The 3 S's

"Either you run the day or the day runs you." Jim Rohn

Zara denim shirt

Urban Outfitters Flower skater skirt-similar here

Zara Spike Necklace-similar here

 

 

Sluggish, sleepy and spent are words I would use to describe myself at the minute.  Well today is the first day within the last week were I have woke up with a smile on my face or at least not had to force my eyes open with sellotape.  Could it still be jet lag? My body clock up to sunday night was sending me to sleep at half 2/3 in the morning. We are in our quiet time at work as well.  I always think when you are doing a lot of things, time passes quicker and it doesn't help your motivational levels when you are sitting at your desk staring at the wall.

 

I am feeling completely uninspired by my wardrobe as well. I am back in that runt where I was throwing on me whatever I wore the day before. Until last night, my wardrobe was residing on the floor of my room.  I still haven't done a wash from before Florida so that has piled up in a corner in my room.  (I do have a laundry bin in my room but it is completely fill.) The sun today though has helped to ease my mood & a impromptu visit from my boyfriend.  Glad to say, I have never worn this skirt before! It is an absolute joke that after 6 months of this challenge I still have pieces in my wardrobe I haven't worn.

 

So July will be the month of stuff I haven't worn.  Each day I will try to wear a piece I haven't worn yet.  I mean if I haven't worn it at this stage, do I really want it in my wardrobe??? So at the end of each blog post, I try to decide to KEEP or BIN (slash give to a charity shop).  Please comment to have your say as well!!!!



 

 

 

One of the 7 dwarves

"I can be a bit grumpy.  I am full of horomones and angst." Nicholas Hoult

White Vest top Benetton-similar here

Urban Outfitters Painter Shirt-similar here

Urban Outfitters navy leggings

Topshop belt-similar here 

 

Nice and easy basic day today. String tops.  I have about 40 of them in every single colour, in colours that you probably haven't even seen before but I have them.  My mum used to always buy me a couple as stocking fillers at Christmas, just to have.  They are great, I wear them all year round, under tops, by themselves. You don't need every colour like me but maybe black, white and then a coloured one that you would wear often. All mine are from Benetton and last for years.

 

I'm grumpy. I've noticed that in the last two weeks that I am more stressed, more worrisome, easily irrigated. I don't know why, it's not like life is hard at the minute. Gorgeous boyfriend, great friends, fab job and my blog is going from strength to strength. But still it's that annoying voice inside your head messing with your happiness. I am so focused on everyone else around me that I am getting left behind. So how would I normally fix this??? I would go shopping.

Am I grumpy because I am not shopping? The feeling of spoiling yourself, the feeling of how good a new top or dress makes you feel, I miss that. I haven't spoilt myself in over 3 months. It's not that I think everyone needs to shop to feel good but I haven't treated myself in ages. I booked a holiday for Connor & I for June & the 1 thing I want to do is go buy a bikini but I can't. That one thing isn't hard but everything on top of that is tough.

 Hoody lovingly made by Zoe J Watson

Topshop Basic Vest

Asos Cycling Shorts-similar here

 

So when Jayne suggested to me that we go try Bikram yoga, I thought why not. If anyone knows me personally they know that gyms & Laurina don't mix. I have never been into a gym, don't exercise & I even get out of breath walking up the stairs. So for me to be like Hey, that actually sounds like fun is a biggy. But I thought why not, something different & fun to do on a Tuesday night. So off we went Hill street (just near the merchant) & upstairs to Flow Studio yoga. (Here's there website if you interested Flow Studio We were greeted by funky candles, fluffy pillows & a sign saying please take your shoes off. (I have really smelly feet so was a bit apparasive.)

The teacher, I don't even know her name (found out it is Elizabeth now!) but she was one of these people that you wonder if they get periods. She was so happy & care free, usually I am not a massive fan of these type of people as to me it all seems false & over the top & makes me feel awful cause I'm
a grumpy b**tch. How my opinion changed. The yoga went on for an hour & a half in 32 degree heat & at one point, she can up behind me, massages my shoulders & whispered in my ear "I'm just behind you sweetie." Well I think I fell in love with her at that minute. I loved it, it was £8 but you can buy package deals so I def will be going back! I feel more relaxed (could be the Thai that Jayne & Zara had afterwards)  I am not too sore today, more stiff than anything especially between my shoulders.

At it like Bunnies

"Hedwig didn't return until the end of the Easter holidays. Percy's letter was enclosed in a package of Easter eggs that Mrs. Weasley had sent. Both Harry's and Ron's were the size of dragon eggs, and full of home-made toffee." J.K Rowling, Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire

 

 

I hope everyone had a great Easter!!  I don't know about you but I vegetated over Easter.  I was meant it be heading to Galway over the Easter weekend and I was looking forward to go (sorry cocopops if you read this) but I was really glad when it got cancelled last minute cause I was able to catch up on life! House is spotless, washing up to date, sheets on the bed changed, over cleaned, you name it, I did it. So this means the main looks for Easter was tracksuits, hoodies, dressing gown, pjs, rubber gloves, etc etc Not much to post about so I took a little holiday from le blogging.

 

 

Lets see, last time I blogged was after the Ikea Fashion Swap which went great! Friday I went up home as my cousin & her Fiance were visiting from Dublin. It was basically a family day so chic comfort was what I wanted. Though I was completely out done in the fashion stakes by my 78 year old granny! Went to the grandparents house for a good old 3 course Italian meal where you eat so much you have to be rolled out the door & I find my granny cooking at the stove wearing a neon coral jumper, white shirt and boot cut jeans. Perfectly on trend and she had no idea what I was talking about when I told her! Go Nonna!

 

 

Saturday I was working as one of the models at the Fashion Fun Day in Portadown and Lurgan! It was a great event to promote more shopping in the local towns as it showcased local fashion that was available in the shops at the minute. Great event but by god was it cold!! We had to model the clothing for 10mins at a time and most of it was Summer looks, which meant no sleeves, summer dresses, t-shirts. Bbbbbbrrrrrrrrrrrr! You see modelling isn't glamorous at all!!!! I was fine but my wimp of a boyfriend who was working too, got a cold afterwards. Women are completely the superior sex.

 

 

Connor wearing Jack and Jones from S.D Kells in Lurgan

Carys wearing Coast from Houstons in Lurgan

 

 

The next time I wore clothes was on Monday when I went to visit my sick boyfriend at his house. Pussy. Maybe this look was a wee bit too summery for the 1st of April with temperatures as low as 3 degrees but I wanted to embrace Spring!

 

Berska Tan Leather Jacket

Primark Light Denim Shirt-similar here

Topshop White Baxter Jeans

Office Nude Fashion trainers

 

Success! I also got dressed on Tuesday! Connor and I had a lovely lunch on my final day off at Love and Death in the centre of town.  I have been to Love and Death on a few nights out but never eaten in it so I was excited to get some grub in my belly! Bring Baby wipes, they are def needed for the baby back ribs!

Black Topshop Shirt

Topshop Leigh Jeans

Black Snood River Island

Black Leather Jacket Zara 

The day of mother's

The moment a child is born, the mother is also born. She never existed before. The woman existed, but the mother, never. A mother is something absolutely new. ~Rajneesh

White H&M tshirt

Black Zara Skinnies

Stills Long Cardigan

Office Nude wedge trainers

Zara Necklace - Similar here

 

 

Aw monday, why do you come around so fast?!?!  I hope everyone spoilt their mum at the weekend!  I travelled up to the north coast and spent the weekend with my family.  Well my two families.  My parents divorced when I was four and both remarried and had kids with their partners so my family is kinda extended.  Feel sorry for Connor as there is so many family members! But it is great cause at Birthday's and Christmas's I get double the presents but then of course I have to buy twice the amount of presents! Ah the joys of a modern family!

 

So I bought my Step mum, a gorgeous funky candle that had feathers & everything on it!  My little sister and I then bought my mum a gorgeous basic dress from topshop, perfect for the summer but then she is also able to wear it now by putting a jumper over it. Boom! Brownie Points galore.

 

 

 

Mum's lovely Mother's Day present - link here

 

 

So I had to go into topshop to obviously buy the dress and I really didn't see anything I wanted to buy.  If I was buying of course!  So that made me feel good cause if I had went in and seen loads, I prob would have burst into tears.  My mum has always influenced my clothing style.  I think the more we grow up, the more we turn into our mothers.  Thank god, mine is a MILF (haha extra brownie points!)  I remember my mum telling me not to mix brown and black when I was younger which I do all the time so her advice isn't always right but I still follow the rule that she told me "If you are showing a lot of skin up top, don't show skin down below. It's about balance". 

 

Black Zara Skinnies

White Blouse Topshop

Black Benetton Boyfriend Blazer

White converse

Black & gold cord necklace

 

 

This was my outfit for mother's day lunch.  We went out to the Winebar (duh, I don't even need to tell you where we go to eat anymore.  It is always there) But I really loved this look and it is all pieces that I have worn before and posted about but I never would have pieced it together like this before.  Especially not with the converse!  This week I am going to do a post of basics and how to wear them 50 different ways!  One good thing about my wardrobe is the fact that I have a good foundation of basics like I said on Friday or else I don't think I would be able to do this challenge at all!! So keep a eye out for that post!

 

Here's me & my ma yesterday :)

Promo Promo Promo

"Everybody know, I don't do promoting.  I don't ever have to promote nothing, that's the beauty of Lil Wayne" Lil Wayne

H&M navy star dress-similar here

Topshop grey cropped jumper

H&M Brown Belt

Unlike lil Wayne, I need to promote. I'm just a little country girl from the north coast of Northern Ireland trying to make a ripple in the big bad world of blogging. I'm sure people are sick of my Facebook being taking over by my self promoting!! Ah well!!  Be prepared for more!

No rest for the wicked! Straight from work home to video a little promo for my blog and also some lovely photos! For me, working in the fashion industry in Northern Ireland for the last 6 years with contacts in make up, hair, fashion stylists, fashion designers, fashion PR etc etc has really helped with the blog and of course I have my favourite people to work with.

One of the people to give me a boost when I started modelling was Connor Kerr. He is mad, he is loud, he is one of the campest, bluntest person I know but by god he is good at what he  does.  I am crap at hair, can't do anything with my hair apart from brush it which sometimes I don't even do that!!  (you have prob noticed from my photos, that my hair doesn't change from a day to day basis, well now you know the reason why)  But for some reason my hair hums when Mr Kerr touches it, it bends to his will and suddenly is absolutely fab.  I am usually left going, how the hell did he do that?!? We have worked on so many projects together and everytime the images have turned out fab.  Now Connor doesn't just do fashion shoot hairstyles, he runs a business with Emma McConville Mua (more on emma in a second) where for £40, they will do your hair and make up for a night out, special occasion, formal, whatever you want basically.  I went to them for my modelling agencies Christmas party to work their magic wands and I loved what they did! Got so many people asking who did my hair and make up that night!!

My hair and make up the night of the ACA Christmas party by Connor and Emma! 

Here are some of my favourite hair & make up by Connor and Emma on little old me!

It of course takes two to tango and Emma is the peanut butter to Connor's Jam! She trained at the Oonagh Bowman School of Make up and is amazing with a make up brush in her hand.  I literally came home from work yesterday, puffy eyes, scabby face, dry skin, I was so tired as well as I hadn't been feeling well and she worked her magic & I looked normal again! Emma is always my go to for all my make up enquires.  She always tells me to start with your eyes first so that you will end up with perfect make up each time.  She uses a whole range of products from Clinque to Urban Decay, Seanna, Collection 2000 and every time I love my make up.  Here are some behind the scenes photos from last night of Emma and Connor at work & me just standing there.

Now who is the master of these images and of my up and coming video appearance???  For this I actually got to work with someone I have never worked with before but have wanted to for ages! Tony Webster, director of the BigBad Llama is the new and up incoming photographer/videographer for Belfast.  His work ressembles Terry Richardson who I absolute love so I couldn't believe my luck when he agreed to work with me on this little promo session I wanted to do. I can't wait to see the video and I got a sneak peak this morning of a few bits and pieces and it is absolutely fab so look out for it!! Totes amazeballs!

Here is some contact info with direct links for all of these lovely folk I mentioned! They are definitely masters at what they do and highly recommend them to work with!

Connor Kerr : Connor Kerr Hair
Emma Mc Conville: Emma McConville Mua  
Tony Webster: Tony Webster, BigBad Ilama

Catching Flies

"I am shocked to have gone as far as I have gone"  Steven Patrick Morrissey

I was up at 7.37 today. That might be normal for some people but this is coming from a girl who at the start of the year was getting out of bed at 9.15 and starting work at 9.30 with a 12 minute walk to complete as well. Early rises to me are always associated with going on holiday but sadly this is not the case.

I wouldn't get out of bed for just anyone. It would have to be a pretty special person to get me to open my eyes & that special person was Miss Jenny Curran. For nearly two years, I listened to the tap tap tapping of Jenny's computer keys as she wrote her articles for The Sunday World in the bedroom beside me. ( I heard other noises too especially every sunday at 10am but I won't go into that) so it is an odd sensation to be a subject of Miss Curran's stories. It's an odd sensation as I have said before that anyone wants to listen/read about my blog.

I have lovely journalists like Miss Curran who's ears have pricked at my blog and my challenge contacting me. I also have my own monthly column in a local magazine, Local Woman, I am working with one of my favourite company's Ikea and their "make room for your life" campaign, I am running a clothes swapping event at Belfast Fashionweek and in May I am attending a bloggers conference to discuss my blog. (More on each of these things later!) And to top this all off, I still haven't bought any clothes for the last two months!!

My first column in Local Woman!

I am astounded, shocked, perplexed, amazed, stunned, astonished and overwhelmed. (That's all the adjectives that I can think off at this time in the morning.). Who knew.

I really am actually finding the no clothes shopping pretty easy if I am honest. I haven't worn the same thing twice and I have re fallen back in love with my wardrobe. It's made me appreciate fashion again and taking the time to put some thought and effort into the way I present myself. Granted my hair is still greasy and my nails are always dirty and I still wear mis-matched socks but at least my outfits look well! My dad says that I probably will be the cause of the triple dip recession due to my lack of spending in the shops though.

But I can't wait to see where else this blog brings me! So keep tuning in! It is only February like, I still have 10 months to go so it might all go downhill soon!!!

Furry Friends

"Animal are my friends, I don't eat my friends" George Bernard Shaw

 Asos owl jumper-alternative here

Topshop Striped pencil skirt - similar here  

Warehouse Black waist belt - similar here

No! When I say furry friends, I am not talking about my legs!! I am of course talking about the animal jumper motifs that seem to be everywhere at the minute! Kicked started by Burberry this time last year at London Fashion week for Fall 2012 (seen below for the gorgeous models wearing a twit too owl jumper)

If you follow the big blogs, you will have seen that all of the girls have the Kenzo tiger jumper. Here is one of my favourite bloggers, Chiara Ferragni wearing hers.

Of course, before Christmas I was lusting after one of these so that I could be one of the cool crowd but with a hefty price tag of £165, I re thought about it. But I still wanted a jumper with a furry friend on it. My wantings were answered by one of my Santa's aka my step mum. Got my own little owl! Kate bosworth, eat your heart out.

This photo was taken on the last day of my romantic holiday away with my other half over New Year's Eve to Paris. This orange juice cost 9 euros!! It was delicious though.  I put this photo in as my hair looks lovely and washed and with no roots.  Basically to remind myself that it needs done badly. Also, I got slagged for not making my bed for my photos so Mr Mark Ginley, the bed is made especially for you.

Here are some of my favourite animal jumpers!

Topshop Tiger Jumper £45 

 Sugarhil Kissing Squirrel Jumer £39.57

New Look dog Jumper £20

 

Dorothy Perkins Bunny Jumper £28 

What goes around, comes around.

"So soon that a fashion is universal, it is out of date" Marie Von Ebner-Eschenbach

 White Shirt

True Religion jeans 

Topshop studded pumps 

Sandwich Scarf

The secret to fashion is that nothing really ever goes out of fashion. Everything is always coming back into trend, maybe years, decades or even a century in time. This was the highly intellectual conversation that my friend Zoe and I were having on Sunday night after we had been to the pictures to see Tween rom-com Beautiful Creatures. (a movie not to drag your boyfriend to ladies, that would just be cruel.) Here are a few of my favourite recurring trends that I want to recreate over the next few weeks. It can be a game, guess what trend I am wearing today!

Trend number one

Monochrome: striped, checked, different sleeves, different trousers legs. You name it, if it is black and white, it is bang on trend. As seen previously in my blog, I have achieve the monochrome look without buying anything new this season. I'm down with the kids.

Trend number two

Shift: no this is not slang for kissing someone (to shift someone is to kiss them right?? Or did I just make this up??) Shift clothing is a box shaped like attire for example shift dresses. I don't really have that many shift style clothing items as it doesn't really suit my shape as I am so small and it drowns me. But I do have a few shift shirts that I like to tuck into pencil skirts or skinnies. Totally rocking the swinging sixties. Especially if it is a bright colour, far out dude. Check out this shift dress from Asos

Trend number three

The nineties: think spice girls, think all saints, think b*witched and their double denim. C'est la vie! The nineties are back although it seems only yesterday that they were actually here. Back in the day I was rocking my Adidas poppers (aw remember these, the tracksuit bottoms with the buttons the whole way up them) but this trend is truly rocking the doc martins and dungarees look! I'm not sure if this one I am going to be able to achieve or even pull off it without fully looking like I am my 12 year old tomboy self again.

Trend number four

Flares: omg, can it be true?!? Bloggers from all over the world have been working the flare wide leg trousers for the past couple of seasons but flare jeans are finally coming back into fashion! Spotted on the catwalk at New York Fashion Week, I will be dusting off my denim flares that have been huffing with me at the back of my wardrobe for the past couple of years. No more skinnies which are a nightmare to get off. Sexy undressing in these is impossible. It has gotten to the point where I try not to wear skinnies if Connor is coming over to my house to stay if you know what I mean ;)

Rebecca Minkoff at New York Fashion week

Yeah so, trend spotting for 2013 by wearing fashion from previous years. This can't qualify as vintage can it?!?

New Eyes

"The voyage of discovery is not in seeking new landscapes but in having new eyes." Marcel Proust

Jumper orginally from Primark -similar here

Asos Berry midi dress

You know that feeling when you are so busy that you look at the date and you are like how the heck did I get here???  I did that this morning.  13th of February,  how did it get to this date?  How did it all of a sudden become 2013? In my mind I am still lazing on the sofa on a Saturday afternoon in my pyjamas during summer 2012. I feel like I am constantly playing catch up.  Catch up with my blog, catch up wit my friends (in the sense of hey! I haven't seen you in ages, we need a catch up!) to catch up with my life.  The massive pile of dirty laundry in my utility room is calling my name.

I am loving doing the blog though. As I said when I started this I wanted to do a fashion/style blog for a while now.  I actually started one, posted up one post then my mind went completely blank.  Didn't know what else to write and I didn't have the confidence to post another one, I just assumed that no one rarely cared what I thought.  I still think this but I'm basically sticking my middle finger up to my nerves & going with the flow.  The no buying clothes for a year is basically a challenge for me but it was also a wee sneaky PR stunt to get your attention (I did PR at Uni so please excuse that naughty tactic).  I wanted people to read the blog and be like hey what is this crazy girl doing, then fall in love with it & empathise with it and hopefully come back to read it again and again.  Well that and my spending on clothes was getting a absolute joke.

I am re falling in love with my wardrobe and fashion in general.  I am dressing better than I ever have as I am taking the time to have a good look at what is in my wardrobe.  I am putting items together that haven't seen the light of days for ages and I am loving what I am doing and how I am feeling.  I am not promoting to anyone that you shouldn't buy clothes for a year, I mean you must be crazy to do that!! But I want to promote a smarter shopping world.  I was buying clothes for the sake of it.  I bought this gorgeous sequin top from Asos in September of last year (here it is if you want a nosey Asos sequin top), I loved it and snapped it up the minute that I saw it.  Now I still haven't worn it, please someone invite me to something where I can wear it!!!! All girls have said, OMG I have nothing to wear before a night out.  That translated is basically OMG, I have nothing new to wear.  But you don't need something new.  You just need new eyes.

My above photo,  if you are an avid follower of my blog, you might recognise that I wore this jumper last week?  It's ok, I won't judge if you don't pay that much attention to the photos and are like what is she talking about. However, it looks a completely different jumper with a dress than it does with a shirt and skinnies doesn't it? I hear your yes's through the computer screen. Thus, my point is proven and my work here is done.