2016.

Hello everyone.

Happy New Year's Eve! I honestly cannot get over how fast this year has gone. It seems like only yesterday I was writing my 2015 year in review!

But here we are - 366 days later, I am writing my 2016 year in review. Similar to my summer review, this is more something for me to look back on and see how much has changed in the year. So here we go...

This year started off quite ordinary to say the least. I tried to make myself a better person, and failed, as you do. I started back at college and kept working in the hotel, as I said, nothing interesting to report. I went out with friends, got drunk, did what any other college student would do. I knew it wasn't the healthiest thing to do, but I continued to go out every weekend for the year. 

The highlight of my 2016 was definitely my 21st birthday! It was honestly the best night ever and I could not have asked for a better crowd of people to have spent it with. 

The summer brought along some amazing nights out too, plenty of them spent with my TYT (Tuam Youth Theatre) family. What a crazy bunch of peeps!

Over the summer, I reconnected with one of my oldest friends and we had many a crazy night out! I am so happy to have this girl back in my life ❤️ 

Speaking of friendship, I made some amazing friends this year that I know will be around for a very long time. You guys know who you are, so I'll say nothing more. 

I managed to check off a few things from my bucket list this year. I redecorated my room, bought myself a new camera, jumped off Blackrock...I could have done a lot more, but I'm happy with myself for achieving this small goals. 

At the end of August, I left my part time job. I did this because I was going starting placement. The only thing that would have stopped me from leaving was the group of people I got to work with. They are serious legends and I love them all to bits!

In September, I faced one of my biggest fears when I sang solo in front of a crowd of people at my cousin's wedding. To be fair, I haven't done it since; but singing that day and actually getting through it was one of my highlights of this year. So thanks Nic ❤️

I still haven't been back to college because I've been on placement for 10 weeks. And all I can say now is, if I thought I wanted to be a teacher before, I definitely do now! I learned so much about myself as a teacher during the last 3 months, and I do not regret it for the world!

There are a lot of things I want to change in 2017. 

To start with, I'm going to try 'dry January.' I know it's not that big of a deal to some, but I definitely need some time away from alcohol. I want to see for myself if I can do it and to see how I feel after the month. 

I want to be more organised. I'll be heading back to college at the end of January, and I know that I need to organise my life if I want to graduate in 2018. I don't know how I'm going to do this, so if anyone has any ideas/tips/tricks, please leave them down below!

I want to be more healthy. I know this is such a cliche, but one thing I have discovered the last few months is how unhealthy I actually am. Just last week, I had to run around our estate (8 houses) with the Christmas cards and when I came home, I was out of breath and had a stitch. I knew it was time to change. Come January, that's exactly what I'm going to do.

There are a lot of people I want to cut out of my life. They make me a worse person than I actually am. This is a more personal one, so I won't go into much detail.

I hope you all have a great New Year's Eve and that 2017 is a good one!

This is OUR year - so let's do the best we can!

Until next time.

Fifs xo

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Blogmas 2016: Christmas Bedroom Tour

Hello everyone!

Every year, I decorate my bedroom for Christmas (because Santa loves a decorated bedroom, obviously!) and I just love it so much! It is quite similar to last year's decorating scheme (which I have a blog post and video for as well) but seeing as I redecorated my room this year, it is a tad different.

A word of warning - there is a lot of tacky tinsel involved, so if you are not a fan of the shiny stuff, avert your eyes now!

My Yankee Candle Advent calendar has gotten some great use this year! The two candles I currently have lit in my room are the Christmas Cookie and Snowflake Cookie which are definitely my two favourites!!

This little battered robin has been sitting on our tree every year for as long as I can remember! However, this year he has flown on down to my room and is perched on my fake lily plant.

I finally got a pair of Christmas pyjamas! I found these ones in Penneys and I cannot wait to wear them. I'm also currently reading the third book in Zoe Sugg's Girl Online series and I'm loving it so far!

This is definitely my favourite Christmas mug I have this year!

The lyrics to my all time favourite Christmas song are written on my chalkboard just above my bed. I could listen to any version of this song all day every day if I could!

I also have a short video of my room tour on my YouTube channel which is linked below if you would like to see a more in depth view of my room!

Do you decorate your room for the Christmas?

Until next time.

Fifs xo

Video: https://youtu.be/eb7EUo4IXZs

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Blogmas 2016: Winter/Christmas Makeup Routine

Hello everyone!

Today's blog post will be my everyday Winter/Christmas makeup routine. I have also made a video on my YouTube channel of this, so I won't go into much detail!

I've been wearing a gold/rose gold eye with a red/pink ombre lip (or attempt of an ombre..) with the usual contour and highlight. A list of products is below, along with some strangely posed pictures, and there is a video over on my YouTube channel!

Makeup Products used:

FACE:

Benefit 'That Gal' primer

MAC Studio Fix fluid NC15

Collection Lasting Perfection 

Rimmel Stay Matte Powder

Rimmel Kate Moss Contour Palette

EYEBROWS:

Inglot AMC Eyebrow Gel 16

EYES:

Sleek Rockstar Collection i-Lust Palette in Diamonds in the Rough 

Too Faced Chocolate Bar Palette

Too Faced Better Than Sex Mascara

LIPS:

P.S. Pro Lipscrub

Clarins Lip Oil

Rimmel Kate Moss Lasting Finish Matte 107

Rimmel 15th Anniversary Collection by Kate 054

What has your makeup look been like for the Christmas season?

Until next time.

Fifs xo

Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gRM2fcAcC0A&feature=youtu.be

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Blogmas 2016: Christmas nights in

Hello everyone!

First of all, I know I haven't been around at all this week like I said I would be. We had a slight mishap in the form of my dog Sandy needing an operation. It was hit and miss the day of the surgery - we didn't know what the outcome would be - but she's ok, a bit sore and annoyed with us, but otherwise ok. A Christmas miracle if you ask me!!

Sometimes, all you need is a night in over the Christmas. I was out Friday and Saturday last weekend, and then again for a few drinks on Monday. A few of my friends were going up to the beer tent and Christmas market tonight before going out, but I just wanted to stay home with Sandy.

I'm currently sitting in the sitting room in front of the Christmas tree, in my pyjamas, watching Gilmore Girls (the last episode!!) and drinking a Bailey's hot chocolate (which is amazing btw, I highly recommend it). 

And I am so much more content than I would have been up in Galway! I just know I would be thinking about Sandy constantly and wouldn't enjoy myself as much as I would have liked.

Christmas nights in are so much better than nights out sometimes. Of course, it all depends on the mood you are in. For me, just being able to sit in the comfort of your own house in your pyjamas, watching crappy TV (not that Gilmore Girls is crappy!!), having one or two quiet drinks, and just being there with family. 

Don't get me wrong - I love my nights out over the Christmas as much as the next person, but sometimes you just want a quiet night in.

Do you prefer to have a quiet night in  or a big night out over the Christmas?

Until next time.

Fifs xo

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Blogmas 2016: Getting into the Christmas Spirit during Placement

Hello everyone!

And welcome to the first post of Blogmas 2016!!

I have failed before I even began 🙈 I promised a blogpost on Sunday.. it is now the following Saturday as I write this 🙈 So apologies! 

I do have a fair excuse though... I've just finished 10 weeks of placement, so I have been quite busy with lesson planning, worksheet making, etc. 

I have been getting into the Christmas spirit though! It's quite easy to do when you're teaching a class of 20 excited Junior Infant kids! It's also easy when the Christmas tree is up, the lights are shining bright in the town centre, and there's a Christmas market less than an hour's drive away! 

Yesterday was the perfect beginning to the Christmas season! After finishing placement, I went up to the Christmas market with one of my best friends. We had a walk around, went on the ferris wheel to have a very serious 'candid' photoshoot (lol) and had a few sneaky drinks in the beer tent before heading back home for a night of festive fun with a few other friends. 

As always, a picture speaks a thousand words. So instead of my rambling, here's some photos of the night. 

Until next time.

Fifs xo

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Blogmas 2016... kind of...

Hello everyone!

And welcome to Blogmas 2016... kind of...

Last year, I set myself the task of writing a blogpost for the 24 days leading up to Christmas. I managed to write 16 out of those 24, which I was extremely proud of. I also had great fun doing it because, if you know me, Christmas is my favourite time of year! 

I really wanted to do Blogmas again this year, but I'm on my final two weeks of placement at the moment and I don't have the time to think, never mind writing a blog post every day on top of writing lesson plans... So I've come up with a compromise!

For the next 2 weeks, I will write a blog post on Sunday. And then for the week before Christmas and the week leading up to it, I will try to write one every day. 

It's the best situation for my situation (if that makes any sense..) and because Blogmas is more so for my pleasure than anyone else's (although, some people do enjoy these!!) on quite happy with this outcome! 

Let's just hope I remember to write a post on Sunday.......

 

Until next time.

Fifs xo

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When.

Hello everyone.

"Am I the only one wishing life away? Never caught up in the moment busy begging the past to stay." 

When I first listened to Dodie Clark's song 'When' (which I suggest everyone to listen to!) and heard this line, I was hooked. I found a song that I could relate to. 

I'm always wishing that I could be older, out of college, working as a teacher and living my life. I'm basically wishing my life away, but at the same time, I would go back to certain parts of my past in a heart beat. It's confusing, but I'm sure I'm not the only one feeling like this.

Life is confusing. It's just something that we have to go through, we don't get a choice in the matter. We do, hoewever, get the choice of how we want to live it. Everyone goes about living their life their own way, and that's what makes us all individual. Some people are still living in the past, others refuse to look to the future, while some can't wait to see what life has in store for them. 

I'm only 21, and I feel older than I am but yet I still feel way too young to be in the position I am in in my life at the moment. I'm not ready to be a qualified teacher in two years, but yet I can't wait to leave college and start living that dream. I get fed up of nights out at the weekend, but yet I'm the first one to organise a mad session. I feel way more mature than others my age, and yet I'm still an immature child at times. 

I've always wondered when I'm going to start feeling the age I am, or at least feel like I'm at the right point in my life to just slow down and take each day as it comes, waiting for life to take it's course, stopping to just appreciate where I am and who I am. Don't get me wrong; I am completely happy with who I am and my family and friends. 

I'm just sick of waiting around. I'm sick of waiting for 'the one' and for my life to finally take shape as a teacher. 

But that's life. And there's nothing that can be done about it, except wait. 

"I'm waiting to live, and waiting to love  oh it'll be over, and I'll still be asking when."

Until next time.

Fifs xo

P.S. This blog post took an unexpected turn. I listened to this song and just felt such a connection to it that I had to write something. But I honestly didn't know where it was heading. I just wrote what I felt. Sorry for the rambles and deep and meaningful stuff throughout the post. That's just me.

*UPDATE* After reading this through a few times and reading a comment, I realised that some people might take this post a bit too literal. Mainly the part where I say I've given up on waiting for 'the one.' I know I'm only 21, and I'm not saying that I've given up on love. It's just annoying having to wait. I want to be at that point in my life right now. And I do realise I have to wait, but that's what this post is kind of about. It's about me not wanting to wait around for life to come at me. I hope that makes more sense. 

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Top Beauty and Makeup Products

Hello everyone!

Back to old school blogging today with a little beauty post!

I love makeup and beauty products, so I felt it only right to share some of my favourites with you. I wrote a similar post when I first started my blog last year, but I only focused on makeup products. I will try to include the price of each item and where you can purchase it.

Cleanser: Liz Earle Cleanse and Polish (Boots, €20.75)

I have been using this cleanser since July and I cannot fault it. I absolutely love it! It removes my makeup so easily at night and freshens my face in the mornings. I buy the 100ml bottle that comes with two muslin cloths and I think it is such good value for money this way because the bottle is €19 alone and two cloths cost €6.25. I would highly recommend this to anyone looking for a new cleanser.

Foundation: MAC Studio Fix Fluid (Brown Thomas, €32.00)

I have been using this foundation for 6 years now and I am still as in love with it as I was when I first started using it. It never lets me down! It covers all redness and imperfections with just a small amount on a beauty blender. There's not much more I can say about this foundation, except that I have yet to find another that lives up to this.

Concealer: Collection Lasting Perfection Concealer (Boots, €5.49)

Another firm favourite of mine for a few years. This concealer is just magic. I have tried many a concealer in my day, including others from this range, and I always go back to this one. It's so creamy and easy to blend and covers absolutely every bit of discolouration as well as brightening under the eyes.

Highlighter: Rimmel Good to Glow 001 Notting Hill Glow (Boots, €6.99)

So I don't actually use this highlighter as a highlighter as I'm not very good with cream highlighters. Instead, I like to use it mixed in with my moisturiser to create a strobe cream to illuminate the skin under my foundation, and if I'm feeling extra adventurous, I'll even mix some into my foundation to make my skin glow even more!

Eyeshadow Palette: Too Faced Chocolate Bar Palette (Debenhams, €47.00)

One of my favourite eyeshadow palettes EVER! It's not a usual occurance for me to find an eyeshadow palette that has 16 different colours that I love. I usually just like to use about 3 shades, but this one, I can use every single shade to create many different looks for day time and night time. It's also a plus that it smells like chocolate!!

Eyeliner: Essence Liquid Ink Waterproof Eyeliner (Penneys, price unknown)

This is a new favourite of mine. I used to love using Essence makeup when I was younger, but stopped using it once I discovered more pricey items that work that little bit better. But obviously Essence has upped their game since I last used it, because this eyeliner is probably one of the best eyeliners I've used! I usually love a felt liner (such as the Soap and Glory SuperCat Liner) but this one is great for filling in the line and it lasts all day. It is seriously hard to get off though, which can be a plus but also a pain at the end of the day. 

Lip Treatment: Clarins Lip Oil and PS Pro LipScrub (Debenhams, €21.00; Penneys, €3.00)

Two very different but non-comparable products. The lip scrub is a recent purchase of mine and I am loving it so far. I have very dry lips and this scrub seems to be doing the trick! I use the lip oil after I wipe off the scrub and before I apply my lipstick. I find that my lipstick applies a lot easier after this treatment.

Lipstick: MAC Velvet Teddy and Rimmel Kate Moss 54 Rock 'n' Roll Nude (Brown Thomas, €20; Boots, €10.99)

These two lipsticks are two firm favourites in my ever growing lipstick collection. I can wear either of them day or night and they just complete any makeup look! They are both a nude shade but the Rimmel one is more pink toned whereas the MAC one is brown toned (if that makes sense...). I love both of these equally and I can use the same lipliner for them (PS Lipliner in Nude) so that's always a bonus!

Bubble Bath: Zoella Beauty Bath Latte (feelunique.com, €7.68)

A macaroon scented bath anyone? Yes please! Zoella Beauty never fails to disappoint me, and this bubble bath is no exception. The scent is one thing, but the fact that it actually creates bubbles is another! 

Fragrance: Zoella Beauty Sweet Inspirations Body Mist (feelunique.com, €8.19)

Another Zoella Beauty favourite of mine. I wear this as my every day perfume, and sometimes as an evening perfume. I generally don't like sweet fragrances - I prefer the floral ones like Marc Jacobs Daisy Dream - but this one is a huge exception! I wore it one day when I was teaching and when one of the kids came up to say hello to me, she commented that I smelled like chocolate, which I was not going to argue with! 

So there we have it - my top beauty and makeup products.

Until next time.

Fifs xo

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It's ok to not be ok...

Hello everyone!

As it's Mental Health Awareness Day, I thought it only suitable to write a blog post on this issue. It's an issue that I feel very strongly about, and I think it's something that more people should talk about. I've written my fair share of mental health posts on this blog, so you probably know how I feel about the issue.

People talk about being sick all the time. If you have a cold, you'll tell someone about it. If you have a stomach ache, you'll tell a doctor about it. If you have an issue with your mental health, however, most people stay quiet. And that's not good. 

It's ok to not be ok. If you're feeling sad or anxious, don't be afraid to talk about it. Whether it's with a friend or family members, or just someone who is happy to listen, talk. You may find that you'll start to feel better. 

I know I'm not doctor or professional or anything, and sometimes I don't talk to someone about how I'm feeling, but when I do I feel ten times better. 

Something that has helped me is an app. The 'trustTalk 247' app was set up to help people who suffer from mental health issues. There's a direct link to Console, where you can talk to someone about how you're feeling. The part of the app that I have found the most helpful is the 'Mind my Mind' section, where there's a different quote every day directed at mental health. I'm a sucker for an inspirational quote, so obviously this is something that caught my eye immediately and helped me a lot.

I would suggest you download this free app (or any other app like it if you would prefer). Something as simple as this can go a long way to help you.

My point of this post is to just talk to someone. I read a quote today that sums this up perfectly so I think I will end with it: 

"When I pushed people away, it was actually when I needed people most."

Until next time.

Fifs xo

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