Conversations in toilets

"When I compliment you, I compliment myself, because I am who I associate with.”   Jarod Kintz

Stills Cardigan

Stills Tshirt

Zara Black leather trousers

 

You know when your world has gone mad when you are minding your own business, releasing your bladder in the toilets of the wine bar and from outside the locked door you hear, "Omg are you Laurina's mum?" Now granted the first thought that went through my head was oh no, who's that? and oh no, what have I done now.  But then for my mum to be like "yes that's me" (And I know mum was probably thinking the same as me,) and for the lovely Joanne to be like "I recognise you from her blog," was the funniest thing & most surrealist thing to me.  The fact I had to then casually walk out of the toilet & be like Hello!! It's lovely to meet you! Thank you for reading my blog, sorry let me just wash my hands before I shake yours!

Primark Baseball top-similar here

Asos Wrap linen skirt

Zara Necklace-similar here

 

I spent my lovely long bank holiday weekend up home visiting all my family that I hadn't seen in a while.  My little sister got amazing GSCE results so we were celebrating those as well.  I am still getting loads of wear out of all my birthday presents.  I love baseball tops at the minute, loved this look that I wore on Saturday night to the Mermaid Kitchen in Portrush.  My BFF zoe asked me what I craved the most for my birthday and I said that Connor had hunted high and low for a baseball top but couldn't get one.  Well that's gay cause they are in Primark for £3 was her reply. Probably the one place he didn't look but thanks to Zoe who then went and got me this one!

 

Topshop Cropped Denim jacket

Asos Coral Skater Dress

 

After my slight mishap with my work clothes recently, I have been really trying hard to dress up for work and wear as much of the sample pieces of the collections that we sell.  So now for weekends I just love dressing down.  I am fighting not to get back into my jeans until the last possible moment when my legs fall off from frostbite! But it's becoming harder and harder.  But then I think well technically you only have 4 months to go till you can shop again! And that man from the Waterboy pops up in my head, "You can do it!!"

 

 

But when I am off work, I am never truly off work.  On Monday, Mum, Carla and I made a mad dash to Derry/Londonderry! Derry seems to be the place to be this year! With it winning the City of Culture 2013, the amount of events happening in Derry is amazing!! For a week in September, they are holding a Culture Tech week with events through out the city! Check out the website, there is just too many to name! http://culturetech.co/

 

 

Myself and 2 other bloggers from Northern Ireland, Gemma-Louise from That Belfast Girl and Caroline from the Red Dutchess will be attending some of the events over the 9th of September to the 15th of September to tweet, take photos and blog our experience! In conjunction with Foyleside Shopping centre, we each will be modelling fab outfits from the centre at these events! More on that later!  

Bananas in Pajamas

“Be genuinely interested in everyone you meet and everyone you meet will be genuinely interested in you”   Rasheed Ogynlaru

Stills Stiped tshirt

Topshop Cord necklace

Stills silk maxi skirt

 

Once upon a time, there were 17 girls

beauty & fashion bloggers dolled up in their pearls

Off to Malone Lodge Hotel they went

Giggles, cocktails and many a tweet was sent.

 

But why were they there?

kindly supplied by the fab Carla and Anna, it was a night on the tear!

With a refurbishment to the Malone suite

& expansion of their restaurant 'The Knife & Fork", we were in for a treat.



 

 

 Welcomed with cocktails into a beautiful lobby

I met the FABB girls, were blogging is much more than a hobby.

Slightly nervous to meet everyone,

but no need to worry, the girls were great fun!

 

We were graced with a fab tour of the hotel,

gorgeous rooms, 240 seater conference room, this place really does excel!

With fabulous Audrey Hepburn posters,

I was scared to set anything down without a coaster!

 

 

 

 

Dinner was served & what a meal it was!

Laugther, speeches over wine, what a buzz!

Treated like queens of the world,

I walked on clouds, white and fluffy & swirled.

Speaking of white and fluffy,

Check out this giant bed, thank god I hadn't dressed scruffy!

After dinner, we were treated to a facial cleanse

Skin medi Spa are my new best friend!

 

The gossip continued into the wee hours,

the girls raved about everything including the showers!

Sadly I missed the breakfast,

Though I am thankful I was just asked.



 

 

How do you make your blog post stand out?

I did try to rhyme throughout!

But I think I did crap,

But what a night, thanks Malone Lodge, it went off without a flap!

 Ps If you didn't get it as my poetry is pretty shit, this post was about the Northern Irish bloggers night out to Malone Lodge which has recently had a fab refurb done.  It was a great time, the staff were amazing all wearing their pjs & so were some of the bloggers that were staying over.  I had to work early the next morning so I didn't get to stay over, raging!!!! It was great to meet everyone for the 1st time & put names to faces.  The Malone Lodges were super hosts. A special thank you to Anna from INC PR & Carla the manager of Malone Lodge.  Fab hosts!!!  Also to Skin Medi Spa for my fab cleanse & tone using Elemis products. 

 

For more info on Malone Lodge Hotel, for a great stay in Belfast, checkout their website

http://www.malonelodgehotelbelfast.com/

 

 

 

Skin Deep

“Be patient. Your skin took a while to deteriorate. Give it some time to reflect a calmer inner state. As one of my friends states on his Facebook profile: "The true Losers in Life, are not those who Try and Fail, but those who Fail to Try.”   Jess C. Scott

Sandwich white blouse

Zara beige skinny trousers

 

I ain' a beauty blogger.  I can't remember the last time I bought any sort of make up apart from cover for my skin.  All my eyeshadows, lip glosses, nail polish have either been gifts or been stolen from the other females in my family.  Only recently after holidays have I got into a routine of putting on a body moisturiser.  But when I posted a facebook status at the end of June seeking help about my skin, I had an overwhelming response.  It seemed that everyone had problems with their skin.  People who I hadn't spoken to in years were giving me advice on what they used or tips on what to do.

I had gotten really down about my skin to be honest.  I have the attitude hey! they are only spots, you could have a lot worse but after coming back from holidays and seeing that my skin hadn't cleared up in the sun, it had simply gotten worse I was determined to get my ass in gear and do something about it.  I knew it wasn't my hormones, or my pill or my diet.  I had great skin all of my life, even as a teenager but just something set it off when I hit 24. Maybe it was the fact I started to date a guy with the mental attitude of a teenager or maybe I had finally hit puberty (no sign of my boobs yet) or maybe it was karma, I have been so happy with the rest of my life & situation that something bad had to happen to make sure there was a balance.

This is not something any girl wants to do, show the world her face without any slap on.  Really up close photos of her face.  Where you can see every crevices, blackhead, pore, puffy eyes. But here you go. This was my skin on the 23rd of June 2013.

 

This was the day that I had had enough.  I put up my FB status asking for opinions on products, dermatologists in Northern Ireland, 70 people replied to that status though private messages, comments, texts messages.  You can see how inflamed my face is, how spotty I am on my forehead, across my cheeks, my chin.  How discoloured my face is.  Half red, half white. Go on, zoom in. Actually I don't know if the photo does it justice. I am standing facing the natural light so it was more red.

 

Then I had a text from an angel.  Mr Paddy McGourgan. I had been booked to model at his make up academy on the Sunday the 30th of June and I thought he had seen me walking around town and was texting to be like oh God, there is only so much photoshop can do! But no, he had text to say that he had seen my FB status & he had got this new brand into his make up shop on Royal Avenue & he wanted me to try it.

 

Now I was a bit apprehensive. I had tried every product over the last year.  Dermalogica, sent me in a rash and completely dried my skin out.  Eve lom didn't get rid of the big whiteheads I was getting.  I tried natural products, toners, oils, good old plain soaps and water, facials.  You name it, I had tried it. But I thought why not.  Give myself to the end of the summer and if that didn't work or improve my skin, I would then go to see a dermatologists.

 

Now enters Mario Badescu.  What a legend.

 

When I went to Paddy's to model at his Make up academy, he gave me samples of the Mario Badescu range.  The Acne Facial cleanser and the Gylcolic Foaming Cleanser, I was to alternate each night. And then he gave me the oil free moisturiser as I have oily skin to begin with.  This is the progress over 2 months,  I took a photo every 2 weeks to just show how my skin has calmed down.  I am so happy.  The change in my skin is unbelievable.  I am less red across my cheeks and forehead.  My spots have nearly all gone.  Granted I have a few stubborn blackheads but I am thinking of getting microdermabrasion to get rid of those.  Before that I would have been too scared incase it made my skin worse. My skin doesn't look as tired or as inflamed or dull.  I am back to hardly wearing any make up.  All I am using at the moment is the Loreal CC cream.

 

 

 

This is me today.  Same light, same time as the first photo was taken.  Except that it is 2 months later and I have lovely skin. The one above is fresh faced, no make up & the one below is with my CC cream on.  I took that photo cause I want to show you that I am not that scary! Ignore my sleepy puffy eyes, they usually go by afternoon! I can't recommend the Mario Badescu range enough, I love it.  It isn't that expensive either and there are hundreds of products to suit your skin needs.

 

If you would like to try the range, check out the website Mario Badescu to read reviews or pop into Paddy McGurgan's Make up Pro Store & the lovely peeps in there will help you get the right products to suit your skin.

 

Paddy McGurgan Make up Pro Store



Falling apart

"Broken! Busted! Everybody has something to repair.  Before buying new, let mightly putty fix it for you!" Billy Mays

Stills silk navy tshirt

Topshop fine striped pencil skirt-similar here

When I started this challenge I didn't really take into the account the wear and tear my clothes would be going through.  I am washing the same things repeatedly, wearing the same things over and over again though I do try to wear new things on days that I know I will be writing a blog post as I just think it would get boring otherwise.  But not only are my shoes feeling the wear and tear of my smelly feet but today I have realised I have a hole in this lovely skirt. Right over the seam on my bum.  Thankfully I am wearing a long cardigan with this look but it is so nice with out the cardigan that I am raging I have to wear the cardigan all day. My boss is properly wondering who did she hire??? Too short skirts, holes in skirts, a pongy smell coming off her shoes.

A few weeks ago I mentioned that I had organised a girly family photoshoot with my mum and little sister as a Christmas gift/birthday present to my mum. (I know, a little late organising it but I was purposely waiting for the good weather!) I just wanted to share some of the photos and give a little shout out to Miss Kelly McAllister, amazing photographer! She did exactly what I asked for and more! I wanted the photos to be fun and reflect our personalities but keeping them as natural as possible. I love them!  There actually isn't a bad photo of any of us in the album she sent me which says a lot for her skills!!! Check out her website: Kelly McAllister

Ps: check out my new badge!! I'm nominated for best newcomer in the Irish Blog Awards! Woop!! Promise if I get to come to the award ceremony that I won't wear any smelly shoes or holely skirts. 

Absolute Mustard

“Yes. And also, if it's okay by you, I'd like to shut up now... Or possibly just go somewhere and swallow my face.” Lesley Livingston

 

Asos Mustard Pencil dress -similar idea here

Primark Spotty Jumper-similar here

 

 

Totally down styled a dress today. It's like magic.  This dress is usually a very dressy dress, a night out kinda of dress.  A sexy trying to impress dress.  But if by magic, I am able to wear it to work today.  With the help of a magic jumper.  Love this mustard colour and blue together.  Something I never would have worn before or put together before this challenge. Nice to wear colour rather than black or white paired with something colour. 

This photo shows the top of the dress which I have concealed with the jumper & made it look like a mustard pencil skirt. Ta Da!!!

 

To give you a laugh on a Monday morning as I like to entertain my readers as much as possible.  When I started this challenge, I knew that I would make mistakes. And I have, sometimes I have worn an outfit and the next day I have been like Oh no, that actually didn't work.  But that is what this year is about.  It is a learning curve for me, finding my own style, putting thought into my outfits, trying to be more fashionable.

 

But in the process of trying to be more fashionable, I forgot that 5 out of the 7 days I have to have a fashionable WORK outfit.  Well I didn't forget.  I just made a boo boo.  Last week, I wrote a post and at the end posed the question of how short is short for wearing a skirt for work. When I was walking to work I knew I was wearing a short skirt, it was a bit breezy around my lower region.  But I told myself I was imaging things or over thinking it in my head.  The skirt was never that short on me and if I was right then it was barely covering my cheeks.  I must have done something to it. Spot the blonde.  Also, spot the person who could not bend over in work but must have forgot cause my boss laughed at me and pulled me up on it.  AHHHHH! FACEPALM. 

 

So embarrassing! I must have made it smaller or something in the wash.  But now I am really worried about what actual length of skirt is acceptable for work? My work is mainly smart casual.  I have some lovely skirts that look lovely with shirts but are above the knee.  Not as short as that one!!! Just slightly above the knee.  When I started this job I never got a yes or no list of things to wear.  It isn't a proper office based job either, I am working in fashion so I like to look nice and fun.  So should I ban all my skirts that aren't below the knee? But if I am wearing tights in winter is slightly above the knee ok?? Uuuuuhhhhh I don't know.

My Precious

"Sometimes Pattern trousers come in handy when trying to match the carpet in your office" bourbonbasted, Styleforum

Topshop Black Peplum top

Warehouse Tile print trouser

My shoes are really starting to smell.  Granted I have quite smelly feet already but the fact is I haven't bought new shoes in 7 months or probably more.  If you think about it, I haven't bought summer shoes since last summer so technically I have been wearing these for over a year now & they are starting to get a whiff about them.  My black studded pumps that I wear religiously to work, if they get too close to my face I can definitely smell a pong coming from them.  What am I meant to do??? They are the only black shoes I own other than high heels, trainer wedges or boots.  I am not going to be saving any money from this year due to the fact I will have to bin most of my wardrobe at the end of this year.

One thing I won't be binning are these trousers.  Confession.  They are new.  BUT I didn't buy them.  This amazing thing called blogging has opened doors for me & given me stuff.  Free stuff!!! When I met with the PR girls from Warehouse to hear about them opening their fab new store in Victoria Square in September, they gifted me the gorgeous neon necklace you may have spotted me wearing (If not, check it out here) 

They also gave me a £50 gift voucher!!!! 

I went to the Warehouse in Forestside, think Gollum from The Lord of the Rings with my giftcard. My precious.  It was so surreal, walking around actually looking at the clothes but actually looking at the clothes in a sense of hey, I may buy you.  I wanted something that I had desired for a while.  You have to understand I could have bought everything in the shop because I could have just went crazy and relapsed.  It's like setting alcohol down in front of an alcoholic & saying you are allowed a sip.  Ok, maybe thats a bit more serious than my shopping addiction.

I walked around the shop for 35 mins, touching everything, smelling everything, rubbing my face with wallets, handbags over my arms.  The shop assistants were looking at me thinking who is this crazy person.  I wanted boyfriend jean, really baggy, lots of ribs.  I love the look at the moment of the boyfriend jeans and high heels.  Love to wear them out to dinner with a blazer.  So I tried on Warehouse's boyfriend style jeans and boy were they gorgeous!! Best fitting jeans I have had on me in ages. However, they weren't quite what I was looking for, not baggy enough.  So then I tried these on pattern trousers & we have a winner!!!

 

They just go with anything, you can wear them 101 ways.  I have kept it quite plain so far when I have worn them. Sticking to a plain black or white top & black pumps but I would love to wear them with a clashing top or even a colourful cami.  They are great for work too and I think they would be lovely even with heel highs for heading out to cocktails.  I almost cried as I saw the blue version of the trousers featured in the Look magazine 2 weeks ago.  It is so nice to be wearing something that you know is in style.  Can't remember the last time I saw something in a magazine were I was like ooohhh I have those, totes on trend or they are beaut, I am going to get them.  And the best thing is I still haven't spent all of my gift voucher!!! Oooohhhhh my precious, I am keeping you. Coveting you for a later date. Yes, my precious.

Resorted to stealing

"Borrowing is not much better than borrowing; just as lending with interest is not much better than stealing." Doris Lessing 

 

Topshop White Shirt

Topshop Neon tweed skirt-similar here

 

I have resorted to stealing.  Well not stealing as such, I am not slinking my way into Victoria Square at night like a ninja to steal clothes.  The clothes of my friends and family are a different story though.  Take the last 3 days and my outfits.  Apart from this neon green skirt, I haven't worn anything that was my own this week at all.  I was up home visiting my granny who has broken both her arms.  Having left my sunglasses at my mums house when I was up visiting my family the last night I was up, I popped to my mums to grab them.  It was then, the idea presented itself to me.  My mum and little sister are away currently in Italy for 3 weeks therefore leaving their wardrobes wide open for me to steal.  Think of a pig rolling in (shit) mud.  That was me in the middle of 2 wardrobes with stuff I hadn't worn before.

Topshop Purple Skater dress-similar here

 

So this has helped calmed my nerves.  Feels like new clothes but it isn't.  This is usually the time of year when I spend loads on clothes.  I don't know why, if it is because I always have a bit of cash after summer or if it is because I love the Fall collections more than any other season but this is the time of year I spent my most on clothes.  It was this time last year when I spent so much that I was like....hold on a second, this is bad.

River Island Midi dress-similar here

So stealing is now the new in thing to do.  Even my friends wardrobes aren't safe.  My bff Zoe let me borrow a skirt to head out one night and she forgot to take it the next day so I sneakily wore it to work.

Zara tropical skirt-similar here

 

 

Speaking of skirts,  what skirt length should you wear to work????

 

I am wearing my neon tweed skirt today and as I was walking to work this morning, I felt my whole arse was on show.  Have I gotten taller??? No.  Have I washed the skirt at too high a temperature??? No.  But all of a sudden it seems so short! I haven't bent to pick anything up all day as I know I will show my ass off.  Recently, every single time I wear a skirt this seems to happen.  Am I a slut and I haven't noticed until now? All my skirts seem so short!!! Is it my old age??? I feel like my boss has been watching my skirt line all day.

 

Due to the fact that I don't have a uniform per say, it is so hard to know what I can wear.  What length of skirts are a big nono??? Anything above the knee??? Even if it is slightly above the knee? I have no idea.

Overstyling

“You know, Minister, I disagree with Dumbledore on many counts...but you cannot deny he's got style...”   J.K Rowling, Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix

Asos Blue geo print dress

H&M braided belt

 

To me, this is the perfect dress on me. 3/4 sleeve, high neck line to not show to much skinnyness, nipped in a waist to show off my waist and skater dress bottom to give the idea that I have a wee bit of shape.

 

Now I have worn this dress a couple of times through out the year and I simply don't have the heart to change the styling of it.  I know the main reason behind this crazy year of not shopping is to try and let my creativity flow, to styles clothes in way I never have before.  But in my opinion, you can over style clothes in trying to be different or trying to be unique.  I love this dress, just the way it is so why would I change it. However, here are just some ideas

 

Options for restyling:

• Add Layers to the dress: A navy jumper would look lovely over top or even a denim shirt left open
• Add a thick belt: I did try a thicker belt this morning, it looked ok but I preferred the brown belt
• Add different shoe: I always wear my brogues with this dress but it would be nice to wear danty heels & wear it out to dinner.
• Jewellery: A nice short necklace would be nice

 

Any other ideas, let me know

Skirts Rule, Boys drool

"I think a lot of women have too many mini skirts in their closet" Michael Kors

Pull and Bear Tartan Shirt

Topshop Black Skater skirt

 

It has come to my attention that this summer I have hardly worn any trousers. I have basically survived in skirts.  I am actually not looking forward to getting back to trousers soon. Though on the days where there has been alot of wind, it hasn't been that fun to wear a skirt.

 

So back to the main reason for the blog, to catalogued my outfits each day, styling new outfits & trends out of my old wardrobe.  Today I put on this tartan shirt as I had seen the new Mango Fall lookbook and it included a leather skirt and a tartan shirt which I loved.  Though for work my short leather skirt wouldn't really work so wearing a slightly longer skater skirt.  Of course, my daily ritual of having a nosey at Asos relived that tartan shirts are totally in again. I'm with it and I didn't even though. Too cool for school.

 

Even though I haven't been writing that much lately, I am still posting to instagram every day! Check it out and follow peeps!

Instagram

 

Also, if you want easy access to all of my outfits, follow the link on the homepage entitled "My Outfits"

That will bring you to my pinterest page dedicated to all the outfits I have worn over the last 7 months.  Easy for ideas & trends that I have worn & you have liked :)





 

 

 

Not a girly girl

"People think I am making a fashion statement by not wearing a bra.  But really I am just a tomboy at heart." Cameron Diaz

Saut After vest

Topshop Black tube skirt

Topshop black wedge trainers

 

I am not a girly girl.  It is probably the reason why I haven't been posting that much cause I simply don't want to bore you.  Oh that crazy girl still hasn't bought clothes 7 months later.  She's still crazy.  I am not really doing anything of greatness lately, I am simply working away & enjoying my summer.  Other than that I can't write the random posts of hey! I want to do this or this is what my bedroom looks like cause if it was me I wouldn't read those posts.  But I am a cynical, sarcastic b**ch.  Though I had my eyes opened on Saturday.

Topshop soft blue shirt

H&M brown leatherlook skirt-similar here

On Saturday I was asked to review a promotion which is running in Belfast at the moment entitled "Beauty and the Brunch."  I had seen a few of the other Belfast Bloggers had got invited to review it so thought why not and they said I could bring a friend! So I brought my ex housemate Ciara who I have hardly seen since she moved out in March.  For £25, you can head to The Beauty Company off Montgomery Street in the centre of town to get a beauty treatment done then to lunch at St George's Bar and Grill.  Pretty good value when the beauty products alone usually start at £30!

 

 

 

So off we went, chinwagging (chatting non-stop) the whole way to the beauticians.  We both had the Shellac nails done (though you can get either a deluxe manicure or a Spray tan too), I had a divine pastel blue and Ciara had a soft mint colour painted on.  Now I am not a girly girl but I loved the whole process. Nails cut and painted while catching up with a friend over herbal tea! The girls in The Beauty Company were great fun too!! Ciara even got some fab free samples of new dermalogica products! Great service!

 

My divine pastel blue colour & red berry herbal tea!

 

We had a nice little wander around the shops in town then we dandered on over to St George's Market to have a nosey.  Now for living a 5 minute walk from St. George's market, I wish I made more of an effort with it.  It has such an atmosphere and it sells everything!!! We were booked in for lunch upstairs in the St George's Bar and Grill.  They had a fab balcony where Ciara and I had lunch on.  It was amazing just to people watch! People watching is such a holiday thing to do but with the sun streaming in through the glass ceiling of the market and the people buying all their produce and then Ciara and I nattering on about clothes, holidays and boys, we could have been anywhere.

 

 

I had never been in the St George's Bar and Grill before and I was really impressed by how busy it was on a Saturday afternoon at noon! Ciara and I were both starving by the time we got to the restaurant.  The food definitely hit the spot though! I had a gorgeous potato and leek soup while Ciara had the sausage and mushroom risotto.  Yummy, yummy in my tummy!

 

It was a really girly outing, one that I hadn't ever really done before! I can now see why so many ladies lunch!!! It was fab just to relax and catch up with Ciara but at the same time take in the amazing things that Belfast has to offer and for such a fab price, I have decided to do it all over again this weekend!!

 

And what pray tell of the fashion for the day? I wore my gorgeous new shirt that my mum got me for my birthday and a brown leather look skirt I bought from H&M a few years ago.  Me being an idiot must have put it in the tumble dryer and it has magically gotten smaller.  (Either that or my bum has got bigger!!) So I spent the whole day walking around with my hands firmly on the bottom of the skirt pulling it down so I didn't show my arse to Belfast.  It is now in the bin, 1 skirt that can now be taken off the list of items I own.  What is that 28 skirts down to 27? Very annoyed

 

For more information, check out the following websites:

www.beautycompanybelfast.com

www.beautyandthedeals.com

http://www.stgeorgesbargrill.com/