New York- Part Three

You may or may not have noticed that I inadvertently took a two week break from blogging. I've still been interacting on social media and reading blogs but I just haven't felt inspired to write anything. I had also run out of the stockpile of posts I had been writing in advance so I just ended up taking a break which I think was the best thing for me and has allowed me to get some inspiration back. Since April I've been posting twice a week on Sundays and Wednesdays which I found has worked perfectly for me and I intend to keep that up so here I am back with the third instalment in my New York travel diary series.

I can't believe ten weeks have passed since we got back from our trip. I'm still constantly thinking about it and reminded of New York. Just last night I was watching a new Netflix series called Friends From College and there was a scene where two of the characters are playing tennis in Astoria Park and it made me feel all sentimental.

On Tuesday May 2nd we ventured down to Brooklyn again. When I say down I mean into Manhattan and then down because it was a bit awkward getting from our area of Queens to Brooklyn on the subway considering the boroughs are right beside each other. Simon wanted to visit Prospect Park (being a huge Paul Auster fan) so we went and got bagels and sat and had a picnic in the park in the sun. It was another beautifully sunny and hot day so it was perfect for getting away from the city and wandering around the park. I didn't realise how big Prospect Park is, we only explored a fraction of it. We walked around the pathways for a while following chipmunks and squirrels and then came across the zoo. We had no intentions of going in at first (I'm not a big fan of zoos) but it was only $8 and was quite small and we hadn't gotten to visit the Central Park Zoo so we thought this would be a good alternative. 

We took our time in the zoo and I took lots of photos of the animals because it's something I've never done before. We also got to see a red panda which is one of the best animals of all time! Afterwards we were quite tired so we got the subway home. I wish we'd had more time to go to the Botanical Gardens and the Brooklyn Museum but I guess we'll just have to go next time. 

That evening we took outfit photos beside Astoria Park along the East River which you can see here. We watched the sun go down and then went back to the apartment and ordered a giant pizza.

The next day we decided to go back to Soho/Greenwich Village for brunch because we loved those areas so much the first time. I may have dragged Simon back to the Glossier showroom on the way there. We had brunch in a place called Egg Shop which as you can probably guess is a place that serves different kinds of egg dishes. We then wandered around Greenwich Village and sort of did our own mini Bob Dylan walking tour before stopping off in Washington Square Park to rest our weary legs. We fancied some refreshments so he headed to the Big Gay Ice Cream Shop and got soft serve ice creams with sprinkles and sat in Christopher Park and ate them in the sun. We got the subway home and that evening we went to a restaurant called Vesta in Astoria which was delicious but again I'll go into more detail in my dedicated food post. 

Jones Street where the album cover of The Freewheelin' Bob Dylan was shot. 

The following day we had a late start again and got breakfast in a bagel place in Astoria. The weather was great so we thought it was a good day to go to the Empire State Building as it was due to rain the next day. I was so excited to finally see the Empire State in person. Luckily we had our City Pass so we didn't have to wait around or queue for tickets. There's a level that you come out at first that has a whole series of photographs and facts about the building of the Empire State so we had a look at that first.

Like with Top of the Rock I had that breathtaking moment when we got to the top and saw the views. I'm so glad we got to experience the views of the city during the day as well as from TOTR at night. It really is a completely different view in the light of day. Of course all I could think about the whole time was Sleepless in Seattle, but sadly there was no Tom Hanks or Meg Ryan. We spent a while looking at the views from each angle and trying to spot places we recognised. 

We had to leave eventually and afterwards we walked around the area for a bit and looked in the shops. Our stomachs started to rumble so we went in search of a restaurant recommended by my brother called Spoon Table and Bar. We both loved our food and it's really close to the Empire State but a bit smaller and not touristy so its a great option if you're in that area looking for dinner.

I was hoping this would be the last post in my travel series but when I was editing the photos I realised I had a lot of photos from our last two days so I figured rather than cram them all in together I'd just write another post. I'm also trying to prolong writing about the trip because I've bene loving reminiscing about it so much. So part four will be up next week!

I hope you've been enjoying my NY Travel Diary as much as I've been enjoying writing it. Once again if you have any questions don't hesitate to ask!

Emma x

You're Lost In A Shadow There

I haven't written a style post since we came back from New York, to be honest I just haven't had the opportunity to take photos with Simon because we've both been so busy but we went out to get lunch in K Chido Mexico today and managed to take some outfit photos on the way. This is pretty much what I've been wearing for most of the Summer: t-shirt, denim jacket, wide leg trousers and runners. I've been keeping my Summer style very casual and comfortable. 

Jacket- New Look
T-shirt- Uniqlo x André Saraiva
Trousers- New Look (similar here, here and here)
Shoes- Nike Cortez via Schuh
Bag- Penneys/ Primark (similar here, here and here)
Sunglasses- Forever 21 (similar here, here and here)
Necklaces- Stella and Dot Celestial Choker and Luna Pendant
Bracelet- Stella and Dot Simple Knot Cuff
Lipstick- MAC Lady Danger

These Nike Cortez are the latest addition to my wardrobe. I bought them in the the Metallic Bronze colour about two years ago and I've worn them so much. I wanted the white, red and blue version for the longest time (they are after all, Forrest Gump's shoes). I finally saw them on sale on the Schuh website a couple of weeks ago and ordered them straight away. I just love the retro shape of these and it helps that they're the most comfortable shoes I own.

I got this Uniqlo X André Saraiva t-shirt in New York. I wanted some item of clothing that would remind me of New York so I went with this 'New York Love' t-shirt instead of the typical I Heart NY kind. I love the high neck and that it's so comfortable and soft.

I got some new necklaces recently from one of my favourite brands Stella and Dot. I love wearing these two together, it's my much less expensive and (I think) much nicer alternative to the Lucy Williams Missoma collection which every blogger seems to have. I love the mixture of metals and I actually was given the bangle at a recent Stella and Dot press event so I've been wearing the silver and gold mixture a lot lately.

You may have also noticed that I got my hair cut. I went a little bit shorter than the last time because it had gotten so thick and heavy over the past eight months since I last had it cut and I just wanted a change. It feels so much lighter which is exactly what I wanted for the warmer Summer weather.

I hope you all had a great weekend! Let me know what you've been loving during the Summer whether it's makeup, clothes or accessories,

Emma x

*Stella and Dot necklaces bought using press discount.

Beauty Blogger's Handbag Essentials

Last week I met fellow Irish blogger Colette from Wide-Eyed and Blind for drinks in the trendy new Dublin restaurant and bar Roberta's. We'd met at a few events before and always got chatting so we arranged to meet for coffee to talk about collaborating on a blog post. Colette had the idea that we would go somewhere for after work drinks and bring along our little bag of essentials that we have with us on days when we need to freshen up during or after work. There are lots of times when I'll go to a press event before, during or straight after work (I actually attended an event during my lunch break today as it happens) and on those days I'll bring a certain few products with me to make sure I'm looking (and smelling) as fresh as I can be. I'm always curious as to what's in a person's handbag makeup bag because to me those products are a good indication of trusted, failsafe products that you rely on every day. 

Let's start with my makeup bag which is from Stella and Dot and was a gift from my sister. This version is currently sold out but they have similar ones here and let me tell you they're so worth it. I love the size of this one, its sturdy and structured and you can fit a lot in despite it actually being quite small. In fact this is the makeup bag I brought with me to New York and I fit all of my makeup (except brushes) in it no problem. I usually bring a smaller pouch with me if I'm using a smaller bag but this is the one I use if I have my backpack with me. 

I always have a few self explanatory essentials with me including tissues, chewing gum, a nail file (because my nails always break in work), a hair tie, earphones (these bluetooth ones have changed my life and they come in a handy pouch) and blotting papers. These Essence Oil Control Papers are so inexpensive, I think they're about €1.50 in Penneys, but they're great for anyone who gets oily during the day and wants to get rid of any excess oil before powdering. For powder I have the Soap and Glory One Heck of a Blot which I don't use that often but it has a mirror which is another absolute essential because I'm always getting lipstick on my teeth!

Another makeup refreshing essential is MAC Prep + Prime Fix+, this is the travel size which is €10 and it's great if you feel like your makeup is looking dull or if you just want to refresh your skin. It's a hydrating liquid that has green tea, chamomile and cucumber in it as well as vitamins and minerals. There's plenty of other similar products like the Urban Decay All Nighter Setting Spray which is another favourite of mine and again comes in a handbag friendly travel size for €12. I don't usually bring any base products with me as I tend to use products that last throughout the day anyway. The only other makeup fixing tool I have with me is a Real Techniques Mini Miracle Eraser Sponge. These are great for getting rid of any under eye creasing or mascara/eye shadow fall down or smudges and it's also useful for blending and buffing out any product that you've applied too much of without realising it. You get two in a pack and I use one for blending my concealer and then I keep the other in my handbag. 

I seem to have (only) five lip products with me here. First up is the YSL Top Secrets Lip Perfector which you can read more about in my review here. This is an essential first step for keeping my lips smooth, soft and hydrated all day in work and is the perfect base for any lipstick. Another similar product is the MAC Prep + Prime Lip Base which again I've written about here. This is the eighth one I've had in two years, so if you're a lipstick fanatic like me this is a must have. I usually have one lip colour for daytime and one for after work emergencies. Here I have Glossier Generation G in Crush which is a raspberry pink that has a sheer matte formula. I'll be writing a full review of this so I won't say too much for now except that it's such a gorgeous sheer colour and it's so easy to apply. 

The second more bright lipstick is Lady Danger by MAC and it's the most recent addition to my lip collection. I actually got it for free with Back to MAC mostly thanks to my stash of the Lip Base empties. You can see it in action here. I also bring my Sephora retractable lip brush with me for occasions where I might need to apply a bold lipstick on the go. This is my number one way to take daytime makeup to nighttime makeup in one step. 

One product I always have with me in my bag is a perfume. At the moment I'm wearing Molecule 01 by Escentric Molecules. This has been a favourite of mine for a few years now and the 30ml refill is such a handy size for my makeup bag. This is probably my most repurchased scent and if you haven't tried it yet, I highly suggest giving it a sniff next time you're near a stockist. 

My final product is this sample size hand balm from Rituals. This is the Ayurveda scent that has sweet almond oil and Indian rose and if you haven't tried anything from Rituals yet, every one of their products smells unbelievably good. I get very dry skin on my hands and I use their Soothing Night Balm on my hands every night and I don't think I've ever used anything that heals my hands like it. Do yourself a favour and check out Rituals if you haven't already, they're probably my favourite body care brand. 

As you can see Colette's product selection is a lot more streamlined than mine and what I really loved is that a lot of her products are multi-functional. Her little leather pouch is from COS and again it fits in a lot more than you'd think. The Boohoo sunglasses are self-explanatory (I always have sunglasses in my bag too) especially at this time of year when it's so bright outside (well, sometimes). 

Hand sanitiser is probably a handbag essential for most people, except me because I don't care about hygiene (JK, obviously). Next is this Eco Lips Medicinal Lip Balm that has tea tree oil, lemon balm and calendula in it and as Colette says it's cheap and cheerful, organic and cruelty free. The second lip product in her stash is the Boots Soltan Moisturising Suncare Stick with SPF 30. This is something I always forget about like most people I'm sure, but it's so important to make sure your lips are protected from the sun as the skin on your lips is some of the most delicate on your body and is easily susceptible to sun damage. Rant over.

Next up we have two multi-purpose products, the Wet n Wild Megaglo Cheek and Lip Tint and the Body Shop Lip and Cheek Stain. Although Colette said she only uses the Wet n Wild one on her cheeks as she doesn't like how it looks on her lips and vice versa for The Body Shop tint. She uses it over lip balm in the centre of her lips for a gradient effect (a look I totally love) but not on her cheeks as again she doesn't find it works that well on the cheeks. Another multi-purpose products is the Youngblood Brow Artiste Kit which contains two shades of powder, a tinted wax, a mini tweezers and a dual ended brush. Colette said she really loves this and uses it all the time and even sometimes uses the brow powder as liner to add some definition to her eyes of she's going out after work. 

You might be wondering what the funny little compact is with the face on it (I was too). It's the Klairs Mochi BB Cushion. Klairs is a brand I hadn't heard of before but after having a look at the website and reading up on them, it seems like a brand I can get behind. They're focused on simple products for sensitive skin with natural, effective and cruelty free ingredients. I'm really curious to try it now after seeing it in person and reading some reviews. 

The last products in Colette's bag is the & Other Stories Punk Bouquet Mini Hand Cream which smells incredible! I keep meaning to go in and buy one because it's only €5. I haven't actually bought anything from & Other Stories yet but any of the beauty products I've tried so far smell so good. It's a brand I definitely want to try some more. 

I hope you enjoyed this glimpse into our makeup bags, I'd love to know what your essentials are.

You can read Colette's post here, check out her gorgeous Instagram too!

Emma x