honest. When I was younger I used to always imagine what I'd be like when I was all grown up at 21, what my life would be like and most importantly of course what my 21st birthday party was going to be like. Well...I'm not having a big major bash like I'd always planned, I'm just not really into it anymore. My life is very different to how I'd imagined when I was small and I am so different to the person I thought I'd be. Don't get me wrong, I'm really happy with my life and who I am, I just can't help but wonder, if six year Erin could have seen into the future and seen who I am today, what would she think ?



Back then of course I wanted to be a famous fashion designer, I still have most of sketches that I used to do at home. I imagined that by now I'd be living in a Penthouse in New York, wearing sparkly dresses and sky high heels every day, sitting in a big bright office in the company that I had built. I imagined that my boyfriend would wear suits everyday and we'd have the most romantic rooftop meals for dinner every night looking over the New York skyline. I'd imagined having the most fabulous cocktail nights with the girls and getting into all sorts of mischief.

Of course none of that has happened, expect having fabulous friends and wild cocktail nights.In reality, I'm not a famous fashion designer, I don't even close to being fashionable. I love makeup, social media, wearing cosy jumpers and my idea of a great night out is going to the cinema. I live in a small apartment in the 'massive' city of Limerick that I share with four other people. My boyfriend doesn't wear a suit everyday he wears tracksuits and chinos. Our fancy dinners include 4 in 1's from the Chinese across the road and occasionally whenever we can afford it, a nice meal in the steakhouse in town and to be honest, I wouldn't change any of it for the world.

SO you see why I'm finding the whole '21st' thing a little anti climatic. It's not that I'm unhappy with my life, I'm so blessed but I guess your 21st is made into a big deal when really it's not. It is in America because now you drink and all of that but here in Ireland, I just don't get it. Maybe I'm just being cynical in my old age haha.

I have learned so much in the last 20 years, I did a full blog post about it HERE. I guess it's kinda nice to look back and realise the amazing life I've had so far and how truly blessed I am to have such outstanding amazing parents like I do, to be lucky enough to have the friends that I have and to be as happy as I am.

Turning 21 feels a bit weird. I swear I woke up this morning with some grey strands of hair and wrinkles under my eyes, so old! Haha I do of course realise that 21 is still very young but I can't help but think of that little girl who used to sit in her room, look up at the neon stars that were stuck to my ceiling and dream of being 21. What would she think of who I have become ?


I hope she'd be proud.


Erin X
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September Favourites

Hi Everyone!

I hope you're all well and having a great week. September was a weird month for me. I started back at college, I started working full time again, I was spiked on a night out and then I got tonsillitis. Lots of other things happened in between too and I was a bit all over the place. But despite my setbacks, it was still a good month! Today I'm sharing my September favourites, better late than never.





Let me know in the comments what you're favourite thing about September was! 

Erin X
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Nía | Shower Mousse

Hi Everyone!

Today I'm back with a product that I have been obsessed with recently, the Nia Intensive Luxury Creamy Shower Mousse! Nía is an Irish company and they do so many awesome products but today I'm focusing on the shower mousse...



Let me start off by saying that the smell of this product is so amazing. I could literally smell this all day everyday, it's that good! This product brings me so much joy in the shower, not only because it smells amazing but because it makes my skin feel amazing. All of the ingredients are 100% natural and I think that's what makes it feel so good. Afterwards my skin feels so soft and any dry patches that my skin typically gets are basically non existent.

It's very hydrating and creamy and lathers up into a soap like consistency. I have quite sensitive skin and this product is just a dream! I have stopped using any other shower gels and always opt for this beauty now. In the tin it's almost like a balm but when you scoop some out and add a little water, it melts and lather up into the nicest shower mousse I've ever used.

This is actually my second tin of this shower mousse, it's such a treat to use in the evenings after a long day! You can buy Nía in Natural Hand stores and also online HERE on Dolledup.ie !

Have you tried any Nía products ?

Erin X
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Manicure Monday | Catrice & Wet n' Wild

Hi Everyone!

Happy Monday, I hope you all have a fabulous week! I have been obsessed with this nail combo for the last week. I have been loving the darker nail shades now that it's autumn and I think this combo is very autumnal, almost winter like. The dark polish is Catrice 'Vino Tinto' and the sparkly silver is Wet n' Wild 'Kaleidoscope'.



Please so excuse the untidiness of the picture above, I just wanted to show you what they looked like on the nails and may I add this is after four full days! There's barely any chippings and they still look quite good.

So the Catrice polish is a very dark plum purple shade, from a distance it almost looks brown.  This is actually the very first Catrice polish that I've ever tried and I have to say I love it! The polish applies so evenly and smoothly across the nail. It's very opaque and you could definitely get away with only one coat. I applied two just because I love doing my nails. The brush is very good. If you've read a few of my Mani Monday posts, you'll know how important the brush is to me. My favourite brushes being the essence ones, however this Catrice brush has me rethinking my favourite. It carries the perfect amount of product and spreads out once its on the nail, it makes it super easy to apply. The lasting power of this polish, as you can see it great. It retails for about €4/€5 euro and can be bought from any Catrice stand in pharmacies or Pennys!

The Wet n' Wild polish is a new favourite, I have lots of polishes that are similar but this one is my favourite. The brush is very good, I had absolutely no trouble what so ever with it, it applied the glitter very well. Unlike other glitter polishes that are thick and gloopy, 'Kaleidoscope' is a breath of fresh air. The consistency is perfect, it applies very smoothly in one thin coat. The glitter has fabulous colour like blue, red, green, gold and of course silver. This polish is very affordable at around €3!! Great quality for a great price!

So that's what's on my nails this week, what's on yours ? 

Erin X
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Fave Bloggers | September

Hi Everyone!

If you've read my blog for a while you'll know that I used to do a monthly feature of some of my favourite bloggers in that month. I was shocked to see that the last time I did this was actually April!!! So I'm back sharing some of my favourite blogs today, hopefully you'll find some new blogs to spend hours reading. I have some really fantastic blogs to share so please do go over and have a look through their blogs!

SO in no particular order here's who I've been loving this month...


1. Claire by Reverie : Claire is an absolutely amazing blogger! I love how she writes, it's so easy to read. Claire focuses on beauty and lifestyle and I always love her reviews! Very in depth, helpful reviews with great photos. Even though I haven't met Claire I feel like I know her. She is so supportive of other bloggers and just generally a lovely human being.  She also has a fitness blog so be sure to check that out too. It's called Volta Fitness! My fave post from her this month was THIS ONE !!

2. Tres-Belle : Grainne is the fabulous blogger behind tres belle and her blog is just as fab as she is. Grainne's blog is a beauty and parenting blog. I simply can't scroll past if I know there's a new post up, I just love her posts! She gives lots of detail on products but her posts are never too long. They're the perfect length! Just like Claire, I feel like I know Grainne even though we haven't met! Definitely check her out on snapchat too, her daughter Lucy is so freaking adorable! My fave post from her this month was THIS ONE

3. Behind Green Eyes : Sharon is the lovely blogger behind this amazing blog! Her blog focuses on beauty, parenting , books, food and DIY. I know this might sound weird as I'm only 20 but I love her parenting posts! In particular THIS one! I just love how she writes, she has me hooked from the first to the last word in every post. Aside from the parenting posts, her beauty posts make me wanna spend all my money!! She is such a talented blogger so definitely check her out!

4.  It's All G Blog : The lovely Grace is the beautiful blogger behind It's All G! Her blog is for anyone who is obsessed with beauty and makeup! I'm warning you in advance though, she will make you want to spend all of your money, you have been warned ! She is also the loveliest bloggers I've ever come across, very supportive so definitely do go over and check out her fab blog! My fave post from her this month was  THIS ONE

SO those are the wonderful blogs that I've been loving this month! 
What blog have you been loving ? 

Erin X
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Afternoon Tea with Retro Flame

Hi Everyone!

Last Sunday I went to an Into the West Event! The event was afternoon tea with the amazing super blogger Erica Fox aka Retro Flame. It was on in the beautiful Glenlo Abbey in Galway. I'd never been before and was taken aback by the absolutely stunning views! The abbey itself is very traditional and just gorgeous.



There was so many new faces at this event, which was really lovely to see. I was sat at the Christian Dior table and the ladies there were just lovely. Really nice down to earth ladies. We got chatting about weddings, beauty, other bloggers and exchanged some great tips. It was an absolute pleasure to be sat with them. Here's all their links, definitely check them out!

So the afternoon began with a warm welcome from Sinead and Saibh. We were brought up table by table to get some lovely treats from the buffet. The food was so pretty almost pretty enough not to eat...almost! Haha after we had some treats and chatted for a while the beautiful Erica started her talk. I found her very inspirational, she talked us through how she started blogging, all the hard work she's put in and then opened up for a q n' a!

Afterwards we got a chance to checked out the brands that had come on the day and to chat and network with each other. It was a really great day and I can't wait until the next event! I did vlog the day so if you're interested, do watch the video below!


Have you been to any events lately ?

Erin X
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Five Easy Ways to Support Other Bloggers

Hi Everyone!

Being a newbie blogger can be tough sometimes, getting your name out there, trying to work with brands and what not. I blog because I love it. I love the creativity side of things as well as the nerdy HTML side of things. I find blogging to be very therapeutic and since starting my blog my love for writing has returned.

Aside from actually blogging, the one thing I love most about my blog is the opportunities it has brought me. I have met so many AMAZING people since starting the blog almost a year ago. Such talented kind people who I'm proud to say are friends. For me, being a relatively new blogger, building that support network has been essential. If ever I'm lacking inspiration or feel as if no one is reading the blog etc. I have such wonderful people supporting me.



So today I wanted to share 5 easy ways to support your fellow bloggers. There are so many to support bloggers but here are some small ways to help other bloggers out BIG TIME...

  • P.R Contacts  - Ever hear the phrase 'good for you not for me'? I've recieved lots of emails in the lsat year from companies wanting me to do blog post about their products. Not all of these products fit in with my blog however, so whenever one of those companies come calling, I always politely decline but recommend a few bloggers who's blog would fit in more with that brand. Also after working with some brands, I've often recommended some bloggers saying simply, ' ____ really loves your brand too if you're looking for more bloggers to review products'. Simple but helps your fellow blogger out.
  • Facebook - So everyone and their mother know that if your run a Facebook 'like' page, no matter how big your audience is reaching your audience is extremely difficult without spending your hard earned cash. One simple way around it is having great engagement, ie. the more likes and comments on post, the more people see that post. SO I always try to like lots of other bloggers Facebook posts and comment on as many as I can on a daily basis. A lot of the time, those bloggers will return the likes and comments. Win win for everyone!
  • Shoutouts - Every Friday I do a #FF on twitter, this means Follow Friday. It's basically a small shoutout to some of my favourite people on twitter that week. By tagging them, my audience gets to see new bloggers and if they like them, follow them. It's also just a nice thing to see on a Friday. I also do a monthly feature in which I talk about 4-5 of my favourite bloggers and YouTubers of that month, introducing them to my audience, telling people why I love and follow their blogs. I haven't done this in about two months but I'll be back at the end of the week with this months!
  • Share Content - This is kind of echoing my last two points, but everyday on my Facebook I share at least one post from another blogger, again showcasing their blog to my audience. I also retweet lots of blog posts on twitter on a daily basis too. This is so simple and takes only a few minutes, but you'd be very surprised on the effect it will have for your fellow bloggers.
  • Interact - Again so simple! If you are part of any blogging groups and someone needs help with something, try and help them. Interact and just talk to them. If you ask any successful blogger what they love about blogging, they'll tell you that they love they people they've met through it. Our community is so essential to all of our blogs, so interact and make friends!

What other ways do you support your fellow bloggers ?

Erin X
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Irish Blogger Conference - #IBCCork

Hi Everyone!

So as you've probably guessed by the title, I went to the Irish Blogger Conference in Cork last Saturday! It was a tremendously successful day and I had so much fun. I met up with loads of bloggers that I'd met previously which was really nice because I rarely get to see them offline. I also got to meet some of my favourite bloggers for the first time such as Aisling from Total Makeup Addict and Sue from Cherry Sue Doin the Do !



The event was packed with lots of amazing speakers. I learned so much from them all and felt so inspired afterwards. Each speaker brought something new and different to the table so by the end of the day, there was very little that wasn't covered. There was also an open Q n' A with a panel of fashion and beauty bloggers. I really liked this because everyone was very honest with their answers.

I did vlog the day and I've left the video down below so that you can have little look. If you're a blogger or thinking of starting a blog, I'd definitely recommend going to one of these conferences. I think there's another one soon enough in Dublin. If you want any information on the events just tweet @IrishBloggerA and they'll tell you everything you need to know!


Have you been to any really good conferences or events lately ? 

Erin X
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