Tuesday, February 26, 2013

Life guideline #3: Positivity


One thing I pride myself for, is my ability to see the good side of things. Which is why my 3rd life guideline is ...

Positivity

It's easy to get caught up in everything that is going on around you. Your family, your friends, your other half, your job... Sometimes, when things aren't going so well in one or more of those categories, it's not difficult to fall into a sort of funk and to be honest, it's completely normal. What is important, however, is that you are able to get out of the state of mind and think positively in order to focus on how to find a solution to whatever problem you're having.

I believe that in order to have a positive outlook on life, that first thing to do is to be thankful. I find that in today's world, everything seems to be about more and bigger: more money, bigger house, more gadgets, bigger car... And it is so easy to get caught up in what others have that we don't. Shouldn't we instead be focusing on what we do have and be thankful for it? Yes, I may not own a convertible, a mansion or more money than I would know what to do with, but at least I have a good health that allows me to appreciate the people around me and the things I do have. At least I have a roof on top of my head with electricity and heat. At least I have a family and friends that I absolutely adore and who love me back. For all these things, I am extremely thankful. With this kind of attitude, it is so much easier to think positively because no matter how bad my day is, at the end of it, it's not so bad because I still have all the things that matter me.

I'm also a big believer in "what is meant to be will be." Since I've moved to Ireland, I found it quite hard to find a job. Yes, moving to a country in recession may not have been the best idea financial-wise, but I still knew everything would work out.  This didn't mean I simply sat on my couch and waited for things to happen. No, instead, I looked and searched even harder. I know I am meant to be here so at the end, everything will fall into place. It's like the saying, "Everything will be alright in the end. If it's not alright, then it's not the end."


Positivity


Friday, February 22, 2013

Life guidelines #2 : Listen


A few days ago, I wrote a post about life guidelines I follow. I talked about how smiling is beneficial for you and people around you, so basically everybody! Now on to my second guideline, one that I think is extremely important: the ability to...

Listen

I have read somewhere that we have 2 ears and 1 mouth so that we can listen twice as much as we can talk and I thought it was so brilliantly put! I am quite the introverted person and when it comes to socialising, I am usually not the life of the party. When conversing with others, especially strangers, I tend to not say a lot. Not because I have nothing to say, but because I'd rather listen and put the focus on the other person. 

I think it is extremely important to be able to truly listen to those around us and most importantly, to be able to do so without jugging.  Communication is the cornerstone of every relationship and I believe that being an active listener can only cater to it. 

You can be an active listener by first putting yourself in the speaker's shoes: it can be easy to minimize other's problems, but unless you've walked a mile in their shoes, you are in no position to brush their concerns away. Doing so is like basically telling them that they are not important. What you can do is be a good friend and let them talk about it. Sometime, just being able to verbalise something makes everything clearer and helps us put things in perspective. You can also encourage the speaker with body language: again, no need to talk. A simply nod of the head and eye contact will do just fine. 

Most of all, be patient. There is no need to force someone to talk: this could actually do the complete opposite. Reassure the speaker and let them know that you were happy to listen to them and that you are there for them. 

Listening to others can be such a great thing: whether it's them telling you about a problem or even announcing a good news, it gives you the opportunity to share a moment with them, a moment that shows they are comfortable with you and that they trust you. It shows that you are important to them. So take that opportunity to let them know that they were right to talk to you and that you are worthy of that trust.



Listen


Thursday, February 21, 2013

Glossy Box



If you've been reading my posts for a while now, you will see that I am a Glossy Box lover. Last year, I discovered the beauty box concept from other bloggers and I decided to try it out. No need to say that I was quickly sold on the whole thing and that every month, I was eagerly looking forward to getting my new box from the post.

I originally signed up with Glymm. It was the first canadian beauty box company that I came across and at the time, it was only 12$ a month. I was happy with what I received every month, but after seeing what other beauty box company were available, I decided to switch to the canadian Glossy Box. Personally, I much preferred this box. Even thought it was a couple dollars extra per month, I thought the product were of better quality and bigger size and thus, were worth it.

When I moved to Ireland, I had to give up my subscription in Canada, but lost no time in signing up with the UK version of Glossy Box. I received my first box on Valentine's Day and if you saw my post about it, you'll see I thought it was completely brilliant!

When I  find something I like, I tend to tell everybody about it, which is what I am doing now. I decided to become an affiliate of Glossy Box because it is a product I believe in. It is so much fun to try out product that you may otherwise never consider. I am alway looking forward to getting my next box, because so far, I have never been disappointed.

It is definitely something to look into. You can also sign up for a trial run and only order one box. If you're unhappy with it, it's only a few euros. If you're happy with it, then you can sign up for longer terms.

Are you guys Glossy Box subscribers? What are your thoughts on them? Have you tried other beauty boxes? How would you compare them?

Yours truly, Bien à vous,

Life guidelines #1 : Smile


One of my friend is currently working on a thesis about human relation and communication and he is always jokingly telling me to write a book about my principles and my way of living and interacting with other.

So I dedicate this post to my friend. This is in no way a rule book on how to live your life. It's yours and yours alone, so only you can choose what to do and what kind of person you want to be. So here it is, the first life guideline I like to follow: 


Smile 

This is an easy one. Smile. All the time. I am not talking about having a huge grin plastered on your face 24 hours a day. I mean that when you are talking to others, smile: this will make them feel at ease. When you're walking, even by yourself, lift up that mouth corner a little like you're enjoying your own little private joke. Like Buddy the Elf said, "Smiling is my favourite!"

Apparently, psychologists have found that by forcing yourself to smile when you are in a bad mood, you can instantly lift your spirits. It's a stress reliever, it takes less muscles to smile than it does to frown and most of all, they are contagious! When someone smiles at you, what do you do? You smile back! I truly believe that smiling is the best accessory anyone can wear. We look our very best when we are smiling as it makes us look more confident, approachable and happy.

I hear so many people say that what first attracts them to someone is their smile so why not smile all the time? And why not make your smile even brighter but taking good care of your teeth and lips? Brush your teeth and keep them clean and shiny. Use lip balm to keep your lips moisturized and healthy. Don't forget to put on a bit of lipstick and\or lipgloss to make them stand out even more!



Smile


Tuesday, February 19, 2013

Accent heels

I am currently in love with shoes with accent heels! They are so crazy and different, which is what I love about them. These shoes here are defiantly tamed compared to so others out there. My favourite are by far the wedge heels with holes in them. I have yet to get myself a pair, but I'm sure I will find the perfect ones soon enough.

What do you think? Are these kinds of shoes something you could see yourself wearing?

Accent heels


Edgy

I love how it's technically the middle of winter, but that girls around here still wear shorts. Yes, there is no snow in Ireland, but I still love it! I see, on a daily basis, girls and women alike wearing shorts, combined with leggings or tights. I actually quite like the look, paired with some cute booties. So today, as I was frolicking of Polyvore, I came across these nice lace covered shorts. I immediately paired it with a cute flowery top, but then realized how I tend to always for to the soft and feminine look. Therefore, I decided to add on some edgier elements, such as the batman ring (which I totally want to get) and the dark makeup. I think overall, this outfit it just the right combination of girly vs edgy and I think I could maybe wear something similar!

Would this be something you could see yourself wearing? If not, what would you change?


Edgy


Saturday, February 16, 2013

17 Peep Show Mascara - Product review

I am a big mascara fan. If I had to pick one beauty product that I couldn't live without, it would be mascara. I tend to buy mascara often, not because I need it, but because I like to have a choice. Some people say that mascara is just mascara and that they all do the same thing. I say no! There are so many different types out there, so many factors to take in consideration. The colour, the shape of the brush, waterproof vs non-waterproof, the enhancements it brings...

While I tend to stick with the Maybelline brand, I decided to go with a new one, mostly because it was cheaper, but also because of the fantastic look of the bottle. To be honest, it was the pink and the black lace details that caught my attention and made me buy this particular mascara. Just look at it, it's so cute and feminine! You can purchase the 17 Peep Show mascara in stores or online for a very reasonable price.

I find that the 17 Peep Show mascara feels quite light on my eyelashes. It doesn't feel heavy at all, even with multiple coats on. It doesn't look clumpy either, so it would blend well in a natural look. It clings on well onto the lash, giving it the lengthening look that's advertised on the bottle. The brush is another feature I like. The way the bristles are spread out makes it easier to separate the lashes, giving you a fuller set of eyelashes.

Overall, I am really pleased with this mascara. On the before and after picture below, I only applied one coat of mascara, which looks great for a natural, daytime makeup look. Another coat or two will set you up for a night of flirty eyelashes and winks. This mascara has definitely become my new favourite one. I certainly recommend it to anyone and I give it a 4.5 out of 5 stars!




Yours truyly, Bien à vous,