Manicure Monday #8

With Christmas a mere TWO days away, I decided to go for the most festive colour I could find in my collection. Low & behold, I stumbled across the Rimmel London LYCRA PRO Polish in the shade 319 Ruby Me. It retails for around the €6 mark, and can be found on any Rimmel stand!

Ruby Me is a true red, and is perfect for this time of year! It's got a gorgeous glossy finish, that really complements the red. I just think there is something so classy about a red polish! It has Rimmel's signature Maxi Brush, that makes for super quick applications.  It does take a couple of coats to become opaque, but dries relatively quickly!

What's your Christmassy manicure look like? Tell me in the comments below!

Until next time, and Merry Christmas, 

Elle. 

Find me on:

Twitter - Tumblr - Instagram @ellebolger - Bloglovin'

MUSIC | Monthly Playlist #2

This month's playlist is, of course, laden with Christmas songs, how could it not be?! I've also found some new artists that I've been loving, and rediscovered some that I'd forgotten about. Let's dive in!

1. Last Christmas - Wham
2. She Ticks All The Boxes - Bressie
3. You & I - One Direction
4. Bound 2 - Kanye West
5. U.S - Paper Planes
6. All I Want For Christmas Is You - Mariah Carey
7. Knee Socks - Arctic Monkeys
8. Girls - The 1975
9. Disco Love - The Saturdays
10. Don't Save Me - Haim
11. 8 Days of Christmas - Destiny's Child
12. Move - Little Mix
13. Does He Know? - One Direction
14. From Nowhere - Dan Croll
15. Rage and Romance - Bressie
16. Teenage Icon - The Vaccines
17. I Wish It Could Be Christmas Everyday - Wizzard
18. Female Robbery - The Neighbourhood
19. Right Now - One Direction
20. Christmas (Baby, Please Come Home) - Michael Bublé

What have you had on repeat this month? Has it been all Christmas everything, or have you found some new artists? Let me know below!

Until next time, and Merry Christmas!
Elle.

Find me on:

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FESTIVE | GRWM: Family Dinner

With Christmas only a week away, there's bound to be lots of family dinners on the horizon! I recently wore this look for a big dinner with all my family, and I think I may recreate it for our annual Christmas Eve dinner! It's not dramatic in the slightest, the main focus is on the lip colour while everything else is super neutral! Here's how I created it! 

• For my base, I primed with NYC's Smooth Skin Perfecting Primer in the shade 684, then used my fingers to apply the Rimmel Wake Me Up Foundation in 103 True Ivory. I concealed under my eyes, down the bridge of my nose, and the middle of my forehead with the Collection Lasting Perfection Concealer in 3 Medium, blending that out with my ring finger. I set this with Natural Collection's Loose Powder in Warm Translucent. 
• For my eyes, I primed my lids with the Urban Decay Eyeshadow Primer Potion in Eden. I used my Essence Eye Liner Pen to draw a thick line on my upper lash line, winging it out slightly at the outer corners. I curled my lashes, then applied KIKO Cosmetics' Luxurious Lashes Waterproof Mascara to my upper and lower lashes. Taking the darkest shade from the Essence Eyebrow Stylist Set, I filled in any sparseness in my brows. 
• Using my Sonia Kashuk Lip Brush, I lined my lips with MAC's Candy Yum Yum, then applied the same colour to the rest of my lips. 
• To complete the look, I highlighted my cheekbones with MAC's Mineralize Skinfinish in Soft & Gentle, then set this with Natural Collection's Loose Powder in Warm Translucent. 

Products Used:

Outfit of the Day:

Denim Skater Skirt: New Look (€15; on sale)
Grey Tank Top: Zine @ Zumies ($6.99)
Black Leather Boots: New Look (€59.99)
Navy Cardigan (Not Pictured): Aeropostle ($31.99)
Tartan Scarf: Primark (€5)
Watch: Stand at The Outlets at Orange, California ($40)
Rings: Assorted (River Island, Primark, Dorothy Perkins, Claires) 

What are some of your favourite minimalist make up looks? If you try out this look, be sure to let me know in the comments! 

Until next time, and Merry Christmas, 

Elle. 

Find me on:

Twitter - Tumblr - Instagram @ellebolger - Bloglovin'

FESTIVE | Get Ready With Me: Christmas Night Out

Over the Christmas season, there's always lots of nights out, whether it's a work party, a birthday, a family do, or even tackling the 12 pubs of Christmas, you'll want to look your best and most festive whatever the occasion! Nothing screams 'festive' like glitter, and lots of it. Here's my take on a glittery, smokey eye:

                                         

• I primed my eyelids with the Elf Primer in Pearl, then took my Bad Gal Palette from Sleek patted the 'Blade' shadow just on my lid with a flat shader brush. I then buffed the 'Gun Metal' shade into the crease, and my lower lash line, and blended 'Underground' in the outer V. As an inner corner & brow highlight, I used 'Innocence' from the same palette.
• I lined both my water & tight line with my Essence Long Lasting Eye Pencil in Black Fever, then taking my Eyeliner Pen from Essence, I thickly lined my upper lash line.
• I primed my face, then buffed my foundation using a Sonia Kashuk Buffing Brush. I concealed under my eyes, down the bridge of my nose, and the middle of my forehead, blending that out with my ring finger. I set this with Natural Collection's Loose Powder in Warm Translucent.
• I curled my lashes, then used my Maybelline Great Lash Mascara in Very Black to set the curl, and give definition. I used Benefit's They're Real over top for extra drama. For my brows, I used the darker shade in Essence's Eyebrow Stylist Set for fill in any sparse areas.
• Taking the blush from Sleek's Face Form Contouring Palette in Light, I blended it out on the apples of my cheeks, then highlighted my cheekbones with MAC's Mineralize Skinfinish in Soft & Gentle. 
• Using a Sonia Kashuk Lip Brush, I lined my lip liner with Barry M's Lip Paint in 156, then filled in the rest with the same colour. 

Products Used:

Outfit of the Night:

Striped Leggings: H&M (€12.99)
White Vest: Primark (€9)
Rose Gold Watch: Stand at The Outlets at Orange, California ($40)
Heeled Chelsea Boots: Primark (€20)

Do you have a go-to look for Christmas nights out? Be sure to let me know in the comments! 

Until next time, & Merry Christmas,
Elle. 

Find me on:

Twitter - Tumblr - Instagram @ellebolger - Bloglovin'

FESTIVE | Christmas Bedroom Decoration

Bringing the Christmas spirit to my room was something I've always wanted, but never really made the effort to do! It can be quite expensive, and time consuming, but I've complied a quick and easy way to decorate your bedroom for the holidays!

What Christmas would be complete without a tree? I recently purchased this 3ft white tree in Tesco for €7! The ornaments come in a pack of 24, I got those in a local newsagent for €3. There's your whole tree for €10. Ace! My mum also bought me a little bear ornament with my name on it, so cute!

Candles. Candles. Candles. I have a slight obsession with Yankee Candles, can you tell? Their Christmas scents are among my favourite all time candles, these ones below in particular! I got this set as a gift the last two years running, they come in a book-like package with 12 of the signature Christmas scents! The snowman candle was purchase from Heatons for around €2.

Candles From L-R: Heatons Snowman, Yankee Candle's Home For The Holidays

From L-R: Christmas Cookie, Sparkling Cinnamon, Sparkling Snow, Balsam & Cedar.

For my window display, there's a light up acrylic tree that came my aunt got in a local book club, it was around €10. The fairy lights are from Heatons and they were €5 for 100. I also have 50 berry lights from Primark, €5, but I'm keeping those for my new bed! I wrapped those around my curtain pole, along with a silver beaded chain from Tesco, €1.50. 

I haven't gotten my hands on Christmas bed linen just yet, but I have spotted a few around! You can find a gorgeous set in Primark and also here, here, here, and here! 

Will you be decorating your bedroom for the holidays? What are some of your quick and easy ways to decorate? 

Until next time, 

Elle.

Find me on:

Twitter - Tumblr - Instagram @ellebolger - Bloglovin'

FESTIVE | Ultimate Holiday To Do List

I am a HUGE lover of Christmas, it's genuinely my favourite time of year, has been since I was a little girl! Now that December has graced us with her presence, I have complied a list of things that I think are essential at this time of year!

• A Christmas movie marathon is essential. Nothing gets me in the festive spirit like my favourite holiday flicks!

• Decorating the tree/house/bedroom can be tiring work, but so worth it once it's done! Keep your eyes peeled for my quick my quick & easy solution to festive bedroom decorating!
• Nothing screams 'CHRISTMAS' to me quite like the smell of freshly baked goods around the house! Cookies, cakes, brownies, pies, anything can be made festive by adding some cinnamon or vanilla. Yum! Also, building and decorating gingerbread houses/people are a fun activity! 
• What baking & decorating activity would be complete without some Christmas tunes? Here are some of my favourites: (you can peep my Christmas playlist here)
  Baby, It's Cold Outside - Glee Version
  All I Want For Christmas Is You - Mariah Carey
  Last Christmas - Wham
  White Christmas - The Drifters
• Curling up by the fire with a good book/movie, and a cup of tea, while all the lights from the tree twinkle around you.. It's like something straight from the movies!
• One of my most favourite Christmas activities is basking in the festive atmosphere around my city! I also find Dublin is extra magical at this time of year!
• I'm not sure how common this is in other households, but my family & I love driving around, looking at the light displays around town!
• It's one of my most treasured holiday pastimes, but I know for a fact that I'm a terrible gift wrapper! Unless it's square or rectangle, I'm useless! Oh well
• One of the more sentimental holiday musts is, of course, family time, There's nothing quite like spending quality time with loved ones! I especially love all the get-togethers my family have, it's nice to be all in the same place for once! 
• Last, but by no means least, "THE BEST WAY TO SPREAD CHRISTMAS CHEER IS BY SINGING LOUD FOR ALL TO HEAR" Thanks Buddy the Elf! (Refer to number 4 for all your holiday tunes!) 

What are some things on your Holiday To Do list? Have you got any Christmas traditions that you just have to uphold? Let me know in the comments below! 

Until next time, 

Elle. 

Find me on:

Twitter - Tumblr - Instagram @ellebolger - Bloglovin'

FESTIVE | Christmas Party Sparklers

This post actually marks the beginning of my festive season series! There's gonna be a bunch of different posts ranging from recipes to decor, fashion to beauty. So make sure you're following to be kept up to date with everything! 

From my trip to Dublin this past weekend & a perusal of all my favourite stores, one thing became inherently apparent, the major trend for this Christmas season is.... SEQUINS! Yay! 

There's no better, or easier, way to spice up an outfit than by adding a bit of sparkle! To avoid looking like a disco ball, I'd make my statement piece sequinned, while keeping everything else muted. Or vice versa! 

Here are some of my favourite sequinned pieces for this holiday season!

(Clockwise from top left: River Island Pink Sequin Midi Skirt, Lifetime of Nighttime Sequin Blazer, Missguided Ellie-May Sequin Long Sleeve Skater Dress, ASOS Premium Legging in Sequin Check)

Will you be rocking this trend at your Christmas party? 

Until next time, 

Elle. 

Find me on:

Twitter - Tumblr - Instagram @ellebolger - Bloglovin'