Blush Makeup | Review | Buy Irish

I'm sure you're all aware by now, that nothing gets me more excited than trying out a new Irish beauty brand. Over the last few years, we've seen a boom in the beauty world on these shores so it was only a matter of time before Blush Makeup landed in my lap. Blush Makeup was started by Nicola Walsh, who has worked in the makeup and beauty industry for over 10 years. Blush Makeup offers a range of different products, from foundations to lipsticks.  I was luckily sent out some bits to review, and I'm thoroughly impressed with it as a whole after having a play with it over the last few weeks.

Baked Hydrating Powder Foundation in 'Light' (€27.50): This powder is one of my favourites of the bunch, reminding me of MAC's Mineralize Skin Finish without the slight glow! It can be used wet as a foundation, or as a powder (my preference). 'Light' is the teeniest bit too dark for me, but looks fine once blended into the face. It mattifies the skin without making it look cakey and you can build up any areas where you want more coverage. I absolutely adore this powder, and find that I don't need to reapply it constantly on my oily T-Zone throughout the day - which is always a bonus, especially during the warmer months! I can see this product lasting me for ages too, as barely a dint has been made in the palette.

Retexturising Face Primer (€24.50): I'm quite a sucker for trying out new primers, as I rarely go without wearing one under my base. I liked this primer, especially the packaging and the fact it contained SPF 20. However, it didn't suit my skin type at all even though it claims to suit all of them! I have oily-combination skin, and I found that it made my T-Zone oilier throughout the day after I applied it. If you have dry-normal skin, this would work a treat. It smooths out imperfections and any fine lines, and the smallest bit goes a long way.

Mineral Liquid Foundation in 'Cream Beige' (€28.50): Unfortunately, this foundation was miles too dark for me skintone; in all honesty, I was disappointed seeing as Blush Makeup is an Irish company, I thought us Casper cailíns would have a shade especially! The foundation is really nice however, as I did wear it inside the house on a few occasions to try it out. It's oil-free, so it suited my skin type perfectly. I found that less is more with it, and that buffing and blending it into the skin properly ensured that it lasted for at least 4-5 hours throughout the day. It also contains SPF 15, which is always a bonus!

Bottom right swatches: Mineral Liquid Foundation (left) and Baked Hydrating Powder Foundation (right).

Brow Shader Pencil in 'Dark Brown' (€14.50): I'm quite an eyebrow-obsessed gal, so I'm always especially excited to give new brow products a go! I was impressed with the Brow Shader Pencil, although the shade was a slight bit too warm for my complexion. It blended nicely into my eyebrow hairs, looked natural and stayed put all day. It looked best after I applied a gel mascara on top of it. It is also fantastic to use as an eyeliner; I blend it into my lash line when I want a natural look, and it loos fantastic and stays put all day.

Luxury Lipsticks in 'Playful' and 'Charmed' (€13): My favourite products without a doubt from the range, are the two Luxury Lipsticks I received. Between the finish, the pigment, the smell and the longevity of them - they're flawless! They apply beautifully on to the lips, and the colour can be built up or blotted down depending on what you prefer. They're extremely moisturising, and don't feel cakey after a few hours after application. They're one of the more affordable ranges from Blush Makeup, and 100% worth the price. I've been wearing both shades non-stop since trying them.

(Left-right) Brow Shader pencil in 'Dark Brown'. Luxury Lipsticks in 'Playful (left) and 'Charmed' right.

Overall, I was really impressed with Blush Makeup. Although I do think the prices are quite steep, I can see the brand doing well in the Irish market. The lipsticks in particular are brilliant, and I highly recommend you give them a go if you're on the hunt for some new pout paint for the Summer!

Problematic Skin Saviours - My Current Necessities

Unfortunately, I've never been a gal who has been blessed with good skin; I've suffered with breakouts and irritations since I was wee one and it's something I have to deal with constantly. Always to my surprise, people on my various social networks compliment me on my "flawless" skin, but in all honesty, it's all in the concealing with makeup! Underneath it all is far from the truth. Currently, I only have some hormonal blemishes scattered around my jaw and one or two barely-noticeable ones on my cheeks, thanks to these products that I've been using for just under two months now. I especially tend to break out if I'm stressed, eat a lot of junk food or become lazy with my skincare routine but I've learnt how to prevent and tackle my skin issues over the years. I must admit, this is a PR sample heavy post, as all of the products were sent out to me to review, but I genuinely couldn't recommend them enough and I give my 100% honest opinion as always!

I'm sure most of you know by now, that I have combination-oily skin; I have an oily T-Zone, with the outer areas of my face becoming quite dry during certain weather conditions. I wear makeup almost daily, so my skin is often prone to breakouts and irritations - not just on my face, but also on my body. Exfoliating my skin has only been something I've introduced into my routine over the last 2-3 years; it removes dead skin cells and gives you a 'clean slate' feeling to your skin. A lot of exfoliants, especially facial ones, tend to be overly-abrasive and can cause further irritations and can permanently damage the skin (broken capillaries). The Ginvera Green Tea Marvel Gel (£22) has been the most incredible exfoliator I've ever used! It has been the No.1 selling exfoliator in Singapore for 16 years now, and is becoming globally recognised as the years go on. It's the only exfoliator I've used, that removes dead skin cells instantly without irritating my face in the slightest. The only downside to it is the pongy smell, but you get used to it pretty fast. I use it around twice a week, concentrating on my t-zone area and jawline. It's absolutely remarkable seeing the dead cells coming off instantly; gross, but you know it's working.

When I tend to go through bad patches with my skin, I immediately switch my skincare products to ones designed specifically to combat blemishes. I don't and have never had acne per say, but the Citrus Clear acne products I've been using lately are unbelievable! The Antibacterial Lemon Grove Acne Wash ($34.99) is a godsend during problematic times, as it deeply cleanses my face whilst helping to combat the problems. It smells heavenly; zingy and fresh! Ideal for morning use, although I tend to use both morning and night depending on how bad my skin is. One pump is enough to wash the whole face, it lathers up and leaves you skin feeling alive and fresh. After washing my face with this, I apply the Grapefruit Acne Spot Treatment ($12.99) directly on to my blemishes with clean hands. It smells lovely and sweet, and instantly soothes to area and gets to work. It helps to clear problematic areas within days, and my blemishes are minimised and less inflamed within hours. A little goes a long way, and the small tube of it has lasted me forever! It's quite a strong product, so I tend to only use it if I'm going through extremely bad rough patches. Another fantastic spot buster I've discovered recently, is Vichy's Normaderm Hyaluspot (€10); it's a lot more gentle to the skin than the Citrus Clear Acne Spot Treatment, so it's ideal to use on the odd blemish. The metal nib soothes the area, and the gel formulation creates a film over the skin to protect and heal the area. It's best to use it at night, as the film can tend to peel off after a few hours!

I unfortunately tend to suffer from skin irritations on my body, as well as my face. I have really sensitive skin all over, especially on my chest, shoulders, upper back and the backs on my arms. Likewise to facial problems, problematic areas on the body are a confidence knock and prevent you from wearing certain clothes. It's especially irritating during the Summer months. The greatest products I've found that work for me in particular, are Balance Me's Citrus and Spice Hand and Body Wash and La Roche-Posay's Cicaplast Baume B5 in conjunction with each other. Balance Me's Citrus and Spice Hand and Body Wash (£10.25) is a fantastic shower gel to use daily, especially on the areas where you may suffer blemishes. It's anti-bacterial and soothing, it doesn't dry out the skin and over a period of time, it helps to prevent further irritations from occurring. La Roche-Posay's Cicaplast Baume B5 (€7.50) officially became their fastest-selling products in Ireland EVER, last year. It's the affordable equivalent to 8 Hour Cream or Beauty Flash Balm; an all-round miracle worker! It's designed especially for sensitive skin, so it's ideal to apply onto irritated areas on the body. I particularly think it's fantastic at soothing arm irritations; heat rashes and raised tattoos. The new travel-sized tube is ideal to throw into your makeup bag also, so I tend to use it repeatedly throughout the day for the quickest results. You can use it everywhere from your hands, lips, eyelids - you name it! It has no smell at all, so it should suit everyone.

What are your problematic skin saviours? Have you tried any of the above?

Welcome To My Bedroom; My Safe Haven..

 I'm sure many of you can relate to the feeling of relief when you open the door into your bedroom after a long and tedious day, collapsing on to your bed and whipping your bra off immediately (let's be honest). My bedroom is indeed my safe haven; packed with inspiration, memories and everything I love. I'm quite a Victorian when it comes to decoration; I'm known to like a bit of (organised) clutter and images scattered everywhere and anywhere. Minimalism isn't my forté! Whether it be Old Hollywood postcards, paintings, music vinyls or photographs of friends, I like to be reminded of what makes me happy on a daily basis.

(Featuring; posters and postcards from the Imperial War Museum, London. Paintings by Paddy Lennon and Christine Lennon (my Aunty and Uncle), an original London Calling vinyl (favourite object I own), an Ikea wardrobe and bookshelf, books from The Book Depository, a plastic chandelier from Homebase and an array of bits'n'bobs from here, there and anywhere.)

Best Dry Shampoo for Dark Hair - TIGI | Review

I'm sure many of you fellow dark-haired lassies (and lads) know the difficulty in finding suitable dry shampoo; every dry shampoo I've tried has been far too white, grey or light for my hair colour. It was extremely irritating, as my hair becomes greasy after a day and dry shampoo is an absolute necessity in my routine. I gave up hope that one would come out for the blackest of black hair colours, until I tried this guy! I've finally found a dry shampoo that doesn't leave ANY residue or colour in the hair, and genuinely works and does the job well. TIGI's Catwalk Session Series Transforming Dry Shampoo* is €11.70 (£9.95) to buy from Fabriah (lowest price). 

This invisible dry shampoo works wonders for freshening up my second-day hair and instantly absorbs any excess oil at the roots. It's brilliant for creating volume and texture in the hair, in particular when creating quiffs and high styles! It smells nice; quite masculine, yet not overpowering. It doesn't leave ANY off-colour in the hair at all, regardless of how much you apply. It's the only dry shampoo that also just about let's me get away with 3-day hair, which was practically unheard of for me before! The bottle is large; you get 250ml of product and a little bit goes a long way when using so it lasts ages. It's a bit of a pain to carry around in your handbag because of the size, so hopefully TIGI bring out a travel size (if they haven't already). It's the only dry shampoo that I've tried that works for black hair and I'll be sticking to it from now. I can't elaborate much more on the product; it's great, it works and it's invisible - what more do you need!? 

What's your favourite dry shampoo?

Fun at Dublin Zoo with Canon Ireland | Event

I was recently invited out to a wonderful Canon Ireland event in Dublin Zoo, and I have to say it was one of the greatest events I've ever been to! The Canon Ireland team talked us through new models, how to use the cameras and gave us a heap of photography tips and tricks to take with us. We split into groups, and ventured around the zoo taking shots on the animals on the new cameras. Luckily, one of the newer models was the Canon SX50; the camera I got for Christmas! I was fortunate enough to be able to use my own camera throughout the day, learn how to use it properly (finally) and I couldn't be happier with how the photos turned out. I'm not a photographer, so the photos below are evidence that the cameras are foolproof. I set it on Automatic mode for the majority of the time, giving me professional-looking, stunning shots. I particularly adore my peacock photos!

Not only did we try out the new cameras for Spring/ Summer, we also got to print out our favourite photos on Canon printers at the end for keepsakes. I was beyond impressed with not only the event, but also the Pembroke Commincations PR's and the Canon Ireland team; it was such a fantastic idea for an event. What better way to learn about new cameras, than to actually use them yourself? If you're looking to buy a new camera soon, there's really no better brand than Canon. It's a brand my family have always stuck to, and the proof is in the pudding with the quality you get.

Kinvara Organic Skincare | Review

There's nothing that excites me more than discovering new Irish products - especially beauty products! Kinvara Skincare is a relatively new product range, hailing from Co. Galway. Kinvara skincare use plant extracts in their products, all of which are organic and come from all over the world. Dr. Joanne Reilly, the owner of the brand, worked as a scientist in Asia herself and "saw first hand the amazing potential of plants in caring for your skin". I tried and tested 3 of their products; Rosehip Face Serum (€28)*, Rosehip Day Cream (€24)* and Absolute Cleansing Oil (€20)*. 

I was impressed with all three products if I'm honest, especially the Rosehip Face Serum. I have oily-combination skin so serums and heavy moisturisers can be quite hit and miss with me. Serums are meant to be applied before moisturiser, to help renew and restore the skin deeper than your moisturiser goes. It smells beautiful, feels luxurious and sinks in quicker than most other serums I've used. I use it around 3-4 times a week, applying 1-2 pumps at nighttime and I noticed an instant difference in my skin within a week. After using it for a few weeks at this stage, my skin looks firmer, plumper and not as dull as before. It's definitely something I'll be continuing to use.
I'm quite a fan of cleansing oils, so I was excited to try out the Absolute Cleansing Oil. I've been using Shu Uemura's one for over a year now and rarely remove my makeup without using one in my routine. The Kinvara cleansing oil smells beautiful and it quite simply does the job. The container is greater; oil products without pumps are so messy, as I'm sure many of you know! I remove my eye makeup first during my makeup removal process, then apply 2-3 pumps of this oil on to my dampened face (with makeup still on). It instantly breaks down the makeup and makes removing the rest of it with a cream cleanser easier and quicker. Cleansing oils aren't the cheapest of products, so €20 for this one wasn't too bad.
The Rosehip Day Cream is an anti-ageing formula, containing plant oils and vitamins to ensure your skin is nourished throughout the day. I really like this moisturiser, although I found it quite oily for my skin type and started using it as a nighttime moisturiser instead. It smells beautiful and fresh, you only need a small amount of the product itself to moisturise your whole face and neck. 60ml for a moisturiser is also quite a generous, it's lasting me ages! Using this in conjunction with the Rosehip Serum shows the best results, even after a few days.
Overall, I was really impressed with Kinvara. It's great to see such fantastic products come out of this country and I'm excited to see what else the brand has under their sleeve.

You can buy Kinvara skincare products online here.

My Underbite Experience. (Post-Surgery) 2 Months

Hi everyone! I can't believe I'm on my first "milestone" post-surgery blog post. It's been just over 2 months since I underwent my double jaw surgery and I couldn't be happier. The first month dragged by, like I mentioned before, but the last 4 weeks have flown in - it's scary! The full results of my surgery are more noticeable now than ever, as you can see in the photos above. I still have my braces, surgical hooks and a few wires in though, so it's not the final result just yet.

The swelling has gone 90% from my face; there's some areas surrounding my jawline, cheeks and nose that are still swollen but aren't noticeable. I'm still quite numb; mainly in my chin. My bottom lip is FINALLY starting to get feeling back in it, slight tingles and twitches running through it - it's a great sign. As long as my lips have feeling in them, I don't mind too much about my chin!

I'm eating 100% back to normal now, there's no restrictions really. As long as the food fits in my mouth and is easy enough to chew, it's fine! I can't fully express how delighted I am to be back on a normal diet; the liquid diet was one of the worst things about the whole experience. I never want another bowl of soup or milkshake again, bleugh. I've drank alcohol twice since the surgery, after approximately 7 weeks and had no side affects (I've had a few people ask me about this). There was no extra pain the next day, my face was only a tiny bit more swollen the next day but not noticeable at all and it went day pretty quickly. Obviously when drinking, don't go overboard and avoid really busy places like clubs and gig etc until your bones are fully healed. 

One of the toughest things for me to deal with over the last few weeks, has been stretching my jaws. I was told a few weeks back, that I should be able to fit 3 fingers comfortably in my mouth; I'm currently only able to fit 2 in. I have to do jaw stretches everyday, which absolutely wreck so I can get quite lazy with it, if I'm being honest. I really hope it doesn't become an ongoing issue for me, as I'm afraid of going through another surgery or further pain in the future.

My surgical hooks are hopefully going to be removed soon; they're quite an annoyance and make it difficult to sit your face in a neutral position. I wear two wires at the back on each side of my mouth now, and take them out to eat and to stretch the jaws. They're lighter than my first set of bands, and aren't an issue in the grand scale of things.

I feel like life has just begun for me, as cliché it sounds! I never realised how much of a difference the surgery would make; it's like a black cloud has moved away from me. Absolutely everything is different about me, not only my physical appearance but also my personality and confidence. I've been socialising more than ever, I've become more daring with outfits and I'm saying "Yes!" to opportunities that I would have turned down in the past because of my lack of confidence. I'm not going to say I'm "comfortable in my own skin" or anything along those lines, because I'm not. I have a better view of myself, but unfortunately have started to shift my focus on other flaws. I'm trying really hard to think positively however, and to accept myself and what I look like. It's difficult; this surgery definitely improved my body image views, no doubt, but there's a lot I still have to work on.

I technically still have another month to go until I'm 100% recovered; as I've mentioned before, the jaw bones take on average 3 months to heal. I'll hopefully be getting my braces off this Summer, which I'm dying for! I've had them since I was 11, so it's fair to say I'm sick of the sight of them.

Overall, I'm really happy. I'd recommend the surgery to anyone going through similar issues. It's scary, it's tough, but boy do you feel like a tough cookie afterwards! I highly doubt (and hope) I'll never have to go through anything similar like the surgery or experience again, it's nice knowing that it's all behind me.

I was featured on the front cover of the Irish Independent's 'Health & Living' supplement today, discussing my experience with my underbite and the surgery. My scanner isn't working at the moment unfortunately, so I'll have to post the article up in the future for people overseas to read. I've received a fantastic response from it though, particularly from people with jaw deformations themselves. I'm delighted!

(Please excuse any font or spacing errors in this post - it's my third attempt at posting and editing it. Blogger is acting up YET AGAIN; so tempted to move blogging platforms! Gah.)

How To Style: Converse All Stars

One of my most requested blog posts since I started Thunder & Threads, has been how to style Converse. How I haven't written about them before is beyond me, so here we go! I wear my Chucks constantly, I feature them regularly and have an undying love for the classic shoe. The company Converse is over 100 years old and still growing from strength to strength to this day. They're an extremely versatile shoe; you can wear them with practically anything! I love both the high top and low top versions, and currently own quite a few pairs (pictured above). My first pair of Converse were black high tops; I bought them when I was 13 and subsequently drew emo-licious pictures and lyrics all over them (broken hearts, MCR lyrics - I was cool). I wore them to death and eventually had to bin them. I've never not owned a pair since!

Styling-wise, the less you think about styling a pair of Converse, the better. They're a casual shoe that can add edge and an element of grunge to any look. Take Kristen Stewart, whom I adore, wearing a pair of Converse with her Yigal Azrouel dress to the MTV Movie Awards. It shocked the fashion critics worldwide, caused quite a frenzy but oh, did it work! It suited her, she looked like she was actually comfortable walking down the red carpet and it was different. I absolutely adore wearing Converse with dresses and skirts; it's unexpected and it doesn't look like you've tried too hard. 

If you want that Olsen-esque laidback 'I just threw this on' vibe to your outfit, throw on an oversized baggy jumper/ cardigan, a pair of black leggings and some Converse and you're good to go. Add chicness with a slouchy bag and oversized sunnies, if you don't want to look too shabby! My day to day outfits usually consist of my leather jacket, a band t-shirt and Levi shorts. I tend to wear my Converse with those outfits 90% of the time; I reach for them more than my Vans and other casual shoes. If you find that your outfits are too simple and lack 'edge', invest in a pair of printed Converse (like my leopard-print pair pictured above) and you're good to go. 

High top and low tops alike tend to lengthen the legs when worn, so they're ideal to throw on during the Summer months. They look just as good with bare legs, as they do with fishnet tights and skinny jeans. There's a pair out there for everyone - trust me!

If you don't own a pair of Converse yet, I'd recommend sticking to a black or white pair as you'll get more wear out of them and will be able to style them with more pieces. There's a huge range of Converse out there; the 90's-style platforms are particularly en vogue at the moment! I got this all-black pair (pictured below) from ASOS on sale at around Christmas time. They're just as comfortable as my regular-soled Chucks and they give me that extra bit of height - which is always good! Sometimes Converse do hurt when breaking into them initially, but out of all of my pairs, only two have hurt significantly during the first few wears. I personally love when Converse get a little grubby and worn-looking, and tend to purposely try and get them a little messed up during the first few days.

How I style Converse.. 

There's a heap of places you can buy Converse from - my favourite stores in particular are ASOS, JD Sports and Office. All three usually stock not only the basic styles, but also trendy and limited edition Converse. I'm a size 6 1/2 (UK) in shoes but in Converse I'm a size 6. They tend to stretch slightly after a good bit of wear, so always try on a pair prior to buying.

I have my eye on a few pairs of Converse at the moment, in particular a pair of nude low-tops. They'd be ideal to wear with faded skinnies rolled up at the ankle and an oversized white t-shirt! 

How do you wear your Converse? What styles do you own?

OOTD feat. Persunmall, Cotton Face Vintage & Penneys

Jacket // H&M

Polka-dot shirt* // Persunmall

Skirt // Penneys (Primark)

Necklace* // Cotton Face Vintage

Converse Platforms // ASOS

Awkward Posing // Born With It

OOTD feat. Urban Outfitters, Romwe & A|Wear

Jacket // Topshop

Flannel Shirt // Urban Outfitters

Boyfriend Tank Top // American Apparel

Lace Bicycle Shorts // Motel Rocks

Handbag // A|Wear

Sunglasses* // Romwe

Platform Converse // ASOS

Ouija Board Phone Cover* // Zero Gravity

MAC Mineralize Skinfinish Natural - 'Light' | Review

There's nothing I love more than venturing out into the wilderness (Brown Thomas) and having a wee splurge on makeup. I picked up MAC's famous Mineralize Skinfinish Natural powder last year, for €26.50. I use it frequently; it definitely wasn't a waste of money, but it didn't live up to my expectations.

MAC's Mineralize Skinfinish Powders are often used as setting powders for makeup, but can be used as a light foundation when applied wet (best to use MAC's Fix+ for this). I prefer using it as a setting powder, as I find it gives very little coverage when attempting to use it as a foundation; I like medium-heavy coverage, so if you're looking for something light and natural, you'd love this. The main reason I like this powder, is because it has lasted me absolutely ages! There's barely a dent made in the pan, and I've had it for at least 8 months. I love the packaging; it's simple and sturdy. It doesn't get too grubby and it's able to take a good battering amongst other makeup bag essentials.

It's good to use as a setting powder, mainly because of the colour and glow it gives. It makes your skin look healthy and fresh, and keeps your foundation and concealer in place nicely. However, if you have oily-combination skin this doesn't work too well! I find that after an hour, my t-zone is incredibly oily again (especially around my nose). I use a mattifying, translucent powder on my t-zone and apply this everywhere else on my face. I find this works alright applied over translucent powder, so it's ideal to pop into my handbag for touch-ups throughout the day. It's a fantastically light powder; suiting pale skin well - unlike a lot of powders out there claiming to be "porcelain", when in fact they make me look orange!  It works best applied with a synthetic brush, also.

Overall, it's a great powder, it just doesn't suit my skin type. It's 100% worth the money; probably one of the best MAC products I own, price-wise. If you're pale and looking for a nice powder for Summer, try it asap!

Have you tried this powder? What did you think?

Maybelline Collossal Volum' Express Mascara | Review

Mascara applied on my right eyelashes, nothing on the left lashes (excuse the messy brow).

Mascara has always been a product that I've been reaaally picky about over the years; I've tried my fair share of both high-end and high-street versions and have stuck to the same 2 or 3 over the years. My No.1 mascara of all time is Maybelline's The Falsies, so I was curious to try out their other hyped up mascara; The Colossal Volum' Express.  Whilst this mascara didn't knock The Falsies off of my No.1 spot, it definitely impressed me and I can see where the hype lies. 

If you're a fan of The Falsies, but not sure if the full-on false lash effect look is suitable for daytime, try this! I personally love OTT lashes; false lash effects without the hassle of false lashes themselves. However, I know a bunch of people need their eyes toned down a tad for work/ school/ whatever be havin' you. This is like The Falsies' little sister. The packaging is great - as it always is with Maybelline mascaras. The leopard-print in particular caught my eye! 

The curved spoon-like wand is fantastic; very similar to The Falsies' - amazing at reaching every lash and giving you a voluminous curl. It coats each lash instantly, lifts them and doesn't clump at all (even after a few coats). I don't curl my lashes as I have a phobia of lash curlers, but there's no need to even use them with this mascara (see the picture above). 

Will I be repurchasing this? Probably not, to be honest. As much as I like it, I really do prefer The Falsies' dramatic effect on my lashes and think it suits my makeup looks more. I can see a heap of people adoring this however, so try it if you're on the hunt for something effective, yet simple. I bought this in London last year from Superdrug, but it's around the usual €9-mark in Irish stores at the moment.

Have you tried this mascara before? What did you think?

WIN MY WARDROBE | Day 4

Evening all! I'm sure you all know the drill of these giveaways by now - I've been giving away a heap of pre-loved clothes over the last few weeks on my blog. This is my second-last WMW installment; the final giveaway will be posted this weekend featuring a dress worth over €100. The blazer below was worn once, and the playsuit has never been worn (or even tried on)! There's no damage or marks of wear on either of them.

T&C's & info..

The blazer is a UK size 10, the playsuit is a UK size 8.

(Both would fit a size 8-10.)

One winner will receive both items.

This is open to Ireland & UK residents only.

The giveaway will end on Friday 26th April (3 days).

Winner selection: I select 5 people at random, and the person with the most extra entries completed wins. (This is how I've run my giveaways for years, and it works best for me!)

If the winner doesn't email me back within 2-3 days, I'll select another winner.

I'll be announcing the winner on Twitter and on my Facebook page.

To enter..

You MUST follow this blog via GFC or Twitter - click here to follow. 

Leave a comment below telling me how you'd style one/ all of the items.

Leave your email address in the comment (this is how I'll notify the winner).

Extra entries..

Follow me on Twitter - click here.

Subscribe to me on Youtube - click here.

Follow this blog on Bloglovin' - click here.

'Like' Thunder & Threads on Facebook - click here.

'Like' Leanne Woodfull on Facebook - click here.

Follow me on Instagram (LeanneWoodfull) - click here.

Follow me on Tumblr - click here.

Good luck! xo

OOTD feat. Romwe, Motel Rocks & Zara

Jacket* // Romwe

Sunglasses* // Romwe

Disco Pants // Motel Rocks

Nude Heels // New Look

Office City Bag // Zara

Shortlisted - Best Fashion Blog | Company Magazine Style Blogger Awards 2013 - Vote For Me!

I have to say, April is being very kind to me this year! Company Magazine have just posted their shortlisted nominees for their famous Style Blogger Awards in association with New Look - and I've been nominated! I've been nominated for Best Fashion Blog , all thanks to you guys for voting for me. I'm up against some of the best, so it's really an honour.

I've read Company since I was around 13, when it was A4 size, and ever since it's been a magazine I've bought monthly and love. To win Best Fashion Blogger would mean the world to me; it'd be the first blog award I've ever won! I'm completely determined to make 2013 my best year ever; this would make quite a fabulous contribution to that!

I'd love if you guys could vote for me - I have a heap of giveaways planned to say thank you for this (and everything else for that matter)! I'm so, so delighted.

To vote for my blog Thunder & Threads -> click here.

(To vote, you have to go through various stages. The Best Fashion Blogger stage is No.5 - my blog is listed on the righthand side!)

My lovely friend Tara from TarMarTales is also nominated for Best Personal Style and Fashion Newcomer. We're both determined to represent Ireland as best we can in the fashion world, so please throw a vote her way too if you can! I feel us Irish bloggers aren't recognised enough in the UK media, so this would be a fantastic opportunity for us both to make our stamp on the world!