January 2016 Favourites

I am sure that I am not alone in this - I absolutely hate January! I have no money left after Christmas, I have chocolate withdrawals after selection box breakfast over the Christmas and I have had my eyes glued to the calendar waiting for days to go by an February to arrive.  
Despite all that there have been a few things that I have loved this month and I thought I would share my first monthly favourite - January 2016! 

Voluspa Candle - Chestnut & Vetiver 

My boyfriend very kindle bought my a six scent selection of these candles for Christmas which I am trying my very best to save up for when we FINALLY move into our house this year (fingers crossed), but I picked myself up the large version of the Chestnut & Vetiver half price in House of Fraser Dundrum and I am obsessed with it! Not only in the gold glass jar gorgeous, the scent it out of this world, it smells like melted toffee. I am trying so hard not to burn out the entire thing as I'll be heartbroken when it's gone. If you can get your hands on this candle I highly suggest you pick it up! 

Healthy Lifestyle App - Lifesum

I am really trying to continue the healthy routine I started in 2015 and my sister recommend the Lifesum app and I am addicted to it. This app helps you customise a diet plan with your personal goal in mind. What I like about this food diary is that it doesn't just focus on calories, but it focus on the nutritional balance of each meal. Each item of food item and meal is graded on a health scale (A,B,C,D or nil) and you will them receive an overall health grade - so if you under eat you are penalized for not using your daily allowance of calories. I really think that this is a great app for promoting healthy eating and I am now on a mission to reach healthy A's each day. 

The Lo-cal Kitchen, The Phoenix Park Racecourse, Dublin 15.

On my healthy lifestyle kick I have also loved my trips to the Lo-cal Kitchen in The Phoenix Park Racecourse which have the most amazing low calorie, nutritious and delicious menu - especially breakfast. My favourite is the super salmon which is smoked salmon on brown bread with low fat cream cheese, avocado and poached eggs. Delicious!! 

Snapchat! 

I've always liked Snapchat and watching my friends funny clips but I recently started watching some bloggers on Snapchat and it is so addictive I could watch them all night! Also as I mention in my last post I am also trying to start snapping a little bit here and there but I am still very new and very nervous with it, but like everything I will get used to it and I'm sure I'll be addicted to snapping in now time! 

My favourite top 5 Snapchatters to watch:

* cartermarissa - Marissa's voice is so relaxing!! 

*daintydressdiaries - Catherine's house is amazing, it's like a doll's house.

* justjordanblog - I'm very late to the party here I just started watching her & I love her snaps.

*jamespatrice - his poor mother LOL!

*self_improver  - I love Maria's blog and healthy lifestyle tips :) 

I love so many more snapchatters but they are always my first five to load and watch! 

Making A Murderer 

Well I am not alone here, I think anyone with Netflix had an addiction to 'Making A Murderer' this January. It is such a gripping story that had me up all night watching "just one more episode". If there is by any chance anyone who hasn't watch it yet, make it your mission to do so as it is a must watch. 

Only a few little bits, but as I was broke for the month there was no shopping LOL! 

Hopefully my February Favourites will be a little fuller :)

Amy xx 

Snapchat Happy

One of my New Year’s resolutions for my blog for this year was to bite the bullet and join in on the Snapchat craze - and I know I am very late to the game! 

I was apprehensive to begin with as I really didn’t think anyone would be interested in seeing daily snaps of my boring life! But I get out and about a little so I thought I would just go for it! 

Now as you might guess from my blogs, my snaps are also not that exciting but I do go out for meals (a lot), I go shopping (a lot) and sometimes I get to doll myself up and go on a night out - I thought it might be a bit of fun to snap a little of my life. 

Meals Out: 

Home Decor & Shopping:

Sometimes...just sometimes its not just homeware :) 

I am really enjoying Snapchat and I would love a few new followers, and of course to follow a few more people so please feel free to add me! 

Happy Snapping!!
Amy :) 

Tk Maxx Obsession - Homeware Haul

To say that I am obsessed with Tk Maxx would be an understatement – I have a problem!

I actually have to limit my visits to once a month (pay day of course) and I need a chaperone with me as left alone in the store I am dangerous.

Recently I have had a few too many visits and my bank account is a little worse for wear but my bottom drawer (I’ll explain in another post) is looking good!

Check out what I have found in my favourite shop of hidden designer treasures! 

Kate Spade Books:

I was so excited to find these books in a Tk Maxx store last week - my Christmas present to myself. I have wanted to start a collection of coffee table books and I thought that these books were perfect - I love the cover, the content and the colours. 

All In Good Taste was €16 which is all about how to be the perfect hostess at a dinner party and Places To Go, People to See was €24 and is full of beautiful travel pictures and tips. 

Jamie Oliver Cutlery: 

I love Jamie Oliver's kitchen range and I have had my eye on his cutlery sets for a while. I decided to go with the 24 piece Modern Classic design which €39.99 (I bought two boxes). 

Rope Detailed Mirror:

I couldn't leave the store without this mirror! I have seen several designer versions of this mirror and for €26.99 it had to be mine! 

Cookbook Stand and Leon Cook Book:

I have started a collection of Leon Cook Books from Tk Maxx as the were such good value, I love the recipes inside and I also adore the colourful covers. I have several of these books are they are around €17 each. The grey cookbook stand was around €10. 

Copper Birdcage Lampshade:

Another item I could leave the store without - my birdcage lampshade! I love it, my other half hates it - but it will be in our house ha! Again, I have seen very similar lampshades with very different price tags, as this lampshade was missing a bird I walked away with it for €20.

Alice In Wonderland Book: 

Another coffee table book for my collection. I think its pretty pink cover will look lovely on a coffee table or on a bookshelf. This book was €9.99.

Hammered Silver Lamp:

I have been in a search for a big silver lamp for so long! My mam's friend has one which I have admired for so long and I was on a mission to find one of my own. I found a few but they were a little out of my price range, but this silver shining beauty was only €36.99 and I love it! 

Rusty Heart Mirror:

I had originally seen this mirror for €50 in Tk Maxx when I didn't have my wallet with me and when I came back it was gone - insert sad face. A few weeks later I found one hidden and marked at €34.99, it was faith. This mirror will take pride and place in my bedroom - when it's finally built that is! 

So that's a FEW of my Tk Maxx favourite buys, believe me there's more and there will be more so keep an eye out for more hauls! 

Enjoy, 

Amy x

Hello 2016

2016, you are very most welcome into my life!

2015 was an emotional roller coaster of a year – not the worst I’ve had but it certainly had its tough moments.

Down moments being we were refused our mortgage, we had to change our architect three times and paid hundreds in fees which seem to show us nothing and we had a few health scares in the family just to name a few stressful moments.

On the upside I was made permanent in my dream job after 6 years of hard work and study, my best friend had a beautiful baby girl and we found an engineer who completely transformed our house plans for the better and managed to save us nearly €50k!!! Myself and himself visited some beautiful places this year, London, Sorrento and Capri and I’m excited to travel more in 2016.

I have never been so excited for an arrival of a New Year and a new chapter of my life as I have hopes that myself and my other half will finally get a chance to begin our dreams which we have been working so hard for the last 3 years – building our first home together!

Our journey of building our first home together has been nothing short of heart breaking! We have saved for a long time, put a lot of hard work into all the plans and finding the right people to work with on the build, we put thousands into getting planning permission and we nearly lost the entire build, but we never lost hope that we would build our dream home and future together!

I had hoped that by now we would be living in our home, but unfortunately the banks had other ideas! So I am now a woman on a mission – no matter what now I am determined that we will be living in our perfect house for Christmas 2016. Watch the space!!

And with that Chic & Cheerful will finally take shape and will no longer be a social media outlet for me to just share ideas I love. The page and my blog will fulfill its purpose and will document our journey – bringing you all along the way!

I hope you all enjoy my emotional roller coaster of 2016!

Happy New Year, Good Health, Wishes and Dreams to you all!

Amy xx