What’s with the Weather?

So No this is not a post on the actual weather but on the damage it’s causing.

I don’t know about you but my skin is so dry. I really noticed lately with my hands. I suppose seen that your hands are one of the most washed parts of your body, they have a tendency to dry out.

I decided to try out some hand creams and treatments. I bought a natural hand cream containing shea butter by Figs &Rogue, Atrixo and one of my favorites Neutrogena.

Figs & Rogue Hand Cream Rose Berry with Shea Butter

Neutrogena Hand Cream

The consistency of both hand creams were completely different. The Fig and Rogue seem to be thicker but when rubbed into skin it felt quite liquid-y as if hands been in water. My hands didn’t feel very hydrated. I love Atrixo this cream is quite thick, a little goes a long way. You really have to work into the skin to have it fully absorbed. Then I used Neutrogena which is more oil/waxed based. This feels as if you are putting on a protective barrier on your hands – like a pair of gloves.

Figs & Rogue Hand Cream

Neutrogena Hand Cream

 

After creaming and creaming my hands I still was suffering from a few dry bits. Do you ever feel like a snake? Its like your skin seems to be scaling! So I decided I need to go a step further. So I purchased No7 exfoliater. Before you use this product, ensure you give the bottle a good shake before you poor it out as you will only get the liquid coming out of the bottle. You want to get the whole product which is best described as a Sugar Scrub. I found a good pea size was the perfect amount for my hands allowing the sugar scrub to be scrubbed into hands evenly. The motion I used was if I was washing my hands. Then I washed my hands to remove the product. So I was quite shocked to see what colour rang down the drain but was delighted with the results of how soft and delicate my hands felt. I think this should only be used once a week and I know I will be keeping this up.

No 7 Exfoliater

No 7 Exfoliater Consistency

I did combine the two and feel like I have got my hands back to normal.

Hells Bells
Xxx

Creamy Cocunut Curry

What you need:

1. Chicken breasts diced
2. Broccoli
3. Carrots
4. Mushrooms
5. Peppers
6. Curry Powder
7. Coconut Oil
8. Fry Lite
9. Alpro Coconut Yogurt
10. Chilli Flakes
11. Garlic
12. Basmati Rice

The how:

1. Heat your wok and add some coconut oil
2. Add the Chicken pieces
3. Chop up your vegetables, I used broccoli, carrots, mushrooms and peppers but you can use what you want
4. When Chicken pieces cooked, remove from Wok into a bowl
5. Add your vegetables to the wok with some Fry Lite
6. Add your garlic and chilli flakes
7. Boil some water for your rice
8. When cooked add chicken back into wok
9. Pour approx. half a tub of Alpro Coconut Yogurt into Wok
10. Add approx. 2 tbps of Curry Powder
11. Stir until all vegetables and chicken are evenly covered
12. Add Rice into boiling water
13. Simmer for 5-10 mins
14. Strain Rice and serve

Hope you enjoy!

Hells Bells

Xxx

Spring Haul

So I was going to put a haul up for March and I don’t know but time just went and I lost track of time. So I thought it be best that I combine what I did get to cover the months and also thought if not why not Ill put together a wish list too. #DREAMING OF SUMMER

So I didn’t buy much but this is what I did get;

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

More importantly here is my Wish List – cannot wait to be heading off!

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

Hells Bells
Xxx

Links: Boohoo, H&M, Penneys, Shein, Clarks, Boots

Summer 2016 trends – Explained!

Summer 2016 trends are in and I don’t know about you but some of these I wouldn’t touch with a barge pole. We have Stripes, Monochrome, Nautical, The 90’s, Utility, Samurai and Prairie Girl. What is different from last year I hear you say – Nothing!

Isn’t this great? You can replenish your summer wardrobe, if you bought these trends last year. Ok they may have been called something else but this is a breakdown of this year’s summer style.

Stripes

So when I looked through my wardrobe, I was surprised to see that I only had one thing that had strips on it! My lovely blue pin stripe blazer jacket – right on trend and goes well with block colours or if you are brave you could wear multiple stripes.

Monochrome

We all have something that is either black or white in our wardrobe. The Monochrome look doesn’t mean it has to contain black and white on the same piece of clothing. So I think we are all covered with this look.

Nautical

Now I would hope that with us Irish girls mostly being pale (practically blue) we would all have a bit of navy in the wardrobe. I love wearing navy, as I find that black sometimes washes me out! This being said if you don’t own navy, we all have a pair of jeans lying around. We all don’t need the sailor hats to finish this look, but if you even had a wicker bag or a pair of corked wedges, this will finish the look.

The 90’s

So if you grow up in the 90’s and kept some of your clothes (the little hoarder inside you) you now would be hitting the 90’s look vintage style. If like me don’t have any clothes from the 90’s but did buy some Mom Jeans last year (or was it the year before???), here are some of the key pieces you need to follow this trend;

• Bomber Jacket
• T-Shirt with slogan writing
• Mom Jeans
• Bulky heeled shoes

Utility

So this is easy, you need either clothes that are kaki in colour or a parka jacket. Sorted!

Samurai

So if you have been into going to festival’s or just loved the easy look of throwing on a Kimono. This look is about structure, wraps and obviously any print with some blossom tree blossoms & branches will be right on trend.

Prairie Girl

This look to me screams ‘cheese cloth’ and to my relief I don’t own any. Not because it doesn’t look or wear well but because I would have to iron it! I hate ironing. So instead to do this trend I wear lace type clothing; a lace waist coat, top to a hair band. To make this look more sheak I would wear something off the shoulder.

Or maybe you need an excuse to go and get something new, so pretend you have nothing to wear! But isn’t that always the case! To help you make some decisions, here are some looks/ideas;

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

Hells Bells

Xxx

Links: Boohoo, Dunnes Stores, H&M, Zara, River Island

Colour Correcting

Knowing your colours is the first hard task and not on the colour correcting pallete but the colours on your face.

So I looked at my own face and I could see my face is red especially my cheeks, then I can see those dark circles under my eyes which are more pink dark toned and some discolouration.

Then by looking at your colour wheel you can see by going directly across from one colour that you want to reduce or completely get rid of is the colour you should be using. For example to reduce my redness I look at the colour wheel and directly across from it is ‘Green’.

To treat the rest of my coloured skin  I looked at the colour correcting colour wheel and find to correct my blue under eye tones I need a yellow and then for discolouration as pale as I am I use a cream based colour.

Colour Correction Palette from Collection Boots

To help me with this I used Colour Correction Palette from Boots own ‘Collection’. I sadly don’t have any great photos of what it looks like on my skin as you blend the colours into your face, you shouldn’t see any green or yellow left over as it should become part of your now corrected colouring.

Here are some other colour corrector’s that you can try out;

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

Hells Bells

Xxx

Links; Boots

My Indie Spice

So I had a taste in my mouth I wanted something bold – or so I thought!

I decided to make my own Indie Spice Dinner so obviously it’s with a twist. It’s all made from scratch with healthy ingredients.

I wanted something baked like Tandoori Chicken, Bombay Potatoes, and Rajita (as my dip).

So I decided on a cocunut curry Turkey bake as these are the ingredients that I had.

What you need:
1. The bake
•Turkey
•Soya Cocunut yougart
•Curry powder
•Garlic Powder
•Garam Masala spice
•Ginger
•Chilli powder
•Lemon grass powder

2. Bombay Potatoes
•Potatoes
•Tomatoe puree
•Basil
•Garlic powder
•Chilli powder

3. Rajita
•Natural yougart
•Mint
•Cucumber

The how:
1. The bake
•Mix all the powder ingredients together for your spice mix in a large bowl
•Add your coconut yougart in
•Add your turkey steaks/pieces (or whatever meat/poultry you decide on)
•Ensure turkey is fully covered
•Put cling film over the bowl and refrigerate for min. 3 hours if you can leave overnight the marinade will be better

•Pre-heat your oven
•Place your turkey onto your baking tray
•Cook at 180ºC for 35 mins

2. Bombay Potatoes
•Chop up potatoes into cube shapes
•Par-boil them
•Mix all spice ingredients together with the Tomatoe puree
•Mix the par-boiled potatoes with the paste
•Put into Pre-heat oven for 20 mins at 180ºC

3. Rajita
•Pour natural yougart into mixi ng bowl
•Add approx. 3 teaspoons of mint (or to taste)
•Slice a few slices of cucumber and dice

•Mix all together
•Refrigerate until ready to serve

Enjoy with some pompadoms!

Hells Bells
Xxx

Gadget Accessories

When it comes to accessories I like to think I know a good bit in what to wear with what. But when I saw these accessories to go with my phone I became a proper geek and just want one to say that I have one.

I love Android when it comes to my phone, but in particular I love SAMSUNG. So I have been so tempted to buy the New Samsung S7 Edge and but the amazing’Gear VR’ to go with it! It’s all about the accessories.

Now I don’t think at €100 that it’s quite expensive but when I was online I found that Dunnes Stores does it’s own brand on the Virtual Reality Headset ‘VR Vision Virtual Reality Headset’.

Also when you want to go all out – you could just get the PlayStation’s VR Headset. Check out the spec here.

Hells Bells

Xxx

Links; Playstation VR Headset, Dunnes Stores, Carphone Warehouse

Let’s go to the Races

Hitting that time of year again – ‘The Races’. If you are heading to down to Punchestown this month, preparation is key. The Punchestown Irish National Hunt Festival (running from 26th April – 30th April) is one of the highlights of the Irish sporting and social calendar. The special combination of thrilling sporting action, brilliant live entertainment, delicious food and drink, family fun, dazzling glamour or casual comfort is unequaled thanks to the unique Punchestown Festival atmosphere.

Choosing your outfit can be one of the hardest things, as you want to look to amazing, feel amazing (comfortable) and just be AMAZING. Here are some ideas of what you could wear;

 

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

Once you choose what you are going to wear then it comes down to the shoes. I’m sorry girls but for me it is down to the comfort as surviving the day is what I want to aim for. I don’t want to be walking around like a dinosaur. However, I do want good looking shoes too! Too much to ask for?

Here are a few ideas;

Wedged Mid-Heel From Debenhams

Black Strap with Diamante Block Mid-Heel From Debenhams

Glitter, Cut-out side Mid-Heel From Debenhams

Peep Toe Glitter Mid-Heel From Debenhams

Blue Court Shoe Mid-Heel From Debenhams

Then the few key accessories to complete the whole outfit; if this should be a hat/fascinator, bag, parasol/umbrella, necklace/watch or even a coat. Here are a few more ideas;

Feather fascinator from Asos

Hat look fascinator from Asos

Leather Gloves from Asos

Hair Clip from Asos

Mary Poppins Umbrella from Asos

Blazer Coat from Asos

Wooly Coat with Fur Collar from Asos

I know I am really looking forward to going!

Hells Bells

Xxx

Links; Punchestown Races, My Kind of Dress, Debenhams, Asos

Deirdre O’Kane @ the Moat Theatre

Went to see Deirdre O’Kane in the Moat Theatre, Naas. She was presenting her show ‘1 Dee’.

I had seen her only recently at Electric Picnic 2015 and loved her stand-up. I recognised her instantly from as the Mother of Moone Boy. She plays Debra Moone.

So was very excited to be going again to seeing her strut her stuff! From reading the intro “After a seven year break from stand-up, during  which she had more babies, made a movie in Vietnam and became the mother of MooneBoy, Deirdre O’Kane returns with a brand new show.  What has she learned from being a mum, achieving the glory of a Mid-life crisis and chasing after collagen as it attempts to leave her life forever? She reveals all (well nearly all) in 1Dee”. I felt I knew what I was getting myself into.

Watching Deirdre on stage in her #rigout, the pain in my face grew and grew. I amn’t a mother but I am a daughter and have friends that have beautiful children. I could relate to her stories no matter what! No I amn’t saying that’s all she talked about – as it wasn’t.

I don’t want to spill the beans as I really do think you should go see her, all I can say in Lip Sync! You truly won’t be disappointed.

I have added the link below to where you can buy her tickets.

Hells Bells

Xxx

Links; Deirdre O’Kane Tickets – Ticketmaster