BEAUTY

Maybelline Color Tattoos

If you've been following me on any social media recently, it should come as no surprise that these are in my favourites because I feel like I've been raving about them everywhere! I picked up On and On Bronze in Boots at the end of last month and it was love at first use. I'd never used a cream eyeshadow previously but now I'm obsessed! I then knew I had to try Pink Gold and yup, it's pure shimmery goodness. And don't worry, I intend to give these little pots a whole post of their own with swatches and the like very soon!

Cocoa Brown Tough Stuff

The fact that this exfoliator is pink is almost enough on it's own to grant it a place in my favourites but luckily the product itself is pretty impressive and I can recommend it based on quality too! The particles are very fine so it's by no means harsh at all. It isn't as heavy duty as my usual Soap & Glory ones are but it still gets to work on buffing my skin smooth. The scent is also lovely and fresh (I'm getting watermelon?), plus it's nice and affordable!

Real Techniques Miracle Complexion Sponge

Say hello to what's revolutionised my foundation application! I put off buying this for the longest time and now I really wish I'd gotten it sooner. I thought brushes were the best way for me but honestly, I haven't used one since bringing this sponge into my life. It gives a very natural look with ease while still allowing you to build up coverage like a pro. I think a full review is on the cards!

STATIONERY

Weekly Organiser

And lastly, I just want to quickly give a special mention to the Weekly Organiser I bought from The Works a few weeks back. I haven't actually used it yet as I've been saving it for September (back to school this week!) but just looking at it's cuteness has been a favourite for sure. I just know this is gonna up my organisation game to another level - and it has for some of you too! I shared it on my Snapchat & Instagram and a few lovely people sent me messages saying they'd got it too and love it! £3 from The Works people, you heard it here first.

This week . . .

. . . started out with a lovely afternoon out in Hillsborough with my family! We had lunch in The Plough Inn which was incredible - I would 100% recommend it if you're local or visiting as my meal was absolutely delicious. Their salmon and quinoa was out of this world!

Instead of ordering a dessert, we chose to find a little corner shop that sold icecreams and my sister & I went for the raspberry sorbet. Again, it was on another level and the fact the weather was truly glorious made it all the better!

Tuesday was a chill day as I remember because I had to get some rest for going back to school the next day! It was just a little induction for getting our new timetables and for me, it was the day I met my new year group & tutor group seeing as I'm repeating my Upper 6th year. I can't lie, I was quite the bag of nerves going in but those were soon settled when I was greeted with the warmest welcome which honestly turned my day around completely! To put the cherry on the cake, I got chatting with a girl who recovered from the same illness I have & my form teacher also suffered from it for 8 years! Coincidence? I'm certainly amongst kind & understanding company which really sets my mind at ease.

We only had to be in school for an hour and a half in the morning so afterwards, my dad took my brother and I to Subway for a yummy lunch. I can thoroughly recommend the turkey & ham sub with sweet onion sauce! I will tell you a bit of a funny story; when I was getting ready that morning, I put on the school skirt I had mistakenly assumed would still fit me from the year before. Nope. It was touch and go whether I was gonna get the zip up but thankfully I did with much struggle! It was pretty tight but I managed the morning and the lunch before we popped into the uniform shop to get a new one. Mini crisis averted!


That night my sister flew home to her uni accommodation and truthfully, I really miss her! Very truthfully - as I'm sure anyone with siblings will be able to relate - they do get on your nerves and it can be nice to have a break from them but I really do miss having her around the house again!

I feel so lucky that my health has been good this past week. I've been very sore but mercifully, my fatigue hasn't been hitting me as hard as it usually would. I really do think that all the happiness and smiles people have brought into my life this week have made all the difference!

🌞 A lil burst of sunshine & happiness! 🌞 LOVED this bath bomb from @bourgeonsetsavons, it had just the right amount of glitter 💖 I'll admit I was a little sceptical about a yellow bath but it was actually lovely! 🎀

A video posted by Maeve G (@thriftoclock) on Aug 28, 2015 at 11:50am PDT

I don't wanna alarm anyone but I do believe I had an epiphany this week. After years of not knowing what job I want to pursue, countless sighs & put downs from my careers teachers and many existential crises I think I've finally figured out what I want to do with my life. I'm gonna be very cheeky and not give it away here because I do think I'm gonna write a whole blog post on this - it's a pretty big deal and I know lots of people are in the same situation as I was/am!


Saturday morning was yet another lovely part of the week - I did the weekly shop with my mum, auntie & granny! Spending that time with my family really meant so much, we had such a good wee catch up! My mum and I also took advantage of the fact Tesco have incredible stationery and picked up a few bits for back to school. We were in our element in there! Keep your eyes peeled for a back to school haul coming very soon!

P.S. The adorable floral/polka dot Weekly Organiser is from The Works and it's only £3. A handful of people have actually sent me messages saying I've enabled them to get it and I'm not even sorry one bit, it's the prettiest piece of stationery ever!

I just put up a mini stationery haul on my Snapchat, including this ADORABLE pencil case 😻 Go see! Just add: maeve.toc 💕

A video posted by Maeve G (@thriftoclock) on Aug 29, 2015 at 7:24am PDT

I also filmed my August Favourites yesterday hence the filming selfie!

Maven Fiction

Maven Fiction are an up and coming English indie pop band who I came across through the power of social media! I heard this version of their song Can I Keep You and loved it immediately. I can tell they have a really promising future ahead of them so definitely get involved with them now so you can say you loved them before they hit the big time! I recommend following them on Twitter and sure why not give them a wee like on Facebook!

Foxes

Next up is Foxes! I loved all of the singles she released from her debut album, Glorious but have to say I wasn't really enthused by the other tracks on it. Don't get me wrong, they're good but they just didn't make an impression on me if you know what I mean! Fast forward to the present day and I'm eagerly awaiting her next album because the first single Body Talk has me so excited! I love both the sound and feel of it - it's got all the strength of a good pop song but also has that little extra something that sets it apart from everything else in the charts.

One Direction

Now this is a first, a One Direction song in my monthly playlist! It's not that I have against the band - I actually loved them when they were on The X Factor but after that I just lost interest. I kinda started to regain that interest when they brought out Steal My Girl and now I properly love Drag Me Down, it's such a tune! What a shame they decided to take a break just as I start to like them again! Definitely give it a listen and see what you think even if you put yourself in the 'not a fan' category.

Salt-N-Pepa

I've included two absolute classics by Salt n Pepa, aka hip hop royalty! Shoop and None Of Your Business are two of my favourite songs of theirs and I don't know why but I just haven't been able to get them out of my head recently! Their rhymes are superior and sassy as heck. This is my kind of feelgood music!

FKA twigs

And finally, the ethereal beauty that is FKA twigs! I've loved pretty much everything I've heard from her so far but I still need a bit of time for her new release M3LL155X to grow on me. Figure 8 is the one that stood out to me first from it - there really is no one else like her musically but I kinda hear Kate Bush vibes from her at times!

This week . . .

. . . started off with the arrival of a lovely package which Bronagh from Bourgeons et Savons kindly sent me! I'd tried a few things from them before (see that post here) which I loved and these didn't disappoint!

Absolutely loved this @bourgeonsetsavons bath bomb! 💕 It made the water gorgeously glittery & purple 💜 (via Snapchat: maeve.toc)

A video posted by Maeve G (@thriftoclock) on Aug 20, 2015 at 1:17pm PDT

My sister came home to stay with us on Tuesday morning! It's been lovely having her here and it'll be sad to see her go when she does next week.

Also that day, my Feel Unique order came! I just picked up a few bits (see the haul here) and so far I'm really liking everything I got. I'll definitely be ordering from there again, they have a really good selection of brands!

To celebrate my sister being home, we went for an curry on Wednesday night at one of our favourite restaurants in Moira. As well as a delicious meal we had a really good catch up with lots of laughs as well. We got home just in time to watch the soaps and then The Great British Bake Off with a slice of the chocolate orange marble cake I baked earlier on in the day!

And then I caught the cold so many cups of hot honey & lemon were had! I'm hoping I'll be feeling better as soon as possible because it's not long until I have to go back to school!

Zoella Beauty // Kissy Missy Lip Balm

When I first heard about Zoe's new Tutti Fruity range, the lip balm immediately caught my attention! I'm all about a bright lip and she explained that this can be used either sheerly or built up to a higher pigmentation which sounds ideal for me. I can't wait to give it a go!

Zoella Beauty // Candy Cream Softening Body Lotion

I'd also heard great things about this; that it has bursting beads and a lovely scent so I'm excited to try it for myself! What really sold this product to me was the fact it comes in a tube. I don't know about you but I just find that a much easier way of applying lotion, rather than from a tub! And of course, the packaging is absolutely adorable so it will take pride of place on my shelf.

Real  Techniques // Miracle Complexion Sponge

I have quite a few different types of brush in my makeup brush collection but the one thing I've never tried applying my makeup with is a sponge! I've wanted to try this for the longest time after watching countless tutorials on Youtube achieve close to flawless results with it. When I saw there was money off it in the sale I thought, why not! I would love your advice though; if you use a sponge for foundation/concealer, what's the best way to clean it & what do you use?

Cocoa Brown // Tough Stuff

If you saw my last post, you'll know why I bought this! I don't fake tan but I really wanted to support Marissa and buy something from her Cocoa Brown range so it made sense for me to get the Tough Stuff exfoliator. It has 3 uses; it prepares skin for tanning, removes old tan as well as of course exfoliating! You all know how I feel about pink so the super bright shade of the packaging & the fact the product itself is pink (I repeat, the actual product is pink! *heart eyes emoji*) has me beyond excited to use this. I'll let you know how I get on!

Maybelline // Color Tattoo in 'Pink Gold'

Followers of my Twitter & Snapchat will know that I've been adoring with this cream eyeshadow in 'On and On Bronze' since I got it earlier this month. I'm pretty sure it's the only thing I've put on my eyes these past few weeks! I've swatched 'Pink Gold' numerous times in store but have never been sure if it would actually suit me on the eyes. Seeing as it was in the sale, I figured if not now then when!

Garnier // Micellar Water

And last but not least, I repurchased this absolute essential. It's my favourite way to remove makeup and I needed to restock as my previous one had run out. I noticed they've changed what the bottle looks like though and I'm not sure why - I don't think it doesn't look worse or necessarily better, it's just different!

Karen // Lovely Girlie Bits

The queen of Snapchat in my mind, Karen's story will make you giggle everyday! I've been following her beauty reviews on her blog loyally for years and she really does invite you into her days, making you feel like you're having the ultimate craic with a friend! #publiclesonfleek

Add: lovelygirlybits

Sera // The Style Guide Blog

Sera has a fabulous sense of sarcasm and this super relatable, girl next door quality that you're bound to love! Her blog is a highly recommended read for all things style, beauty & wellness. Added bonus: her adorable puppy Kim!

Add: seraemily

Marissa Carter // Cocoa Brown

If you're a fan of Cocoa Brown tan, you may know of Marissa - she's the founder! Since I started keeping up with her stories I've felt inspired daily by her & the motivational quotes she shares. I'm not a tanner but such is the power of Snapchat, I really wanted to support her in some way so I'm currently waiting on a bottle of Cocoa Brown Tough Stuff exfoliator coming in the post with my Feel Unique order!

Add: cartermarissa

Sharon Leavy // Behind Green Eyes

I first came across Sharon's blog when we both took part in #IrishBlogCollab and it's always a pleasure watching her snaps. She's the definition of down to earth and is always chatting about something that'll make you laugh, for example all of the hilarious misheard lyrics she's been sharing lately!

Add: sharonleavy

Polly Vadasz // Sighh Designs

Polly genuinely amazes me at how much she's achieved and constantly continues to achieve. It's so lovely to get a little 'behind the scenes' peek at her illustrations in her stories! You'll never be bored watching her snaps; a personal favourite of mine was when she visited the Harry Potter studios - oh me oh my. Oh and if you like incredible food, you will not be disappointed!

Add: pollyvdsz

This week . . .

. . . got off to a fairly quiet start but on Wednesday my mum and I went into town to run some errands together. It was lovely to get out of the house, especially as the weather was incredible for once - it's not often you have too many layers on here in Northern Ireland but I was boiling in a vest top & light hoodie! We also popped into a charity shop I'd never been to before and found the loveliest Summer dress. It'll definitely feature in an outfit post soon if we can get any of that nice weather again!

Thursday was A Levels results day!
If things had gone to plan I would've gotten mine but unfortunately a frustrating illness called Chronic Fatigue Syndrome came into my life and got in the way! I didn't think I was going to be sad about not getting results but on the day I felt pretty rubbish about the whole thing. If I'm honest, the closer it gets to September the more I'm scared I won't be able to manage going back to school and repeating my A Levels. But, I'm determined to get them done! If you got your exam results this week I really hope you got what you wanted and if not, please don't worry - there are plenty of other options and you never know, maybe there's a brilliant opportunity around the corner you never would have expected!

Yesterday I spent the day in Lisburn with my fabulous friend Megan! We went to Bob & Berts again because their milkshakes are amazing but this time we took our drinks upstairs and sat in. Once the rain had stopped, we had a wee browse round the shops and I picked up some stationery bits for going back to school. It was absolutely lovely to catch up with her and hear she got into her first choice for university! 

The shampoo is both sulphate & paraben free and claims to renew moisture, preserve & nourish hair.

The mask is paraben free and claims to strengthen hair from within, helping preserve it's natural vitality.

The 250ml bottle of shampoo costs £12.20 and the full size 150ml tub of hair mask costs £14.50 but also comes in a 500ml size for £28.75.
They're both available from www.regissalons.co.uk!


On first use, what I noticed straightaway was the consistency. It feels much more gel-like compared to other shampoos I've used on the past and as a result I don't feel the need to use as much. Due to being sulphate free it also lathers a lot less meaning it's less harsh on your hair - something my curls are very appreciative of!

Let's talk about the scent. The beautiful scent. It took me a few times using it until I figured out what it was, then I suddenly realised it smells exactly like passionfruit! Not a tacky, synthetic fruit smell but identical to that gorgeous passionfruit scent which is nothing short of fabulous in the shower.

The packaging itself doesn't look like anything to write home about but in actual fact, I love the simplistic design. No frills, the product does the talking.

I'd never really tried a hair mask before so to be quite honest, I had no idea what to expect! The instructions say to distribute evenly and leave on for 5 minutes. I wasn't really sure how much was the right amount to use but there was plenty in the 30ml sample size to cover all of my short hair.

It smells quite different to the shampoo - more of an almond-y, coconut like scent with a tiny hint of that passionfruit. As I left it to do it's thing for somewhere closer to 10 minutes, it started to feel quite sticky which made me a little sceptical that it would actually do anything good to my hair.

However, the second I started rinsing it out that sticky feeling turned to silky softness! I then left it to dry naturally and realised my scepticism was for nothing. My hair feels amazing. Y'know when you've just had a haircut and it feels like your hair has been brought back to life? Like that but better!

The shampoo? Well despite the amazing scent, personally I can't say I noticed a huge difference to my hair while using this. That said, it's definitely cheaper than a lot of high end shampoos and what with it lasting longer & being sulphate & paraben free I'd definitely consider buying it again from time to time.

The mask? 100%. For the incredible condition it's given my hair and the way it makes it feel, I'd be more than happy to pay for the full size. In fact I'd say it's a bit of a bargain!

You can find the shampoo here & the mask here.

This week . . .

 . . . started off with a trip to the shops on Sunday afternoon. Annoyingly I started feeling really ill as soon as we got there but I was quite happy that we got to try Ground for the first time after hearing really good things about the place. We also had a wee look round Pets at Home which never fails to cheer me up! Mia got herself a new toy which she's been obsessed with ever since!

Sunday night was finished off by watched the final episode of Humans. I thought the entire series was fantastic and the ending left me really excited for the next one! If you were a fan of the show, Liam's blog post on it is really worth a read - it's lengthy but really interesting!


One thing you should know about me is that I love the soaps. A lot. This was a super intense week for Emmerdale viewers with both a wedding and a helicopter crash and there were a few deaths in the village as a result. I cried at it three nights in a row - the emotional attachment is real!

On the topic of soaps, my other favourite - Coronation Street - followed me on Twitter which was quite nice of them!


Another of my favourite shows returned to TV this week - The Great British Bake Off! I got a little bit over excited about it and made buns to celebrate the occasion. I wouldn't say it was disappointing but the first episode is never the best as no one has really gotten to know the contestants yet, y'know?

Then as per usual, the week was filled with bizarre dreams! Usually I can remember them in vivid detail but they've been really hazy this week so I can only remember three to share with you. 1) Jay Z was in my house. He sneezed and turned into a kitten just as I was about to tell him how wonderful I think he is. 2) I was in a theatre. A man tried to sell me sandwiches by telling me they were as soft as potato bread. 3) I was in hospital. I was having breakfast and one of my slices of toast had a heartbeat.

If you have any insight as to what any of those could possibly mean or if you had any interesting dreams this week, feel free to share in the comments! Catherine and I have been sharing dreams with each other this week and had the absolute best craic doing so - dreams are so strange?!

I suppose dungarees are a bit of a love it or hate it thing but personally I'm loving having some back in my wardrobe - I haven't worn any since I was little! Lessthan10pounds kindly offered me the chance to style up two items so I chose this denim pair and the gorgeous floral shirt I'm also wearing. Everything on their website is - you guessed it - less than a tenner so if you love a wee bargain it's worth having a browse! It's also nice to be able to do that online shopping thing where you fill your basket and not have it total up to a crazy amount!

Top // lessthan10pounds
Dungarees // lessthan10pounds
Necklace // New Look
Shoes // Primark

Food makes a regular appearance on my stories and who can complain when it's pizza? Naturally, Mia gets plenty of camera time too! I also love sharing beauty bits & bobs and sometimes what I'm wearing. This outfit in M&S was too pretty not to share - look at that gorgeous coat!

Of course, if you want to see the videos I share on there, you'll have to add me!

Find me on Snapchat: maeve.toc

This week . . .












My health went downhill a bit midweek. I definitely feel like I'm coming down with something which on top of my chronic illness isn't much fun. Hopefully it'll just be a couple of days type of thing and pass quickly! Lots and lots of cuddles with Mia were had as a result though, so I suppose it's not all bad.


Then it was time to download Windows 10! I don't know why but I was really excited about it. Now it's here I have to be honest, it's not much different. I do quite like the new features though!

Here in Northern Ireland this week, the weather was very up and down. We had some horrendous rain at times but I did manage to snap this gorgeous sky shot the other day!