Let's catch up: skincare & my skin story | stylenua

Hey everyone,

Most of you may not know, but i’ve had quite a lot of skin issues in the past, and I still have quite a few. Through my first few years of puberty I didn’t have awful skin, it was a bit spotty and hormonal, but whose skin isn’t at thirteen and fourteen? Plus, at that stage I was quite experienced in dealing with skin issues: eczema is not fun.

But during my last year of secondary school I was getting stressed over exams and such, and my skin took the hit. It didn’t improve after my exams and then through summer or when I moved to university, and things were starting to get quite worrying. I would constantly look for anything to help clear my skin, I wore makeup more than I wanted to, I would avoid mirrors if I could and hide my face with my hand or something in photos or selfies.

Anyone who has had irritated skin or acne will understand that it really takes a toll on you, you feel uncomfortable in your body, anxious about people seeing your skin, and even if it’s not an extremely noticeable breakout, you still feel paranoid that everyone is staring at you and judging you for something you can’t control.

When I came home for Christmas break, my mam and I talked and I decided to go to the doctor about my continually bad skin, and got antibiotics and an anti-inflammatory gel for my skin.

However, this post is for you: the person battling your insecurities and looking for solutions to a huge weight that’s hanging over you. I hope this post lifts your spirits and reassures you in some way that acne is really not the end of the world, as much as it might seem that way. I’m going to include some photos of my skin, which isn’t actually the worst, but this is a big step for me as I could barely stand to take a photo of myself without makeup at first. I’m not wearing makeup in any of the photos, all are in chronological order I think, and you can see that sometimes you may have an extremely good or bad skin day.

  

Much love,

JMG, stylenua.

Explaining my absence | stylenua

Hey everyone,

I think owe you guys an explanation as to why I haven’t made a post on this blog since September. I’m not going to skirt around the reasons, because I think it’s better to be honest, so I’ll admit, I got lazy about this blog. Between moving to university and not having the pressure of second level school to keep me motivated, I kept putting off posting and writing posts for stylenua until the next day and the next day, until it had been months and I felt awful about abandoning a project I had so much love for at the start. By no means does this mean I’m quitting this blog, I’m just telling you all what has been going on over the past few months, and I’m writing this to say that I have sorted out my procrastination (barely) and I’m working on rebuilding this blog to where it was, and then higher. I’ll also be starting up the stylenua YouTube channel in 2016 so stay tuned in the new year. Big things are coming!

Much love,

JMG, stylenua.

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Body image | stylenua

Hey everyone,

Today I felt the need to talk about something very topical, and that is body image. A “comedy” YouTuber recently made a video that went pretty much viral, entitled “Dear Fat People”, in which she shamed overweight people and made some extremely cruel remarks while calling it comedy. This sparked a thought process in me about body image, specifically for people in similar situations to me: doing serious exams, starting university, moving out of your parents house, etc. These things can throw your system off course and you may find your body reacting to that, leading to you maybe being more sensitive about your body image, which is perfectly natural.

I feel extremely embarrassed that our society constantly shames people, women especially, for being overweight, even if they are only slightly overweight. Although there are not as many stick thin celebrities around these days, the desire to be thin is still a horrific reality in most aspects of teenagers minds. Teenagers are extremely impressionable, whether we want to admit that or not, and when we see nothing but slender, tall, beautiful people in the media, and a constant stream of criticism for anyone who doesn’t fit that mould (see any tabloid magazine on the shelf of your local shop), we can’t help but feel as though we need to fit into that skinny person profile.

It takes a long time to break away from that mentality, and for me I was stuck in it every day for years upon years, definitely up to six months ago. Even still, I have days where I look in the mirror and want to go back to bed and never look at myself again. I have learned over the years to look seriously at myself in the mirror and tell myself one thing that I like about myself, just one little thing. It can be the way my hair has fallen that day, or how clear my skin is, or how nice and healthy my legs must be to carry me around all the time, for my entire life! Honestly, you may not think these things can work - I certainly didn’t believe that I’d love my body more by doing such a small thing, but I did, and I cannot even express how amazing that is.

Don’t let anyone tell you that your body type is wrong, because they can’t speak for you. Only you can speak for you, and as long as you feel healthy and happy, you shouldn’t change that just to please someone else. You are the one living in your body, and you only have one in this lifetime, so you need to love it and look after it.

I’m not really sure if I made any sense, but seeing people shaming others just for being a different, “less desirable” body type makes me really frustrated. As a parting note: if you saw protruding ribs on a dog you’d be concerned for their wellbeing, so why is that acceptable for humans? Let me know what your opinions on body image are on any of my social media platforms.

Much love,

JMG, stylenua.

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Halsey - BADLANDS review | stylenua

Hey everyone,

If you didn’t know, I’m a huge music fan, and recently one of my favourite artists, Halsey, released her first full length album, BADLANDS. I had been looking forward to this album for a long time, so I felt as though I had to write a little something about it to share it with you all. Unfortunately I haven’t been able to purchase it on iTunes yet, so the release of the album (and the deluxe version!!) on Spotify has practically saved my life.

Where to start with BADLANDS? First let me say that to people who had heard of Halsey before now, some of the songs on the album are familiar- some being from her Room 93 EP: such as Ghost and Hurricane, and some others being songs that she has performed live many times before. The previously unheard (by me, at least) songs, though, are also phenomenal.

The album opens with the captivating Castle, and lead into a world of mystery and sensual beats, the deluxe version ending with a haunting cover of I Walk the Line by Johnny Cash. Halsey’s unforgettable vocals lead you through the “Badlands” on a gritty journey of self-discovery and turmoil.  Albums like this have an addictive quality to them, you find yourself craving the deep beats that power the songs, and it’s one of the best feelings in the world, just behind the feeling of live music.

Halsey has some extremely powerful messages in her songs: especially so in New Americana and Strange Love. If you have listened to Strange Love, you may be wondering what kind of powerful messages I got from it. You have a point, it doesn’t seem like the type of song to teach a brilliantly moral message, but it does if you think about the lyrics: they reflect modern society’s obsession with the lives of public figures and the very personal information that people want to find out about these public figures. The way she expresses this may be a bit unusual, but that is the message I got from the song, regardless.

If you are going to buy any album this month, it should be this one. I honestly cannot express how much I adore this album, and I am desperately hoping Halsey plays a show in Ireland in the near future because I can only imagine how thrilling the songs from this album must be to hear live. In case you were wondering what my favourite songs from the album are, they are Colors (and Colors pt. II) and Strange Love. If you’re apprehensive about buying an album from an artist you may not have heard of, check out Halsey on YouTube. I hope you enjoyed this little review, I really enjoy reviewing music and books, so let me know if you want to see more of that!

Much love,

JMG, stylenua.

August favourites | stylenua

Hey everyone,

August has been a great month for new things, and I have a lot of lovely items that I haven’t been able to function without this month, so I’m going to share those with you now.

C L O T H E S:

This month I have been practically living in loose, oversized t-shirts. They’re so comfy and they work well with casual jeans, fancy skirts and such. I bought two recently in charity shops: one originally from H&M, and the other from J. Crew, one grey and one white. They were so inexpensive but completely worth it. I personally think charity shops are the best place to get loose, slouchy t-shirts, and you can sometimes find extremely quirky ones in the sale baskets!

M A K E U P:

This month was my Debs ball and also the month I got into university so to treat me, my mam bought me the Bare Minerals Complexion Rescue tinted hydrating gel cream, among other things. Let me tell you, this product is fantastic. It gives light coverage but also an even glow that will diminish any imperfections you might have. I have loved wearing this for casual days, where I want to wear makeup but may not have time to apply a full face of foundation, concealer, etc.

H A I R:

A good few months ago I bought the Lullaby shampoo bar from Lush, and had been using it occasionally, but this month I used it every time I washed my hair because my beloved Edward Beale volumising shampoo ran out. The thing about shampoo bars is that they aren’t meant to be used in the same way as liquid shampoos. It takes practice to perfect how you wash your hair with them but when you get the hang of it, the result is super soft hair (which is always a plus).

M U S I C:

This month I have added so many catchy songs to my spotify playlists, including SK1N by Huntar, Close by Atu, and Colors by Halsey. These are just some of the amazing songs I’ve been listening to this month, and if you want to listen to more songs like these you can check out my playlists and follow me on spotify here.

B O O K S:

All of this month I have been reading and loving The Secret History by Donna Tartt. This book is one of those intense, gripping stories that completely takes over your life and leaves you wondering about it at two in the morning when you can’t sleep and you’re dying to find out what happens. I will be writing a full review of it once I finish it but for now just trust me when I say that it’s a brilliant book.

And that is it for my August favourites! I hope you may have found something interesting in this little accumulation and if you have loved something this month, let me know in the comments or let me know on any of my social medias:

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Much love,

JMG, stylenua.

Back to school advice | stylenua

Hey everyone,

I don’t know about you, but one of the most stressful times of my year is the back to school season. There is so much to be done, so much to be bought, and you can’t forget about digging those school books out from wherever you hid them all summer, just to put them back into a locker for another few terms. For most teenagers still in school, there are another few precious days before the early mornings come back to slap you in the face. I’m so thankful that I have another few weeks before that happens to me, but I’m almost certain that university will be as stressful to prepare for as school. With that in mind, I have come up with a sort of checklist-come-guide to the back to school “frenzy” so you can feel at least a bit more organised in this crazy few weeks.

Clothes:

If you’re as unfortunate (or fortunate, depending on how you look at it) as I was in Secondary school and you have to wear a uniform, then you already know what you’re going to be wearing every day. If you don’t wear a uniform or you’re going to uni, then my biggest piece of advice is to dress for comfort. Comfort doesn’t mean pyjamas and dressing gown, but it does mean keeping warm or cool depending on the temperatures, and not making things difficult for yourself by wearing uncomfortable or awkward shoes or something along those lines. A great outfit for classes would be loose jeans or cotton pants with maybe a t-shirt, a plaid shirt, a woollen jumper and flat shoes that are easy to walk in.

Hair:

Hair during the school year can be the easiest thing or the hardest thing in the world. If you have longer hair, I recommend ponytails, braids and half up- half down styles as much as possible, since it’s so much better to have your hair away from your face in a school environment. During the school year I always keep a can of dry shampoo at hand to keep my hair fresh, as I don’t wash it every day. This is actually a lot better for your hair and it saves time in the mornings or at night when you can be getting other things done. Don’t worry about straightening your hair for school, chances are you’ll be walking around, going out for your lunch or walking home after school and your hair will get abused by the wind so there’s not much point in styling it to perfection in the first place. Save the fancy hairstyles for a special occasion.

Skincare:

I know that for me, keeping a decent skincare routine during the school year can be difficult. Which is why I’ve done my best to keep it as simple as possible. To prevent breakouts I use a very basic cleanser - Aqueous cream - which helps to balance the pH of your skin. You should try to use a cleanser, toner and moisturiser morning and night, and if you can afford a good serum then I’d recommend using it at night just before moisturiser. If you have oily/combination skin then during the day you should wipe excess oil off your face with some tissue, because the oil build up on your face can also cause spots. Keeping your hands off your face is also extremely important for preventing breakouts, whether it’s picking at spots because you’re bored in class or holding your head in your hand while studying.

Makeup:

Now, I don’t encourage breaking rules, so if your school has a strict no makeup policy you should try as much as possible to stick to that, but if you do want to wear makeup in school I would stick to a simple “natural” look. The best products I have used in school have been BB creams and tinted moisturisers or powder makeup. They give the best finish and are also way lighter than liquid foundation and concealer. Another trick I learned a few years ago was to apply mascara by brushing the mascara wand on a lash comb and then applying the comb to my lashes. This gives the appearance of fuller lashes without the risk of clumps or very obvious layers of product. Paired with eyeliner on your upper waterline, this is the perfect eye makeup look that you can wear in school without looking like you’ve put a lot on.

Organisation:

Being organised is something that is so important for school. Lack of organisation can lead to feeling stressed, which doesn’t help when you have lots of homework and exams to prepare for, so this year, try to organise yourself even a small bit more than usual. To-do lists are a great way to stay organised, and they will help you to get things done on time as well. When you get a piece of homework that may not be due for a week, try to get it done as soon as possible so you don’t have to worry about it for the remaining time. If you have a school diary or homework diary, colour coding it is such a great way of keeping organised. Choose certain colours for written work, learning work, projects and so on. This definitely saved me a lot of stress during my last year of secondary school.

That’s all the advice I have for this back to school season, but if you have any other questions you can comment on this post, tweet me, or ask me on tumblr or facebook.

Much love,

JMG, stylenua.

Bare Minerals counter experience | stylenua

Hey everyone,

Yesterday was a very crazy day, from making decisions about my future to breaking in my new ankle boots, a lot happened, including a visit to the Bare Minerals counter in my local Debenhams. As someone with pretty sensitive skin, I have always liked the idea of extremely natural makeup and even though I had bought a previous BM set, I really hadn’t been using it because of the many stress-related breakouts I was experiencing. Yesterday provided me with a great insight into mineral makeup and the importance of keeping chemicals off your face.

This was all helped by the wonderful customer service I experienced, from the minute I approached the counter to the moment I left. Joyce - the makeup artist I interacted with - was such an incredibly talented and knowledgeable person that I felt as if I were talking to a friend about makeup. The advice she gave me was invaluable, and it didn’t just stop at makeup application. She also advised me about clearing up bad skin, using the least harsh products and the best products to use for my skin type.

In terms of the actual BM products: where do I begin? I honestly think I’m head over heels in love with everything BM has to offer. The mineral makeup really suits my skin and the way I like to wear makeup, which is just brilliant. It’s lightweight, but it still gives the perfect amount of coverage for me. The thing people often tell me about mineral makeup is that it doesn’t cover their acne or blemishes, or uneven skin. While that may seem to be the case, I think it depends on how you apply the product and what other chemicals you’re putting on your face. I am fully aware that my blemishes may be still visible through the BM makeup at first, but because I’m taking all necessary steps to clear up my skin, it doesn’t really bother me. With the mineral cover, my skin looks a whole lot more natural than with liquid foundation, and the coverage lasts so much longer. If you have combination/sensitive skin like I do, I wholeheartedly recommend you use the loose mineral foundation, even if you go to your local Debenhams and ask if you can simply try it out.

So finally, I encourage you to pay your nearest Bare Minerals counter a visit. Talk to the makeup artists there, don’t be afraid of asking them questions, and don’t dismiss their answers - they’re often seriously experienced. They can also show you the best way to apply BM makeup to suit your needs, and BM is not restricted to makeup! They also have a skincare range that includes so many brilliant natural ingredients, which are always better for your skin. And lastly, for anyone who is conscious of buying cruelty free makeup, BM do not test on animals, which is something I defintely rank highly in importance.

If you have tried Bare Minerals makeup, leave me a comment telling me what you thought of it, and if you try it in the future, let me know what you think of it on twitter, instagram, or facebook!

Much love,

JMG, stylenua.

Your perfect pair of jeans | stylenua

Hey everyone,

Yesterday was a good day for me, because I finally replaced my awful, worn out black jeans with a new pair (the RI Molly high rise jeans in black if you must know) and it got me thinking about just how much is involved in finding your perfect pair of jeans. I’m talking about the jeans that you wear constantly and find yourself pining for when they’re in the wash. The jeans that just go with everything you own, and the jeans that you always seem to be wearing when you get the most compliments about your look. They are not just a random pair of jeans, a lot of time and effort goes into choosing that renowned pair. If you haven’t got a pair of jeans like this or your current staple pair are heading for retirement and you don’t know how you’re going to replace them, keep reading because I’m about to share my tips for finding your perfect pair of jeans!

The first order of business is determining your body shape and finding which shops cater better to that body shape. For me, H&M and River Island design jeans that fit me better than, lets say, Topshop or Primark jeans. There is nothing bad about the jeans in either of those shops but they don’t suit my body’s natural shape and there is no point in wearing jeans that are tight around your thighs just so you can tell people they’re from a particular place. The easiest way to find out what shops suit your body is to go in and try on pairs of jeans, or to visit the shop’s website and find the measurements for their jeans to compare them to your own measurements. After that we move to step two: jean style.

What jean style suits you best? Are you a skinny jeans person, or are you more of a loose, slouchy jeans person? Rips or no rips? Classic blue denim or crazy colours? These are all questions you need to answer before you actually enter a shop. It will save you SO much time if you have a vague idea of what you’re looking for before you actually go looking for it. Consider your other clothes and what jean style suits them. Then it’s time to choose a pair in the shop and try them on.

In the dressing room there are a few things you need to do to test if these jeans are perfect. The first thing is making sure they are easy enough to put on. If you’re having serious trouble getting them over your thighs or past your knees, put them back and try another size or another style. You might even have to try a different shop. When you do find jeans that go on comfortably, you need to do a bit of wriggling around, to really make sure they’re comfortable. Do some dancing around, bend your knees, or anything that will get you moving to really test the flexibility of the jeans.

After that you should definitely look at the material and stitching on the jeans. It depends on what you’re looking for: for me, I want durable jeans, that won’t wear easily or rip after a short length of time. This suits me because I don’t have the money to buy a new pair of jeans every few months, so when I find a very strong pair of jeans that will last me a long time I will be investing in them. If you find good quality jeans, don’t be afraid to pay a little bit more for them - they will be worth it.

When you’ve done all of these things you should have an extremely comfortable pair of jeans that you will probably live in if you’re like me. Let me know where your favourite jeans are from, and how long you’ve had them, and I’ll talk to you soon!

Much love,

JMG, stylenua.

July book of the month | stylenua

Hey everyone,

This month I read a lot of books, but one in particular stood out to me, The Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller. 

This book is a fictional retelling of the story of Ancient Greek hero Achilles, a significant figure in the Trojan war. The story is told by Patroclus, the best friend of Achilles, from the time they meet as young boys, to their adult lives. This book came highly recommended to me from friends and also from bloggers on tumblr who are interested in mythology and classics like I am.

Before reading this book I didn’t actually have much knowledge on Achilles, apart from what I would have heard in passing in other mythological stories. Throughout my reading of the book, however, I found myself wanting to know every recorded detail of Achilles. I don’t think this was a bad thing, though. It’s always good to learn new things, even if those new things are random facts about Ancient Greek epics!

The book itself was extremely easy to read which I loved, and told the story in a simple but beautiful way. In one way it’s hard to believe that Madeline Miller spent ten years writing this book because it flows so well, but in another way you can tell she put her heart and soul into this book, from the masses of historical research she must have done, to the eloquent language that she uses. I would wholeheartedly recommend this book to anyone with an interest in Ancient Greece or just a well told story, but be warned: you will be emotionally traumatised after reading it. No classical epic is complete without heartache.

Let me know what book you have been reading this month and what your opinion of it is on twitter or instagram. Happy reading!

Much love,

JMG, stylenua.

Bare Minerals Up Close & Beautiful | stylenua

Hey everyone,

This is going to be a short post, but I wanted to share with you something that I’m starting, and that is the Bare Minerals Up Close & Beautiful 30-day complexion starter kit. 

This is one of the starter kits available from Bare Minerals and I am really looking forward to reviewing it so stay tuned for a full review.

I have used the kit twice so far, and both times have been impressed with the look and feel of the products on my skin so as long as that continues, this Bare Minerals selection will remain one that I use.

Check back soon for an updated review of this product!

Much love,

JMG, stylenua.

Travels | stylenua

Hey everyone,

Today I would like to share with you some advice for travelling, whether it be during your summer break or at any time during the year when you decide to get a change of scenery. Travelling is, to many people, stressful and difficult to manage. However, I find the act of travelling from place to place extremely therapeutic. There is something so calming about the steady motion of a train or the many sights to be seen from the window seat of a bus. Even long-distance trips in a car can be interesting, provided there are a few bathroom stops and enough snacks to last the journey. That said, there are a few things that should be planned beforehand so there is as little stress involved as possible for you and anyone travelling with you.

• When making travel plans, try to book any transport, accommodation and activities ahead of time. It will mean you won’t have to worry about availability, and may also work out cheaper.
• Bring as much food with you as you can and take advantage of picnic benches. For as long as I can remember, my family have had picnics when we went on trips, be they day trips or long car journeys to a holiday destination. The price of food can also be very high in cities, so any chance to save money is good - not just for students!
• Plan your days so that you get the most out of your destination and journey as possible. There is nothing worse than a day wasted on unmade plans. Even if it’s just as simple as a walk in a park or a quick swim in the sea, use your time wisely to make as many memories as you can. You’ll thank yourself later.
• Travel with friends or family! This one seems so obvious, and don’t underestimate it. As peaceful as travelling on your own can be, sometimes it’s better to have someone to share the memories with you. You’ll have someone to talk to, eat with, and a (maybe) willing photographer to capture you in this new place.
• Pack light, so you don’t have too much to carry. The worst thing on a holiday or short break is lugging around a heavy bag - or bags. Economising your luggage will probably make you feel less stressed too, you won’t have as many things to pack which means you can get it done much quicker. Double up the use of things, roll your clothes instead of folding, wear the heaviest shoes you’re bringing, or easier still, just bring one pair. Trust me on this, you’ll be glad you packed light if you’re doing a lot of walking.
• Finally, appreciate all of the new things you see. I am a firm believer in finding beauty in everything I see, and being a tourist is a perfect addition to that mentality, because that is what people do when they are tourists. Don’t forget to seek out the beauty in even the most simple things, like the cup of tea you have with your hotel breakfast, the quaint cafés on side streets of big cities or the smile the bus driver has when you thank them for the journey (something you should always do!).

Wherever you are travelling to this summer, I wish you many adventures and joys on your journey. Enjoy yourselves, and leave a comment telling me where you want to travel to most!

Much love,

JMG, stylenua.

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Personal style | stylenua

Hey everyone,

Today I wanted to talk about something that is a huge part of all of our lives, and that is our personal style. Fashion and style are two very different things and I consider myself a style blogger over a fashion blogger. I don’t follow fashion trends closely and I certainly cannot afford designer clothes, but would like to think that I have a good sense of style.

It always surprises me that many people don’t know the difference between fashion and style. Fashion is the trends in shops and various fashion houses, but style is something extremely unique and personal to everyone. Style also spans into more than just clothing: style is also the way you do your hair, or makeup, or the design of your bedroom.

Let me use my style as an example. Most of my clothes are in dark colours. I think that dark colours suit me, and a lot of the people whose style I admire also wear dark clothes (see Lauren Jauregui, Taylor Momsen, Debby Ryan, Troye Sivan, Zendaya Coleman, and all of the characters in AHS: Coven). Again, these people are also involved in the music I listen to and the TV show I watch so that is another element of my personal style. My hairstyles and past hair colours have been influenced by the many styles of Hayley Williams of Paramore and YouTuber and musician Emma Blackery. All of these things summed up creates what I deem to be my personal style, and a large amount of the things I am interested in.

In true tumblr fashion, your style is quite like your aesthetic: “A set of principles underlying the work of a particular artist or artistic movement” (oxforddictionaries.com). Think of your personal style like the artistic movement that you are creating to show to the world. Your personal style represents your personality, influences, hopes, dreams, strengths, best features. Your personal style could be largely influenced by 60s American culture, or by the profession you are in, but regardless, that is yours and no one can tell you what your personal style is. If you don’t know what your personal style is then take a look at the clothes you wear, the films you watch, the books you read, the music you listen to, and the people whose style you admire: they are all things that influence your personal style. Then just tailor it to suit your mood and you have your own unique personal style!

I hope you enjoyed this post, let me know what influences your personal style and if you like the style of anyone/thing that I have mentioned!

Much love,

JMG, stylenua.

Book of the Month | Stylenua

Hey everyone,

Today I want to start what I hope will be a monthly "series" on my blog: book of the month. I could talk about books 24/7 and I would probably bore anyone to tears after a while so I decided to compile my musings about books into a monthly blog post where I focus on one book I have been reading and review it, recommend it or warn you against it.

For the month of June 2015, I have been reading We Need to Talk About Kevin by Lionel Shriver. This book was recommended and loaned to me by my friend Tess, and I’m very grateful that she loaned it to me because it was such a fascinating book.

Initially I didn’t know what to expect from a book about a teenager who, according to the blurb, kills seven of his fellow high school students, a teacher and a cafeteria worker, but the reasons behind it aren’t completely clear in the book either as it is from the point of view of Kevin’s mother Eva. The style of writing in the book is brilliant: Eva narrating her memory of Kevin’s life in a series of letters to Franklin, her estranged husband who is now absent from her life. As the book progresses we see the effect Kevin’s actions had on Eva and vice versa.

I can’t say much more about the plot for fear of spoiling some of the mystery surrounding it, but I will say that I did not see the end coming, as captivated as I was by it. The ending was everything that I wanted, whether I realised it or not, and gave a sense of closure but also an openness for the future. Best of all, this book made me think deeply about many things, and that is always a sign of a good piece of writing.

After reading the book I did watch the film adaptation, directed by Lynne Ramsay and starring Tilda Swinton and Ezra Miller. I didn’t like it as much as the book, which is a common occurrence for many avid readers. I felt that the film focused too much on the imagery and less about the plot, leaving out many key moments from the book that related to Kevin and his behaviour. However, all the actors involved were fantastic in their portrayals.

I hope you enjoyed this review/ recommendation, be sure to check back next month for a new Book of the Month and next week for a new blog post. Also, leave me a comment if you have read We Need to Talk About Kevin or if you have any book recommendations for me!

Much love,

JMG, stylenua.

Starting note | stylenua

Hello world,

I’ve never been good at any kind of first post, so bear with me while I introduce my new blog to you. Welcome to stylenua by me, Jessica Mairéad Gabrielle. I am an eighteen year old from Ireland, hence the Irish word “nua” (new) in my blog title. In this blog I will be sharing with you my experiences in fashion and style, makeup and beauty, music and literature, etc. These are things that interest me and I hope that my writings about these subjects interests you. I have had previous blogs that I will no longer be using, such as ohnostyle.blogspot.ie and I hope to expand this blog to a YouTube channel in the near future. The main reason I have chosen to pursue this blog is because I will be moving away to university in a few months and I would also like to document that journey.

Thank you for joining me on my adventure,

JMG.