A Shot of Neon

A bit scared to actually wear the new neon trend? Well you can easily embrace it with some pops of acid brights. I love these aztec inspired necklace and earrings by Tom Binns . Made by him painstakingly hand painting Swarovski crystals...shockingly expensive, but cool!

A much easier and perchance more accessible way to wear neon is to paint your nails. The shade below is Lemony Snicket by Sally Hansen and I adore the straw bag with acid edges by Marc Jacobs...

Rainbow Eyes

Check out this amazing deal from one of my favourite brands, INGLOT. They have just launched this 20 pan palette for €95. Yes, that is €4.75 per shadow! The quality is fantastic and you can pick your shades so there is no reason not to adorn your eyes in every colour of the rainbow...

Bags for Summer

 Tan leather?

 Fresh, gorgeous stripes?

 Punched leather??

All from here, all lovely...

How to choose?

Pretty in Pink

Here are just some unashamedly flowery pictures for you today... I'm swooning over their delicate prettiness...

I love single peonies in mismatched glass bottles...

Great centrepiece...

I want to have lunch with my girlfriends here today!

Tempted by a Jacket

I like this jacket from UNIQLO a lot. Wouldn't it be perfect for these half Spring/half Summer days and it would look great over a bright cobalt blue top or some red skinny jeans...

It's on sale too, look here... I'm tempted, are you?!

Luscious Lashes

I am not normally one for primers and the like, I feel that they are an extra step that is slightly unnecessary. Now don't get me wrong; I'm not writing off the entire primer section of the makeup world - I just think they have to be extremely good to make it into my makeup kit, both personal and professional. So you can imagine my views on lash primers, yes, sceptical to say the least!
So I was sent the DiorShow Maximiser Lash serum to try and I thought I'd better give it  a go in the name of fairness. I was quite surprised, I really do think it's making a difference. My lashes appear fuller and they are definitely more glossy. I suppose they are more conditioned and I'm not sure if it is just because they are in their 'good' phase before they naturally thin a little and shed as part of their natural cycle of growth, but they look good whatever is going on.
I'm applying the serum and allowing it to dry for a few seconds before I use mascara. I'm currently trialling the new Chanel Sublime mascara and they are good bedfellows...my lashes look damn good if I may say so myself!

My New Base

A while back I told you that I was beginning to trial Chanel's latest foundation, Vitalumiere Aqua. Well it's time to update you... I am sold. Hook, line and sinker!
Originally I had shade 02 which was not right for me so I abandoned my testing and carried on with another brand. However this week I got my proper shade (01) and it's a whole different situation on my face. The colour is perfect, it's texture smooth and silky, the light to medium coverage lasts all day and retains it's glow without becoming oily as the hours pass.
It is a fantastic foundation for (hopefully) warmer days that are on the way and my favourite new base. I will be buying every shade for my makeup kit and applying it to brides a-plenty this season!

On the topic of things Chanel, have a look at the new section on their site  Beauty Confidential for some fantastic makeup tips from one of my personal makeup gurus, Lisa Eldridge and other fab things.

Enjoy!

Watch It

I have fallen in love with this rose gold watch from Michael Kors. I'm seriously lusting after it, I tried it on the other day and can't stop thinking about it. It's €275 but how pretty and lovely and worth it, no?
If it were mine I would never wear long sleeves and hide it's rose gold beauty. I would offer the time to strangers on the street and would ask kids if they want me to time them in races - all to get the value out of it you see!

What time is it? What time is it? (repeat ad infinitum - I won't care!)

Hello Wednesday

Hello my dears, as you may have noticed I have had a blogging hiatus for the past week. I didn't quite intend  to but due to my Mum starting her chemo I have been doing a lot of hanging out with family and generally drawing the wagons in a circle so we can support eachother. So my past week has involved a lot of reclining on couches and drinking tea. Unfortunately my couch isn't as fabulous as this beautiful one by Orla Kiely for Heals, isn't it just lovely! I don't think you could feel blue with this blue underneath your bum!

Anyway, I hope you're all very well and I'm back with a load of lovely things to show you over the next few days and a very nice Friday Freebie coming your way too!

Happy Wednesday!

Sunny Days

Today it was warm! Properly warm. Here is a sunny selection to get you feeling summery...

Love this Victoria Beckham dress...

Sunny Ruffles by Chris Benz...

Kate Spade's Lella clutch...how cute is the pineapple clasp!

I'm swooning over this Chris Benz gown... a fantastic wedding dress with a twist of lemon!

...and matching bouquet.

 Chanel's LA Sunrise nail polish from the Spring '11 collection. Would you?

 Canary Converse...my favourite.

I love the idea of painting a wooden piece to add a pop of yellow in a neutral interior...

Yellow doors...delightful.

  A cute cushion for the less brave...

Grey and yellow. A perfect pair...

Spring/Autumn Whatever...

 These lovely looks are from J Crew's Autumn collection but to me they are gorgeous transitional looks for in-between any season...

This is really Spring-y and bright, no? I love the vivacious orange tone and how nice are those strappy shoes!

Mmmm, I love both these looks and accessorising with yellow is genius...

Us European peeps can get J Crew here

(spotted over here )

A Day For Mothers...

It's Mother's Day today. I was thrilled to hear the thud thud up the stairs as my little girl dragged a bag, almost bigger than her, behind her. In order to give it to me she whirled it through the air, almost knocking me in the head! But her delivery made it all the sweeter. Inside the bag contained a beautiful blue beaded heart on a length of organza ribbon and a gorgeous card containing her squiggles. Her dad followed with a sausage sandwich and a cup of tea for me! It was lovely...
Today is such an important day I think. It means so much to honour Mums. To honour the unbreakable bond. For mothering is about unconditional love; it is about total and complete love, it is about fearless, protective, brave love. I knew nothing of this incredible intensity until I became one two years ago. There is a quote that  sums it up for me ' what took me by surprise is the way I feel when her face lights up when I walk into a room because I am her world and she is mine. Being a mother is like taking your heart out of your chest and watching it walk around.'
So today I feel so pleased to have been given the chance to be a Mum as it is my greatest joy and scariest fears all combined; it is thrilling, breathtaking, nerve-wracking, terrifying and ultimately amazing.

And so to my Mum. She is my most wonderful friend and guide. My inspiring teacher, kindest protector and greatest fan. She is in my corner like no other and I love her more than words. I am truly humbled by her care and sacrifice. The time she invested in me and the power of her love have made me feel like a good Mum too. This is no small statement. I am who I am because of her...

Today (of all days) she is going to hospital to begin treatment for Cancer. My entire being is wishing the process the very best success. 

So it's a Mothers Day with a difference this year.

Good luck, love and light to my lovely Mum...

xxx

Wonder Oil

I was sent this (slightly scary looking) black bottle called Skin & Bones to try out recently and I was quite curious as to what was inside. It is labelled as a luxurious face body and hair oil so I immediately became a little dubious of it's 'multi-tasking' properties. Can any one product really do it all? Or do one or two of it's claims get left behind a tad. God knows, I know how hard it is to truly pull it off as an effective multi-tasker... Show me any mother and I'll show you a slightly frazzled, slightly breathless, slightly about-to-lose-it 'multi-tasker'!
But that aside, perhaps it's easier for an oil... their requirements merely being to soothe and moisturise. Oh and also nourish, condition and nurture. Sounding similar to a mother's role now eh?!
I digress, this oil is in fact, a bit of a wonder oil. It consists of 9 essential oils in a jojoba base. Jojoba is the one oil that is totally skin compatible so it doesn't leave you looking like an oil slick ten minutes later. The other oils are Ylang Ylang, Rosewood, Lemon, Frankincense , Myrrh, Sandalwood, Jasmine, Grapefuit, and Cedarwood. Phew! This roll call of top oils work together to create a completely balanced gentle warrior for your skin all housed in a violet glass bottle to protect the integrity of the oils. And it can indeed be used everywhere. I have used it to condition the ends of my hair, on my face at night, on cracked heels and dry elbows all to great effect. So it does multi-task and very well too. Mine came from fab Irish store Mise Beauty and I've given it a Hero In My Bathroom status.

I also like the tone of the brand and the press release made me smile, here's an excerpt... I love the 'alien' part!

Skin & Bones is a unisex product, a single product for all your skin care and body needs. Love it.

What do you do with it?  Put in hands, rub everywhere.

Examples of everywhere:  Moisturize face, neck, hands, and feet.  Reduce wrinkles.  Balance oil to give a glow while still getting the dry areas.  Heal cuticles, energize scalps and hair follicles, tame split ends, condition hair, conquer stretch marks and melt cellulite.

Who gets to use it:  Women, men, children, babies, pets, and aliens.

When:  Morning and night, all the time, as much as you want.

Why:  Because it is simple, pure, real, luxurious, organic, therapeutic, and free of anything bad.  It also happens to be glorious, celebrated, magnificent, splendid, famous and wonderful.

Best reason to use:  If a moisturizer was alive and would lovingly do whatever you told it to do - this would be it.

Parisian Chic - The Book For A Stylish Life

One of my ultimate style icons has written a book entitled Parisian Chic: A Style Guide. Whatever Ines de la Fressange recommends, I will heed. She has the je ne sais quoi we all try to emulate, so hurrah for the fact that she has decided to share her tips for a styled life. She talks about where she shops for everything from candles to riding boots and beyond. She also muses on her lifestyle and beauty tips ( no to botox, yes to plenty of sex and carrot juice for great skin!). I fully intend to soak this book up like a sponge...

Here is an extract of her interview with Nowness whilst promoting the book...

Who is Parisian Chic aimed at?In the magazines we see the latest fashion, on gorgeous girls, but in my book I just wanted to help the busy woman––a woman who is not thin, and not that fat, but in a hurry, in a hurry, in a hurry! Because we are all a lot like this—too much tummy, not enough time.

Fishnet T-shirts, flip-flops and Hello Kitty nightgowns are a few of your “don’ts.” So what's your must-have?Nice black, buckled shoes. The clothes you can always steal from the boyfriend—it’s the easiest thing. But shoes? Non! Imagine you go somewhere for a wedding, and you lose your suitcase. If you have your shoes on you, you’re safe. It’s like perfume. 

At the age of 53 you walked for Karl Lagerfeld’s Chanel show, and you did again for the spring 2011 show. How much has changed since you were the house’s muse in the 80s?It was nice for Karl to show that he liked mature women. Age is not that important, however. In my time, I only remembered the names––Pat Cleveland, Marpessa Hennink, Jerry Hall––I never knew their ages!

What is your favorite must-stop shop outside of Paris?In Tarascon in Provence there is an equestrian shop, T Rodeo Les Amphores, where I find boots, ponchos and belts. 

What piece in your closet means the most to you?None: clothes are made to disappear. They lose their magic with time, and one shouldn’t treat any object with devotion—which doesn't mean that you don't appreciate quality, beauty, rarity, refinement and talent.

Your beauty philosophy seems based on ways to live, rather than products to buy. Yes, indeed, but I am still a shopaholic! Shopping means enthusiasm, a taste for life, curiosity, joy. All of these things are the clues for staying young.