How to Remove Glitter Polish Simply: Glitter Begone with Cutex Moisture Guard!

I’ve said before I’m not a big PIB (Pain in the bum) fan when it comes to polishes and their problems. No more than any of you I’ll wager.

One big PIB issue that perplexes a lot of folks is glitter polishes, well not the polishes themselves but the arduous task of cleaning them off.

I happen to be somewhat of a magpie when it comes to all things glittery, especially polishes, as can be seen in the pic below. Don’t judge me!

Disclaimer: This *may* not be all my glitters

Viva Adonis’ NOTD this very day is a beautiful pink number so I know it’s not just me. Lynnie over on Beaut.ie posted great tips for Christmas glitter removal back in December but I’d like to add my tuppence – well my €3.29 worth.

Not a screed of glitter on 'office nails'

I have never found a remover as adept as Cutex Moisture Guard for removing all types of polish easily and with the quickness, for sparkly numbers especially. Couple of rubs and your nail is as baldy as the day you were born. The smell is not as overbearing as others I’ve tried and this formulation genuinely is moisturising. My nails seem stronger than with previous removers too.

Available in Boots, Superdrug, supermarkets and any other chemist worth it’s salt, this one comes highly recommended for saving time and allowing you to finally buy that ‘have your eye out’ bling polish you’ve been lusting after.

How’s about you lovelies? Any recs for removal?

Movie Fest Day Two Reviews

So, day 2 of Film Fest and the inaugural event itself has come to a close. Wowsers is about as apt a description as I can think of. 

Once more we were treated to three full screenings, one of which a mystery until the opening scenes. All interwoven with sneak peaks, exclusive footage and celebrity introductions taped especially for us.

First up was 30 Minutes or Less from the Diretor of Zombieland, I had high hopes for this one. Basic plot being an average dude (Eisenberg) working in a small town delivering pizzas is kidnapped and forced to commit a bank robbery by two wannabe criminal masterminds, these guys have their eye on an even bigger prize figuring the bank robbery will be fool proof. Nattering Jessie Eisenberg stars and in my opinion won't stand out of the Social Network shadow for some time, there's even a cheeky nod to it included here. Once given several hours to complete this robbery he enlists the help of his recently ex best friend Aziz Ansari. They have to figure out and perpetrate the robbery in very little time, avoiding arrest, a hired assassin and the biggest threat of all strapped to his chest. 

To me this film should have been waaay funnier, I found myself shrugging several times, though the lads were engrossed. There are real moments of hilarity and it finishes on a comedic high, (wait till the end of the credits too), but unfortunately just wasn't for me. There was one stand out here though, Michael Pena having seen him in several good movies I had yet to see his comedic talent. He's definitely one to watch. On the whole a disappointing pass from me but two big blue thumbs up from the boys. 

No mystery screening could have topped Drive from day one Still there were several gasps and a couple of claps when the titles for Final Destination 5 rolled. The boys punching the air and me thinking 'Really?'. If you've seen any of the previous 4 instalments you'll know how this goes, an attractive group of peeps escape disaster and death based on the hunch of one but 'death doesn't like to be cheated' and the following hour and a half sees them picked off in increasingly more horrific and gorified ways. From the outset this was tongue in cheek horror and the viral released before the movie shows you that that was very much intentional. I have to admit this was some of the best 3D I've seen so far, literally In. Your. Face gore. Chocked full of big fat red herrings so that you never see the manner of horrific death coming. 

The entire movie is tense, edge of your seat stuff. FD5 was a huge hit with the audience, laughing right the way through with sudden shouts of 'Nooo' or hands up to faces just in time. I wouldn't have brought the lads to see this by choice but they adored it. Men. My attention was drawn to one character though Miles Fisher, I was convinced he was a Franco, no wait Tom Cruise, hang on, Christian Bale? He's big online for his impression  of Tom Cruise  for the Superhero Movie and was the brain behind the viral above. My advice? If Final Destination is your bag? Get to the cinema for this one, it's the best instalment of the 5 and has 3D that has to be seen to be believed, just go easy on the nachos beforehand. 

There was me thinking that in a year gone mad with remakes, rehashes and plain old re-releases that Cowboys & Aliens  was a truly original idea, two genres clashing. Ehh, no. Aaron has informed me that its based on a series of graphic novels. Either way I wasn't expecting brilliant things. There were mixed reviews from the Dublin preview last week (I'm looking at you Ray Foley) so I went in with no preconceived notions. Well, I really, really enjoyed it. Daniel Craig hamming it up as the town's baddest guy with a case of amnesia and a new bracelet with enough force to save the world, maybe. Harrison Ford playing the misunderstood bad guy and big, bad aliens trying to whip them and their kin on board their ships for unknown purposes. This is 'switch your brain off' movie territory, do that and I think you'll really like it too. The score reminded me a lot of the music from August Rush, which I loved. Olivia Wilde, while playing a ridiculous character plays it very well. 

This movie is unpretentious and at times intentionally cheesy with comic effect. I've heard critics say this was too unrealistic, Eh, folks, it has ALIENS in the title! How realistic did you expect it to be? We got an introduction from Jon Favereau himself, who has also directed Iron Man, which I think was a nice touch. If you like your movies outlandish and can make peace with the fact that the aliens are 'unrealistic' you'll love this one. 

We were spoiled for choice for clips, sneak peaks and exclusive footage on day two: 

Straw Dogs, James Marsden, Kate Bosworth & Alexander Skargard need I say any more?

The Amazing SpiderMan We also got exclusive footage & the new villain was revealed!! (Anyone guess who it is?)

Dark Knight Rises We got an extended trailer too that told us absolutely NADA!

Puss in Boots The audience were treated to 13 minutes of this footage and, if thats any representation, this is going to be HILARIOUS!

Total Recall Hugely anticipating this one, our phones were confiscated because we were shown unfinished, unedited footage. It will blow the original out of the water! Coddle introduced this himself and proved once more that when he's not acting he's shy & unassuming (or maybe he was acting?) Loving his work.  

Hansel and Gretel Could find nothing on this one to share with you, trust me, it looks great. 

I'll finish on that note, there were so many more clips and peaks, this is just the tip of the movie iceberg. There is no doubt we are in for some real cinema gems over the coming year. 

Overall favourites of the Fest? For me it has to be Drive, I've already downloaded several of the songs and will be there on opening night to see this again. The boys were in agreement with each other with Fright Night coming out top. 

Huge thanks has to go to Movies.ie and Cineworld for allowing us the opportunity to be part of this weekend and congratulations on a fantastic event. Here's hoping this is the first of many years to follow. 

Anything from day one or two exciting you yet? 

Movie Fest Day Uno Reviews

Day one of Movie Fest is a wrap and we're officially pooped. It has to be handed to Movies.ie and CineWorld for pulling this off. Judging by the scramble for the last few seats and the stuffed goody bags by 10.15 this morning, word spread fast. We've already secured our tickets for tomorrow, fortunately for us, as it sold out during the week. 

First up we had  Fright Night a remake of the 1985 Horror, starring this time Colin Farrell (Coddle Farddle), Anton Yelchin, David Tennant and Toni Colette. This film, to me, was Disturbia with teeth. A teenage lad's obsession with a neighbour he knows is up to no good. This time the neighbourino is a vampire, no less. We saw the 3D version, which I found very dark but the lads seemed to love. Fright Night really didn't try too hard and that's why I liked it, switching quickly from laugh out loud to genuinely frightening. I'm convinced that had anybody else attempted the role of Coddle they would come off as Ham, maybe Ham & Cheese but Mr Farrell just made it work. He commanded the screen with comic timing and micro expressions of the seasoned Hollywood professional he has become. 


Christopher Mintz Plasse also making an appearance, still riding high on his role as Red Mist in Kick Ass, this kid is naturally funny and proves as much, once more, on this outing. David Tennant as the Las Vegas magician and self confessed vampire killer appeared at first as an homage to Russell Brand but quickly came into his hilarious own. All in all I'm not sure I would send you running out to see this one, while I genuinely enjoyed it I might suggest waiting for the DVD. The Lads disagree entirely, according to them you need to see this with immediateness. If you fancy a cinema trip, you can't go far wrong with this one.

Following this we were treated to clip upon clip, sneak peak upon exclusive footage and a specially recorded intro from the Master himself Guillermo del Toro. We were given a taste of some serious blockbusters here, notably The Avengers probably the one I'm most excited about. Haywire and from Jo Nesbo with the delectable Nikolaj Coster-Waldau (Jaime Lannister), Headhunters. 

And so to our Mystery Screening, the compare's announcement of Smurfs 3D was met with a collective groan, his 'Eh, I'm joking!' with relieved laughter and appreciative applause. 

Drive 
Open scenes of Los Angeles with Ryan Gosling speaking, enjoy this as he doesn't do much of it for the duration. The premise has Gosling working as a stunt driver and part time grease monkey but also picking up a heist or two. Offering five minutes of his time for the job, no more, no less then expertly driving to escape. 

From scene one this film is beautiful, pounding, at times genuinely terrifying and as good an action thriller as you're likely to see for quite a while. The soundtrack, based in techno but reaching so far beyond that is haunting at times but never less than a perfect fit. This is my first time in a long while to wonder how soon I can get the CD soundtrack only 10 minutes in.

Carey Mulligan plays the neighbour, a young mother to a cute kid whose father is inside. Gosling's on screen chemistry with Mulligan is electric, only using words when absolutely necessary, every movement carefully thought out and every emotion hidden. This makes the horrific violence that much more shocking when it happens. Gosling is as effortlessly cool as he is truly frightening. Scenes are shot with dramatic and voyeuristic angles, seeing character's actions and reactions in mirrors or from an awkward angle as if you are realistically part of the conversation. A genuinely absorbing movie with real character involvement. I'm not even mentioning car chases to rival Bullitt or The Bourne Identity at its best.

Some scenes have echoes of a superhero at work, a man with morals and a dogged determination to protect what he loves at all costs. When a heist goes disastrously wrong you can almost hear the cogs turn as Gosling attempts to set things right. With moments of true tenderness in stark contradiction to cover your eyes terror, this film is like no other I've seen. From a girls point of view, there's a kiss that would blow Spidey's upside down socks off followed immediately by the most horrific, in your face, murder I've ever witnessed on the silver screen. Incredible.

A collaboration between Gosling himself and Danish Director Nicolas Winding Refn and based on the novel by James Sallis, Drive is an instant classic. Receiving wide acclaim at the Cannes Film Festival it is truly frightening, flawless and beautiful, I want to see this again. And again. And again.

Final screening of the day was Change Up, have to admit I wasn't looking forward to this one. I'm not a big Ryan Reynolds fan, there I said it! He plays himself in every movie, I'm wholly convinced if he were made of chocolate he'd nom off every chocolatey digit and lick his cartoony lips for effect. 

This film saw the body swap formula trotted out like a show pony that's only fit for the glue factory. Again with the body swap? Seriously? Wait for it... I was pleasantly, comically surprised! These guys made it work. Jason Bateman acts his pants off in this to hilarious effect. There are scenes with the babys, so outrageous that they had to be watched through fingers. Even Reynolds wasn't cringe inducing, no mean feat. 

This film has heart, profanity, plenty of boobs and the stunning Olivia Wilde, funny, intelligent and a lover of the Emerald Isle? What's not to girl schwing over? If you want a funny night out this is a safe bet. Don't be put off by the rehashed formula as this production has some real originality. 

Phewwweee, that was a long post, does anything grab your interest? 

I'm leaba bound now as we're up bright and early for day 2 of Movie Fest. Tune in tomorrow for the low down. 

Best in Beaut.ie Awards 2011

If you're not currently residing under a rock you'll know that the inaugural Best in Beaut.ie Awards was held lastnight in the uber stylish Dylan Hotel. They were the brainchild and beauty baby of the lovely McDermott sisters over at Beaut.ie, or the 'Evil Geniuses' as MC last night Karen Koster from Xposé referred to them. 

The main reason these awards are so relevant is that they're reader voted. 100%. Over 70,000 votes, over two rounds and in 48 categories were whittled and compiled until the eventual winners announced. No PR or Marketing influence allowed so you can be sure these are tried, tested and genuinely loved products before you part with your hard earned Eurits/Paaaands. 

Delighted to be in attendance, and dressed as close to the nines as we could get, we were met by a plethora of beautiful West Coast Cooler babes, who proceeded to keep our glasses topped up with bubbles. Tasty, tasty West Coast Cooler bubbles. That and the fact that I spent the night gabbing to the beautiful people and laughing till my jaw ached means my pics are minimal and have been kindly donated by Kirstie from their facebook page where there's loads more info. 

Delicious, all of 'em

So who won? There were several surprises, namely for me that Moroccan Oil didn't place with Aussie Shampoo making it to the top spot. The best zit zapper? Sudocrem! I've been using it for years, so no shocker there. Even your trusty face cloth made an appearance. A full list of winners is available here and the girls have made the genius decision to include the five best in each category so if one brand doesn't suit your skin type or your purse weight, you have options. 

As I've said it was a genuinely enjoyable night. A testament to the Mc Dermott sisters work on their site that they have such a close knit blathering community. I'd like to wish them continued success, though it doesn't get a lot more successful. It was so good to put faces to Twidder avatars too, some of those fab ladies have put together their own posts on the event Do yo'self a favour and take a looksie!

Fluff & Fripperies

John, It's Only Makeup!

The Makeup Fairy

Books versus Kindle?

I have to start this post with a shout out to my eldest Broseph. He and his lovely wife gave me this fantastic pressie on my last birthday. Actually before my last birthday. As a surprise. Which led to appreciative tears in the Post Office car park and consequent mortification, but we won’t go into that.

So 6 months on what say I? 
There are very few places I go now without this piece of kit. It fits perfectly into any handbag and the battery life means I’m rarely searching for the charger. Friends have been spared my wrath for being late to meetups or colleagues to meetings because that’s now valuable reading time. (The final in the series of Song and Ice and Fire at present seen as we’re sharing). The fact that it boasts free 3G also means that as soon as a book is recommended or a review is posted I can download a sample free of charge. No more draft texts or scrawled notes of Author or title reminders. If the book is not available yet I can pre order as I did with the current book and on the morning of release it pops up, ready for attention. No camping outside Waterstone’s for me. No, Siree.

'Well, I'm Team Jacob, Mary, you?'

The rate at which I go through books has, in the past, led to explosions of paperbacks all over the house. Having enjoyed the book too much to give to charity, though it will never be read again or having been too averse to public transport to re gift it to a fellow passenger as the Book Crossing movement suggests. The Kindle has sorted that. I can still loan books to anyone that has a Kindle, which I have done with d’Mammy. A fantastic feature. And the house is now clutter free (ish).

I’ve always read in bed or while stretched on a sun lounger on holliers, larger books lead to arm ache and constant turning to get comfortable, resulting of course with your best crocodile death roll in the sheets or not a scrap of sun on your fizzog. Changing pages on the kindle is a one touch button which can be held in one hand. Genius.

You may have gleaned from the above that, I’m a fan, a huge fan. There are, however, one or two niggles. The majority of Kindle books are counted in percentages and not page numbers, this isn’t a huge deal but when I’m reading I prefer to judge whether or not to finish a chapter or to gauge my progress. One book can end on 88% while another will go to 99%. This only dawned on me while wondering why it took 2 weeks, full pelt, to read the first 3 books in a series only to see them on the shelf of Eason’s and realise they were Monsters! The only other issue being, when I’m reading a book I sometimes like to flick back. To reread a paragraph or clarify a point, that’s not so easy when every page looks exactly the same. Again, this is a personal thing, not everyone has weird reading habits as I do and this could go unnoticed.

All in all, I wouldn’t be without the Kindle. I recommend it with a genuine passion to all that will listen. While I love it for books and blogs alike there are also those who use it to read graphic novels. The technology is versatile and constantly improving.

Also, anything that means you never have to lick your thumb again has to be a good thing, right?