Sleepingbootay Life: Don’t worry, be Happy?

I always say, if there was one thing I could change about myself, it would be to worry and stress less. I worry and stress about everything from the extreme right down to the teeniest of problems. I even find myself worrying about things that have not or probably never will happen. Sometimes the worry becomes too much and I find it begins to effect my health. I get times when I can’t get to sleep, where I’m either overeating or under-eating. It effects my skin, causing sudden outbreaks and irritation and on top of that it doesn’t do any favours for my eczema. Mentally, it’s very draining and turns me into a very anti-social person. I tend to get quite moody and snappy and as you can imagine, generally not very fun to be around. Not very healthy right?

It would be very easy looking in on the situation, to say, look Kate just stop worrying and relax! But when it comes down to it, it really isn’t that simple. There is no “quickfix” or “cure”. HOWEVER, I have found some little tricks that help calm me down when I’m at my most frazzled. If you find yourself in a similar situation or if you have a stressful event coming up (like an exam etc) hopefully these tips could help you too.

1) Probably one of the most famous of all stress-relief techniques is to just Breathe. The cynical side of me is just screaming to mock this “overly simple” fix however, having been in some situations where I had nothing else, some deep breathing has really helped me.To breathe deeply, begin by putting your hand on your belly just above your bellybutton. Breathe in through your nose and watch your hand move out as your belly expands. Hold the breath for a few seconds and the exhale through your mouth. Repeat as much as necessary. The good ol’ “counting to 10″ technique can be thrown in with this for good measure.

Practising my breathing exercises

2) Music is and has always been my biggest de-stresser.  Something I’ve found to be invaluable was creating a “FECK OFF STRESS” playlist. Basically it’s a compilation of all songs that make me happy, laugh, dance and generally de-stress! I carry my iPod everywhere I go and whack on this playlist when things get too much.

My iPod playlist

3) One of my biggest stress/worry triggers is disorganisation or when I feel I have so much to do but don’t know where to start. Making lists makes sure that I am on top of what I need to do and when I need to do it (while also satisfying my secret OCD-ness) I’m not talking about lengthly or too in-depth lists, even a simple To Do list in the Memo section in your phone can help calm some flusterdness.

4) I hold my hands up and confess that I am an extreme tea-addict and nothing makes me feel more comforted than sitting in bed in my pjs with a MASSIVE mug of tea. I love all types but I’ve found the best for dealing with my stress monsters has to be green tea. Extremely rich in antioxidants, you are doing your body good and banishing the worries by downing the green stuff. Not a fan of tea?Try some coffee or hot chocolate..whatever it is just make sure it’s decaf!!

One of my fav mugs

5) Perhaps the most obvious of them all but ultimately the most effective: Keep your mind busy!! When things get rough, I’m a sucker for curling up in bed and over-thinking all the worst-case scenarios. This just makes everything so much worse. Recently I’ve been trying to distract myself as soon as I feel a worry creeping up. My personal favourite is to read. Nothing helps more to distract you than reading about another person, life, world. Hours will creep by without you knowing and after you’ll have forgotten what you were worrying about to begin with. Watching a good comedy film or tv series is another good one. Try to steer clear of serious or sad movies as this can only act as a trigger, instead watch a feel good movie. I always reach for my Sex and the City boxset or any Disney movie.

My reading choices at the moment

There are of course so many other great stress-relief techniques; going for a walk, joining the gym, yoga, retail therapy, bubble bath, chocolate, calling a good friend, but the ones I chose above are the techniques I find to be personally the most effective for me and the cheapest, They are things that you can do pretty much in any stressful situation or just in times when you feel a tad out of sorts.

Nobody says it better than the man himself!

Now that we know what to do, we should probably look at the shizz to NOT DO when you find yourself less than calm. Things to avoid include:

1. Reaching for the food: a nice comforting treat is nice every now and again but know your limits. Do not make food your stress-relief crutch.
2. Making important decisions: When you’re stressed you really aren’t in the best state of mind to be making any rational decisions. Steer cleer of making them until your calm and relaxed again.
3. Starting a fight with someone: As tempting as it can be sometimes, try and avoid taking it out on someone else. Not only will it royally piss them off but you’ll feel awful afterwards too. If you feel a fight coming on, walk away and try one of the techniques I suggested earlier on.
4. Panicking! : My favourite go-to reaction when I’m stressed is to panic.. It’s become my classic move. There’s no Milk left?!!! That’s it, I better give up now!! … Step away from the situation and look at it for what it really is. Will this matter tomorrow? Next week? Next Year? No?…Then chill!!
5. Becoming a recluse!: Don’t push people away when you’re stressed. Let people help you. You’d be surprised at how helpful a little chat with a friend can be or even a big hug. The more time you spend with other people, the less time you have to spend listening to your evil stress thoughts.

Most importantly, remember to SMILE guys,

SMILE!!

Okay guys, that’s pretty much all I’ve got. Obviously, I’m not a professional and I’m not promising that these techniques will solve all of your problems but hopefully they’ll help someone out there who finds themselves to be a bit of a Panicky Paula too!

If you have any additional tips or tricks, please share them with me, I’m open to any suggestions and love hearing from all of you!

Right I’m off for a cuppa!

Thanks for reading!

-KATE- x

My New Obsession: Polyvore

One of my sets from Polyvore

Ok, so recently a friend suggested I started to use Polyvore for my blogging (Thank you!!!). Like any curious blogger, I’m all about the “hype” so that evening  I went online to see what all the fuss was about. .. and guys I can tell you that, that curiosity has now turned into a full-blown addiction!

What is it you may ask? Polyvore…similar to Pinterest, is a site where you can post your own “sets” under any category you wish ( fashion, beauty, food, interior design etc.) You can combine your own uploaded images or the images provided by the site itself to create unique collages.

I find it to be a great tool for bloggers, as it’s a simple way to mesh images together in an aesthetic manner and document any images you might want to use together in future posts.

I’ve been doing a lot of “outfit” sets recently and I hope to post some of them here every week or so.

If any of you would like to check out any more of my sets or “follow” me, my Polyvore link is: 
http://kate-higham.polyvore.com/
 Come say hi!

Let me know if you are on Polyvore or if you’d like, please share some your sets with me in a comment below. I’m a nosey bugger!

-KATE- x

Sunday’s Lust List #2

Phew…. ANOTHER week gone and that means ANOTHER Sunday’s Lust List for y’all. I’ll be honest, my week has been mental! Work, work work ….and eh more work! I haven’t had much time (or money…whooops) to go into actual shops but I’ve been doing some internet “window shopping”  and here’s the things I NEED (want) this week:

Miss Dior Perfume

I’ve been in a very I-need-a-new-perfume mood all month but this week in particular I’ve actually started to do a little bit of research into which one to get. I’ve wanted this bad boy for aaaages. Despite it’s pretty hefty price tag, I feel this baby will be mine very soon.

Clinique Even Better Eyes eye cream

Y’know the old saying, “prevention is better than the cure”? Well I feel I need to apply this when it comes to skincare. As I’m slowly and scarily progressing into my mid-20′s I feel as if I can no longer overlook the eye cream section in the beauty world. I’ve heard marvellous things about this one in particular. Watch this space for in-depth reviews and hopefully miracle results *fingers crossed*

OFFICE tan brogues

With Ireland starting to get warm-ish weather, I want to take advantage and get me some new summery clothes and accessories. I’m sick of wearing boots and I’m in dire need of some lighter footwear. These tan brogues from Office seem to be the perfect shoes for the job. They’ll go with loads and look comfy to do me in those busy days at work.

Zara Neon clutch

Heck, I’m aaaall about the NEON this month…and it’s not about to stop anytime soon. My newest fluro-crush is this beauty from Zara. The perfect companion to any dull or plain outfit… I NEED THIS IN MY LIFE. (great price as well…wooh!)

River Island Biker Jacket

Could this jacket be any cooler?! I’ve fallen in love with this verging-on-tacky jacket from River Island. I fear that my life would never be the same again if I don’t buy this soon. This would be the perfect statement piece for anybody this summer. Cant wait to wear mine with skinnies and heeled wedges!

Spike belt from Asos

I’m always on the look out for a new belt. I recently bought a few dresses for work that need some “toughening up” and I think this belt would definitely do it. I’m a big spike fan so this is just up my alley.

Urban Outfitter’s Dress

Ladies and Gentlemen, I’ve found THE summer dress…and it’s this Minkpink Aztec print dress from Urban Outfitters. This dress can be dressed up, dressed down.. heck..worn any dayum way you like..and it would still look amazing. Bang on trend and would flatter any figure. YUM!!!

And just for fun:

Urban Outfitter’s Mug

Anyone who knows me will know of my not so secret mug fetish. This one has tickled my fancy. Floral, cat, glasses, nerdy… Yes yes yes yes please!

 

Okay, so that’s everything on my wish-list for this week… now I just need some DOLLAH to buy it all…hmmmm!…

I’d love to hear from you and what’s on your sunday lust list this week? Leave me a comment below.

Thanks for reading guys and until next time,

Bye!

-KATE- x

Linky-plinks ( because I’m lovely like that ) 

1. Miss Dior Perfume:
   http://www.theperfumeshop.com/fcp/product/dior/miss%20dior/1707
   
2. Clinique Even Better Eyes Eye Cream: 
   http://www.debenhams.ie/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/prod_10052_10001_123070982599_-1
   
3. Office brown brogues: 
   http://www.office.co.uk/womens/office/picket_fence_lace_up/30/13028/36841/1?fs=13028
   7
4. ZARA Neon Clutch: 
   http://www.zara.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/product/ie/en/zara-neu-S2013/363009/1252003/BASIC+CLUTCH+BAG
   
5. River Island Pink Biker Jacket: 
   http://eu.riverisland.com/women/coats–jackets/biker-jackets/Pink-buckled-waterfall-biker-jacket-637877
   
6. Asos Spike Belt: 
   http://www.asos.com/ASOS/ASOS-Hanging-Spike-Waist-Belt/Prod/pgeproduct.aspx?iid=2819220&cid=6992&sh=0&pge=6&pgesize=20&sort=-1&clr=Black
   
7. Urban Outfitter’s Dress: 
   http://www.urbanoutfitters.co.uk/minkpink-woodstock-cross-back-print-dress/invt/5139409331851/&colour=Assort
   
8. Urban Outfitter’s Mug: 
   http://www.urbanoutfitters.co.uk/vintage-cat-mug/invt/5530441210111/
   

If you need any more info on anything I’ve featured above, please let me know and I’ll get back to you asap!

I’m going bananas for Burts Bees’ Banana Hand Cream!!!

Most people celebrate the arrival of a new baby, the purchase of a new house or the addition of a new family pet…last week I celebrated the arrival of a new hand cream. The “Burts Bees” Banana hand cream to be precise. This has fastly become my favourite hand cream.. passing out even my good ol’ trusty Soap & Glory “Hand Food”!! (which is a HUGE deal)

Burts Bees Beeswax & Banana Hand cream

What makes it so amazing you may ask??… well….

For one, this hand cream smells identical to those yummy foam banana sweets I use to eat as a child (and maybe still now..shhh) and if you weren’t a fan of those then perhaps this is not the hand cream for you as the scent is quite strong and it tends to linger! (which personally I love)

Gosh, I adore these..anybody else remember them??

The formula itself is very rich. It’s quite thick in consistency so I tend to use it at night and sometimes pop on a pair of cotton gloves for a really deep treatment.  It leaves your hands feeling very moisturised but not greasy which is a huge bonus because nobody enjoys having slippery hands for a zillion hours! Like all “Burt’s Bees” products it contains plenty of natural ingredients which do good for your skin. This hand cream in particular contains Aloe Vera and sweet almond oil which moisturises, soothes and protects your hands. The added beeswax seals in moisture while the banana extracts feed and nourish your skin. Application wise… its pretty much the same as any other hand cream however the packaging does suggest that you apply it to slightly damp hands as it tends to soak in quicker this way…just something to try out!

Burts Bees Beeswax & Banana hand cream swatch

While the packaging is deliciously retro and completely up my alley, it’s perhaps not the most practical!  It comes in quite a chunky glass jar.. which is just begging to be smashed in my handbag! (eeek) This is definitely a hand cream to show off on your dressing table or bedside locker… a stay at home hand cream if you will!

Burts Bees Beeswax & Banana hand cream: Retro-esque packaging <3

Overall this hand cream is a complete winner in my eyes. It’s such a luxurious feeling product and I am completely in love with the scent… It’s reminded me that I need more banana scented things in my life ha!

If you are interested in purchasing this heavenly hand cream for yourself or perhaps as a lovely gift for somebody then here are some links where you can find it:

• 
  http://www.feelunique.com/p/Burts-Bees-Beeswax-and-Banana-Hand-Cream-2oz?q=burts%20bees%20hand%20cream
  
• 
  http://global.burtsbees.com/natural-products/hands-and-feet-hand-moisturisers/beeswax-banana-hand-creme.html
  
• 
  http://www.boots.com/en/Burts-Bees-Banana-Hand-Cream_850301/
  
• you can also find Burts Bees products in numerous pharmacies, spas, health food shops and department stores worldwide.

Hope y’all enjoyed this post! Let me know if you’ve tried any Burts Bees products and if so, what are your favourites?

Thanks for reading guys, Bye Kx:)

New kid on the Sleepingbootay block: Nars Laguna Bronzer!

Holy Moly I freaaaakin’ love this bronzer. I could literally just end this post here because it is so hard to put into words just how much I love this product…  but I will try my very best to inform you of its’ amazingness.

If some of you can remember, I mentioned this bronzer briefly in my last post in my “July Favourites” but I felt that it deserved a post of its very own. For years, I have lusted and perved over this bronzer and envied all the other beauty bloggers who raved and ranted about it. I was always slightly cynical and very put off by its pretty steep price tag but…finally a few weeks ago, I gave in and added this bad boy to my collection. Coming in at nearly 30 yo yos… this beauty ain’t cheap.. but I was shocked at just how much product you really get (8g)…so I know I’ll get a serious amount of use out of it!

Nars Laguna Bronzer packaging

I absolutely love the slick looking packaging and the sizeable mirror inside for on the go application. The only downside is that I’ve found the packaging very very hard to keep clean.. its made from a rubbery material and therefore attracts every possible mark and stain. I’ve also heard this bronzer has a tendency to smash easily so I’m keeping mine on high guard and trying my darnedest to not just fling it into my make-up bag like everything else I own! (ooops)

Nars Laguna Bronzer

This bronzer has numerous uses… I tend to use it as a blush at the moment to give a kind of golden-esque summery feel but it’s also amazing for contouring and of course as a bronzer. It also works well to just sweep across your shoulders and décolletage for an evening or night out.

To apply this bronzer I use either:

• My Real Techniques Blush brush- when I’m wearing it as a blusher
• My Real Techniques Contour brush- for when I’m contouring
• My e.l.f Kabuki Brush- for when I’m using it as a general bronzer all over my face or body

Real Techniques “Blush Brush” and “Contour brush” and e.l.f’s “Kabuki Brush”

This bronzer has a pretty much a completely matte finish with just the slightest  shimmer to it. I feel that this shade (Laguna)  is perfect for everybody..kind of a one shade suits all kinda jobby but this bronzer does come in two other shades:

• Irresistiblement ( a slightly darker golden shade) and
• Casino ( a much darker brown with gold shimmer)

Swatch of Nars Laguna Bronzer

Unfortunately in Ireland, Nars products are pretty hard to get your hands on but you can easily purchase them online:

On both their very own website: 
http://www.narscosmetics.eu/?d=true
  AND  the Asos website (where I purchase mine) : 
http://www.asos.com/Nars/NARS-Bronzing-Powders/Prod/pgeproduct.aspx?iid=1569257&SearchQuery=nars%20bronzer&sh=0&pge=0&pgesize=20&sort=-1&clr=Casino

Elsewhere in the world, I know Nars products are mostly readily available in plenty of department stores and make-up counters so make sure to have a snoop!

Have you tried any of the Nars Bronzers?? What do you think? Let me know your thoughts in the comments below!

Thanks for reading guys, Until next time, Bye Kx:)

July Favourites!

Hey guys, another month over and another batch of products to rave about! This month I’ve been pretty bold in the spending department and I might  have treated myself to a few cheeky purchases. These are my pick of the best from those purchases and also, the products that I find I couldn’t keep away from for the past month:

My July Favourites (sorry for poor picture quality)

Maybelline Colour Tattoo eyeshadow in Eternal Gold and On and On Bronze: This is another extremely hyped up product in the beauty blogger/Youtuber world… and completely justifyingly (i’m aware that’s not a real word) so. I never usually go for cream eyeshadows, I find that they tend to crease quite a bit on the lid and can look a bit too shiney. Also, of most of the cream eyeshadows I have tried before, I’ve found that the colour pay-off has been really poor.  However, these Maybelline bad boys have completely turned the tables for me! They are extremely pigmented, the right amount of shimmery amazingness and they don’t crease. I find them to be really blendable and the two colours I chose worked great together and complimented eachother to create a really nice smokey eye look.

Maybelline Colour Tattoo Eyeshadows in Eternal Gold and On and On Bronze

On and On Bronze and Eternal Gold

 

Real Techniques Starter Set: I’ve already raved about this new addition to my Real Techniques brush family so I won’t make this too long-winded. Over the last week I’ve been using these brushes none stop and they’ve made my life a lot easier… or at the very least.. my eyeshadow application! They really are all the eye brushes you could ever need and are so soft and gentle on the eyes. I’ve also just recently washed them and I’m happy to report that they wash just as good as all the other Real Techniques brushes.. phew! If you are interested in reading my full review of these brushes, have a gander over at this link: 
http://sleepingbootay.wordpress.com/2012/07/22/review-real-techniques-brushes-starter-set/

Real Techniques Starter Set

Pantene Pro-V Volume & Body shampoo for Fine Hair: I’m gonna say it right now because there is no point in keeping secrets from my lovely subscribers.. I’m a shampoo whore! I never ever really stick with just the one shampoo and I tend to switch between different brands on a regular basis. I find that my hair adapts to shampoo too quickly and becomes immune to their effects, so really I HAVE to change shampoo all the time! (that’s my excuse and I’m sticking to it) This month I picked up Pantene’s     and I’ve really been enjoying it. It does the basic job of cleaning your hair… but boy does it do it well. It also has a really weightless effect on your hair which suits my fine hair down to the ground. I can’t make any promises but it looks like I might stay faithful to this shampoo for a little while longer…

Pantene Pro-V Volume & Body Shampoo for Fine Hair

Tre Semme 24hourBody Sky High Plumping Powder: I’m pretty sure this little one has cropped up somewhere on my blog before but recently its come back into my life in a big way. I’ve been heading out on the town quite a bit recently and i’ve been experimenting on different “going out” hair looks (yes that exists!) I like voluminous hair..the bigger the better I say so this plumping powder has been my BFF when trying to create this voluminous look! It’s so good that you can say goodbye to damaging back-combing!  The only downside to this powder is that it does leave a strange-ish feel to your hair afterwards.. so be prepared to give it a good wash the next day .. unless of course you like strange-feeling hair. Your call!

Tre Semme 24hour Body Sky High Plumping Powder

Sally Hansen Maximum Growth Cuticle & Nail Treatment Pen: This month has been all about nail care! I’ve realised that I paint my nails probably an abnormal amount of times and I’m becoming aware that this might not be the best thing for them. SO.. I’ve decided to start pampering them a tad more. Some nights, I remove all polish so that my nails are completely in the nip and spread some of  the caring oil from the Sally Hansen Cuticle pen all over them. My nails love it and in turn I love my nails more too. In the morning, my nails wake up happier and my nail polish has never looked better! It’s an all around winner!

Sally Hansen Magical Growth Cuticle and Nail Treatment Pen

Nars Laguna Bronzer: Ladies and Beauty-product-interested-Gentlemen, I believe I have found another Holy Grail item!! Not only does this product make it into my July Favourites, it also makes it into my “ALL-TIME” favourites… which is a huge honour! I won’t go too much into it as I intend to do a full blown review of it at a later date but gosh I bloody love this bronzer. I will admit, after years of cynically laughing off the idea that this bronzer really was so amazing.. I’m ready to admit that I was wrong. It is very pricey but after just one use I no longer care. It’s the perfect shade for contouring but I love to use it as a blusher to give me a nice “summer glow” in a pretty summer-less Ireland! Keep your peepers peeled for my full review coming soon! Warning: there will be dangerous amounts of gushing!

Nars Laguna Bronzer

Nars Laguna Bronzer

 

That’s all for now guys! Hope you liked it! Please let me know if you’ve tried any of the products that I’ve mentioned OR if you have done your very own July Favourites… link me in the comment section below

Hope you all had a lovely July and bring on August!

Kx:)

Show and Tell: Burt’s Bees Tips and Toes Kit

Burt’s Bees Hand and Feet set

Yet AGAIN, I’ve been cheeky with my Visa card and I’ve made a few teeny (in reality not so teeny) purchases online. I’ve recently discovered the wonders of feelunique.com and I feel an addiction coming along. I’ve always been a big fan of Burt’s Bees however I can’t say the same about their prices. I saw this kit and thought it was such a nice idea… small sized versions of their best selling hand and feet products and all for only under 15 yo yos…YES PLEASE!

In the kit there is:

• Almond Milk Beeswax Hand Cream (7g)

Almond Milk Beeswax Hand Cream

• Replenishing lip balm with pomegranate oil (4.25g)

Replenishing Lip Balm with Pomegranate Oil

• Thoroughly Therapeautic Honey & Grapeseed Oil (20g)

Thoroughly Therapeutic Honey & Grapeseed Oil Hand Cream

• Coconut Foot Cream (20g)

Coconut Foot Cream

• Hand Salve (8.5g)

Hand Salve

• Lemon Butter Cuticle Cream (8.5g)

Lemon Butter Cuticle Cream

All of these smell so unbelievably delicious… they actually smell expensive ..if that makes any sense!? There’s a very luxurious feel to each and every one of them and you know you are getting good quality for money. Bursting with really good ingredients that don’t just smell nice but actually do something to care for your hands and feet

This kit is perfect for travelling… all products are really handy-sized to pop into your bag. I also think this would make a really great gift for somebody or for yourself if you fancy trying out some Burt’s Bees products but don’t know where to start.

I bought my kit on feelunique.com for 14.37 yo yos (and they also have free delivery worldwide woooh) 
http://www.feelunique.com/p/Burts-Bees-Tips-n-Toes-Hands–Feet-Kit

You can also purchase it on the Burt’s Bees Official website : 
http://global.burtsbees.com/other/kits/tips-and-toes-kit.html

Have you tried any Burt’s Bees products? Let me know in a comment below!

Thanks for reading guys! Bye Kx:)

Hakuna Matata :)

In case you didn’t already know…..It means no worries..

FACT: Having a moustache makes you happier!

I’m a firm believer that Disney movies have the power to make you happy. Pair that with a huge mug of tea and a slice of cake..and that’s pretty much eternal bliss sorted right there!

My new mantra!

If however you aren’t so easily pleased as moi.. read on to hear more about my “Get Happy” tips!

I got the inspiration for this post off my favourite Blogger and YouTuber Louise from Sprinkleofglitter. She recently posted a video all about what makes her happy and I’ve gotta say that video actually made me feel happy. (Here’s the link if you’re interested:

 )

As well as making me all happy and warm and fuzzy inside, it also got me thinking about the things that make me happy and cheer me up on a real poopey crappy day and I thought I’d share a few of them on her for you:

1) Tea: Seriously this is my ultimate “quick fix” when it comes to happiness. Whenever I’m stressed/upset/sick…etc.. the first thing I do is make myself a HUGE mug of tea. It calms me down, warms up my tummy (which is a great feeling) and somehow lifts my mood. If tea isn’t your thing (shame on you) then coffee or a mug of hot chocolate would do too!

2) Candles: I’m a tad bit crazy about candles. I love them…And I’m at my most happiest when there is loads lit around me. I think there’s nothing nicer or prettier than being in a dark room with just candles for light.(not in a creepy movie villain way) They are also great to add around your bath or to have at your work desk/area to perk things up a bit. My personal favourites are Yankee candles especially Vanilla Cupcake and Black Cherry! Nom!

3) Retail Therapy: This is a bit of a bold one…as I admit, I shop waaaay too much anyway, rain or shine, happy or sad. Saying that, it actually is a really great way to cheer yourself up. A really good idea is to promise yourself a treat every week… this can be big or small depending on your budget. Knowing that you are gonna treat yourself and the excitement of waiting for it actually does cheer you up and gives you something to look forward to.

4) Pamper Session: This is another obvious one.. but for good reason.. it really does work. Chances are when you are feeling down, you probably look in the mirror and feel down about how you look too (trust me, we’ve all been there). Set aside some time to really pamper yourself. Run a nice hot bath using some of your fav bath products, chill with some candles and music or a magazine (whatever your style) Pop on a face mask, do your nails, slather on some gorgeous smelling body lotion and tackle those eyebrows! By the end of this you are bound to feel like a million dollars inside AND out!

5) Music: Yet another cliche one but I couldn’t leave it out! When I’ve had a particularly rough day I crank out some SERIOUS old school 90′s hits like the Spice Girls and I LITERALLY dance around on my bed to them… (yes seriously). You’ll find yourself in such a good mood and all that dancing will pump some natural endorphins through your body… instant happiness right there. If this isn’t your scene, you could always snuggle up in bed, dim down all the lights and put on some slow relaxing music.. this is a much better option if you’re trying to unwind. Focus on your breathing and even try out some basic Yoga moves (there’s tons of easy tutorials on YouTube)

6) Reading: This is a personal one as I am a HUGE bookworm. I love nothing more after a long day at work, than to just curl up with a book. Some really good books I’ve read recently are: The Book Thief by Markus Zusak, Before I go to Sleep by SJ Watson and Lone Wolf by Jodi Picoult. If any of you would be interested in hearing about some of my all time fav books let me know and I’ll definitely do that for you. If books aren’t your thing you could always read a magazine (I’m loving Company at the moment) or have a browse through some blogs. I’ve listed a few of my favourites in a series of posts if you’d like to check them out:

• 
  http://sleepingbootay.wordpress.com/2012/05/17/blogs-i-love-edition-2/
  
• 
  http://sleepingbootay.wordpress.com/2012/03/25/blogs-i-love-edition-1/
  
• 
  http://sleepingbootay.wordpress.com/2012/06/29/blogs-i-love-edition-3/
  

That’s all I have for now guys. Obviously there a piles more things that make me happy but I thought I’d just list a small few of them with you. If you’d like to hear some more, please let me know and I might make a series out of this type of post. I hope this post wasn’t too boring for you and that you got some happy-inspiration from it!

Micro pigs also make me insanely happy

As always, I’d love to hear from you! So please let me know in the comments below what things make you happy!

Thanks for reading guys!

Bye Kx:)

Ps: If you haven’t already entered my new giveaway, go ahead and enter now. quick!!!!: 
http://sleepingbootay.wordpress.com/2012/07/11/my-festival-must-haves-giveaway/

My skincare routine :)

Hey guys,

So I can safely say that my poor skin has been around the block a fair few times. It’s had its fair share of products and woes. But now I think I can finally say that I’ve found a routine that actually really works for my skin. (fingers crossed) .

Make-up removal:  Before I cleanse my face I like to get all or pretty much most of my make-up off just so I can make sure my skin is squeaky clean. To do this I use my ol’ favourite: the Simple cleansing face wipes and give my face a good going over. These wipes are great at getting off all my make-up (even pesky eye make-up and waterproof mascara). Sometimes, when I am wearing heavy eye make-up I use an eye make-up remover as it’s more gentle on my eyes than constantly rubbing them with a wipe. My remover of choice is a Boots Own Brand product “Simply sensitive eye make-up remover “. It’s pretty much an oil based eye make-up remover that  works so quickly and is super gentle on my eyes.

Simple cleansing face wipes and Boot’s Simply Sensitive eye make-up remover

Cleanser: I’ve tried my fair share of cleansers in the past and pretty much all of them have either been too harsh on my skin or just didn’t do anything to improve it. Then Dermalogica came along and changed my life. I know use Dermalogica’s Ultracalming cleanser morning and at night and my skin loves me for it. Dermalogica isn’t easily accessible in Ireland so I buy mine online at 
http://www.beautyskincare.ie/?gclid=CPq9mJSJlLECFQEf4QodFh9XkA
 where there are great discounts and very speedy delivery.  You can use this cleanser on its own and remove with tissue or a cotton pad or you can also rinse off with water.

Dermalogica Ultracalming cleanser

Toner: I used to use a toner by La Roche Posay but I found it to be quite drying on my skin. Water is a natural toner so I always dowse my skin in cold water after my Dermalogica cleanser and then I sometimes follow with a few spritz of the La Roche Posay’s Thermal water. This is essentially water in a can but it feels great on my skin and soothes it if it’s ever feeling irritated or hot.

Moisturiser: Yet again, I’ve tried so many moisturisers and found it very difficult to find one that suited my combination sensitive skin. Most were either too oily or just didn’t moisturise my face enough. “Simple” have always been an ol’ favourite of mine even since I was a young teenager so earlier this year I decided to give their moisturiser a whirl again. I picked up their “light” moisturiser for the daytime (so that’s its suitable for wearing under make-up) and I got the “rich” formula to wear at night (for a deeper moisturisation) I’ve been using this combo for the past few months now and I absolutely love it! The moisturiser is so gentle on my skin, keeps it really moisturised and is not oily or shiny. It’s also kind to my bank balance as it only costs a few precious yo yos!

Simple Moisturiser in Rich and Light formulae.

Exfoliation: One of the huge mistakes I used to make was that I exfoliated waaaay too much which used to leave my skin feeling tight and irritated. Nowadays I only exfoliate 1-2 times a week and to do this I use my Sigma Cleansing and Polishing Tool (which is a cheaper alternative to the Clarisonic) I use the Sigma Tool with my usual dermalogica cleanser and give my skin a good ol clean. If you’d like to see a full review of the Sigma Tool i’ve already previously done a review on it here: 
http://sleepingbootay.wordpress.com/2012/04/08/exciting-new-review-sigma-cleansing-and-polishing-tool/
  so have a peek!

Sigma cleansing and polishing tool

Supplements: Of course there is more to skincare than just products, you also need to take care of your skin from the inside… so this means plenty of water and vitamins. I try to drink as much water as possible every day (they recommend 1.5 to 2 litres a day) and I also drink a lot of green tea which is a great antioxidant! As well as this I take multivitamins everyday and I also take a supplement know as “Perfectil” which is a supplement, targeted for healthy hair, skin and nails. If you’d like to learn more about “Perfectil”, have a gander on their website: 
http://www.vitabiotics.com/Perfectil/?gclid=CLfx0p-MlLECFYQe4Qodhk88ig

My daily supplements for healthy skin

 

That’s all I’ve got for now guys,

I’d love to hear about your skincare routine so please let me know in a comment below!

As always, thanks for reading, Bye Kx

PS: If you haven’t already entered my new giveaway, hurry on over now and enter quick! Open worldwide:
http://sleepingbootay.wordpress.com/2012/07/11/my-festival-must-haves-giveaway/

The OHMAHGawd I can’t believe June’s over, June Favourites!

Hey Guys!

June Favourites

Wow June went craaaaaazy quick, so quick that I am only getting around to doing my June Favourites now. June was all about going back to basics for me, buying and trying out products that not only look good but also do good for you. I’m looking to get my skin, hair and nails in tip top condition and I’ve found these products have really helped me achieve this goal!

Take a lookie:

Aveeno daily moisturising lotion: Being a complete and utter beauty product junkie.. I am automatically attracted to “pretty” products that both look and smell amazing.. this body lotion is completely basic. It has no scent (completely fragrance-free) and the packaging is nothing to rave about HOWEVER… I’ve really really enjoyed using it this month. Because it’s fragrance-free its great for my sensitive skin.. it’s super super moisturising, dries in quick and lasts for the entire day. This product has kinda made me realise that I should sometimes look past the packaging and instead focus on its benefits and suitability.

Palmers cocoa butter hand cream: Firstly, can I just say that it took an insane amount of self-control not to eat this hand cream for the past few weeks.. it smells ridiculously good.. just like chocolate. It has a very thick formula which is so moisturising, but sinks into the skin quick…so no sticky hands (yuck).

Nuxe Reve de Miel lip balm: I’m not going to go into this too much as I think I’ve reached my crazy raving quota for this product already in my review here:
http://sleepingbootay.wordpress.com/2012/06/24/the-new-love-of-my-life-3/
 buuuut I will just say that I’m still so very much in love with it and it will remain a firm favourite of mine for months and months to come!

John Frieda Frizz Ease thermal protection hair serum: thermal protection: I’ve used the original Frizz ease serum for the past few years now, but I just recently picked up this thermal protection one just to give my hair that extra bit of heat protection. I apply a teeny pump of this throughout my hair while its still damp and it keeps my ends from going insane. You can also use this on dry hair so I keep it in my bag and reapply throughout the day when my hair gets unruly.

HD Brows precision tweezers: I received this bad boy in June’s Glossybox and I can’t tell you how happy I am with it. I’ve never really been the kinda girl who would get so excited about something like a tweezers and I’ve always said that I would never splurge on an “high end” one ever.. but I gotta say this tweezers is a dream.

Simple cleansing Face wipes: These have actually been a staple of mine from my early teen years, back when I though face wipes were all I ever needed when it came to skincare. Nowadays, being slightly more skin savvy, I’ve learned that they are not good for your skin and need to be used with additional skin care. I just use these wipes at night to remove the majority of my make-up before I move on to my cleanser. Since i’ve started using these wipes again, I’ve noticed a great difference in my skin and it’s nice to have that extra step of make-up removal at night to ensure my skin is completely clean and make-up free.

Garnier “Anti-dark circle” eye roll on- with concealor: I’ll admit I bought this product on a complete whim a few months ago as it was on offer and I’ve always been curious as to how it works. I use this under my eyes as a concealor as it’s really light and gentle on my under eye skin. I don’t know if this product has gotten rid of my dark circles per say but it does improve their appearence and the roller ball effect feels great under your eyes and helps to relieve any puffiness that you may have. I’m really considering re-purchasing this product.

Okay guys, that’s it for my June favourites, stay tuned for my July favourites which will be coming up in the next few weeks… or when July is over (duh)

Would love to hear from you and what some of your June Favourites were… let me know in a comment below

Thanks again for reading guys and until next time, Bye Kx:)