Open Letter to my fellow Exam Students ❤️

Dear fellow exam students,

Tomorrow we kick start the dreaded State exams (AKA the Leaving and Junior Cert). If you are not Irish then I will explain briefly what is involved. 

The Junior Cert is a set of roughly 10-13 exams that you do following your first three years of secondary school. For my own JC I studied: English, maths, Irish, Spanish, Italian, geography, history, C.S.P.E, business, music, and science. Three whole years of your life are spent studying for a set of written, oral, and practical exams, that you are then told "are not worth the paper they are printed on!". Motivating right! 

The Leaving Cert is the amplified version of the JC. This time you undertake roughly 8 exams for another three years. My LC subjects are: English, maths, Irish, Spanish, biology, business, music, and LCVP. We are then tested on 3-4 years of knowledge on the subjects  in a series of exams that average at around three hours in length. Throughout the course of the LC we are trying to build up 'points'. The better the result in the exam, the higher the number of points that you receive. Colleges in Ireland are built up around these points. Each course sets out it's points value. If you do not get sufficient points for a course, it is unlikely that you will be able to do that course. However, the ultimate killer is that you have to wait almost two months to find out how you did in your exams! TWO WHOLE MONTHS!

Overall, I believe that there is too much emphasis put on the Leaving Cert exams and the points system. We, as students, are lead to believe that you are a failure if you do not succeed in the State exams. This is not only demoralizing for the student that is not strong academically, but it also allows them to believe that they will never amount to anything unless they walk away from the exam with 400-500 points in the bag! 

The Leaving Cert is a stepping stone in life. It does not define you as a person! The most important thing is that you reach your own maximum potential, whether that is getting 100 or 600 points in August. 

I am an average student myself! Music and Irish are my strong subjects, so I tend to do quite well in them. Maths and business are my weaker subjects, so I am lucky if I scrape a pass at times. However, I am not exerting an excess amount of pressure onto myself regarding these exams. Of course I want to do well. Don't we all! But I am not going to allow a set of exams set out my future. I will do the best that I can do!

After the exams are done and dusted we will all reflect on the time we wasted worrying and stressing and cringe at how pointless it all was. At the end of the day, if there is something you really want to do in life, nothing will stop you. Not even the Leaving Cert! 

Finally, I would like to wish all of you doing the Junior Cert the best of luck! And to all of you fellow Leaving Cert students: It's not the end of the world! Here is to June 18th!!!

                                                                  Ciara Mol :) xxx

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We Made Grá the Law ❤️

A VERY happy Sunday!

Yesterday, Saturday the 23rd of May, Ireland made history! We became the first country in the world to legalize marriage equality by popular vote! 

I, along with over 1.2 million people, voted in favour of the Irish marriage referendum which captured the hearts of so many both here in Ireland and abroad! I am extremely proud to have been a part of this momentous occasion in Irish history! We as a nation made Grá the Law! 

The overall voting turnout was recorded at 60.52%, with a valid poll of  1,935,907 votes. An astounding 1,201,607 votes were in favour of the referendum, with 734,300 against! That is a majority vote of 467,307! 

It was beyond important for me to have my voice heard in this life-changing referendum. I have both friends and family who are part of the LGBT community, and I strongly believe that they deserve to have their marriages recognized legally in Ireland, along with having the rights and entitlements of a married couple! 

I was also ecstatic to see the volume of Irish citizens living abroad who made the journey home to Irish shores in order to vote! Thousands upon thousands returned home to make a difference in society, which I was completely blown away by! Well done to anyone who was #HomeToVote

Finally, I just want to congratulate anyone who did Vote Yes! It was YOU who changed the lives of so many people, for the better! Furthermore, congratulations are in order for all of those who can now officially be married in Ireland, regardless of sexual orientation! ❤️

The turnout at Dublin Castle yesterday, awaiting the official declaration!

 Here is the moment that the official declaration was made to the crowd at Dublin Castle! Click on the video to watch!

The official declaration at Dublin Castle

                                                   Ciara Mol :) xxx

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Summer Essentials ❤️

It's Friiidaaaay!
The Summer holidays are fast approaching! If you are heading abroad to soak up some Vitamin D, or planning a 'staycation' now is the time to be getting your paws on some necessities! I am going to compile for you, a list of things that you should consider packing to be Summer ready at all times! 




Sunscreen
Sunscreen is a MUST for the summer season! It is advised that sun protection is worn daily, regardless of whether or not the sun is visible! Sunscreen protects the skin from the damage caused by the sun's UV rays, such as wrinkling, sagging and the leather effect, along with skin cancer! 

For more information on sunscreen, click here!







Water
It is extremely important to keep hydrated, especially if you are in an area of severe heat! Carry a bottle of water around with you to keep away thirst and to maintain a healthy level of hydration. You could also spice things up and try different flavours, such as:

• Strawberry infused water
• Lemon infused water
• Cucumber infused water

Sunglasses

Don't even dream of going on holidays without a pair of 'sunnies'. You will burn the eyes out of yourself! I have spotted some gorgeous pairs of sunglasses around recently. Here are some of my favourites:

Forever 21 - €5.90

Missguided - €8.40

River Island - €17.00

Beach Bag

Everybody needs a beach bag! You HAVE to have somewhere to put all of your other essentials! You can pick up a beach bag almost anywhere! Primark(Penney's) and Tesco(F&F) almost always have a gorgeous stock of small to extra large beach bags! Unfortunately, Primark does not yet have a website to shop from, so you will have to pop in store to have a look. 

Swimwear

I am loving this season's array of swimwear that is being sold on the high-street! I am heading to Tenerife in July for a girly getaway, so I am in search of some affordable, yet glamorous bikinis! Here are a few sites that have caught my eye:

• Missguided
• Forever 21
• Dunnes Stores
• Boohoo.com

Waterproof Makeup

If you are going to be sitting out by the pool or sea all day, then waterproof makeup is the way to go! Maybelline and Rimmel carry an amazing line of waterproof cosmetics. 

So, I hope I didn't miss out anything! These are some of the things that I will be packing for my holliers in July! I hope this helped any of you 'holiday-goers'!

                                              

                                                             Ciara Mol xxx :) 

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STOP Body-Shaming! ✌

Hey guys,

I'm taking a break from my Leaving Cert study to do a quick post on something I spotted on Twitter a few nights ago that really and truly upset me. 

Some of you may have seen it. Some of you may have not. What I am referring to is the unsettling body-shaming of actress/singer Selena Gomez. 

Following recent pictures of Gomez in a bikini emerging on the internet, certain individuals began criticizing the twenty-two year old for her apparent 'weight-gain'. Some people even went as far as to refer to Gomez as being 'disgusting'. I was overwhelmed with a sense of frustration at some of the cruel jibes being made, implying that she was 'fat'. 

Personally, I think that Selena Gomez looks gorgeous regardless of what size or weight she may be. Furthermore, the aftermath of this kind of 'trolling' may result in a damaging effect on the self-esteem of not only Gomez, but on her following of young women and men around the world! 

I can't comprehend why people think it is remotely okay to 'body-shame' another human being, whether it is suggesting they are 'fat', or 'anorexic', or anything in between. It is bullying! IT IS WRONG! It needs to STOP! 

These childish attacks on the internet, or in person, can affect a person in more ways than you may know. As my mother always says: "If you don't have anything nice to say, don't say anything at all!". 

I was pleased to see that Gomez didn't let the media circus prevent her from enjoying her vacation, as she later posted this fabulous image to Instagram with the caption: "I love being happy with me yall #theresmoretolove "

Remember guys: Don't let anyone tell you: how you should look; how you should feel; what you should wear; who you should love; what you should do. Just be yourself! Once YOU are happy, that's all that truly matters! 

Goodnight guys!

xxx

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Face Masking It ❤️

Hello lovelies,
I have a little beauty post for you guys today! I am a major fan of face masks as you probably already know. They are the perfect treat for your skin every week. They are quick and easy to apply and the benefits are plentiful. Personally, I love the face masks that you can buy in the drugstore or chemist as they are cheap and cheerful. There is no fuss and you are left with more or less the same results as the more expensive brands.

Following this week, I felt that my skin looked a bit dull and tired - along with some typical teenage-skin breakouts. So what other way to sort that out than to whip out a face mask and treat my face to some TLC. 

Firstly, I cleansed my skin with my usual cleanser and a damp cotton pad. Then I began to apply the face mask - this took me about 2-3 minutes. Then I just sat back and relaxed for 15 minutes and let the mask work its magic on my exhausted skin. After about 15 minutes I rinsed the mask off with some lukewarm water and patted my face dry with a dry face-cloth.  

BEFORE

DURING

MASK USED

AFTER

My face looks so much brighter and feels so much fresher and comfortable! My breakout has even become less aggressive due to the aloe vera in the mask. 

What's your favourite face masks to use? Let me know! 

If you have any questions don't be afraid to ask.

Until next time lovelies :) 

xxx

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My Best Dressed from The Grammy's 2015 ❤️

Evening peoples!

As you all know, Awards Season is in full swing! Last night was the turn of the much awaited 57th Annual Grammy Awards at the Staples Centre in LA! It was, as per usual, a star-studded event with some 'jaw-droppingly' gorgeous looks! Here are some of my faves from the night!

Gwen Stefani

Hozier

Katy Perry

Sam Smith

Sia & Maddie Ziegler

Taylor Swift

Zendaya

So what do you guys think? Who was your best dressed from the night? It was so hard to pick just a handful of looks because there was so many amazing overall styles this year! Let me know what you think!


                                                                 Until next time guys ;) 
                                                                                 xxx

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Benefits of drinking Green Tea ❤️

Good evening peoples!

I'm baaack!! So, the last few weeks have been pretty hectic! I am currently suffocating under a ton of school books, refill-pads and notes, TRYING to study for my Leaving Cert Mocks (which are not exactly going too well). Due to all of these late night and early morning cramming sessions I have been surviving on some seriously strong coffee! However, the sky-high caffeine intake is causing some major insomnia. Therefore, I have switched the coffee for a healthier option - Green Tea! 


Green Tea is recognized for its refreshing taste and association to several health benefits! Here are a list of 5 benefits that I wanted to share with you:

1. Hydration - Green Tea is brilliant for hydrating the body. One cup of tea can be a replacement for one of your 8 glasses of water daily. 
2. Stress Reduction - 5 or 6 cups of decaffeinated green tea daily can reduce stress and produce a calming effect due to the presence of Theanine.
3. Wrinkle Prevention - The antioxidants present in Green Tea reduce the likelihood of getting wrinkles (BONUS)
4. Aids Weight Loss - Green Tea, in conjunction with a balanced diet can aid weight loss and help you maintain a healthy weight
5. Immunity Boost - Drinking green tea regularly can help boost your immune system, making you less prone to bacterial and viral infections (due to the presence of catetchins)
6. Rids Body of Excess Fluids - Drinking green tea regularly produces a diuretic effect (promotion of the production of urine) which rids unwanted excess fluids from the body, which in turn provides a slimming effect (WIN WIN). Furthermore, you will look and feel a whole lot better as you are not carrying around that extra fluid. 

My Favourites: 

• Twinings Pure Green Tea (Tesco)
• Knightsbridge Green Tea with Lemon (Lidl)
• Bootea Teatox (Bootea.com)

Tip: Instead of using a new teabag for every cuppa, try using the same teabag twice or even three times by just refilling your cup with boiling water. I try to drink 4 -6 cups of Green Tea daily to maximize the benefits listed above (It could also just be because I'm Irish!)

                                        Hope this inspires you to have a cuppa! ;) 

                                                                          xxx

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Skincare Faves ❤️

Happy Friday peoples!

So it's a Beauty post from me today! I want to show you guys some of the skincare products I use and love. Your skin deserves to be looked after so why not use products that will give you the best possible results. 

 I don't use all of these products everyday, but I do use them often during the week. 

Keep reading to find out where I purchased these products, and how often I use them! :) 

Have a look below:

Soap& Glory - Facial Peel
Boots, Crescent Shopping Centre.
(Once a week)

Clearasil - Face Wash
Boots, Childers Rd.
(Every second morning)

Simple - Radiance Cream
Boots, Crescent Shopping Centre.
(Every morning)

No7 - Brush Cleaner
Boots, Childers Rd.
(Once a week)

Collin Resultime - Vitamin C Peeling Mask
Revas Spa, Adare.
(3 evenings a week)

Collin Resultime - Cleansing Cream
Revas Spa, Adare.
(When removing makeup)

No7 - Purifying Mask
Boots, Crescent Shopping Centre.
(Twice a week)

No7 - Daily Skincare Set
Boots, Crescent Shopping Centre.
(Everyday & Every night)

What are your fave skincare products? Do you use any of these products? Let me know! If you have any questions, feel free to contact me - details below! ;)

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Trend: Dungarees ❤️

Hello,
Sorry about the lack of posting in the last week. School has had me up the walls! So I would like to thank my friend Zoe for helping me with this post on a fabulous, trendy piece - dungarees. Dungarees are an ultra-fashionable, super-comfy, casual/glam choice of clothing that I am desperate to get my paws on! With the help of Zoe, I have picked out some of my fave dungarees from some great high-street stores.

Boohoo.com - €40.00

Boohoo.com - €50.00

         

                Boohoo.com - €20.00

River Island - €24.00

River Island - €18.00

ASOS - €42.86

So these are just a few of some of the gorgeous styles and designs of dungarees out there that I came across! There are well worth the investment in my opinion! Hope you like :) 

                                                                          xxx  

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