#basicbylily

As we are still in lockdown we are obviously spending more time than usual in our homes and for me I have started noticing all the little bits that I could use around the house and having little ideas about some decor things so I have been in a decor mood lately. As I am only renting I restricted from doing a full re-do of my apartment because were not allowed to hang pictures, paint, etc so I can only really get decor pieces and the essentials like storage and the basic essentials. I am getting very into storage boxes and jars thanks to Stacey Solomen’s Instagram account where she does really nice little DIY pieces made from old bits she has lying around, has really great storage ideas and just has a really nice home decor style and tricks even though its just a hobby she has!

What prompted this post is because Himself bought a new television recently and it triggered me changing up the TV table which led to me wanting to re-organise everything in the house! One thing that I have decided I need is a bread bin or bread box as I just have it in the cupboard at the moment and it takes space away so I am on the hunt for one and while hunting I came across some really nice bits. They are mostly from H&M Home as they have some really nice things in but there are other brands here too.

https://www2.hm.com/en_ie/productpage.0771115017.html

https://www2.hm.com/en_ie/productpage.0666269001.html

https://www2.hm.com/en_ie/productpage.0624793011.html

https://www2.hm.com/en_ie/productpage.0810676001.html

https://www.zarahome.com/ie/kitchen/cooking-utensils/wooden-mortar-c1020261507p301491424.html?ct=true

https://www.marksandspencer.com/ie/worded-powder-coated-storage-bread-bin/p/hbp60142581?color=IVORY

https://www2.hm.com/en_ie/productpage.0705693001.html

https://www2.hm.com/en_ie/productpage.0822164001.html

https://www2.hm.com/en_ie/productpage.0594277001.html

https://www.zarahome.com/ie/dining/glassware/view-all/crystalline-wine-glass-with-gold-rim-c1020261540p301491615.html?ct=true

https://www.made.com/bendt-x15-bottle-wine-rack-copper

https://www.zarahome.com/ie/dining/glassware/view-all/cone-shaped-glassware-c1020261540p301382193.html?ct=true

https://www2.hm.com/en_ie/productpage.0730576001.html

https://www.zarahome.com/ie/kitchen/cooking-utensils/glass-airtight-container-(1-l)-c1020261507p301488319.html?ct=true

https://www2.hm.com/en_ie/productpage.0811211001.html

https://www.zarahome.com/ie/kitchen/textiles-and-accessories/see-all/storage-jar-c1020281008p301485643.html?ct=true

https://www2.hm.com/en_ie/productpage.0749972001.html

https://chickidee.co.uk/collections/cutlery/products/camden-matte-black-cutlery-set-x1

Ironically there is only one bread bin here but there are some great storage food boxes and jars available here. I love the fact they are glass as Im trying to keep all boxes, jars etc free from plastic just to reduce the amount of plastic I use and also the glass is easier to clean as some food stains it and some germs stay buried deep into the tiny ridges in plastic surfaces even though they have been thoroughly washed and also less plastic is good for the environment! I do have glass cereal jars and pasta jars but I am looking for a good spaghetti jar and this one from Zara home is such a good size for that! It is available in three different sizes too so you can find the size for what you need.

I am obsessed with these two types of wine glasses from Zara Home. I have gold rimmed tumbler glasses which I bought in Tk Maxx (I dont know the brand unfortunately as they were all individual in-store with only the Tk Maxx sticker) and even though I have wine glasses from Ikea I love the idea of them all matching. Ideally I would have the tumblers, white wine glasses, red wine glasses, prosecco / champagne glasses all matching with the gold rim. I don’t even really drink but I like to prepared for guests especially around Christmas and during the Summer for those Sunny Summer nights out. I also love the matching style gold edge plates from H&M which would make for a very chic set up for occasions and with the pink linen napkin too it would be a very cute table theme. The napkin is available in a few different colours too so definitely take a look if the pink doesn’t really work for you!

I cannot wait until this lockdown is over and I go on a proper hunt for some nice homeware bits and I can check places like Pennys and Tk Maxx who don’t really operate online as they have all their stock in-store which varies from store to store especially with Tk Maxx. Hopefully we can all go about our lives as normal soon and be reunited with family and friends and get back to doing the little things like browsing the shops and just popping out for a coffee as well as being able to go on nights out and go back to work and I think after this we will appreciate all these things a little bit more than we did before.

I hope you are all staying safe x

          *As always this post is not sponsored/affliliated/paid advertisement. I just really like the products!

Image found on Pinterest

So the March instalment of the Monthly Goals series is a bit different as the whole of this month has been a bit of a write off for the entire world due to the outbreak of the Coronavirus pandemic.

Obviously whatever your opinion on the coronavirus it is a troubling time for everyone as nearly the whole world has hit pause on daily life to try and decrease the spread of…

Monthly Goals : February

Image From Pinterest

January is finally over and February is now underway and thank god payday has arrived and we are a step closer to Spring! Officially it is Spring but it takes Ireland a minute to catch up and it usually starts to get Springy around mid March although last year it snowed in March but we live in hope!

So a new month brings new goals and a review of last months goals that were…

Mini Make Up Haul

Welcome to todays post which is on my mini beauty haul that I did while I was in London which I mentioned in my post on my London Trip. For anyone that doesnt know I am not that make up savvy and am definitely lacking in skills in that area! I have started to get into some youtube and instagram make up gurus such as Nikkietutorials on youtube who Im literally obsessed with now because not only is she such an amazing make up artist she is just so authentically herself aswell and I love the fact that she made something so positive and so successful off the back of her experience of bullying when she was younger and she is just so enjoyable to watch! So if you havent seen any of her videos do because shes really honest about products too like she doesnt try and make them look better if theyre bad, she doesnt bad mouth either shes just honest about everything she uses which is refreshing in a time when so many people are so quick to promote multiple brands to make quick money without even really using them (I wont even get started on the size 2 models promoting diet teas because I will turn into Jamelia Jamil who you should also be following by the way) so I definitely recommend taking a look at her videos and social media!

So because of this and partly because Im getting more curious about make up I went on a bit of a shopping spree in Superdrug in Wimbledon and got a few nice glittery bits for myself. My aunt also is into skin and beauty a bit as my cousin did a make up course a few years back and she gave some products she didnt want or use and told me a bit on how to use some products so that inspired me to go out and try some new things too!

No7 Calico Hydra Luminous Foundation

No7 Porcelain Stay Perfect Foundation

The First two things I picked up in London were these two foundations because I have been on the hunt for a new one for a while now and because No7 works best for me (I mentioned this is my skincare post recently) that was the one that I wanted to go for as the overall result and the colouring just matches me best. So the shade I matched with in my local boots in Killarney a couple years ago is Calico but lately I’m finding that I sometimes notice that it is a little bit darker for my neck and Im not too sure is it the powder (in shade fair) that is just adding a bit more colour or is just that the foundation is too heavy and is coming out as being darker etc etc so I decided to try out these two to test out how they look. First up was the Hydra Luminous foundation which I do really like! I usually hate liquid or runny foundations because they n.e.v.e.r worked well for me in the past and just had zero coverage, highlighted every single dry piece of skin and pore and just looked ridiculous on me but this one I was surprised about. It is labelled as medium coverage but it really does cover up a lot (any my skin has had a minor like acne thing going on by nose and it worked really well on it) and the consistency although liquid does blend and sit really well. It also has a really nice natural glow to it so it gives a highlighter effect I think because its a moisturising foundation it just has that little extra shine to it so thats a bonus! It lasts a good while through the day too but because its a liquid it can go in places (chin usually) but my concealer sits really well with it, the brows go on really easily, and most importantly for me the powder sits well on top of it and theres no rubbing off when you apply it thank god! I would definitely recommend trying it out if you are looking for a lighter foundation! This would be really good for holidays as its light and contains SPF15 and is moisturising and you could use it everyday for sure.

The porcelain again I’m a little surprised about because it does go on well on the skin which I kind of was not expecting. As this is a pure liquid foundation I was expecting a little bit of resistance from my skin and the usual issues I have had with liquid foundations and also because its a shade lighter for it to not work for me but I will say that the coverage even for porcelain is quite good not 100% but a lot better than what I was expecting and it went on really smoothly. The powder on top though I did find a bit of an issue as it just sit very well with it but I think it depends on the primer you have on. I would use this on holidays maybe as a light day foundation but if I’m being honest I wouldn’t wear it out and about for everyday.

L’Óreal La Vie En Glow Highlighter Palette

L’Óreal La Vie En Glow Highlighter Palette shades

L’Óreal La Vie En Glow Highlighter Palette With Flash

Rimmel Eyeshadow in shade Gold Record

Rimmel Eyeshadow in shade Gold Record

Rimmel Eyeshadow in shade Gold Record With Flash

Clinique Blusher in Shade Iced Lotus

Clinique Blusher in Shade Iced Lotus

Clinique Blusher in Shade Iced Lotus With Flash

Rimmel London Highlighter Jelly in shade Poppin Bottles

Rimmel London Highlighter Jelly in shade Poppin Bottles

Rimmel London Highlighter Jelly in shade Poppin Bottles With Flash

These products instantly caught my eye because even though I’m not entirely sure on how to use them I like that they sparkle. The L’Óreal palette I really like because its a versatile palette in that you can use them as eyeshadows and highlighters which is great because you can play around with them. Admittedly my eyeshadow game needs a lot of work (like a lot) but I did use this as a highlighter on Saturday night and I used the second shade from the left called Oh My Gold and its so pretty on. The handy thing with this is it gives little descriptions on the back of where the shades work best for example Oh My Gold works well as a highlighter for nose and lips.

The Rimmel eyeshadow I did try out on Saturday night too but unfortunately I have no photos (I somehow managed to come away with zero photos from Saturday night which is bizarre for me) so I will have to do full glam on a day off to show you soon what any of these are like on. Its a really rich colour and if you know what you’re doing (which I dont’) this could be absolutely bomb on. I just did my usual and did a single layer just to add a little colour to my lids (I have hooded lids so I never really bother with a lot of effort as you cant really see it anyway).

The blusher is actually an old one my aunt gave me but again would work as an eyeshadow maybe not a highlight as its a little dark for that but blusher again is something I never use as I have it in my head that I will look an absolute clown if I attempted it but she gave me a quick demo on how to use it and I love it. I only use it for nights out at the moment but its so nice on and really does make a difference.

The Rimmel jelly I bought 50% for the colour and use and 50% because of the fact its a jelly. I just thought it was really cool to have a highlighter as a jelly! The consistency is a jelly not a slime because theres a difference here. The slime is a stickier, more flexible and solid matter where as this jelly is a looser, wobblier consistency and you can dip your finger into it and it will just come away with you. I haven’t fully tried and tested this out yet but from sampling it I do know that you only need a tiny amount because a little goes a long way. It is a really bright gold as well and would definitely translate into photos and in darkness with a flash!

So thats all there is on my make up haul so I shall have a few selfies using these up soon hopefully! Speak to you all soon!

Ever Yours

Lily

xx

London city

Afternoon everyone and welcome to todays post about my London trip which Kevin and I went on at the end of June start of July which was definitely a needed break! We went over for about two weeks (thirteen days to be exact) to do the same as we did last year which was to house sit for my aunt who went on holiday and do some touring around and of course some shopping.

We did do a few tourist things last year as it was Kevins first time there so we did the London Eye, went to the Aquarium, saw a film in the IMAX cinema (which is the largest cinema screen in the UK and also has the best popcorn) so this time we tried out a few new things and did some of the same things too so along with all of those I will also start with my three favourite outfits for you!

Double White

  https://www.newlook.com/row/womens/clothing/tops/white-organic-cotton-roll-sleeve-t-shirt-/p/608337310?comp=Search

https://www.newlook.com/row/womens/accessories/belts/black-suedette-hammered-buckle-belt/p/609243101?comp=Browse

https://www.newlook.com/row/womens/clothing/jackets-coats/light-green-lightweight-blazer-/p/614292631?comp=Search

https://www.newlook.com/row/womens/clothing/shorts/off-white-paperbag-denim-shorts-/p/613103812?comp=Search

This outfit is so simple but so stylish and in the weather we were in (like degree heat in a city) it was a very comfortable option! I just styled this with the green blazer that I have in the links below to add a pop of colour. I adore these shorts and actually have them in the blue and black version as well because I honestly find it so hard to find shorts that fit. I prefer shorts to be high waisted but the downside of that is that usually for some reason if they are high waisted then they tend to be a bit too short for my liking. I have even ventured off into a childs shorts (Im a freakishly small person and usually shop petite anyway) but thats not always the best because they are shaped for a childs body and not a more “grown up” figure shall we say but these are perfect. They are high waist, looser on the legs and versatile. So there you go a simple but chic and comfortable look for everyday without being too basic at a basic price.

Statement Sleeves

  https://www.newlook.com/row/womens/clothing/tops/red-spot-shirred-square-neck-top/p/628454469?comp=Search

https://www.newlook.com/row/womens/accessories/belts/black-suedette-hammered-buckle-belt/p/609243101?comp=Browse

https://www.newlook.com/row/womens/clothing/shorts/off-white-paperbag-denim-shorts-/p/613103812?comp=Search

Now this top is very similar to the daisy print version I posted on Instagram a little while ago and i just had to get the red as well because they are just such a nice little top to have for summer. They are versatile too in a sense that you can wear the sleeves up on the shoulder, as a bardot top, as a one shoulder top and you can dress it up or down. Im really starting to wear more colours as it was one of my resolutions for the year and getting that bit more adventurous with my wardrobe so I’m quite proud of myself for purchasing a bright red colour!

Double Denim

  https://www.newlook.com/row/womens/clothing/jeans/petite-blue-%27lift-%26-shape%27-high-rise-ripped-jeans/p/616058440?comp=Search

https://www.newlook.com/row/womens/clothing/tops/white-ribbed-notch-neck-vest/p/628237310?comp=Search

https://www.newlook.com/row/womens/clothing/jackets-coats/blue-bleach-wash-denim-jacket-/p/607046644?comp=Search

The white top I have in the photo is actually out of stock as it was on sale when I bought it so I have added a similar style vest top in the links as an alternative. I just love how the top is casual but still fun and for a vest isn’t too fitted because its more a cotton knit than a proper cotton vest and it has that bit of stretch and movement in it. I love the buttons as well they just add a little vintage vibe to it and make it that bit more interesting. The jeans I bought in Westfields in Shepherd’s Bush while we were in London because I have a very similar pair in the regular fit but they just don’t fit the waist properly (they had to bought in an emergency due to a ripping incident at work) and I just wanted a pair they fitted properly and these are such a good fit. They are a petite version of Newlook’s Lift & Shape denim range which are a really good flattering style of jean so they are definitely my favourite pair right now!

https://www.stradivarius.com/ie/woman/sale/accessories/bags-and-backpacks/mock-croc-crossbody-bag-with-grommets-c1020132595p301035460.html?colorId=001

https://eu.topshop.com/en/tseu/product/side-stripe-joggers-8193578

Two of the things I picked up besides the jeans is this Stradvarius bag which was on sale to I think thirteen pounds which roughly was about fourteen euro so not too much in the difference thank god! Most of my bags at this point are a croc effect and I loved this one because it looks like a designer piece with the trendy double circle design which a lot of stores have on a few different products for the last couple of months especially on belt buckles. The joggers are from Topshop and I am not someone who wears any kind of workout gear or sweatpants and only wears a sweatshirt more towards winter and even then thats only at home not out and about but these were just calling to me. I adore the fact that they are fitted and slim leg but still a jogger so you can pull the ankle up a little bit and have a slightly looser effect on the leg. Also the fact that they are a drawstring waist is a big plus for me! These are the regular fit and mine are the petite which actually went into the sale when I bought them! I also did buy a whole load of make up but I will do a separate post for that.

Pasta Brown

Westfields

Kevin and I at Stamford Bridge

GBK Dining Decor

Stamford Brige

Stamford Bridge

Kingston market

Nails done by Nails by Erika on Instagram

Coco

Natural History Museum

Millie

As we were in London last year as well we did a lot of tourist stuff the first time as Kevin had never been before so this time around we had more of a relaxed less touristy holiday but we did do something for everyday that we were there. We were staying in my aunts house as she had gone on holidays herself so our main job was to look after her two cats Millie and Coco who are also mother and daughter! We did go back and do a couple of things again like go to the Natural History Museum and the IMAX cinema to see Toy Story 4 (so good by the way!) and as I mentioned they do literally the best popcorn of all time. Its like a mixture of salted and sweet popcorn and its just addictive! We went back to Westfields shopping centre twice where I purchased the items below.  We did a few new things which included going to a Chocolate Museum in Brixton which I’ll be honest was actually a bit of a let down because it was literally the size of a storage cupboard unfortunately.

One of the new things we did was to go on a tour of Stamford Bridge (Kevins idea obviously) and I have never been into a football stadium before with the exception of being forced to play a few matches in primary school so it was quite cool to see the size of it and actually see it with my own eyes rather than on a tv screen or in pictures and Kevin really enjoyed it which was great! We got a look at the dressing rooms, stands, press room and they had jerseys and lockers out for people to take photos with so it was actually quite cool even though I have absolutely no idea about football!

Another place we discovered was an Italian restaurant called Pasta Brown which specialises in obviously all Italian food and it was really really good! The food was just so delicious and the flavours were so good and everything about it was just really good so I would definitely recommend going there if you are in London because it is definitely worth a visit!

So that is it for my latest post and on my trip my to London! Thanks for reading guys and I will speak to you soon!

Ever yours

Lily

xx

No.7 Skincare Products

Hey everyone and welcome to todays skincare post on the newly branded BASIC by Lily blog! Todays I’m going to be running you through my newest updated skincare routine as I realised I haven’t done one of these posts in a while and have been sticking mainly to store product posts rather than personal posts so here it is my first beauty related post of 2019!

So I have slowly but surely started to get into more detailed skin care routine as before I used to just my nightly moisturiser and a scrub whenever I showered but my skin recently had a bit of an off moment so I have decided to start getting into more of a daily routine to keep it happier. I’m a believer in not using too many products on your skin on a daily basis because I feel the more you use the more your skin goes through and also gets used to a product so it starts to in a way fight back against it and also I just like giving it breathing space to get air and direct natural light etc so I don’t use too many things but I have a new haul of products to tell you about! My products are mainly Boots No.7 range (and a couple of Garnier products) because I have just found that over the years of using different brands, learning about make up etc that No.7 is just what works best for me overall and yes they are that little bit more expensive (between €9-€22 depending on the product) they are what works best for me so this post is just my opinion and not any kind of sponsored/affliliated/gifted/advert blog post.

No.7 Micellar Water

No.7 Cleansing Lotion

No.7 Hydra-luminous Overnight Gel

So fist of all I have started removing my make up with the No.7 Micellar Water which I have avoided for a while because a lot of the other affordable brands Micellar Water I have used in the past just didn’t really do a lot for my skin and left it looking a little dry afterwards and some you had to really put effort into to remove everything but this is working really well for me. It just leaves you feeling moisturised and refreshed without having to rinse off afterwards which is really handy. You are never able to fully remove all make up with just one product even though you look bare faced and natural there is still residue left so I follow up with their Nourishing Cleansing Lotion which is just really creamy and rich and leaves a really soft and clean feeling and is almost like a moisturiser itself. This is then followed by my Hydra-luminous Gel which I’ll be honest Im not 100% on I’m more like 85% just because I think their basic night cream worked so well for me that this just doesn’t have the same result I think. It does work for me but I think overall I just prefer their basic night cream.

No.7 Intense Pore Scrub

When I have a shower I have a slightly different routine with a couple more products because I feel that its a good time to do scrubs and that afterwards because of the hot water, steam and heat that all the pores are naturally opened so that you can get more of a deeper clean. First up I have simplified my first step from putting on a mask and waiting twenty minutes for that, then washing it all off and then showering etc by using this Lemongrass Detox Gel Wash from the new Garnier Organics range which is certified organic, vegan and all packing is made from 100% recycled materials which immediately got me interested when I spotted this. The gel wash I would recommend trying out because it does work really well. It has a fresh and fragranced scent (it states that its made from organic lemongrass grown in Sri Lanka) and it just leaves you feeling really fresh faced, clean and completely bare faced rather than having a slightly soapy after feel.

Garnier Organics Gel Wash Detox and Lavender Serum

Then I shower so the pores get opened up and when I’m finished I go straight for the No.7 Face Scrub which I honestly cannot live without. It is just the best scrub I have ever had and I would encourage anyone to try it. It just removes any bit of left over residue, dry skin and you just feel like you have a completely new face afterwards.

Then for the final step I just use a couple drops of the Garnier Organics Lavander Oil which I don’t use that much because its actually for ageing (which isn’t stated on the packing unfortunately) and I definitely don’t need to be using anti ageing products at 23 but I do use it only after these other products I don’t use it everyday at all but thats just my own personal preference. Lavender has soothing properties so it just gives that little extra nourishment after using the gel wash and scrub. Garnier Organics have a whole range of products for different needs so I would take a look if you are interested in these two products.

I do have a good few beauty products to post about too as well as my London trip, moving house and all about the blog change too so there will be lots of content coming up soon! So stayed tuned for more BASIC content!

Ever Yours

Lily

xx