Product List : What I Wore

Hi Ladies,

Sorry I have been so quiet on my blog recently. I have been keeping my Facebook and Instagram accounts updated daily, but have not had time to sit down at my laptop and schedule some posts, but I promise there will be more coming soon.

I posted this look today, and have had lots of requests for a list of the products I used, so here it is girls - 

Face

Revlon PhotoReady Airbrush Mousse foundation in Nude

MAC Studio Finish concealer in NC15

MAC Harmony Blusher as contour

NARS Orgasm blusher 

MAC Mineralize Skinfinish Soft and Gentle to highlight

Rimmel Stay Matte translucent powder

Eyes

MAC Coppering and Cranberry eye shadows

NYX Black matte liner

NYX Liquid liner in black

Maybelline Colossal Volume Express Mascara

Lips

MAC Whirl and Stone lip liner (Mixed)

NYX Nude Matte Lipstick

I also used Urban Decay All Nighter setting spray, an absolute must if you want your make up to last all day and night! 

Have a great Saturday night girls… have a bop for me if you are out on the town!!! 

Lots of Love,

Rosie 

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How I Style My Hair - Tips and Tricks

Hi Ladies,

Sorry for the lack of blog posts this week.. I have been busy getting all the final things ready for my little man's arrival, and trying to rest in between! 

Many of you have asked how I style my hair and what tools I use, so here is a quick update on what I have been reaching for lately.

As you know, I have Hotloxs Hair Extensions in my hair, which makes styling my hair a lot easier, as I feel like the extensions hold a style a lot better than my natural hair.

I have my hair curled or waved 99% of the time, as I prefer this look over straight hair. 

I tend to wash my hair every 2-3 days. I wash my hair in the morning, blow dry it straight using this pro hair dryer from Peter Mark.

For everyday waves, I either style my hair with the Instyler or with the Babyliss Pro Ceramic Tong in 38mm.

I find the Instyler great for creating a loose wave or flick on the ends of my hair, which is perfect for daytime as it is quick and looks natural too. 

If I want more of a full curl, I will use the Babyliss Tongs. This gives a large loose curl, so for daytime, I curl my hair, spray with a little hair spray and brush them out. 

For night's out or events, and when I have time to get ready, I curl my hair, and pin each curl while it is still hot. Wrap the curl around your finger, and pin to your head using a bobby pin. Leave for as long as you can.

 I generally do this before I apply my make up, as once my make up is done and I am dressed, I can release each curl for a full, big voluminous look that will last all night. 

On days when my hair is not freshly washed, I will spray with a little dry shampoo, and either leave it down and throw on one of my many hats, or tie it up in a messy high ponytail.

I hope this helps some of you out, and be sure to check out the special offer on the Instyler, available on www.Instyler.ie 

Lots of Love,

Rosie 

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My Hair Extensions : Hotloxs Review

Hi Ladies,

I hope you're all having a nice Sunday evening. Apologies for the lack of blogging lately. I have been busy working on some upcoming projects, and getting everything ready for "D-Day"!!

I always get asked about my hair and what hair extensions I use, so I think its best that I do a post to answer all of your questions in one place.

I have been wearing hair extensions on and off since I was around 16 years old, so it is safe to say I have tired and tested a lot on the market. From clip in extensions to pre bonds and microbeads, I have gone through many heads of hair! 

I discovered Hotloxs Extensions about 4/5 years ago, when the owner, the amazing Anna, was working from her car, driving to clients houses day in day out. To say I was impressed with the quality of her work and of the hair itself is an understatement. Since then, I have never used another brand. I took a break from the pre bonds, and went for Hotloxs clip in extensions for a few months too. It's great to have the option, but I have reverted back to the pre bonds again in the last two years. 

I am sure you have all heard the horror stories of girls' hair being destroyed from extensions, but I can honestly say, if you look after them correctly, and have them maintained regularly, you should not have that problem. 

I have my extensions maintained every 6-8 weeks, getting a quick top up if I feel I need it, and then have a brand new set put in every 3-4 months. Even when I pop in to have my new set applied, the current hair extensions are always still soft and in great condition. 

How I maintain my extensions - 

I generally wash my hair every second day. I know this is a lot for some girls, but I just love the feeling of having freshly washed hair. I wash my extensions as I would my own hair. I know there are a lot of brands who do "hair extension friendly" shampoo and conditioners, but to be honest, I just use regular products or whatever is on special in Boots that week!! I have never been fussy about my shampoo or conditioner, and my hair has never suffered because of it. 

I shampoo once, and then apply conditioner to the ends of my hair and leave for a few minutes. I then rinse my hair thoroughly and towel dry as soon as I get out of the shower. 

My 'must have' with extensions is the Tangle Teezer. This is the only thing I have found that stops me getting any matting. Since using the Tangle Teezer, I have not had even one extension become matted, and it doesn't hurt your head or scalp either. 

I will comb through my hair with the Tangle Teezer, and then proceed to blow dry my hair, using a round brush to lift the roots. Make sure to turn the hair dryer to a cool setting when drying the bonds, so that you do not allow them to become hot, as this may affect how long the bond lasts. Once my hair is dry, I usually style it using the Instyler, or a large barrel tongs. 

I will always carry my Tangle Teezer in my bag, and comb through my hair throughout the day. I usually tie my hair up on the second day, and can happily say you cannot see any of the bonds when it is tied back, as the girls are sure to leave enough of your own hair around the edges to cover them. 

The salon is based on Dame St, Dublin 2.  You can check them out on Facebook HERE to see lots of before and after pictures. They can also give you a quote for what you are looking for. They stock a high range of colours to suit everyone so if hair extensions are something you are considering, then be sure to check Hotloxs Hair out.

Lots of Love,

Rosie 

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My Pregnancy : The Truth

Hi Ladies, 

I hope you are all enjoying your Sunday afternoon. I have had a nice lazy morning prepping mine and babies bag's for hospital. I am definitely hitting the 'nesting' stage, and can't stop rearranging things at home, and wanting to clean and organise everything I see! 

Some of you have been following me from very early on in my pregnancy, and some of you are just recent followers, but I know a lot of my readers are either expecting a baby or have already had children. After a late night chat with my partner, and discussing the influence social media can have on young women, and the pressure it can put on you, I decided to write a post about the "real" side of pregnancy. I can only write from personal experience, but my own pregnancy has not been the easiest, on me or on those close to me. By flicking through my Facebook page or Instagram account, it may appear that I have everything under control and that I am breezing through pregnancy, which is certainly not the case. I feel it is only right to let you in on the not so glamorous side to my pregnancy, and how I have over come the hard days over the last nine months. 

The early days after finding out we were expecting a baby were an absolute blur. Initially, I was totally shocked, scared, anxious and excited all at the same time. It is such a hard thing to explain, but for anyone who has been there, I am sure you understand how difficult those first few weeks are. I felt immense pressure to be absolutely over joyed, as I know so many people would do anything in their power to become pregnant, but that wasn't how I truly felt. How was I going to look after a tiny little person for the rest of my life? Would I be any use as a mother? Would the baby be healthy and happy? What about my career? The questions I put to myself on a daily basis were endless. Having suffered from anxiety in the past, it is safe to say that this massive milestone in my life triggered my panic attacks big time. I can honestly say, that without the support of my partner Paul, and my amazing family and friends, I don't think I would have been able to take control of my anxiety the way I have. There were days I just sat and cried my eyes out, unable to comprehend the enormity of what was ahead. Other days, I was so excited to start a family, and become a mum to a beautiful little baby. These mixed emotions continued well into the 2nd trimester of my pregnancy, and still raise their head every now and then. I know pregnancy hormones play a big part in this too. The only thing that helped me feel better was to talk it out with people you trust. Just having someone there that you can be honest with, who you feel comfortable to tell your biggest fears too, is the best therapy out there. 

On top of the emotional stress I experienced in the early days, I also had severe morning sickness for over 20 weeks. I am talking throwing up more than 10 times a day, not being able to keep any food or water down, and feeling absolutely horrific, day in day out. This took its toll on me massively, and there were days it was impossible for me to see any positivity in being pregnant. I know thats a bold statement, but that is how I truly felt. How was anything worth this level of sickness and stress? It put a lot of pressure on myself and Paul too, as you can imagine how hard I was to be around. When we met, I was always full of laughs, smile and positivity, and all of a sudden I was grumpy, snappy, negative and very draining to be around. Luckily, he was so supportive and understanding. Day in, day out, he did his very best to just get one smile out of me, or cheer me up as best he could. I know pregnancy is very tough on women, but I admire the men out there who have the patience to support a pregnant women, because if you were anything like me, then its not an easy task.

After getting through the tough days of morning sickness (or all day sickness in my case) I began to feel better and started to enjoy being pregnant. That was until, a few weeks later, I got sciatica and was in agony once again with hip pain. And you can imagine, it was back to square one, being fed up, exhausted, and generally very negative. I just wanted a break, to enjoy my pregnancy and not be in constant pain. Luckily, I got some relied from the pain after a few weeks, and was able to continue working, which was very important to me.

Now that I am 35 weeks pregnant, there are more symptoms of pregnancy that are testing my patience. I have spent nearly every night in the last week, sitting up sobbing my eyes out on Paul's shoulder, out of exhaustion and lack of sleep. My little man loves to wake up the minute I need to sleep, and continuously kicks and punches my ribs, making it impossible to nod off. I also have a bladder/kidney infection, so you can imagine how often I am needing to pee, again leaving me exhausted. Don't get me wrong, everything I have experienced so far in my pregnancy has been very normal and common, but I never had any idea how much it tests your patience and positivity. 

Blogging has been such a great way for me to switch off and gives me something to focus on, but I don't want any of my followers to get the wrong idea about pregnancy, and think that it is all sunshine and flowers. The bad days are not something I would be quick to upload to social media, as I am sure no one wants to see pictures of my crying my eyes out at 4am, but that is the real side of my pregnancy. No one is perfect, and social media can fool you into thinking that people have the "perfect life" and are coping so well with something, when in reality, we are all the same. 

I have bad days, ugly days, fat days, bad hair days and extremely negative days like everybody else. 

I have chosen to show as much positivity on my blog and social media as I can, as it helps me to focus on the good things, and hopefully inspires you to try and look at your lives in a more positive way too. Deep down, I have never felt so blessed to have so many good things coming my way. I have a beautiful son who I get to meet in only a matter of weeks, an amazing soul mate and best friend to start my family with, incredibly supportive friends, and my 'rock' of a family who have been there through thick and thin, so the good days definitely out weigh the bad.

I hope that if any of you are going through a tough time, that you know you are not on your own, and it is so normal to have mixed emotions throughout your pregnancy. My best advice would be to talk to those you trust, and know that the dark days will pass, and you will smile again soon…

Have a lovely evening ladies,

Lots of Love,

Rosie 

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#AskRosie : Part Two

Hi Ladies,

As I mentioned before, my most popular posts tend to be the more personal ones, so I decided to run an #AskRosie segment, so that I can answer some of your questions that you were eager  to ask.

Here is part two for you all…

Where do you buy your maternity wear?

I get asked a lot about my maternity wear, and where I purchase certain items. I will be honest and say the only maternity pieces I have bought are a couple of pairs of skinny jeans from the H&M Maternity range. Everything else I have worn has been my own clothes, or from the regular section of my favour shops. My bump did not show until close to 6 months in, so up until then I wore my regular outfits, with the exception of the "bobbin trick" on days when my tummy was a little more bloated than normal. I wanted to get as much use out of what I already had, so I just took a second look at my wardrobe, and put away anything high waisted, or anything with a cropped finish. I will take them back out once the baby weight is off. I have found, now that I only have 5 weeks to go, I am living in my maternity jeans from H&M, and layering cardigans, knitwear, blazers and coats over a plain tight fit tank top (Penneys do a great selection!) 

What is your skincare routine?

Ohhh I hate being asked this question, because it reminds me how bad my skincare routine is!!! I used to be so good, and used Dermalogica products religiously, but I have become so lazy about my routine lately. Im talking a baby wipe alot of the time (bowing my head in shame!) 

Luckily, due to my pregnancy, my skin has been looking great regardless, but I have made a promise to myself to start investing into my skincare a lot more in the new year. I have facials from the amazing Alice In Beautyland, and they really perk my skin up. I have also been using the Forever Living Aloe Vera skincare as a trial lately, and they are definitely giving my skin a great glow. When I get my ass in gear, and get a good routine under my belt, I will be sure to share it with you all. 

Who are your style inspirations?

I find this a question I get asked a lot, and always find it quite difficult to answer, as I do not have any particular person who completely inspires me. I find most of my inspiration comes from everything around me, from street style, people watching and trawling Instagram on a regular basis. I much prefer to see how "regular" women style their outfits, as opposed to celebrities, who tend to be wearing whatever their stylist has guided them towards. I love looking on Pinterest and fashion blogs every day and just seeing how fashion is evolving all the time. There are plenty of styles I just love to look at, but as for recreating them for my lifestyle, I will take elements of lots of different items and make my own look with it.
If I am styling a photoshoot, the approach tends to be a lot different. It is more like art to me, and my creative side really gets to shine. Personal styling is very different to media work, as dressing someone for their day to day lives requires a lot more practical decisions, as opposed to what looks good in a magazine.

How do you manage to balance working full time, blogging and being pregnant?

I often get asked where I get my energy from, to work full time, and keep my blog going at the same time, all while preparing for my first baby. I never really saw it as a challenge to balance the important things in my life, as working and blogging are not a chore for me. I love what I do, so getting up for work is not the hardest task in the world. As for blogging, when most people are watching TV, catching up on the Soaps or reading, I am blogging. Every second of my spare time is willingly spent working on my Facebook page, my Instagram, my blog, and answering many emails I have received that day. It has never felt like a hassle or chore to me, and I would much prefer to be online than watching TV. I actually cannot remember the last time I sat down and just watched a TV programme. My head is always in my laptop, with YouTube playing in the background. That's when I am at my happiest! Luckily, I have a partner who gets it, and as he is very ambitious too, he's not the type to sit around and flake on the couch. Both of us have a lot of energy so it works for us. If he's not busy running his business, he is spending time with his son or in the gym, so our work/life balance seems to just work for us.
Obviously things are going to change when our baby arrives, but I am sure we will work out a great routine that works for our family.
Don't get me wrong, there are days when all I want to do is lay on the couch and do NOTHING for the day, and there are days when we have so much on, that we can both get cranky and fed up, but that is only normal, and days like that are few and far between.
I think the key to balancing your time is to do something you love, as it never feels like a burden in your life. It is also very important to take a night off and just give yourself some free time to run a bath, read a book, or go on a date night.
One of my favourite bloggers Hannah Maggs, has a "black out" night with her partner a few times a month. They turn off all laptops, phones and TV's and just spend the evening together making dinner, listening to music over a bottle of wine. I am going to start giving it a go, as my phone and laptop get so much of my time lately, that I think it is important to just switch off, take a break and spend time together as a couple.

So there you have it ladies, some more of your questions answered. I will do another one of these posts, as more questions come in!

Have a lovely friday evening…

Lots of Love,

Rosie
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Review : Forever Living Skincare

Hi Ladies,  

A couple of weeks ago, I was sent some gorgeous products from Forever Living skincare. They are all Aloe Vera based, and completely safe to use while pregnant.  

I have heard great things about the brand so was excited to try them out. 

My all time favourite product from the range has to be the Forever Bright sparkling Aloe Vera tooth gel. It contains Aloe Vera gel with bee propolis, and the great thing is that is fluoride free. I found from using this, my teeth have felt super clean and even squeak after I use it!! Your mouth feels super fresh after, without all the harsh chemicals. And it is suitable for vegetarians too, as it contains no animal by-products.

I've also been loving the Aloe Vera Lotion. It has a thick consistency but soaks in quickly, so you are not left feeling greasy or tacky. I have been using this after every shower, and have also been lathering it all over my growing bump as much as possible. My skin feels super soft having used this for a few weeks now, and It has been so gentle on my sensitive skin. Also, a little goes a long way with this lotion, so I am not even halfway through it yet.

Now, even though I was excited to try out all the products myself, a certain man in my life has also found a new love for them too. He has been using the Aloe Vera Heat Lotion on a rib injury he picked up during training, and has found it really helpful for the pain. Beware, this lotion is extremely hot (think Deep Heat hot!!) so I wouldn't go putting this all over, but it is great for muscle pain or areas of tension.

 He has also been using the Gentleman’s Pride Aftershave, as a lotion for conditioning his skin. It smells lovely, and has a very smooth, silky texture, while maintaining a masculine scent. Again, he has told me it doesn't leave his skin feeling greasy, and as there is no alcohol in it, you avoid that stinging feeling of general aftershaves. He’ll kill me for revealing his pampering regime to the world, but it's all in the name of research!!

The last product that I have found I have been carrying around with me everywhere is the lip balm, Forever Aloe Lips with Jojoba. With the weather really getting cold lately, and the constant air conditioning in work, I find I need a good lip conditioner with me at all times, to stop my lips drying out. This one is super nourishing, and smells Devine. It is clear in colour too, so It leaves me free to apply my favourite lippie on top, without altering the colour.

So there you have it ladies (and gents!!) 

If you are looking for a new Skincare range, that is natural and kind to the skin, look no further than Forever Living. They would also make a great Christmas present for family and friends too.

If you want to order any of these products please contact Marie-Claire Foley on 0857616636 or email marieclairefoley@gmail.com

Lots of  Love,

Rosie 

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Make Up Focus : Glamorous Glow

Hi ladies,

I hope the week is flying in for you all... Tomorrow is Friday already!! 

I posted this look yesterday, after spending the morning having my hair done with Hotloxs Hair Extensions and a lot of you have asked for a product list for this, so here are the products I used to create this glamorous look...

Face

MAC Studio Sculpt foundation in NC30 

MAC Studio Finish concealer in NC15

Rimmel translucent powder on my T-Zone 

MAC Harmony Blusher to contour 

NARS orgasm blusher 

MAC Mineralize Skinfinish in Soft and Gentle to highlight.. My favourite highlighting product bar none! 

Eyes

All eyeshadows are MAC

Uninterrupted in crease and blended out to below brow bone, and blended under lower lash line. 

Amber Lights in inner and outer corner of eyelid.

Woodwinked in centre of lid. 

Swiss Chocolate in outer crease to create more depth, also brought down to outer edge of lower lash line.

Maybelline Master Precise liner pen on upper lash line.

MAC smouldering eye liner in water line.

Ardell Demi Whispie lashes 

Lips 

I have been loving this nude lip lately. 

NYX Nude Beige lip liner 

NYX Pure Nude lipstick 

MAC Sweet and Sour lipstick in centre of lips for volume.  

Please let me know if you decided to try out this look ladies... 

Lots of Love, 

Rosie 

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