Missing You

You took care of me as a baby and looked out for me into my teens. I've known you for twenty six years of my life and I am blessed for each one but it just doesn't seem long enough. 

On a beautiful summers day you thought me how to use a skipping rope in the middle of your kitchen. I can remember the laughter as if it was yesterday. You showed me how to bake fairy buns topped with icing and sprinkles (my obsession with sprinkles had begun!) and you showed me how to get the biscuit base of your delicious lemon cheesecake just right.

I remember the jumper you knitted me for my sixth birthday, it had daisies on the collar and pretty ribbons on the sleeves. I'm sure it took you ages to make and I had no idea or appreciated it at the time but it's a memory that always stuck with me. I want you to know that I loved it.

You had the softest skin which I will always associate with the bottle of Oil of Ulay (Olay) sitting on your dressing table since as far back as I can remember. When I'm visiting mam I always sneak some of hers and it reminds me of you. 

You liked to be called “Nana", nan or nanny just wouldn't do!  Going on the hunt for birthday cards with “Nana” on them was always a funny reminder of this. I went into Hallmark today to pick up a father’s day card and I realised I won’t be buying Nana cards anymore. 

I remember you and granddad took myself and the boys to the Phoenix Park to feed the ducks quite a bit, always making sure we never got too close to the water or ran too far from your sight. We were little terrors and of course never listened. Your poor nerves must have been shot! 

Now you are looking down on us, watching over us. Lots of things have been reminding me of you since you left and there have been a few split second moments when I've forgotten you are no longer with us and I thought to myself "Nana would like this, I must tell her later" Which made me feel bad. I just can't believe you're gone. My heart still aches in sadness and secret tears still flow but I have many happy memories which make me smile also. 

Your memory is my keepsake, with which I'll never part. 

Lot's of love,

Sarah

Elave Campaign with the Irish Cancer Society

Elave is one of my favourite Irish brands that I don't mention often enough and they have started their third campaign in conjunction with the Irish Cancer Society. From May 1st until the end of June €1 from every Elave product with the red sticker (as seen above) will be donated to their Survivorship programme. The programme was set up for people who have recently been diagnosed with Cancer so that they have a chance to meet up with a volunteer who has beaten cancer themselves to talk to them about their experience and offer support to them.

Often treatments for cancer can be severe and in some cases can cause the skin to become more irritated and react harshly to some washing products. Elave products are free from harsh chemicals and are gentle enough for all skin types that it was a no brainer for Elave to work with The Irish Cancer Society on this campaign.

I have used Elave products for well over a year now. I love their Intense moisture Surge, their newly formulated shampoo which is sulphate free and lathers up really well. I wasn't fond of the old formulation because it didn't lather up but the new shampoo and I are inseparable! I also like to use their conditioner and don't leave the house without applying their Daily Skin Defence with SPF 45.

Elave recently got in touch with me to spread the word about their campaign. They have also been very kind enough to sponsor a giveaway for my readers. As recommended by Grazia and myself the Daily skin defence moisturiser SPF45 is perfect for protecting and repairing environmental skin damage. We are finally seeing the sun in Ireland this summer so make sure you are protecting your skin before you head out. Elave have given me six of these to give away, to enter please follow the widget below. I would love you help with spreading the word about this campaign and would appreciate you using the Twitter, Facebook or Google+ buttons below this post to share with your family and friends.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Elave products are available in pharmacies nationwide or online from the Sam Mc Cauley website www.Buy4now.ie. If you are in the UK or elsewhere worldwide you can order online from eChemist.co.uk.
If you need to contact the Irish Cancer Society you can freephone 1800 200 700 or email helpline@irishcancer.ie

Thank you for helping to spread the word.

Love,

Sarah

IsaDora - Sugar Crush Nails Review

You know I love my nail varnish trends and over the past two years we have seen crackle nails, caviar nails, glow in the dark nails, nail stickers...and the list goes on and on! IsaDora are the latest to bring us the next big thing, Sugar Crush nails. The have launched their new textured nail polish range with ten fabulous shades that claim to last up to seven days.

You can purchase any of the ten Sugar Crush polishes from the Blanchardstown, Tallaght, Limerick and Rushmere Debenham stores around the country and in pharmacies nationwide. You are paying for 6ml of product which is free from formaldehyde, camphor, toluene and dibutyl phthalate (DBP). These are major chemicals you don't want to see in your nail polish. They have been linked to cancer, developmental/reproductive toxicity and allergies.


I was very lucky to receive three shades from the new collection at a recent IsaDora event, more about that in a future post my lovelies. I tried on Pink crush and called over two good friends to use as guinea pigs! I probably shouldn't use animal references when talking about testing beauty products! You will be happy to know that IsaDora do not test on animals.

The polish dries matte and an ingredient called Silica is what give Sugar Crush its Sugar like texture. Because of this I did not use a top coat as I felt it would take away from the whole look creating a smooth non matte effect. As you can see from the photo above I got four days wear out of these nails before I had to remove them so I cannot agree with the seven day claim. Perhaps with a top coat you would get more wear from them.

Pink Crush and Turquoise Crush both have large specks of glitter in them where as Pool crush is all matte and much finer. I really liked all three shades and if I had to choose my favourite out of the three I would have to say Pool Crush. Another shade in the collection is Coral Crush which I have my eye on, it is a finer texture like Pool Crush.

I'd love to know what do you think of these Sugar Crush nails?

Love,

Sarah

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