Wednesday, January 5, 2011

Compact Mirrors By Model Mirror


Heya :) So here's another of my updates I was suppose to do over the Christmas but I didn't get a chance to. It's a review on the Compact Mirror by Model Mirror. I seen a review about this on Make Up By Nadia not me, another Nadia. :P And her blog can be seen here. As soon as I read Nadia's review, I though "ooh I must get one of them" and I did. :) 

"Compact mirrors are essential for any girl's handbag. They're perfect for touching up your makeup when away from home and they'll help you keep your polished look all day long.

But what happens when you're in a darker location? Maybe it's a poorly lit powder room or a dark club - or maybe you're out camping at a festival with no electricity at all. In situations like this, even the most hardcore fashionistas might put their compact mirrors away and keep their fingers crossed that their makeup remains unblemished.

But at Les Tai Tai, we're no longer concerned about the dark. Our fabulous Model Mirror compact mirrors feature eight battery-powered LEDs, which emit a bright light similar to a backstage makeup mirror. Simply turn on the power with the push of a button and you can enjoy the luxury of a lighted compact mirror wherever you are".


The mirrors come in a selection of styles and colours cost between £18 - £22. 
They can be bought on www.lestaitai.com or www.chicaboutiqueonline.com

I bought mine on Chica Boutique. 

From what I know they have sold out on Chica Boutique. I bought the Hippy Skull II and it cost me €28, and postage was under €5. Lil pricey but I love it and find it great for when applying make up or just doing a touch up. 

I had a little mix up with my order but the staff from Chica Boutique were very help full and sorted out my order straight away and it was delivered to me the next day. But onto my actual review. The skull on front of the mirror is the original Hippy Skull design but now in shiny gold foil. As the description says it has 8 mini battery operated glamorous LED lights around the mirror for a more accurate application, that switch on with the touch of a button. It is also sleek, stylish and can you can just pop it into your purse or clutch on a night out. Each mirror comes with a replaceable 23A 12V battery that should normally last around 6 months, gift box and a velvet pouch/cleaning cloth to prevent the plastic from scratching.

Here is the one I bought....

The Hippy Skull II
The Front....

 Inside...


Back...


 
So overall I would definitely recommend this mirror, I think its great and I've been using it since I got in it the post. So happy days! :) Hope you liked this update/review? Feel free to leave comments or feedback. Thanks! :)

Chat soon,
-Nadia x

Tuesday, January 4, 2011

December Favourites

Heya :) Hope you all had a fun, safe New Years. I don't like New Years so I just stayed in my family and it was great. :) So onto the updates, while I was out Christmas present shopping for family and friends I decided to treat myself to some bits too.

Here is what I bought!....


  • Medium Yankee Candle in Sparkling Cinnamon - "spicy warmth of real imported stick cinnamon with a hint of cloves". I bought the 2 medium candles in a gift set that was €19.90, which I think is really good value as there normally €14 each for the medium sized candles.
  • Large Yankee Candle in Christmas Cupcake - "rich, moist vanilla cupcake covered with sweet buttery holiday icing". I got my Aunties store discount for the large candles, there usually over €20 depending on each store but I got mine for €15 each.
  • Large Yankee Candle in Mandarin Cranberry - "vibrant, fruity sensation of sweet, sunny oranges and crisp, tangy cranberries". 
  • Medium Yankee Candle in Sparkling Snow - "crisp, naturally fresh scent of gleaming, snow-covered pines with hints of patchouli and fruit".

  • MAC Lipstick in Up The Amp - "Lavender violet, Amplified Creme". I got this lipstick in MAC in Brown Thomas, Dublin by recycling my 6 empties. It would usually be around €17. I haven't taken a swatch of the lipstick, to be honest I cant use my camera properly and the colour always looks different on your hand compared to your actual lips.

  • Red Leopard Print Scarf - I got this scarf because I think its more affordable to the Louis Vuitton "Red Stole Leopard Scarf". I got mine in Penney's for under €10. Bargain! The only difference between the Penney's version and the actual designer one is that the designer one says "Louis Vuitton" at the bottom of the scarf. 



The picture quality isn't too great on the above picture of the scarf but the red and the rest of the colours in the scarf are alot more vibrant in person. The colour can be seen alot better in the first picture of this update. But anyway that's the Penney's version (above) of it and here is the original Louis Vuitton version (below)....
 
Yeah you can sort of tell the difference (if you're a designer junkie) but really, who my age can afford to spend that amount of money on a scarf? We've all become recessionista's thanks to the Irish Government. So yeah that's what I bought over the month of December while I was out Christmas shopping. :)
Chat soon!
-Nadia x

Friday, December 31, 2010

Bye bye 2010....Hello 2011!


Heya everyone :) SO SORRY I haven't been updating much, like most of the country I was stressed to the eyeballs over Christmas and the no water drama. But all is sorted I think. *fingers crossed* anyway!

So this is just a lil update so say Happy New Year! Hope everyone has a great 2011 with lots of best wishes, health, love and happiness. I'll get the updates I wanted to put up over the weekend. Hope everyone has a fun safe night.

-Nadia x

Monday, December 6, 2010

Christmas Wish list 2010

Heya :) Hope ye all are keeping well. Here's just a few ideas on my Christmas Wish list.
Just because I'm posting this it doesn't mean I'm getting everything on it. After all it's just a Wish List. Ok so lets get started!

MAC - A Tartin Tale Winter Collection. 
5 Warm Thrillseekers Pigments / Glitter.
MAC - A Tartin Tale Winter Collection.
5 Cool Thrillseekers Pigments / Glitter.




The Tattoo Chronicles by Kat Von D.

Galaxy Selection Box.
Yummers ^_^ 

The Beauty and the Beast Diamond Edition DVD + Blu Ray.
Yankee Candles.
They are expensive but burn for hours and smell amazing!




Love, Peace & Juicy Couture Perfume.




The Beano 2011 Annual.
I get this every year since I was little, it's tradition.
My Brother and I fight every Christmas morning over what annuals we get.
I ALWAYS get The Beano and he gets The Dandy.


Professional Make-Up Directors Chair.
Thanks for checking out my blog.
Chat soon and keep warm! :)
-Nadia x
 



Wednesday, December 1, 2010

Baby It's Cold Outside!

Heya :) So as we are well into Winter now and the cold weather might be affecting our skin, especially on our face. Ive decided to recommend some products and tips that I found a huge help to me and my skin. With going into hot and cold temperatures I have started to feel the difference on my skin. My skin has been feeling really dehydrated and just horrible really. 

The first product was recommend to me by a friend and its called 

  • Eucerin Replenishing Face Cream with 5% Urea.   
 " A gentle moisturiser for the daily care. Noticeably improves the condition of facial dry skin, absorbs easily and reduces the skins tightness. Replenishes the natural moisturisers Urea and Lactate. Leaving the skin feeling smooth and supple. Also as a adjunctive care."

As soon as I was told about this I went out and bought it straight away. I used it twice a day and I could feel the difference in my skin after 3 days. It is medicated so it is also fragrance and colourant free. It is rapidly absorbed oil-in-water emulsion and can be used in adjunctive care in atopic Eczema and Psoriasis. And more importantly it can be used under make-up :) It can be bought in any chemist for €9.99 but each store will vary in price.
  •  Water  
Drink water. It's simple. It keeps you internally moisturized and nourished, and is the number one way to prevent dry skin, especially in cold weather. So fill up on liquids and stay away from excess caffeine and alcohol. The recommended six to eight glasses a day is a good guideline. Even though with the cold weather water isn't something we want to be drinking but if you boil the kettle and add some luke warm to your glass it'll be easier for you to drink.
So give it ago and see some results, after all it's free! :)
Also Green Tea does the same job. (It appears to exert sun damage protection by quenching free radicals and reducing inflammation rather than by blocking UV rays. Therefore, green tea may synergistically enhance sun protection when used in addition to a sunscreen).




  • Vaseline
Keep your lips moisturised. The skin on your lips retain less moisture than other parts of the body. Use a good lip balm to lock in the moisture. If you have really dry lips, try using some medicated lip balms like Carmex which contain extra-moisturizing ingredients like Camphor. To remove dead skin from you lips, brush them gently with a toothbrush once a week. Then apply a good moisturizing balm. Vaseline is a time-tested favorite and suggested on many medical and beauty websites. You can even get some with SPF 15 with Shea Butter, Aloe Vera, and also with Rose and Almond oil, with is always an added bonus.  And for only €1.99 for a pocket size (20g) you can't go wrong. :)
  • Exfoliate
Exfoliate once a week and use a body scrub before showering/bathing. Scrubbing your skin (gently) will help remove dead skin cells and promote healthy skin. Use a scrub that is paraben-free, or make your own by mixing 1/2 cup coarse sugar with one cup of Coconut Oil. Apply scrub to skin using gentle, circular motions. Scrub your whole body and then rinse off with lukewarm water. Sorted! 




  •  Olay Complete Defense Daily UV Moisturizer SPF 30, Sensitive Skin

"Extra Olay UVA/UVB protection against sun damage with a light non-greasy formula that gives complete defense. Gives your skin complete care, providing everything it needs most to stay beautiful, plus extra protection against sun damage in a light, non-greasy formula.
Protects with SPF 30 that provides extra UV protection against 97% of the sun's harmful rays to help prevent sun damage, so skin stays healthy and younger looking. Olay, in partnership with The Skin Cancer Foundation, recommends daily use of an effective UV sunscreen moisturizer which may help reduce the risk of skin cancer."

I love this moisturizer as it has a non-greasy formula with Vitamin E, Aloe, and Green Tea Extract that replenishes moisture and absorbs quickly into skin.  And is also light enough to wear every day. As nearly all of the products and items I've listed this can also be got in chemist or grocery store for around €11 but each store will vary.



  • Neutrogena Hand Cream Norwegian Formula
"Neutrogena Norwegian Formula Hand Cream delivers effective relief for dry, chapped hands. It is so concentrated that only a small amount instantly leaves even dry, cracked hands noticeably softer and smoother after just one application.  Used daily, it helps prevent dry, chapped skin; used overnight, it heals dry skin - even under the harshest of conditions. It started with Norwegian Fishermen faced with some of the harshest, coldest weather on earth, they used a formula that delivers concentrated levels of glycerin to dry, chapped skin providing immediate and lasting relief.  Five years of independent clinical testing confirmed what the fishermen knew all along - Norwegian Formula Hand Cream consistently outperformed other products. Today, the Norwegian Formula product line includes a variety of body, hand and foot moisturizers to meet your individual dry skin needs."

This is another product I love. Ive been using it for a good few years now thanks to my Nana. She loved different hand creams and this was one of her faves. It works with each individuals own skin care needs and you only need a lil bit as goes along way. It is €3.60 for a 56g tube so its handy to just pop in your bag or have in your drawer in the office.


And last but not least a good Hat, Scarf, pair of Gloves and Earmuffs (if needed) and your sorted! :)


Hope you found some of these tip and products helpfull. 
-Nadia x

Let It Snow, Let It Snow, Let It Snow!

Heya :) So as promised, here's another update. As some of ye may already know I live in Ireland, in a little town in the midlands called Athlone.
Today is Wednesday and it's our third day of bad snow and frost. I know people that maybe reading this outside of Ireland might be thinking,"What's the big deal?, It's only snow".  But here in Ireland, the tiny-est bit of snow and the whole country shuts down. Saying that where I live the snow is really bad and I can't even leave my house. Therefore I can safely say cabin fever has well and truly set in :( It was fun Monday to wake up to a winter wonderland but after a few hours the novelty wore off.

Needless to say, Harley my dog LOVES it. If he's not rolling around in it, jumping in it or eating it, he's just sitting in it happy out. (Little weird dog).  But anyway here are some pictures I took of the snow in my area.


 



 


It is pretty to look out at, but I'm getting kinda bored of it now and I can't go anywhere because of it and the roads being so bad. Hopefully tomorrow they'll be alot better and I'll be able to venture into town. :) 

-Nadia x

When Im Not Painting Faces

Heya :) So as your all probably use to it now. For those that actually read my blog. Ive been neglecting my updates yet again. But I was really busy the past month. But anyway.

So first off. Ive finally graduated!!! ^__^ I am now a qualified Make Up Artist.  
Woowhoo! I graduated on the 6th of this month, (November) and at the minute I'm currently building up my portfolio. So my graduation took place in the RDS Concert Hall in Dublin and to be honest it was a great day. I wasn't the college type person and I'm so proud of myself for passing my exams and graduating. :) Both my parents travelled up with me for the ceremony, and they enjoyed it just as much as I did. 

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Then I went to see Avenged Sevenfold in Dublin on the 8th. It was kinda weird to see them again without Jimmy. :( </3 But I know that if I didn't go I would of been kicking myself later. They performed well and Mike Portnoy was amazing but he will never fill The Rev's shoes as far as im concerned. As Jimmy was part Irish, I got an Ireland Jersey with his surname printed on the back to give his parents. I gave it to Matt and he said that he would personally make sure Jimmy's parents would get it and that it was a lovely thought. He himself loved it and said Jimmy's parents would too. So that made me extremely happy. ^_^


I didn't get to hang out with the band this time they were in Dublin, but I got to say a quick hello to Matt and his wife Val [ she was really sweet :) ]. They played for over an hour and as I already said they preformed well but I don't think id go to see them again.
foREVer <3
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Then I went on a mini break to Liverpool with my good friend Elaine. I was never there before. Elaine use to live there and was always inviting me over, so I finally went.
I LOVED IT there! It is such a pretty city with so much to do. Even the accent is amazing! I think I even prefer Liverpool to London. As we were only there for 2 nights we didn't have much time to see all we had planned but we did get to do some shopping! Along with picking up some Christmas presents for my family, I picked up some gorgeous Nightmare Before Christmas decorations for my Christmas tree in the DISNEY STORE! ^_^ One of my favourite shops. I'll post some pictures of them when I put my tree up. I also got to see where she use to work and met some of her lovely friends. I think I can safely say we will be definatley be taking a trip back again soon. :)

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So as I'm always looking to try new things, Ive started a new hobby. Re-designing and painting old furniture! My dog Harley was the reason behind this new hobby. When he was a pup he started chewing all my furniture, mainly my chairs in the kitchen. So after searching for single chairs to use my Aunt had some old wooden ones that she gave me. They looked pretty dull and boring so I decided to funk them up abit. I have 4. Each are have different designs and are hand painted and papered by me.




These have been done for quiet awhile now, but the were the first of my creations. :)
I have got LOADS of compliments about them and people asking to buy them. But these are not for sale. So a friend of mine approached me asking would I like to submit some pieces to a Christmas craft fair she was holding. So I jumped at the chance. And here are 2 of the few pieces I submitted. :)


Beano Comic Lamp/Coffee Table



 Top Table Up Close


Leopard Print Kisses Coffee Table


Top Of The Table


Both pieces are available to buy. For information on them or any of my work. You can contact me by emailing nadia.annaburke@gmail.com

As always thanks for reading my blog. Feel free to follow and I'll follow back. :)
More updates tomorrow. [ I promise ;) ].

-Nadia x