These are a few of my favourite things..

This is a quick post to show you a few things that I was given for my 21st birthday last month  (yes I know, I am a very lucky girl!)
These rose earrings are 1920s (from a shop in Dublin off Grafton Street - Johnson's Court, a bric a brac treasure trove of a place!)  They had been painted red, but are cleaned now and can be left as this or painted again.

My sister sourced this sweater clip for me from steptoesantiques.co.uk.  I had been looking for a sweater clip for the longest time, I just think they are so kitsch!  She also got me the cardigan from A-Wear to pair it with.. a little bit Emma from Glee, a little bit 50's Rydell High School.

   

                                              Wearing my sweater clip to the theatre in New York!

Something old, something new... this beautiful Tiffany necklace is from my parents.  Part of the new Tiffany Keys Collection, my parents chose this beautiful silver key pendant as the symbol of a key is traditional on your 21st birthday as you are meant to be receiving the key to life (or something!)  They also added the traditional 'return to Tiffany's' tag charm.  I am over the moon in love with this necklace and that I recevied something in the iconic Tiffany blue box!

Lush, pt. 2 - Celestial Moisturiser and Dream Cream

So, scrubbing and toning out of the way - what did the girls from Grafton Street have to offer me in the way of moisturiser?

They gave me an ample sample of Celestial and the cult product, Dream Cream (even throwing in an extra one for my boyfriend!)

I admit that I am a bit lax with moisturising as it tends to make my skin go very oily and I have not really found my go-to moisturising product yet.  I was told that Celestial was best suited for sensitive skins and the ingredients should not react with my skin or make it break out.  Read on for my review and pictures!

But first, a massive thank you to the girls in the Grafton Street Lush store, the samples were really great and the sales assistant was so helpful.  It was a really good service and they inspired me to look at the brand more closely and give it a try, I hope the Belfast staff are as good!  Also..

Lush products I want to try...


The serum bars, they were so 'meltey' in the shop!
The toner tabs, sound like a good novel idea
Fresh Farmacy cleanser gets great reviews, and Baby Face cleanser seems to have good natural ingredients.
I really want to try the Dark Angels cleanser as well!

Have you tried any of these or have a favourite lush product? Please let me know! I'm really loving all their names and ideas!

Lush Skincare - lots of product reviews!

At long last, and a little behind I gather, I have been trying Lush skincare.

I'm not sure if the candy coloured bath bombs, or their insipid smell that filled the street outside the store is what kept me from discovering their skincare all this time.  Perhaps, when I inhaled, particles of 'fizz' seemed to go up my nose... However, on a recent trip to Dublin, having read many blog reviews of Lush skincare, I ventured in.  The store itself was less chaotic than previous ones and a whole section at the back was dedicated to the skincare line, not a fizz particle insight!

I told the sales assistant, that I had never tried any lush products and my skin was prone to breaking out and reacting to most ingredients and she gave me 6 very generous samples!!  Thank you Lush :)
I have been using them for about 2 weeks now and have decided I can adequatley review:

Angels on Bare Skin Cleanser
Coal Face (charcoal cleansing bar)
Eau Roma Toner
Celestial Moisturiser
Dream Cream (x2!)

Of course more pictures and the full reviews are after the cut!

FATC Vintage Bridal Shoot

I recently did another photoshoot (see vintage hair rolls!) to help promote a new vintage bridal fair coming to Belfast in June.   It will be run by Becky Moore, of Decadence Vintage who already runs the very popular Frock Around the Clock vintage fairs.

Hair was done by Kelly at Ashby Gents on Stranmillis and makeup was Claire McEvoy.  They make a good team I tell you!  This is a very different look than before, which was great to try something new! 

The wedding dress is a 1930s panné velvet and the hair and makeup sort of reflect the area!  I think I look alright, but definitley the styling is stunning!  I hope to see a few more pictures soon.  Let me know your thoughts!

Don't Shine in Public warns Vanity Fayre

Apologies for my brief hiatus! It's been a busy few weeks and various minor ailments kept me feeling less than glamorous for a while but I promise I am back with lots of posts lined up to keep anyone who is still reading entertained!

First up: I thought some of you might like to see this ad. Published in June, 1952,  I found it inside a book of old knitting patterns that belonged to my Grandmother.  I'm not sure why she kept it but I love the language used in editorials back then, when words had to be more colourful as there was no digital imaging to help them out! 

I'm not sure if it was a local Belfast publication but it appears to be a beauty columnist going by 'Vanity Fayre'.  Click on the image to view it bigger and read Vanity's tips for "running top marks in loveliness"!  Well, after all, she seems to prefer a good balm like myself and boasts the benefits of facial massage, radishes, and a tissue to keep shine at bay! 

Do you think beauty editorials have changed much, or is this early 50's advice still of use to women today?