Saturday 29 August 2015

Back to School Survival Tips


September is right around the corner and I'm going back to school on Monday. Sixth Year is such a big year when it comes to school and everyone needs life hacks to keep level-headed during the stressful months. 

I have compiled a few of my favourite back to school tips for everyone, not just Sixth Years to help you ease back into the school routine!


If you're like me and you struggle to get up in the morning, Sleep Time will be your new best friend! This is a free app the tracks your sleep cycle and can wake you up when you're in a lighter sleep. It can go off a half hour before you've set it or anytime between the thirty minutes.


Studies have shown that if you chew the same flavoured chewing gum while studying and taking the test, you will retain more information. Always keep a pack in your bag and one on the desk or area where you study!


If you're like me and find Sraith Pictiúr difficult to remember, voice memos are your new best friends! I record whatever I want to learn and play it back to myself when I'm going to sleep or on my way to school. I would definitely prefer to listen to music but I have found the information easier to retain and I will definitely be using voice memos for a lot of my oral work this year!


Everyone tells you to keep your journal organised! It definitely helps with keeping up-to-date on assignments and tests. I like to write each subject in one column, the assignment in the main body and then I draw a small column for the due date. Staying organised will help to reduce your stress levels and keep on top of everything!

Expanding file folders are another way of staying organised and knowing where everything is. I only have one at the moment with one section for each subject but this year, I will inevitably need more during the year and they are so easy to store!


If you're finding the first few weeks of school difficult, have a movie night with your friends! Whip out all the high school classics like Clueless, The Breakfast Club, Pretty in Pink, Mean Girls, even High School Musical if you're up for it! Movie nights are perfect for just chilling out with your friends and I hope to do it at least once a month with my friends this year!


Last year I kept on taking the wrong notebooks out of my bag in class because they all looked the same. This year, I plan on colouring the top section of each notebook a different colour so I don't get them mixed up in my bag! You could even write the name of the subject on top of the notebook to make things easier!

During the summer, I bought a small storage box that looks like a book. I plan on filling it up with essentials and keeping it in my locker during the year, the box will blend in with everything else in my locker as well! You could fill it with lip balm, tissues, paracetamol, bobbins, emergency snacks and anything else you think you may need!


If you're like me and you hate having your hair tied up but you want it out of your face, the top knot is perfect for you! This hairstyle keeps any wispy bits out of your face but still look cuter than a ponytail because that just does not suit me at all!


The Pretty in Pink scene has absolutely no connection to this tip but I had to fit in an 80s high school movie somewhere...... Walking on the right-hand side of the corridor will stop so many traffic jams! The older years should know which side of the corridor to walk on by now but younger years will need to be told. It saves so much hassle and stops people pushing around!


I've been long-listed for the 2015 Irish Blog Awards in not one, but two catagories; Best Beauty Blog and Best Youth Blog! The shortlist will be posted on September 2nd so fingers crossed until then! Thank you to everyone who nominated me!


Good luck to everyone starting back to school!

I hope my back to school survival tips help you in the new school year!
Do you have any tips you'd like to share?
Let me know in the comments below!

Ciara,

xoxo.

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Tuesday 25 August 2015

Lush Haul Oxford Street



I went to London last week with my sister and a few friends to finish the summer on a nice note before the stress of sixth year. No trip to London would be complete without a trip to the new Lush store on Oxford Street. Although I didn't go crazy I did pick up whatever exclusives they had in stock and a few of my favourites as well!



On my first trip (Yes there were two) I picked up three bath bombs and a facial cleanser. I have never used Angels on Bare Skin before but I had heard amazing things about it and decided to pick up a 250g tub for £17. I love how soft it makes my skin feel and it is definitely a product I will be repurchasing!

Fizzbanger and Avobath are available in Ireland but I couldn't resist picking them up while I was in the store! Fizzbanger has a citussy apple scent that is so divine and will make your bath smell lovely and fresh. Avobath also has a citrussy scent, due to the lemongrass oil and I cannot wait to relax in the bath with candles and Netflix with this bath bomb! Both Fizzbanger and Avobath cost £3.35.

I couldn't open Intergalactic to show you guys how amazing it looks because it got slightly crushed on the flight and the dust would've gone everywhere! It smells like peppermint and has so many different colours on the surface I can't imagine what it will look like in the bath! The description alone was enough to convince me to buy it, I mean who doesn't want to be the guardian of their own galaxy? I picked up Intergalactic for £3.95.



On my next trip I bought two Oxford Street exclusives - Ylang Song and Shark Infested Custard. Ylang Song is a floral scented bath bomb that turns the bath a delicate green shade as well as flower petals that float around in the water. I picked up Ylang Song for £3.35.

Shark Infested Custard is part of the luxury bath oils range that is exclusive to Oxford Street. I found it so hard to pick just one bath oil as they were all so enchanting but I finally decided on Shark Infested Custard because the colour is so vibrant and it smells just like custard! All of the luxury bath oils cost £2.

If you find yourself in London in the next while, visiting the Lush store on Oxford Street should definitely be on your list!
Keep an eye out on my instagram to see how all these products look in the bath!

Have you visited the Oxford Street store?
What did you pick up?
Let me know in the comments below!

Ciara,

xoxo.

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My friend Niamh has just started a band and y'all should check out their cover of 5SOS' She's Kinda Hot!



Wednesday 19 August 2015

My Current Feel Good Playlist


Everybody loves to feel good and music is definitely a method to help you feel good and let loose!
With the year ahead in school I definitely need a feel good playlist and I thought I would share mine with you guys!

You might have heard Eric Hutchinson's song 'Tell The World' on the new Windows ad. I love this song so much. I think it's about enjoying the simple things in life and creating memories with the people you love. 

Check out the song on YouTube!


'Clean' is the last track on Taylor Swift's album 1989 (not the deluxe version!). This song has a different meaning for everyone and for me it is about letting go of someone (or something) in the past and looking towards a new future. Although it is a slow song, Clean makes me feel optimistic about the future which in turn makes me feel good. Her speech before this song on each tour date is different and if you have not heard one before, check them out on tumblr!

Tay is super protective about her music so you won't find 'Clean' on YouTube...


'Diet Soda Society' is such a chill song. I love The Maine and this song just relaxes me.

Check out the band on YouTube!


Hailee Steinfeld's debut single is the ultimate love yourself song! Although some of the lyrics in 'Love Myself' are racy, the general theme of the song is feeling good on your own, without needing other people to do so. I could literally dance around to this song all day!

If you haven't heard the song, check it out!


My absolute favourite feel good song is Rachel Platten's 'Fight Song'. For anyone going through a hard time, this song is a reminder that you have to keep fighting. You have to fight for what you believe in and fight to show everyone that you've got what it takes.

You will feel empowered but just listening to the song, I cannot describe how much I adore the melody and the lyrics!

What are your favourite 'feel good' songs?
Let me know in the comments below!

Ciara,

xoxo.

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This Saturday's post will be moved to Sunday because I am going to be in London for a few days!



Wednesday 12 August 2015

What to do in Schull



For as long as I can remember, I have been going to Schull, West Cork, every summer and I love it.
It is a tiny village along the South Coast and almost everything there is to offer is along the Main Street. 

On sunny days, there are plenty of beaches you can drive to and enjoy the golden sand as well as the freezing cold water! Ballyrisode Beach is located in Toormore Bay and is perfect to take a kayak out or to relax for the afternoon without having to worry about anyone going out of site. There are rocks that are perfect to jump off of at high tide and the only downside is the road leading down to the beach. It is a one-way road so you can imagine how manic it is on a sunny day!


Barleycove is definitely a nicer beach and is further along the coast near Crookhaven. There are a lot of dunes along the beach and you access the beach by crossing a small floating bridge. Barleycove is a stunning beach and the water is amazing if there's a breeze on the day you go because the waves are great fun!


The red flags may be up on some of the days though and it is just heartbreaking but usually those are the days there is a mini sandstorm on the beach as well.



Casa Diego is a gorgeous tapas bar in Schull. I don't usually eat Spanish food but I love Casa Diego so much! The food is scrumptious and the coffee is just divine! Casa Diego is an authentic Spanish restaurant. They also do takeaway coffees which are by far the best coffees in Schull (and only €2!).


L'Escale is a lovely seafood restaurant and café located on the pier in Schull. I would definitely favour the café side of L'Escale because the strawberry shortcake ice cream is better than any other ice cream I've ever had! Even better than Scrumdiddlys and I don't even like strawberries!


The Schull Harbour Hotel has recently reopened and I am so happy that it has! The leisure centre is perfect for rainy days and at only €7.50 for a student or €10 for an adult you can use the pool and the gym!


The Bunratty Inn is my favourite pub in Schull. Mainly because they have an Eircom WiFi Hub and I don't have WiFi in the house we rent! The coffee is pretty decent too and I adore their scones with fresh jam and cream. It is everything you expect a pub in Ireland to be.


Schull is a beautiful village with so much to offer. It is lovely to stroll through down Main Street and take a look in all of the local shops as well as go to the Farmers' Market on Sunday mornings.

Situated along the Wild Atlantic Way, Schull is definitely a beautiful place for a staycation or a holiday for anyone abroad!

Have you ever been to Schull?
What did you love about the village?
Let me know in the comments below!


Ciara,

xoxo.

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*All photos, unless otherwise stated, are mine and any unauthorised publications is not allowed.






















Monday 10 August 2015

Summer Wishlist



Summer is nearly over but I'm still trying not to think about going back to school..... 

What I do love thinking about is my current wishlist! There are so many things I cannot wait to buy and hopefully I'll get my hands on some of them when I'm in London next week.

I love love love this jumpsuit from inthestyleIt is perfect for the summer and even autumn, Paired with black heels and a cute clutch, this jumpsuit would look fabulous on any night out! Even better, it's on sale for €15 at the moment and they deliver to Ireland.

I have also wanted a knee length skirt for ages and I finally came across this black striped knee length skirt on sheinside! I can literally put so many outfits together with this one skirt and it is just so cute! The skirt is €13.20 on sheinside plus delivery.

I have seen so many bloggers and YouTubers raving about the Chocolate Bar Palette from Too Faced. You also get two free samples from Too Faced when you order through their website!
This gorgeous palette will set you back €48 but it is well worth the investment.

The MAC Look in a Box Lip Kit Fashion Lover is exclusive to Selfridges and hopefully they'll have it in stock when I visit the store next week! This lip trio is £29 in Selfridges which will set you back €41 because the exchange rate is so bad at the moment.

I have read so many rave reviews about NYX's Colour Correcting Concealer and now that more stores are stocking the brand, I cannot wait to try out the concealer palette myself! This concealer palette is available from Littlewoods for €14!

My current wishlist could go on for days but these are my top five at the moment! Hopefully I can get my hands on some of these when I'm away next week!

What's on your wishlist at the moment?
Do you have any other recommendations for me?
Let me know in the comments below!

Ciara,

xoxo.

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Sunday 2 August 2015

Only Ever Yours Review


I picked up this book in a bookstore last year and read the blurb but decided it wasn't for me. I have literally seen it everywhere since last year so I decided I would bring it on holidays this year and read it on the beach.

I read it in a day. I was hooked and I couldn't put it down. Set in what seems to be a private all girls' school in post apocalyptic Europe, Louise O'Neill's debut novel is captivating from the very first page.

In this novel, girls are raised from birth to be beautiful, submissive and always available for men's pleasure. The only thing that worries these girls are the weekly poll competitions to see who's on top, which girl is the number one 'eve'. The men who vote for the girls may choose one of them as a mate when they reach their 16th year, their final year in the school. 

The girls are nothing but clones. Created to serve the men around them and to keep the human race alive. This novel follows Frieda, an eve in her final year. Freida has never been number one but has a high chance of marrying an Inheritant at the end of the year when the ceremony takes place. Freida must struggle through her last year without her best friend Isabel and the stress of being 'perfect' finally getting to her,

I loved this book until I got to the last chapter. Without giving anything away, it is a major let down. You are lead to believe one thing for the majority of the book and then disaster strikes in a plot twist you definitely didn't expect. 

Only Ever Yours will leave you itching to discuss the book with others but I definitely think the ending is a let down.

The book is available from Easons for €10.99.

Have you ever read Only Ever Yours?
Would you recommend it to others?
Let me know in the comments below!

Ciara,

xoxo.

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