Draw My Life

I decided to do a draw my life, but since I'm not a YouTuber, and I don't think I'll be one soon, I decided to do it via my blog- except just to take pictures of the drawings that narrate my life! My skills with a Sharpie really aren't that great, because the smell of it makes me a little high hahaha. Obviously if this was a video, I would mention more memories and more people, but as I didn't want to make this a suuuper long post, I kept it quite abstract. Hope you enjoy!

I was born on May 15th, 1998. I was an adorable baby, rosy cheeks and big blue eyes (not vain at all haha) who cried a lot and had a mummy, a daddy and a sister who was eight years older than me. My hair didn't start growing until I was about 2 or 3, so a lot of people thought I was a cute baby boy :C

I grew up in Vilnius, the capital of Lithuania. And yes, at the top right hand corner I tried to draw the city but it just looks like sandcastles :C Anyway,  I loved playing with dolls and Barbies and Bratz and changing their clothes and combing their long synthetic hair. My hair grew out to be quite long, and I had a friend who I saw constantly.

I started playschool when I was 4, and I loved it soo much. I was one of the older girls, and I had lots and lots of friends, especially Egle, who wore a lot of denim dungarees and plaits in her hair. I talked to a lot of boys as well, and one of them even asked me to marry him when I was older! Oh, those were the days indeed.

I started school when I was 7, and even though I was there for only a year and a half (I moved to Ireland in the middle of 2nd class) I liked it a lot, even though I was never really good at it. I had lots of friends, but the only ones I still am in touch with are Emilija and Nikolete. My dad left for Ireland in first class, and we joined him a year and a half later.

I was awful excited moving to Ireland- a totally new, strange country excited me to bits. We lived in a small town, in a quite large apartment above a dry cleaning shop in the middle of the town. I loved living there, but eventually we moved to a house in a big estate, and I made a friend there, Weronika, who I used to go outside and ride bikes with. 2009 was a horrible year for me and being the superstitious brat I was back then, I blamed it on the house.

We moved to a new estate, just at the other side of the town as I started 5th class. I cut my then nearly waist length hair into a bob, which I loved so much. I was a generally happy kid back then, and spend a lot of my school nights texting boys till all hours, thinking I was soo cool and rebellious.

As I finished primary school, I moved to a completely different county, which gave me a lot of anxiety as I was going to have to start secondary school knowing absolutely no one. However, 1st year had its ups and downs, but I made a lot of friends and started growing my hair again, proving to be quite a good year thankfully!

And this is the latest chapter in the book that is my own life- 2nd year. I did a looot of things this year, but undoubtedly the most important was starting this blog that I love love love writing. Even though life is a little weird for me at the moment, I know everything will eventually sort itself out- because I've still got such a long way to go.

Thank you so so so so much for reading my blog, and thanks to everyone who was ever there for me. I love you all even though I didn't get to mention all of you <3

Gaby x

Cara Delevingne

Ask anyone- I go mental for fashion, but not so much the models themselves. I don't crave their bodies (I do agree with everyone else- they are too skinny), I just see them as bulimic  slaves that have devoted their lives to fashion a little too much. Their thin bodies and cold stares sometimes put me off their actual outfit, I mean do you really need to look so unhappy whilst modelling next season's Chanel? 

Every once in a while however, I spot absolutely gorgeous women modelling in glossy magazines or posing in Dior's new foundation (yes Natalie, I'm talking about you) that make my eyes widen as to how pretty they actually are. Thick natural locks, flawless ivory skin, eyes that gaze into your soul, legs that go on for miles, high cheekbones- the works. Examples include Zoella, Natalie Portman, Lana Del Rey, Angelina Jolie- not necessarily models, but beautiful women that are both a role model and a style crush, and Cara Delevingne is one of them.

The reason why I'm blogging about her is because she's a great fashion inspiration to have- she wears whatever she likes, doesn't overdo her make up (but does overdo her brows- in a good way!) or spend hours at her hair like most celebrities- she's young and doesn't want to be spending too much time on her hair when she could be out having fun with her friends, and looking unbelievably gorgeous in paparazzi photos, or rollerskating down a catwalk in front of Justin Bieber whilst in her underwear.

As if being a perfectly gorgeous model that's done Chanel, Burberry and Moschino that's barely 20 years old isn't enough, Cara has also gone out with Harry Styles. Oh Cara, I hate you :C (haha).

Anyway, enough of me rambling, here's some gorgeous pics of the gorgeous Cara. I'll be posting again soon:)



                 

               

Cara and Rita Ora call one another 'wifeys'

Hope you enjoyed this post and thanks for reading!

Gaby x

Halo Hair Extensions Clip In

Hair extensions are quite an investment if you choose the right ones, and can make every day a good hair day. They improve length, volume and the overall appearance of you hair if they are the correct colour and type. There are two types of clip in extensions- synthetic and real hair. Real hair includes horse hair and human hair, is the more expensive type but lives up to the price- you can heat-treat the hair, dye them and in return they make your hair look more lifelike. Synthetic extensions don't last as long as real hair, are more of a hassle to look after, you can't dye them or heat treat them, but they are cheaper.

More or less all my life,  I used to have loong golden however thin hair, up until when I was 12 and cut it all off to form a short shoulder-length bob. I loved my new hair, but fast forward a couple of years, when I joined secondary school,  I began wanting long luscious locks again, but having no clue whatsoever when it came to hair extensions, I left it until this year.

You would not believe how much time I've spent dithering over countless numbers of photos of hair extensions, deciding whether or not I need them, if the colour is right, if the length is good, if the brand is reliable. Living more or less in the middle of nowhere in the west of Ireland, I decided the best thing to do was buy them on the Internet.

I wanted length, volume and thickness from my extensions. I began growing my hair in October, however having very fine medium thickness hair I was never going to have thick glossy locks. With extensions being so popular nowdays and difficult to tell apart from real hair, I decided to try them for myself.

I only knew of two brands as I was choosing my extensions- Hairspray and Halo. I went for Halo, and every review and blog post I read on them was full of praise, so I did what anyone else would do and go for them too. I eventually settled for Halo Hair Extensions 20" Light Brown Clip In. This consists of eight pieces: 2 pieces are 8” wide with 3 clips, 2 pieces are 6” wide with 2 clips and 4 pieces are 2” wide with 1 clip. The overall weight of hair is 100 grams, and the hair type is said to be Indian Remy Hair- the best type of hair to buy as extensions. 

I was extremely worried about the colour- I kept thinking it would be too dark and wouldn't blend in well with my brown/mousy/golden highlighted hair. It was the only thing that kept me from purchasing the extensions, and there was even times I thought the colour Chestnut would suit more, but in the end I went for Light Brown, at £59.99.

I ordered them online 6 days before delivery (they deliver from England) and received them last Tuesday, in a cardboard box wrapped in purple tissue paper with a purple bow, which I found unbelievably adorable.


                                      

Even though my Halo journey got off to a great start- The Halo team kept me updated with the delivery journey and I received them 6 days after I ordered, I was right to worry about the colour- the extensions had noticeable undertones of deep auburn/ginger, rather than brown. However, the advantage of having real hair is that you can dye them, and after dyeing them twice, first blonde which lightened them and made them ginger with light brown/blonde undertones and a sandwood light brown, which made them dark brown, they eventually turned out more or less the colour of my hair, and I couldn't be more pleased! Looking at various photos of other bloggers' Halo extensions, I realize I probably should've ordered Chocolate Brown, as they're more like the colour my extensions are now.

Despite all the colour drama, I'm quite happy with my extensions. Their thickness might seem slim before applying but once they're in your hair and are layered over, they are quite thick. They look lifelike when applied too, meaning it's difficult for people to guess that I'm wearing extensions.

Caring and maintenance of them might seem like a bore, but I find it enjoyable and relaxing when I've nothing better to do. To wash them, I place them under a tap of warm water and apply shampoo and conditioner like to my own hair, always brushing downwards. It's better if you don't air dry them, so I have to dry them under a medium heat temperature with my blowdryer. Then, I run L'Oreal Extraordinary Oil through them, concentrating on the ends. Brushing them after each procedure, it's best to use a paddle brush- I use my reliable Cloud 9 brush. Lastly, I apply Mark Hill's Get Gorgeous Heat Protection Spray, and straighten them using a flat iron. Of course, this seems like a lot of hassle and takes up to an hour, however if you like you can skip all the parts after blow drying and just add oil to the ends.

All in all, I'm quite happy with my new extensions- they're everything I hoped they would be and more. They're a massive confidence boost and I recommend them for anyone who wants long hair- they're a brilliant investment.

I hope this post did help you, as I think it's brilliant to read reviews and things on such buys, just in case!

Shoutout to Chelsea Hogan one of my biggest fans <3 


Gaby x

Want- Cat Eye Glasses

I've had bad eyesight since I was 8, which had progressively gotten worse over the years. However, over the last Summer, I invested in contact lenses which has stopped my eyes weakening, the original goal of me purchasing the lenses. Even though I would be nowhere without my lenses, as they 'highlight' my eyes and allow me to sport gorgeous eye makeup (the cat eye is NOT a good look underneath glasses!), there is days when I couldn't be bothered putting contacts or when I want to wear glasses for the day. I always bought my glasses in a little shop in Vilnius, Lithuania, and I've been told the designs suit me, but the more I shop and look at fashion, I begin to crave glasses that are more me.

I love the cat-winged eye look, I do a little flick at the end of my eyeliner every day, so it's no surprise I've fallen in love with River Island's winged sunglasses and glasses. I love how they've kept the vintage red checked design on the glasses, but gave them a modern twist with balancing out the curve to slightly oval levels. They might seem like 'granny' sunglasses, however I find these incredibly modern and still vintage, and they are a pair that I think is worth investing in, and putting in your own glass to suit your eyesight, or even if you don't need glasses (lucky!) you could wear them as a statement.

I love how River Island did a pair of sunglasses to accompany the glasses- something that either rarely or never happens with most high street brands!- but kept them individual and unique. The sunglasses have a more practical look about them- they're black with a thick outline, giving a professional 'I-know-what-I'm-doing' look to them. They are quite large however, so I'm just worried if they don't make me look like I've got 'bug' eyes.

I'm in love with these two pairs and hopefully will be able to try them on in a River Island shop soon- it's time for me to choose a pair of gorgeous frames!

River Island, 13e

River Island, 17e

I've been doing some spring cleaning through my wardrobe  and opened up space for new Spring goodies! :)

These are all the clothes I had to put away in bags for either the charity shop or next year- I hate clothes that I don't wear cluttering up my wardrobe.

All ready for Spring!

Gaby x

Life, Lately #1

Every 3 months I'll be doing a Life Lately post- a summary of products, clothing and other bits and bobs I've been loving over the last couple of months. It will feature 3 makeup/skincare products, 3 pieces of clothing/shoes, and 3 random things like jewellery/chocolate bars and whatever else! I'm sorry if my blogging schedule is all over the place- Spring leaves my head full of anything but ideas.

So here it is- the things my life has been full of during January, February and March.

Kate Moss for Rimmel shade 05
With a gorgeous deep pink colour and beautifully pigmented finish, I love this lipstick to bits, and I've been wearing it every day.

Soap and Glory Scrub of Your Life
This is my first ever Soap and Glory product- I bought a travel size version as I thought the original was too expensive. I love a good scrub and this does the job brilliantly, and leaves a yummy smell.

Essence Liquid Ink 
I've been in love with winged eyeliner since last summer, but only now have I disovered a product that is perfect for the job and takes minutes to apply. The formula does crack and flake a little- however the thin precision brush allows a perfect wing.

Laura B Beige Courts
I only got these yesterday from Paul Byron, however I already love them to bits. They remind me of a softer version of the Jeffrey Campbell Darlings, which is why I got them.

Only Skinny Jeans
I love skinny jeans- I don't own any other type of jean. I got these over Christmas, and I love  love love them. They're comfy, go with everything and I fold the bottoms to give them a modern twist. I'll be wearing these forever and a day.

Leather Skater Skirt
I've been dying for a leather skirt, and finally I've got one. I bought it from Quiz clothing, and it has an elasticated waist, so it isn't loose around my waist, like most skirts are. I'll be wearing this repeatedly through summer- I love it so much.

Only jeans, my courts and the leather skirt.

River Island Sparrow Earrings+ Claire's Mirror Necklace
I've been obsessed with jewelry lately, especially this necklace. It's long and had a pretty Victorian-style pattern on the back, and a real mirror at the front, perfect for checking your lipstick on the go. These sparrow earrings are definately my favourite- they're tiny and bronze, and I wear them every day.

Dolce and Gabbana Wedges
These were on the catwalk during one of their S/S '13 shows, and I feel in love with them immidiately. They're perfection- nothing else has to be said.

We Need to Talk About Kevin
I watched this last night- it's an unreal movie. Both the making and the storyline are brilliant and really creative- I guarantee everyone sees this, however it's not for everyone. I did cry a little at the end, which is probably a little cold hearted as to how many actual sad scenes there is in the entire move.

I hope you enjoyed reading this post as much as I enjoyed making it.

I discovered that if you actually fiddle with settings and lightning on my camera, you can get some gorgeous pictures.

Happy early Paddy's Day!

Gaby x

My Daily Make Up Routine

I've been wearing make-up everyday since I started secondary school. It all started off with concealer to hide spots and mascara to enlarge my eyes, but as time went on it's spiraled into a big, hot sea of eyeliner pencils and blushers. In my opinion, I don't wear too much make-up, however I do know I wear quite a bit. The skill of makeup artistry is to create the illusion that you don't need make up, but also to emphasize the best areas of your face. 

I use these products more or less every day, maybe leaving some out on lazy days. None of them are expensive, and most of them are Essence- a brand I love love love. Everybody's skin is different, so just because it works for me, doesn't mean it will work you.

I start off with foundation. I use Essence's Soft and Natural shade 02 sand beige. I've raved about this in past blog posts and complained about how it was discontinued. However, I found a bottle of this in a nearby pharmacy, and was reunited with my to-die-for product. The secret of this is to blend it out really well, as it can leave streaks. It's got a medium-full coverage, so it's brill for concealing imperfections. I use my fingers to do this, however I will be investing in a good kabuki brush in the near future.

Even though my foundation is good for coverage, I tend to use a concealer on top to hide any bits it didn't catch. I use Essence's Coverstick shade matt sand for this, however it dries out the area under my eyes horrendously, so I tend to spare it there, even though that's where I've got horrific purple-blue bags and red dry patches. It works quite well with spots and covering up discoloured areas, and it is quite creamy so I simply blend it in with my fingers.

Eyes are next. I spend forever at my eyes- getting the shadows to blend properly and the eyeliner perfect. I line my bottom waterline with NYC kohl pencil in 004 Pure White and use Jet Black for my top waterline. Next, I take Essence's Quattro palette in 05 Be Mine and use the third shade for my crease, creating a cat shape as I blend. I take the white highlight colour and add it under my brow and my eyelid, to create depth and highlight.
Then, I move on to eyeliner. I use Essence's Smokey Eyes brush to do the trick, however it isn't that good for blending. I recently started using Essences Precision Ink- Leanne Woodfull's favourite eyeliner. I do a winged eye as it's so pretty, however I keep the wing small. Lastly, I brush on several coats of L'Oreal Million Lashes, a mascara that is great for separating out lashes and for giving a natural look.

I fill in my brows using Essence's Eyebrow Designer shade 02 Brown, a wonder product as it allows you to brush out your brows using the comb that comes attached to the cap. The pencil itself is unbelievably soft and blends really well.

Blusher is next, and I love Essence's Soft Blusher in shade 20 Babydoll. It's a light, softly pink colour that blushes slightly and highlights in one step. I apply this to my cheeks, sides of my forehead and sides under the jaw. Avon's Blusher brush has been doing the job for me since the summer, however it isn't that great at blending.

Lastly are the lips. Palmer's Original lip balm keeps my lips soft and hydrated, a product I did a review on as well. For a lip shade, I'm currently loving Kate Moss for Rimmel shade 05 lipstick- it's a deep pink that looks absolutely gorgeous and because it is really pigmented, lasts ages.


Gaby x

I'm sorry for the absence of posts- I've been going through a super stressful time lately and have had no inspiration whatsoever. On the bright side, I'm back!

I love good photography and pretty photos that I can relate my life to- it's one of the things that keep me going. I'm not taking any credit for these photos, they're just random pictures I've found online.

                                   My wrist for Self-harm Awareness Day March 1st 2013 :)

I did this myself- it's not that good or anything, not even finished, but I will be hanging it on my wall when it's done :)

                  

I hope you like! :)

Gaby x