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12 Days of Christmas: Day 5- Last Minute Gift Buying Tips

Mary2 Comments

day 5

Now, I’m not a last minute kind of person to be quite honest. However, there were a few Christmas presents that I couldn’t get in Ireland so I will be doing some last minute shopping when I get home. I thought maybe it would be nice to give my tips on the best way to do last minute shopping.

  • Go in the morning. The sooner you leave the more people are still running late, so get to the mall or Target or Walmart or wherever you need to go as soon as it opens.
  • Have a list. It’s too late in the game to try and wing it, you need to know what you’re looking for otherwise you will be stuck there forever.
  • Walk with purpose. Those pesky mall kiosk people are less likely to ask you a million questions if you’re walking with a purpose. I know they’re just doing their job, but you still have presents to wrap and places to be, get it done and get out of there. Unless you want to meander, then meander!
  • Only go into stores that have the things you need. If you’re shopping for your mom there’s no reason to go into American Eagle, instead you’re just going to end up buying yourself a sweater that you don’t need and spending the money you should be spending on other people.
  • Don’t give in to the impulse buys. If you don’t need it don’t buy it. I feel like those little stations of impulse buys are everywhere at Christmas time and that’s because they know people cave. Those are good stocking stuffers and little presents for friends, but if that’s not what you’re looking for, walk away.

What are your last minute tips?! I’m going to struggle with the not getting distracted part since I haven’t been to Target in months it’s going to be hard, but I can do it.

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Lush Oxford Street Haul!

Mary4 Comments

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I’ve never actually done a real haul on my blog before because I’m not that kind of blogger typically, but I went to the Lush on Oxford Street in London and I couldn’t resist doing one. I also I feel like every female blogger has like an obligatory Lush haul… Okay probably not, but it feels natural so it’s happening.

I was so excited to go, this was honestly like one of the biggest things I wanted to do in London, it was worth every penny I spent.

This is the “Melting Marshmallow Moment” bath melt. The one thing I really wanted to try were the bath melts since they only have them at the Oxford Street store or online. It has a super sweet smell and it’s very glittery as you can probably see from the pictures. These are supposed to make the bath extra moisturizing, which will be great since my good lotion is at home so my skin is starting to feel the cold here. I’m probably looking most forward to baths once I get back home.

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This is the “Snow Melt” bath melt. This is a special one for the holidays obviously. It has a very clean smell, and again glitter. I think this one was mint and lemon if I remember correctly. Honestly, all the smells start running together when you start to smell so many things. You have to be really careful with these because they can melt with just body temperature.

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This is the “Golden Handshake” hot hand mask. To be honest, this was quite the impulse by. I’m a sucker for glitter and it was the first glittery thing that I saw as soon as I walked in and it wasn’t ridiculously expensive so I put it in my basket and forgot about it until check out. I think it is going to be more work than what I had originally thought. I don’t really think it has a strong smell, and I’m super sensitive to smell if that means anything to anyone.

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This is the “Milky Bath” bubble bar. It got a little smashed in my bag since I had been travelling with it for over a week by the time I got to take the pictures.  Again, I got this mostly for the softening aspect that it’s supposed to have for my dry skin in the winter. This also doesn’t have too strong of a smell which is something I really appreciate.

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This is the “Start Dust” bath bomb. Unfortunately this one got completely smashed in my bag so I didn’t even bother to open it and try to take a picture because I could just feel that it was going to be a mess. It has a slight vanilla smell, which I always find really comforting, especially in the winter months.

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If you have heard about the Lush Oxford Street store, then you know what this is, “The Experimenter” bath bomb. This is the one thing that I was just like “I have to try this!!!!” because I just kept hearing about it, it’s so many colors, I need to know what color it turns the bath in person. It says online that it has a sweet smell, but I honestly feel like there are so many combinations in the smell that it’s not entirely sweet, it’s a different smell. I’m not quite sure how I feel about it, but I am so excited to try it anyway.

So yeah! Here’s my first haul. I’ll definitely do an impressions (okay won’t say definitely but I’ll try) once I use the products, especially the bath melts. I’m so excited to try all of these things once I get back home (one month!!!) and to a bath tub.

Get ready for me to be back because I have so many ideas and posts coming your way!!

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Late Night Blogging with Mary: Part 16

Mary2 Comments

late night blogging with mary

I hate the number 16 so this post is just giving me the chills.

So I guess I went a little MIA for a little bit there. I got a pretty bad cold and was in bed by 10 almost every night this week after taking my time on assignments and such blogging just fell at the wayside. Since my last blog post, I’ve been to Paris! My dad was there for work so I went along for the weekend. It was a lot of fun, but my cold started right before so by the time I got back to Ireland, I hardly had a voice.

Okay here’s a little political rant I have right now, I’m so pissed off about all of the shootings going on back in the States. Currently I’m living in a country where the police don’t even have guns, and since I’ve been here there have been no gun crimes that I have heard of being reported, however, there have been at least three shootings at colleges in the same time period. It just makes me angry, I feel like no one is taking action and it drives me crazy. I get that Americans have the right to bear arms, but please someone make it harder to get guns, I shouldn’t be able to go into Walmart and buy a gun. It’s a sick world, let’s try to make it better.

Anyway, on a lighter note, I went shopping today! I’ve been trying not to shop while I’ve been here because I would rather spend  money on travel and things like that, but I just felt like it today, and I actually got two sweaters. The one I’m sure will be in pictures from probably both this weekend and next weekend. Sunday to Monday I’m going to Galway, since it’s a bank holiday weekend so we have no classes, then next weekend I’m going to London, and then I have a week off and I have bunch of stuff planned. Life is about to get crazy and my time here is about to go by in the blink of an eye. I think that’s exciting and scary. While part of me never wants to leave this adventure, another part of me really, really misses everyone at home.  That’s my thing, I never get homesick, I never miss my bed or my house (maybe my shower with how weird these ones are) but I just really miss the people. And IHOP.

So yeah, that’s what you’ve missed. Hopefully I can get back to my schedule now, that’s the goal at least!

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Late Night Blogging with Mary: Part 9

Mary4 Comments

I bought a backpack today which was productive if you ask me. I also got my haircut and went to the beach. So I guess you could it was pretty productive. I’m getting very antsy sitting around and waiting for the next three weeks to pass. Today is like everyone is snapchatting pictures (you can add me on snapchat: mrmilligan13) of their packed up stuff or packing in general and I still have three weeks. However, I should get cracking on my packing because I guess three weeks really isn’t that far, it just feels very far.

I’ve been trying to DIY t-shirts for a few days now and I’m very frustrated with the process. I just do this thing where envision something and it’s just not turning out quite the way I’m envisioning it. However, once I get it right there will hopefully be a blog post on it. It was the much needed crafting session I needed though.

So I went to the beach and I went to outlets and that was all good. I actually managed to find things that I was looking for. I always seem to have the problem when you can never find something when you’re looking for it. So, I would highly recommend the Gap Factory Outlet because I got a sweater for like $13 and it was this season, just 70% off for some reason. I also got a shirt for $2 and I liked a lot more stuff, I’m just trying not to spend a lot of money since I am going away.

I finally found a decent sized backpack. Well okay, I’ve known which one I’ve wanted for a while but I just bought it so that’s good. I’m getting more and more ready to go.

Let me just rant for a minute about Josh Duggar. I’m not going to lie I used to watch 19 Kids and Counting because I love being nosey and seeing people’s lives. However, I was disgusted when I found out that the eldest son had molested five people, including some of his sisters I was very disturbed, even though it happened when he was a teenager, you still have to know it’s wrong. Also, I think the way it was handled was probably wrong as well. However, I was even more disgusted by people defending him. What happens when you defend a sex offender is that you put the victims in this shadow of that their emotional trauma and everything they had to deal with is essentially not important, which is ridiculous if you ask me. Do not defend a sex offender, even if it happened when he was teenager. I am even more outraged that no one is defending him now. More people defended him where people were not engaging in consensual relations. More people defended him when he molested his sisters and other girls. Yet where are these people when he’s cheating on his wife? Watching porn? I don’t understand how you can defend someone who physically harmed someone then say nothing, maybe even be against him when he engaged in something consensual. Yes, he cheated on his wife, yes he watched porn, and yes both of those are sins, but why is the sin of molesting people being overlooked because he asked for forgiveness and apologized? He apologized this time too, are people just not accepting it? I just don’t understand. It is very upsetting to me. I just had to share. What do you think? Am I ridiculous. I mean, I don’t think he should be defended at all but I can’t get over what people defended him for and that they all now have nothing to say.

Okay sorry about that little rant there. I just am very frustrated. I don’t understand why he was ever defended in the first place, it’s very upsetting to me. I probably just should’ve done a whole blog post about that, but whatevsss.

Rant away in the comments!

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The Scrunchie is Back

Mary2 Comments

Okay so I went out to dinner and to the mall with some of my friends tonight and my one friend owed me some money and  I was going to buy a few scrunchies, but instead she bought them for me. I thought I would just do a quick little haul thing because I think scrunchies are coming back. My opinion. Everything is from Forever 21.  I think these will had a little more to my messy bun that I constantly have my crazy hair pulled up into.

Say what you will about scrunchies, but I like them. Is this 90’s fashion back or am I looking ridiculous? Let me know in the comments. Sorry  I know this isn’t what I usually write about, do you like it though? Thanks for reading!

XOXO,

Mary.

My Guide to Online Shopping

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Well something I am obsessed with, especially at college, is online shopping. I would totally tell you about how much of a detriment it is to my bank account, but that’s a whole different story. So I know it’s far past Friday at this point but I actually went and hung out with people tonight so I think that’s excusable. Anyway, I could just share with you some places where I find the best online deals.

  1. AMAZON! They literally have everything you could possibly ever need. If you’re a college student you are eligible for six months free of Amazon Prime, andddddd you get it at half off when you have to start paying.  Amazon Prime is a fantastic invention that gives you free shipping on thousands upon thousands of items, and it only takes 2 days! It’s actually amazing. The best deals that I find here are usually on phone cases and bumpers for my iPhone 5. Maybe I’ll do an Amazon favorites next week with the best shops and such because I could go on and on forever.
  2. American Eagle/ Aerie. They have far better sales online and if you sign up for the sales there are lots of opportunities for free shipping, like right now just because it’s cold they have free shipping. You can also get coupons in the mail which include things like free underwear, which are very good quality and nice. I know these stores are typically pretty pricy, but the sales are usually pretty good and I think that the qualities of clothes are worth it.
  3. Etsy. Okay so yes, I know there are individual shops but I think that the overall site is overpriced. I wanted to get some bumper stickers for my laptop and when I had three in my cart it was priced far over $15 and to me that’s not worth it at all. I think it has some awesome things on it like handmade rings and vintage pieces but some of the stuff is not worth the cost to me. It’s fun to window shop but it’s rare that I actually buy stuff from the actual sight.
  4. shopjawbreaking.com. If you have the money, SHOP HERE. I go on their site sometimes and stare at all of the wonderful clothes and drool a little bit. I personally don’t have anything from here but I wish I did. My friends have some shirts and sweatshirts and they love them, and I’m super jealous.

Okay so that’s it for now because I want to go to bed because I am exhausted. Anywho I think we should have an adventure for tomorrow but we shall see.

XOXO

Mary

I hate shopping/body insecurities/anxiety.

Mary2 Comments

So today I went shopping, which should be fun, right? I’m a girl, I’m supposed to enjoy shopping. Well today it sucked. I have a very unfortunate family picture that needs to be taken Sunday and the color scheme is black and grey and I feel too fat to wear jeans but I don’t want to wear a dress and it’s turning into a thing and I’m annoyed about it. Well anyway this horrid shopping trip continued to get worse because as soon as I get the slightest bit worked up my anxiety starts to arise and I get uncomfortable and cranky. Like all of the sudden I was hot and I felt like my clothes were way to tight- and they weren’t, and I felt like I was about to cry and I did as soon as I was in the car. The worst part about getting all worked up like that is I can’t stop it now, like it’s four hours later and I’m still trying to calm down. I hate that as soon as I have one they come back in little spurts but the spurts are like, oh I can’t breathe, this sucks, or oh my body is shaking uncontrollably and I think I could rip my skin off. So sorry for the short post today but I can’t sit at the computer and think of words to write in a logical manner so this is kind of crappy today, sorry. Thanks for reading anyway!

XOXO

Mary

Answer

January 8:  His grandnephew founded the government agency that became the FBI.

Question

January 9:  What is the record high number of points scored by a losing team in a National Basketball Association game?

Why aren’t I allowed to be self/ body confident?

Mary5 Comments

Would you like to know something that drives me absolutely bonkers?  Well it doesn’t really matter if you want to or not because I’m going to write about it anyway. Please keep in mind that as I write this post I will be exposing a lot of myself and it is hard for me to write but I have a lot of things that must be said on this topic so I will be sharing.

There is something very wrong with todays society.  As a girl, who is often uncomfortable with myself whether it be my weight, body in general, looks, hair, personality, anything, being self-confident is hard. If you would like to know what I look like go ahead and enjoy my icon.

We have grown up in a society where if you are not a size two (four if they’re being generous) or less then that as a woman you are “fat”. However, if you are this small someone will criticize your thinness, and you are “too” this, whether or not you can help how you look.  Basically as a female you are not allowed to like how you look, thin, fat, or in between.  My size varies from a size six to a size ten.  I just said my size on the internet and I don’t give a damn.  Go ahead, call me fat, it wouldn’t be the first time I’ve heard it.  But I am finally starting to be comfortable with how I look and society can not tell me other wise.  And yes, I do consider myself curvy.  I have a rather large bra size if you ask me, even though there are bigger, my hips are a little wider than I’d prefer, but yes I have curves. And why do I have curves you ask? Because I am a girl who likes to eat. I love food, I’m sorry I will not only eat salads and grilled chicken because that is what will help me get thin, NO. I will eat my  french fries and chicken nuggets! This is what I like to eat and I will continue to eat them in moderation because that is what makes me happy!

This brings me to my next little rant. How I look in general. I have frizzy hair. I don’t like it. I have furry eyebrows, I don’t like them. I have a little button nose, I love it.  I have tiny wrists, I love them.  I have big hands, I don’t like them. I have some freckles, I think they’re cute. What?! I like things about myself?! Yes I do! And in case you didn’t notice for every one thing I don’t like about myself I have something I do like. I could go on and on about every little piece of myself on how I feel about it, if I like or not, but I’m not going to because you don’t need to read that and I don’t need to think about it.  But I encourage all of you to do that too, find something you like about yourself, and when someone compliments you on it say “thanks me too” they might think your conceited but be confident in yourself and how you look!  Stop letting society tell you that you’re ugly or tell you that your fat.  Embrace yourself as you are because that is how God made you!  For once in your life be happy with who you are!

Girls! I am tired of feeling bad about myself, and I don’t know if you feel the same or not but really! It sucks!  I’m tired of looking in a magazine and having to look at the pictures labeled “curvy” because I am not that size but I’m also not “tiny”.  I am myself.  I try to cover up the sections of where it says “Body Type” because if something looks good on me and I like it (and if it’s within budget of course) I’m going to buy it and feel happy in it. I’m going to wear my favorite jeans, even leggings, and be happy.  Stop letting society tell you what to do with yourself, be who YOU want to be.

Sorry about this rant but this is something that has been nagging on me for months.  To be honest I would like to lose a few pounds, but I’m not going to this by starving myself or changing my life significantly. I’ll go to the gym more, cut back on dessert and snacks a little bit.  Moderation is key, and I need to remind myself of that.  Thanks for reading this and I really hope it helped someone out there. Love you guys.

XOXO

Mary