Eeep, I'm actually hugely jealous of the eventual winner of this prize, La Roche Posay is one of my favourite brands and I've just confirmed the details with the brand to bring you the chance to win a stunning €150 hamper full of their astounding products.
'How?' You say?
You may or may not have seen this already but I'm THRILLED to announce that my blog post, amongst other hugely talented ladies, has been used by La Roche-Posay for their promotional material for Cicaplast Baume B5 in pharmacies and large stores nationwide.
To celebrate this and of course to coincide with my BDay week I have a fun little challenge for you. We're going to play a little game of I Spy...
In order to win the luscious hamper you just need to either twitpic or Facebook an image of the Cicaplast stand from your local chemist or shop. Simples!
Be sure to tag me on Facebook or @ me on Twitter @ItsCherrySue so I can count your entry. This is open to ROI only as, let's face it, ye've an unfair advantage, this will run until Saturday the 8th of July. If you're under 18 do please get permission to take part and Good Luck!
You're used to my normal layout of reviews, right? You'll have seen it replicated on other sites such is its simplicity, well this isn't one of those reviews. Friends with Kids was such an appalling let down of a film that I can't even be pushed to format font for it. That bad.
The story had potential, it had a kick ass cast and, in the right hands, should have done just that. Unfortunately it was in the hands of Jennifer Westfeldt as writer, director and protagonist.
What could have been an insightful, hilarious commentary on the trials and tribulations of modern relationships turned into a self indulgent circle jerk that tried it's utmost to wedge in as many product placements as humanly posssible. Star Chris O' Dowd (of the wojus American accent) agreed (kinda)
I haven't been this let down by a movie in quite a while, spending the entire second half wondering why I hadn't left yet, right up to the ridiculous cringefest that was the final scene.
Friends with Kids has apparently gotten 4 and 5 star reviews from all and her freelance writing Auntie so if you have seen it, I'd genuinely appreciate your take in the comments...
What's it About?
Really? It's Spiderman. Got to be clear though, it's a reboot, not a remake. Very important distinction. Apparently.
Any Good?
10 years after Sam Raimi's latest incarnation of the web slinging superhero, Spidey is back, this time in the hands of Marc Webb, an altogether more upbeat kinda guy, very much evidenced in the final product, thankfully. It has to be admitted that I had my doubts going in, could anyone beat Toby in the Spidey stakes? Would this movie justify the remake? Would anyone care? I'm delighted to say it's a resounding yes for all three.
Toby who?
Garfield couldn't have been better cast as the teen angsty Peter Parker, the grieving lad thrust into greatness against his will. His dorkish affect seen and loved in Never Let Me Go is used to full effect and fills me with an overwhelming urge to put him in my pocket and keep him there forever. His one liners and quips, while donning the spandex, are so true to the animated origins of Spiderman that, as a Marvel fan, you can't help but like him. Without doubt, he blows Toby out of the water.
Emma Stone playing Gwen Stacy sparks convincingly with Peter Parker, they have a palpable chemistry and on screen frisson that no upside down kiss could rival. Unlike Mary Jane, her purpose is not to scream and await rescue, she's a kick ass, independent, get shizz done kinda girl that's not afraid to get right into the centre of the action when there's trouble afoot. More of these two on screen together please.
Yep, I believe 'em...
While much of the movie has been seen before, plot wise, the characters in this rendition really do set it apart. Peter's sometimes tumultuous relationship with his Uncle Ben & Aunt May (Sheen & Field) is heartfelt, while his friendship and ultimate face off with Doc Connors (Ifans) is thoughtfully played out with the emotion you'd expect from, y'know, arch nemeses. Ifans gives us a torn back story to Doctor Connors reminiscent of Ruffalo's portrayal of Bruce Banner earlier in the year. Spot on.
The action, while not as consistent as it could have been, is helped immensely by James Horner's outstanding score. The 3D is used well for POV action and the obligatory swinging from the skyline but can tend to be on the dark side (doesn't it always?). Fight scenes could have been given a little more oomph but are never less than enjoyable.
Not having had great expectations heading into The Amazing Spiderman, it's fair to say it more than won me over. Yes, you've seen this story before and yes, you know how it's going to end but the ride is so much fun nonetheless. It's one of the most solid Summer blockbusters you'll see in 2012. Do consider whether you want to bother with 3D but don't hesitate to see this movie. With great characters come great feckin' reboots.
It's a vibrant fuchsia pink with purple and blue duochrome with a golden sheen in the light and it has to be seen in the sun to be believed:
This is an absolute stunner for summer manicures or pedicures, the consistency, as with all TopShop polishes is second to none and you're looking at at least five days wear with no chips, so it really is a great choice for festival nails or holiday tootsies.
As ever, the price is a bit steep at €9 but TopShop have some of the most unique, eye catching colours that I've yet to see replicated elsewhere. Are we feeling Blitz? Are there any other TopShop polishes I should check out?
Festival season is upon us, Lovelies and to help get you prepared I've teamed up with Anthisan Cream for wasp stings and insect bites to get you ready to rock and/or roll!
The very generous Anthisan folks have given me two, TWO, Meran 4 Dome Family Tents to see you right through festival season and back to camping with the family again. What are they when they're at home? I hear you ask, well features include:
Easy to set up ring and pin, colour coded system (Never kill each other on a camp site again)
Ideal for all types of campers (Festival revellers especially)
Waterproof with inner breathable material (No Sweaty Betties here ThankYouVeryMuch)
Windows allow for great natural light (And Mysteries of the Orient Express Silhouette Dancing)
Lightweight tent (For Schlepping from the car park to the camp site with ease)
Extended large porch for all storage needs (WELLIES!)
You want one, right?
To be in with a chance to win you'll need to give me your top festival/camping tip. I'll start with a couple:
Bring Baby Wipes! Endless uses including, but not limited to, tying around your face bandana style to brave festival loos on day 2 - ewwww.
Pack Bug repellent and soothing sting cream (such as Anthisan). Gather large numbers of people in a field with a bit of sun and bugs just don't like it (the bitey feckers)
Wear Layers! Even if the sun is splitting the stones when you're out in the waild, it gets chilly at night.
A little bit about why Anthisan is one of my top tips:
There's over 12,000 types of insects on this fair isle and they contribute to half a million bites and stings every year. Our recent warm and wet weather is an ideal breeding ground for these insects and just one bite or sting can ruin a family event or take the shine off a night of care free festival dancing. Anthisan Cream contains 2% w/w mepyramine maleate that provides triple action relief from insect bites, stings and nettle rash by: relieving pain, soothing itching and reducing inflammation
All of this makes it an ideal first aid cream to be thrun into any picnic, beach or camping bag. You can be confident that a bite or sting won't mean the end of your fun. Find out more about Anthisan here.
So let me know, what's your best camping or festival tip, weird or wonderful - the top two will be the proud owners of these gorgeous tents and get to camp in style. Winners will be announced with the rest of the lucky BDay winners on July 3rd. This one is limited to ROI only.
Good Luck!
Tent Winners were Heather & Briege - Well done Girls!!
I've made of my grá for Avène products quite clear in the past so when this aqua bottle arrived on my desk for testing I was delighted. We've had a couple of trials and tribulations here in Casa Cherry with cleansers for oily skins up until now, naming Neutrogena Pink Grapefruit Facial Wash as just one that's dried out our poor kissers terribly. I was confident though that Avène was see us right. I was spot on.
Rich in Thermal Spring Water, Avène Cleanance works gently in its soapless (but slightly lathery) way to purify the skin and reduce excess oil. To be used morning and evening on damp skin, I've found that the youngest has taken to this like a duck to water - going so far as to hide it behind the shampoo for his own cleansing needs, that's how much he's loving it (the snakey fecker).
Benefits according to Avène:
Deep cleansing action purifies without stripping the skin
PH 7.2 respects the skin’s natural balance, minimizing the trigger of excess sebum production
Pleasant fragrance tolerated by sensitive skin
Soap-free
Avène thermal spring water to soothe and soften skin
Hypoallergenic and non-comedogenic
I think what I like most about this product though is not that it's solved the youngests' oily/dry skin conundrum, nor the clean refreshing scent, it's the genius lid! Clean and hygenic, this simple twist lid not only means there's no mess but also means that every drop can be used from the bottle, making it a money saver too.
Hygienic Genius
Priced at €15.25 from all good pharmacies and larger Boots stores, Avène Cleanance Gel is certainly one I'll be repurchasing, if only so I can have a go, as peachy faced Gollum up there doesn't seem to want to part with his precious.
Have you tried this yet? Any love for soapless cleansers?
I've something a little bit fun to share with you today, Modiface, a beauty technology company this week launched the Virtual Nail Salon App. It's bound to keep you entertained for a little while if you, like me, are a fiend for nail painting. This app incorporates some pretty nifty features that you can't find on similar versions. Some of these features include photo-realistic 3D visualization, over 100 actual nail polish products, the ability to upload a photo of your own lámh, the ability to create your very own customized shades/textures, designs and even try on some bling.
As I say, over 100 polishes are listed in this easy to navigate app so once you're happy with your design, you can find the exact colours you've used and order them if they're not already in your collection. You can also freehand nail art designs on a white base, which can be hit and miss to be honest, the tools available are a little crude to be used for intricate designs. Your finished manicure can be saved and shared on social media such as Facebook & Twitter, which is a nice touch.
Do I think this will change the way I paint my nails? Nope. Do I think it's a bit of fun and worth a play around, yep I do. Besides it's free, who doesn't want a little something to entertain them while on the train or bus for nowt - at least this method of painting your nails won't have fellow passengers writing into the Metro Herald Mailbox to complain about you.
Nails today are about as simple as they can be, I wanted something light and summery but quick to put together as I was running late and Tan-spankle-ah-dah! This is what I came up with.
So simple a tutorial isn't even needed, two coats of Purple Sherbet followed by random dots of the rest of the colours. This look takes, literally, minutes and is an easy one to replicate on your non dominant hand.
We like?
This might come as a surprise to some, none more so than me, but this here little blog is one today! A whole year old, it feels like only a couple of months but then I think of the friends I've made and the fantastic opportunities I've been given as a result of this site and it feels like a lifetime.
To celebrate this fact, I've a week of giveaways and competitions planned but because I have 3 bajillion other things to tell you about here, this will be the only post taken up with them. Be sure to head over and like mah Facebook page as that's where the magic will be happening bar one goodie this week.
I'm kicking off proceedings with a set of the most talked about product in recent weeks: Sleep Rollers up for grabs. The entry for each prize (announced on the day) will, as always, be simple and all are open to the UK and Ireland.
I would like to take this moment though, to Thank you all sincerely for reading and commenting on my ramblings. For getting involved on Twitter, Facebook and by email for chats and laughs. It honestly means a great deal to me. I've had some very exciting chats over the past couple of weeks and they all mean great things coming down the line for CherrySue Doin' the Do and, of course, you lovely lot.
Enough of the jibber jabber, right? If you get the chance to have cake today, please have cake - it's my BDay after all! Here's hoping it's the first of many.
Following my slight disappointment with Revlon Lip Butters I've been a little hesitant to jump on the Chubby Stick bandwagon - that was until the Goddess of hilarity (fangirl much?) that is Marian Keyes took time out to give them a rave review over on Beaut.ie . From that day on I knew I had to try 'em.
There are no prizes for guessing which shade I was keen to test out first. Chunky Cherry is a bright pinky, red, because of my penchant for coffee lips, I thought this was the ideal way to work a little colour onto my kisser.
More pics you say? Certainly...
It has to admitted, I'm smitten. Soft and comfortable on the lips, Chubby Sticks apply like an unscented balm but give a beautiful colour payoff. This shade is super flattering and, even after two hours wear, my lips are still moisturised and bright pink.
I'm loving the design Clinique have used too, twistable uppable being one of my favourite features in any make up product, I'm a fiend for losing sharpeners you see. The tube itself is sturdy enough (with a tight fitting lid) to be thrun into your bag or purse without a second thought. Now that I like.
Available in 8 new shades from this month, the Chubby Stick will set you back €19 a piece, or, if you shop in Boots and buy 3 Clinique products this week, you'll recieve €12 back in Boots points and a snazzy pink pencil case to carry your chubby lovelies. I opted for Mega Melon, a very wearable pinky brown and Curvy Candy, a bright fuchsia bubblegum pink as my second and third.
Have you tried Chubby Sticks yet? Reckon you might?
Morning all, that was probably one of the most relaxed weekends I've had in quite a while. Apart from a jaunt over to the shopping centre to check out the sales I didn't leave the house and enjoyed every minute. Did you get up to much? Fancy some Monday's Moments to cheer you up a little? Yeah, you do...
1. Riddle Me This
Do not adjust your monitor, what you're looking at is a perfectly preserved hula hoop (crisp) on the heel of an unsuspecting stiletto. Tell me, what are the odds of standing on a hula hoop with such precision timing and force that it gets wedged, in its perfect state on your heel? Go one further, how many times do you multiply those odds when there wasn't even hula hoops served at the shaggin' party?!?
It's a real head scratcher, I do wonder if the oblivious hoop carrier made it home and discovered the savoury stow away.... Guess I'll never know.
2. Nice to Tweet You!
I was delighted to be invited along to sample some of Fallon & Byrne's seriously good Summer Cocktail collection on Wednesday with Karen (Lovelygirliebits.com). No this moment isn't a bragfest, apart from the delicious food and drinks on the night, there was also the delight to meet some of my favourite food & lifestyle bloggers from this here interweb.
I got to talk polish with Aoife Babaduck, share lols with Éadaoin City of Blackbirds, talk all things Mexican with Lily My Mexican Shop.ie and congratulate Adam Cook it Yourself.ie on finishing his Leaving that day. Seriously. If you haven't seen any or all of these sites before I urge you to do so, I can now categorically say, they're run by some pretty cool peeps. Oh & if you get the chance, get in to Fallon & Byrne to sample their cocktails. Tuh Die For.
3. Sharing the Love
Continuing on a theme of sharing the love, the gorgeous Laura from FitznBitz this week took time out of her busy schedule to put together this fantastic who's who of Irish Beauty Bloggers in 2012.
I'm thrilled to be featured with some of the newer talented ladies as well as some of the more established sites. If you're looking for a read, I'd highly recommend you take a looksee. Thanks a thousand Laura, your time and effort is genuinely appreciated.
4. SMH
It's not often the three of us here in Casa Cherry go to the flicks together, usually the lads will take turns coming with me to screenings or, if it's something they're dying to see, they'll go together. Friday night was an exception though, Abe Lincoln Vampire Hunter was out in iSense and we all wanted a bite. (badoom tish)
The three of us spent the entire hour and 45 minutes smiling, laughing and shaking our heads, apart from the twice I lept from the chair when I wasn't paying attention. This movie has been slated in the press but we honestly loved it in a 'so ridiculously bad, it's good' kinda way. Neither of the lads can actually recount the film even now without laughing. Poifect Family Friday material.
5. That's All Folks
Some of you might have seen that it was National Bike Week last week, anyone that knows me personally will have heard me giving out about it being National Bike Week last week. That's because my IRL job means that the County's events for such initiatives are my responsibility.
We had 7 events in total, each bigger than the last but our final shindig had to take the biscuit. If an outdoor event can survive monsoon weather, gale force winds, MIA entertainers and flying gazebos and still be deemed a success by 14o kids then the gods were truly smiling on us on Friday. I've never been as exhausted, relieved and desperate for a holiday as I was by 2pm when we were packing up. No wonder I was bajarmer clad all weekend!
That's it for another week but do stick around over the next few days as this little blog turns 1 tomorrow! Can you believe it? I certainly can't - there'll be prizes all week to celebrate and to say Thanks to you, you lovely peeps for taking the time to check in and see what I'm at.
If you have any happy haps from this week though, do please let me know, ja?
Loving this, No Church in the Wild, from Kanye and Jay Z. Having featured earlier this year in Safe House it has gone from strength to strength since then.
Understated and very, very catchy.
Have you a tune that's stuck in your noggin this week? Do let me know.
On October 5th of this year, Bryan Mills will look for the kidnappers, he will find them and he will kill them. Again.
If you liked Liamo kicking ass and taking names in the 2008 surprise hit, Taken, (I did) then you'll love this. The premise sees Mills, retired (yeah, right) CIA operative enjoying some down time in Istanbul with his daughter (Maggie Grace) and wife ( Famke Janssen ), that is until the father of one of his daughter's dead kidnappers vows revenge (or revánge as I like to call it) and takes wifey hostage. One man chaos ensues. Thankfully.
I thoroughly enjoyed Taken for it's blatant badassery and unintentional tongue in cheek hilarity so will definitely be checking this one out.
There may be nothing that La Roche Posay as a brand can't counter when it comes to skin issues and complaints. One of my all time Holy Grail products is the miraculous Cicaplast Baume B5, but Effaclar Mat, to me, is more than a solution, it's a wonderful addition to my daily skincare.
Whilst my skin is normal, like the best of us, the warmer weather and my busier schedule toward the end of the school year means my make up is literally melting off my face at every given opportunity. That's where Effaclar Mat has stepped in. It makes several hugely useful promises such as:
Helps neutralize shine for lastingly matte, clear and balanced skin
But for me it has become Optimus Prime, the primer to end all primers. I've been using it under the new YSL Le Teint Touche Éclat first thing in the morning (7am or earlier) and come clocking off time (6pm or later) my make-up is still flawless, absolutely the new foundation plays a part but Effaclar Mat brings it to a whole other level.
My pores are visibly reduced even before my make up glides on, unlike many other silicone based primers (I'm giving you the side eye here, Porefessional), this doesn't roll on my skin or clog my pores. Shine is eliminated effortlessly and continuously. Effaclar Mat lasts all day and removes quickly and cleanly come nightfall.
Priced at €17.25 from all good pharmacies, if you're on the market for a new primer or suffering from a case of the shinies, Effaclar Mat is certainly worth a look. This tube was sent for review but I will be repurchasing along with Cicaplast ad infinitum.
Do you have a favourite primer or, even better, a favourite LRP product?
There are many Summer make up collections making their presence felt over the past couple of weeks. Today I have a look at the Summer offerings from one of the best budget brands on the market. Sun Soaked from NYC.
A simple search on this here blog will make my grá for NYC abundantly clear, the quality of the make up products for very few p is, quite literally, staggering. Their polishes, for only €1.29, could rival any of the top names in nail care and regularly feature in my nail art posts so I was thrilled to receive the new collection for review.
How about some pics and prices, eh?
Stand outs for me have to be the Kohl Kajal Gold, a burnt gold liner that's super flattering on your waterline to give the impression of larger eyes. The polishes (Back Street Brown & Water Street Blue), naturally stand out, but just look at those colours, could there be two more Summer appropriate shades?
Show Time Volumising Waterproof mascara, while not show stopping is a great addition to any swim or holiday bag. The gloss, Jaywalkin' Jam is very Juicy Tube like in flavour and texture but without the ridiculous stickiness. NYC Face Mosaic has been one of my go to bronzers for a long time now so the addition of Sun 2 Sun at the same price to the collection is a real treat.
Truth be told you could buy this entire collection for little over €20, it would make a fabulous holiday or festival make up kit or a very thoughtful pressie for a loved one heading off on their jollies.
If you haven't tried NYC, I'd urge you to do so, if you have, I'd love to know what your favourite is?
There's nothing like seeing your baby sidling into the room with picks of tissue stuck to his face after another shaving mishap to remind you that he's growing up, fast. I tried to delay him shaving as long as I could, insisting that as soon as he started he'd wake up like Rip Van Winkle every morning to an overgrown face but no dice, he was insistent that his peach fuzz was enough to have him mistaken for Grizzly Adams so he started to get his shave on a couple of years back.
Because of my irrational belief that they're still baby faced babies, when in reality they're fully fledged teenage hairballs, I was thrilled to be sent some Total Shaving Solution for them to try out. It's 100% natural and promises to eliminate nicks, cuts, raw skin and razor burn, just what every overprotective Momma wants to hear.
Made using only natural oils and menthol, Total Shaving Solution has changed the way the lads shave and certainly the the look and feel of their skin as a result. Just 3 drops are needed for the perfect face shearing. That's 90 shaves per 10ml and 2 to 3 times the lasting power of normal foam or gel. Kerching! It's an Irish product, hailing from Mayo and comes in 10ml (€5) or 25ml (€10) bottles, ideal for travel and overnight bags.
Now for the good bit, ladies, should you feel the need to buy Total Shaving Solution for the man or hairy teen in your life be sure to throw one in the virtual cart for yourself. 5 drops of this natural menthol oil is enough for one luxurious leg shave. It's perfect for sensitive skin and makes razor burn and redness a thing of the past, even in the most rushed of circumstance.
Total Shave Solution got a 'Life Altering' review from Joe.ie and is getting 6 big thumbs up from Casa Cherry. We're loving it. Totally.
I've seen several tweets over the past week or so looking for gold polish recommendations so I thought I'd show you three of my favourites. Sally Hansen's Gilty Pleasure, Models Own Gold Rush and Essie's Good as Gold. These are, by no stretch of the imagination, the only golds in my collection but they are the ones I reach for most often, so let's have a little look, shall we?
Sally Hansen's Gilty Pleasure (€8.50) is part of the seriously fabulous Complete Manicure range, meaning you need no base or top coat. It's a subtle champagne gold with just a hint of sparkle. It's buildable to a deeper gilt colour but this is how I wear it, two coats and out the door. Flattering and oh so easy to wear.
Models Own (€6 in Republic) is the blingingest in your faciest gold that I have in my possession (so far). This is perfect for bright night out nails or stunning in the sunshine on holidaying tootsies. You can be guaranteed that Gold Rush will get your nails noticed.
Essie's new Mirror Metallics range (€12.99) boasts 5 new silver based metal look polishes. With my love of TopShop bling though, I couldn't justify hoovering up the lot. At €12.99, they're pricey but I couldn't pass Good as Gold. It reminds me a lot of Barry M's 320 Foil but without the gold Tippex finish. This is a beautiful choice for a Wedding nail, be you the Bride or the tipsy guest.
Any of these polishes would suit the Bronze Goddess manicure perfectly, my go to manicure when I'm in a rush (a gold rush)(ho, ho, ho).
Do you have a grá for the goldiness? Got any recommendations for others that I might try?
Two TopShop posts in one day? Can you tell where I did my beauty shopping at the weekend? I had to share this one sooner rather than later though as the compliments are flying for it and it's teal/lime/blue/gold/green iridescent bad ass.
I'll happily hold my hands up and admit that TopShop metallic polishes are my favourite metallics in the whole world, ever. I don't care that the prices are too high in comparison to the UK (£6/€9), I'm not sure anything would stop me buying them. Their opacity and longevity on the nail is second to none, considering the vibrant colour selection they have. I have a well loved and healthy collection of 'em and that collection has grown by 2 this weekend (I have a problem). This is a peek at the first. Eclipse.
Eclipse is a lot greener on the nail than in the bottle but these pictures hardly do it justice. The teal duochrome effect is stunning in the sunlight and each time I admire my pingys, I see another blue/green shade shining through.
It's a little adventurous for an office nail but on the tootsies this Summer? This is a stunner.
Are you a teal/green fan when it comes to polish? Have you been converted to TopShop polishes too?
