Things to Do in London

Hey guys!

I'm no stranger to London and am going back next week so I decided to do a post about all my favourite things to do in London!

Platform 9 3/4

I'm heading back to the city with a group of fellow Potter lovers and will inevitably end up back at Platform 9 3/4. Located in Kings Cross Station, this luggage cart attracts countless Potter fans each day and now has a Platform 9 3/4 store next door!

Taking a picture is free and the staff even have scarves belonging to each house!

City Lights at Night

I love hitting up the tourist spots at night because the lights are gorgeous (and less people around is always a plus). Getting the tube to Westminster means you can see Big Ben and the London Eye at night all lit up and then get the tube to Embankment then to Piccadilly Circus to catch the blinding lights at night!

Camden Lock & Market

I love the Camden and the general vibe of the market. Full of exotic food, fab vintage shops and some unreal record stores, I always find myself getting lost in Camden Town.

It's also home to the Cereal Killer Café, a café that only serves cereal from other countries and weird but yummy concoctions that include Unicorn Poop. I'm not one for cereal but I love the café!

Cocktail Bars

I don't have a favourite bar in London because I love finding a new place every time I go. Finding a good cocktail bar is half the fun of it and I love checking out a different part of the city.

Portobello Market

Without anything particular to purchase in mind, Portobello Market is great to walk around and just window shop. From antiques to clothes to food, there's something for everyone.

Shoreditch

From street art to Boxpark, the world's first pop-up shopping experience, Shoreditch is a great place to experience London.

What are your favourite things to do in London?

Let me know in the comments below!

Ciara,

xoxo.

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2017 Goals and Resolutions

Hey  guys!

After beating my winter sickness and finally getting back to the grind, I finally had time to sit down and thing about what I want to do and achieve in 2017.

2016 was a busy and important year for me. I finished school, started college, left some people behind and sort of found myself.  I grew into myself when I started college in September and finally realised I was one of those people who were born to go to college. I'm in my element and have met so many fab people that I love.

For 2017, there are so many things I want to do and cannot wait to get started on achieving some of my goals.

Blog Goals

10,000 Instagram Followers

My Instagram account (@CiaraKittyK) grew so much in 2016 and this year I hope to reach 10K. It is definitely ambitious as I am just over 3,000 followers now but I am hoping to improve my content and post my regularly to gain more follower engagement and maybe even some collaborations with brands along the way.

Stick to a Schedule

2016 was a bit all over the place with my posting schedule. I tried to stick to two posts a week but with my exams in June and settling into college, time just flew away from me. I have so many post ideas and won't be as tied up with commitments and study this year as I was last, so the plan is to make a schedule and stick to it. I'm hoping for at least a weekly post and two if time allows it.

Take Better Pictures

My pictures can really be hit or miss but this year I plan on sticking to editing and taking good quality pictures, with a camera or my phone. 

Collab with Other Bloggers

I have done collaboration posts before but would love to do more this year. It's so fun and a great way to make new blogging friends! If you're interested in collaborating, feel free to email me or comment on the post!

Life Goals

Stay Organised

Anyone who knows me, knows I'm an organised person in general. This year however, I bought a planner and am fully committed to keeping track of what I do, what I need to do and decorating it with stickers.

FINALLY Take My Theory Test

I have been saying I'll do my theory test for a good two years now and haven't gotten a chance to do it yet. I want to have it done by June at the latest and will definitely get my hands of the CD or book to start soon.

Be Happy

A very broad statement but something I really want to be this year. I am a worrier and anxiety struggles are real, but this year I want to focus on me and feeling happier overall. Whether this happens through pampering myself, spending more time with friends and family or just taking a break every now and then, I am fully committed to this goal because I think being happy is life's ultimate goal.

Travel More

I want to visit more countries this year and go on spontaneous breaks with friends. I'm kicking 2017 off by visiting London next week with a group from college and I cannot wait! I'm also hoping to go on a J1 this summer and work in a summer camp. There are so many countries and cities that I cannot wait to see and this year I'll be ticking some off my list.

Say Yes to More Opportunities

Saying 'Yes' to opportunities is a great way of meeting new people and experiencing unforgettable things. I plan on saying 'yes' to more opportunities and challenges this year because life is more fun if you don't overthink things (something I do basically always).

Exercise More and Drink Lots of Water

I do exercise regularly but I want to walk more and go to the gym on a more regular basis this year. I have some fab new workout gear and cannot wait to try it out! I drink about a litre of water a day but I want to try and drink about 2 litres a day this year so I can stay hydrated, have clearer skin and hopefully curve some snack cravings!

Some of my goals/resolutions are ambitious but I am a determined person and hope to achieve all of them this year!

What are your goals for 2017?

Let me know in the comments below!

Ciara,

xoxo.

Twitter: twitter.com/ciarakittyk

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What I Got For Christmas 2016

Happy New Year guys!

I took some time out over Christmas and the start of the New Year to spend some time with family and friends. I'm so excited for 2017 and all of the new opportunities and experiences it'll bring!

So many people have been sharing what they got for Christmas on their blogs and vlogs and after a few comments about whether or not I would do one. I decided I would. I am so thankful for everything I got from family over Christmas and by no means expected the sheer generosity of everyone.

I was lucky enough to receive two Micheal Kors products this Christmas - one which I was lusting after for months as well!

The first one I got was the Rhea Medium Backpack in a gold metallic colour that I absolutely love! I had seen the bag in Brown Thomas and just fell in love. If you are looking to invest in a bag, I would definitely recommend this one! There is a lot more room in the bag than I expected and the zipper only opens on one side which makes me feel a lot safer when walking around with it.

The second item I received was a gorgeous maroon wallet that matches the bag I got for my 18th birthday last year. It was a surprise present and I was so happy when I got it! There is plenty of card room in the wallet (coming from me, someone who owns too many cards!) and I just adore the colour. Unfortunately I couldn't find the wallet online but the website has a lot of similar styles!

The bag and the wallet (or similar designs) can be found on the Michael Kors website and they currently have a sale on as well!

If you know me, you know this picture has two of my favourite things in it; Harry Potter and scented candles.

Some of my family visited the States just before Christmas and I had to send them into Bath and Body Works to pick up a candle for me! My requirements were sweet and pink, two things that this candle most definitely is. If you don't like sweet scents I'd steer clear of the Red Velvet Cupcake candle but I love it and my room smells delicious!

Bath and Body Works candles are available from their website.

I also got a set of Harry Potter mugs from Penneys that are fab. I love Harry Potter and have done since I was tiny, the books and movies have always been on my shelves and I may have bought a few pairs of pyjamas over the years as well.

Two more things I got from the States are Taylor Swift's Wonderstruck perfume and a Victoria Secret body spray.

Wonderstruck has become like gold dust over here and I love it so much so I asked my mum to look for it while she was away. I was so happy when I got this because it's my signature scent and I am running out of my last bottle.

I also got a Victoria Secret body spray in Love Spell Night. Love Spell is one of my favourite sprays from Victoria Secret and Love Spell Night is slightly more muskier and just as divine!

Check out the full collection on Victoria Secret's website!

It wouldn't be Christmas without new makeup and I love the new products I got for Christmas and trying them out has been fab!

I love Anastasia Beverly Hill's Glow Kits and kept on hinting that Moonchild was my favourite to my sister who thankfully picked up on it! Moonchild has six duo-chrome metallic finish shades that are adventurous for highlight so if you flinch at the thought of a metallic green highlight (I wore it for NYE!) then this palette definitely isn't for you.

Moonchild is available from the ABH website and they ship to Ireland!

I also got a mini matte lip kit from Colourpop, I chose It's Vintage because it has so many shades that are perfect for all the seasons, not just the colder months. I have only worn Bianca and Love Bug, both of which I loved and cannot wait to wear the rest of these! They lasted all day and didn't smudge or transfer onto mugs which I loved.

I also got Maneater - an ultra metallic lip from Colourpop that is amazing. It's a rose gold shade and perfect for a night out if you're going for a neutral eye and a bold lip.

Both of these products are available from Colourpop's website.

 I also got the NYX Glitter Primer because I recently bought a few glitters from MAC and NYX but forgot to pick up a primer so the glitter would actually stay on my lid! I have used the primer twice since Christmas and I love it! It does the job and prevents fallout which is all you need in a primer.

You can pick up the NYX Glitter Primer in their new stand in Arnotts!

The last beauty related item I got was an eye mask from Sephora. I have heard so many people rave about how great these are to wear during long haul flights and decided to try one out for myself as I have a few trips planned for 2017 already.

Sephora's collection of eye masks are available in stores and online.

The last few bits I got for Christmas are some of my favourites.

My mum picked up some essentials for me in Victoria Secret was she was in the States and I also got my all-time favourite jellies - Sour Patch Watermelon. 

If you haven't tried Sour Patch Watermelon you are seriously missing out! I love them so much and if I know anyone visiting the States, I always ask them to bring home some for me.

If you guys want swatches or a review of any of the products in this post let me know in the comments below!

Happy New Year everyone and I hope you had a happy and safe break with your friends and family.

Ciara,

xoxo.

Twitter: twitter.com/ciarakittyk

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Facebook: www.facebook.com/sparkleofpink
Snapchat: Ciarakxo

Winter Funderland

Hey guys!

There are still a few days left in the Christmas Holidays and if you're stuck for something to do, Funderland is the perfect place to spend the day!

There are so many rides to choose from a plenty of games if you're not one for spinning around in circles.

The team over at Funderland were kind enough to send me two wristbands so I could see what all the hype was about and I can definitely say the rides and stands around the complex definitely live up to the hype.

I went with my friend on one of their busier days but the queues for the rides didn't last more than 10 minutes and the wait was always worth it. We went on almost every single ride as the wristbands last for a few hours and are definitely better than pay as you go as you can literally go on as many rides as you want until your time runs out.

Although I was scared to go on some of the rides first, I loved Take Off and Frisbee, they were fantastic!

I would definitely recommend the churros from the vendor outside before you leave, they are unreal and you have to try them with the melted chocolate too!

Winter Funderland at the RDS is open until January 15th and is definitely worth the trip before everyone goes back to school.

Ciara,

xoxo.

Twitter: twitter.com/ciarakittyk

Instagram: instagram.com/ciarakittyk

Bloglovin: www.bloglovin.com

Facebook: www.facebook.com/sparkleofpink
Snapchat: Ciarakxo