Happy Weekend

The ice has just thawed and we can finally move from our homes without skating or slipping! I've had a busy few days with the launch of my Bespoke Beauty sessions in Harvey Nichols and working on a beautifully stylish wedding yesterday where I was working alongside the very talented hair dresser, Micheal Leong. You should have seen how gorgeous the bride was; she wore an off the peg non wedding dress by Irish designer Roisin Linnane in a soft, almost buttery colour and her bridesmaids were in black loose tulle. Her little girl wore a Paul Smith dress with a tulle underskirt. It was picture perfect but in a chilled out, super cool way. I'll share pics when I have them.

So now on with the business of Christmas! I'll be putting up trees, going to the Christmas craft market and we're having some dear friends over for dinner this evening. We have also taught Lu to say Ho Ho Ho when she see Santa, so here we go! Let the festivities begin.

So enjoy your weekend and your Christmas preparations my dears, may it be filled with festive cheer, tree decorating, mulled wine and secret present shopping!

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Kitted Out

I went to do some makeup explorations yesterday to find more cheap and cheerful bits and bobs to use on my Beauty on Your Budget makeup course. I have been fascinated by German brand Essence for some time now. For a pharmacy brand it is very comprehensive, very up to date with their shades and very, very reasonable. Ridiculously reasonable in fact! Considering the brutal Irish financial budget cuts yesterday will leave us all rather worse off, I reckon that so many of us will be looking to trim down their beauty expenditure so I'm looking forward to getting this course going in the new year and brands like Essence will flourish as long as people know how to use their products.

So, back to my explorations; I couldn't resist the Smokey Eyes Set in shade 01 which is a dead ringer for the Ligne de Chanel that I posted about last week, but at the amazing price of €2.99. It comprises of a gel liner on one side and a charcoal shadow with a slight shimmer on the other side. It contains a nifty little brush to apply them too. Now, I found that the best way to build an intense look is to cover the eye lid with the gel side; it's quite creamy so is very easy to work with. Blend it into the socket with your fingers for a soft, diffused look. Then add a layer of the dry shadow all over the gel layer. This sets the colour and keeps it in place. I was very impressed with it - it gives a great look and is impossible to beat price-wise.

The second kit that grabbed my attention was the Eyebrow Styling Kit. Most of the budget brands tend not to have such a kit, so I was happy to see the attention to detail in this little beaut! It contains two tones of highly pigmented brow shadow, a little slanted brush for precise application and to top it all off; you get three eyebrow stencils. Now, I wouldn't advice using the stencils to apply the colour, as you should only colour in what hair you have. But they are good guides for shaping your brows - just hold over the hair, fill in the shape very strongly with colour, remove the stencil and pluck away the hairs that are not coloured outside the stencils shape.

Price wise, I think it's €1.99, (I lost the receipt) but it's definitely under €3.

I will be definitely reviewing the range further; mascaras and eye shadows are next on the list!

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Julianne

I'm having a Julianne Moore moment! I just came across her shot above, for the 2011 Pirelli calender. I love her fashionable sensibility and her majestic red-head looks...

Her acting talent enables her to be great model. She takes on the persona of a fashion creature for Harpers Bazaar...

...and Vogue

She dazzles in her real life too....

Daily Dose Of Lovely

I have to share my new source of lovely ideas and inspiration. Red Magazine has always been one of my favourites. I know I am smack bang in the middle of their target audience (35 years old, juggling new mummy-hood with freelance work, love all things fashion-y food-y, beauty and interior related etc etc!) and that's why it resonates with me but I really do love their mix. The newly launched Red Online is all of their signature style piled into a lovely website. Here's some of my personal picks from their treasure trove...

I don't care what anyone says; Chanel are the most glamorous lipsticks!

Their gift guides are superb; I love this cardboard dolls house. One for my Lulu for sure...

The perfect Breton...I can't get enough of them. Yes, I own about 10, but there's always room for some slight variations on a theme!

I've fallen for this cashmere dressing gown from The White Company. So cosy and flattering at the same time.

I adore these cloth bound classics by Anthropologie....

Tutu by Boden. Another one for Lulu!

The site is also full of interior and food inspiration. I know what I'm going to be doing during these snowy days; making lists for Santa!

Have a peek and see if you love it as much as I do...

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Beautiful Bows

These gorgeous pieces are by Eilis Boyle, the Irish designer whom I hold in very high regard. I love the quality of her work and her fashion aesthetic is almost of another age, something that is disappearing in these mass market, high street times. She holds her standards high and her work tells the story of her love for what she does. I love the attention to detail in all her work and that is why I'll be buying some of these beauties for Christmas presents (don't look Mum!)

This embroidered sash is just so lovely, I can imagine wearing it in so many ways... with a slinky LBD, with black cropped wool trousers and a loose silk t-shirt for chic evening cool, with a full length organza skirt and close fitting top for a formal night time event.

And look how lovely it is in ivory; brides take note, could be a lovely feature to add to your look.

Arm-warmers! What a great idea...

I love these. No, in fact, I need these.

These pieces are featured in Eilis's online store called The Silent Gallery for another three days.

Red Alert

I am addicted to anything in a true scarlet tone at this time of year. It is just pure Christmas to me. So here's a few things to get you in the red...

Cute red dress with a perfect red lip and undone hair....lovely.

Chanel nail polish in Dragon... one of the ultimate classic reds.

I always hang hearts on my tree and we have a family tradition where we give each other a new heart for our respective trees each year. So when we're old, our trees will be made up of gifts from our family.

A red lip. It's the perfect Christmas statement. Keep the eyes neutral and the skin glowy and get in the red! If you've never tried it - now is the time!

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Bling It On!

It's time to get festive...therefore time to sparkle! Liven up your wintery tones with some sequins.

Pretty ballerinas for a bit of shimmer under some cropped black pants perhaps?

(images via here )