Waking up

"Our life is made up of time. Our days are measured in hours, our pay measured by those hours, our knowledge is measured by years. And yet time eventually runs out and you wonder in your heart of hearts if those seconds, minutes, hours, days, weeks, months, years and decades were being spent the best way they possibly could.” Celica Ahern

Topshop Drape black blouse-similar here

Asos Wrap skirt

Warehouse neon necklace

 

I am getting very bad at this blogging thing.  I know, I am very sorry. Last you heard from me I was leaving on a jet plane to support my boyfriend in a model competition in London for 12 hours.  It literally took me 4 days to recover from it saying that I arrived, partied, had about 3 hours sleep then up on the plane home & straight into work for half 9.  It was a great night & coco did amazing even if he didn't win.  He did so well that I might be blogging from London in the future ;)

 

Not one to exaggerate but I felt like a prostitute that night.  Not that I didn't feel good with what I was wearing or confidence in myself but in the sense of I felt I was very smouldering & sexy compared to everyone.  Don't get me wrong, it's not that everyone else wasn't dressed up but everyone was wearing quirky outfits. Crop tops & baggy leggings, sequin backless dresses & big wedge ankle boot heels, baggy tshirt dresses and one girl was wearing grey dungarees and a black crop top.  While I arrive in a tight, short black leather dress and then left in a tight, short black leather dress from my boyfriend's hotel room at 6am in the morning.  Maybe I am twisting it to sound funnier than it was.  It was a good night overall.

 

Other than that, I feel that I have just woke up.  I can't believe that a week has gone since I blogged.  Nothing has happened since then but it doesn't seem that a week has gone pass.  Time is going so quickly.  7 months in and I haven't bought anything.  I can't believe it is 7 months, I can't get it in my head at all. 

 

Houston, we have a problem though.  The next 3-4 months are usually when I buy all my clothes in the sort of annual year. I don't know why but this is the time I find, I usually have a wee bit more disposable income.  Last year I spent £2000 in 3 months on clothes.  That's a lot, I don't know what I spent it on but I just remember working it out when I started this challenge. Scary biscuits.  I am heavily relying on my birthday presents at the moment.  Today I am wearing my new necklace that was gifted to me from Warehouse and the black wrap skirt that Connor got me for my birthday.  I am reverting back to my old ways, only wearing something new.  I need to go through my wardrobe again and remind myself what I have. 

 

Laurina's top secret successful tip to trying to not to buy clothes

• Go through your wardrobe once a month to remind yourself what you already have.  It is so easy to forget.

You are welcome.

Freak Out!

"Before I go on stage I always have a freak out that lasts about 5 minutes. I scream, I jump up and down and I beat my chest.  It always seems to help." Josh Groban

Stills blue Tshirt

Benetton Navy midi skirt-similar here

Zara orange necklace-similar here

 

 

I am having a slight freak out.  Not a freak out exactly, I am maybe just in a hyper mood. I am like Owen Wilson in Armageddon  "I'm 90% excited and 10% scared or is it 90% scared and 10% excited. I don't know. That's what makes it so intense." Maybe it is the lack of social contact, I have literally only really had long social contact with my boss within the last week.  Connor is away, my 2 housesmates were away over the weekend, I meet up with zoe for dinner on Friday night but only for 2 hours.  My boss is now my best friend.  Maybe it is the fact I worked for 6 days straight last week, had yesterday off and the weather was crap so I slept all day till I went to have my picture taken with my mum & sister.  I just need to do some to expel my energy. Feel like I am energetically rambling.

 

 

Ok, and breathe.  Yesterday after promising my mum for 6 months (it was actually her xmas present and birthday present which was on the 31st of December all rolled into 1), I finally got around to sorting out, a lovely girly photoshoot for me, my little sister and mum. Cue Kelly McAllister, amazing photographer for taking our photos, putting up with Carla's squeals that something was on her leg, my mum arriving in wedges to a forest as she is the smallest out of all 3 of us and my non stop talking & hyperness. Absolute Legend. Check out her website here: Kelly McAllister Photography

 

Here's a sneak peek of the shoot! I love it! So nice to do and have!

 

My mum wanted us all in matching white shirts and blue jeans. Hell no!!!! I wanted us to wear something nice and simple that showed our style.  I caved a little bit when I rung her and learnt that Carla and mum were wearing black and white.  Nice that we were matching but matching in our own way. Don't we all are just look like sisters???? Mum had me as a teenage pregnancy! Hahaha she wishes!!!!

 

 

I wore a gorgeous white jumper from Zara that Connor got me for my birthday. And a simple black skater skirt from Topshop.  I was trying to wear something that in 10, 15 years time I wouldn't look back and think oh jesus what am I wearing. Hair & make up I did myself! Really simple, rollers in the hair for an hour and plain make up. No eyeshadow or anything. Really proud cause I am usually crap at make up & hair!!!  Cant' wait to see the rest of the images!!!

Tomorrow I am off to London for 12 hours to support Connor in the final of a big modelling competition. Can I buy a new dress?? No. No I can't. Who thought of this stupid challenge?!?! More info on that tomorrow. I am home tonight to hunt for an outfit that I can wear from work straight to airport straight to final venue to after party to airport at 5am in morning back into work at half 9.  If anyone has any idea what to wear, please do help me out. I refuse to carry a massive bag around London. Rumour has it from my twitter stalking at Made in Chelsea cast will be there. Starting to freak out again.....

I promise I'm not dead..

“We become what we repeatedly do.” Sean Convey

Topshop Crossstitch skater skirt

Urban Outfitters White beaded vest-similar here

Black Waywafer Raybans

 

 

I promise I am not dead.  I am just being lazy.  I am not going to lie and say that I have been run off my feet and had no time to blog blah blah blah. I haven't it.  I haven't been doing anything, simply enjoying the weather, enjoying the quiet time in work, enjoying my birthday with the family, enjoying time with Connor without being on our phones all the time.

 

 

I am awful, if I don't have routine then I won't do anything. If I get out of the habit of doing something then I won't do it at all. Lazy Laurina. Such a pretty name.  But Samples are back in work so busy again there, my diary is filling up over summer so no more can't be arsed attitude. Back to letting you all know my every movement apart from when I go to the bathroom.  (That's a whole different blog that I have planned).

  

First never have I walked to work without a coat or cardigan or something over me.  It is beautiful at the minute, so nice to actually have a summer in Northern Ireland.  The lift light was kind to me this morning, (probably cause I had my new sunnies on), it usually makes me look like I've just done a Buffy and crawled out of my own coffin so a special new lift selfie! ooooohhhh

 

I still haven't bought anything. No clothes, no sales, no nothing.  Though with my birthday last week, I have had a lot bought for me to probably last me the next 6 months till this challenge is over.  

 

 

This was my bed, the day after my birthday.  Literally exploded with clothes. My mum got me clothes, my housemate got me clothes, Connor got my Asos password repeatedly shoved in his face and my best friends got me specially made personalised clothes.  So now begins the showing off of all my new threads.  The skirt and sunglasses I am wearing today were a birthday present from my darling mother.  

 

This was me out for dinner on my birthday.  White shirt you have seen before, actually you have seen it loads of times, standard Topshop. White Shorts, standard Hollister short shorts. Gold glitter bag, Monsoon, it was my formal bag in Upper sixth but look, look at the shoes. Oh god, look at the shoes!!!! I am not a shoes girl. Never have been.  I have some pairs of pumps since I was 16 & that's not good cause I have smelly feet but these shoes are my new God. Zara, Spring season, I have them in black as well bought to me by my mummy.  And the angel herself bought me the blue pair for my birthday. Amen, you sexy lady. I am privileged to have popped out of your lady garden. Mum of the year goes to Piera Morelli Armstrong!  

 

 

 

The woman does it again! I had lusting after this blue shirt for 2 months in Topshop.  My mum had bought it and it is so soft.  Yes, I know I do not need another blue shirt (total is now sitting at 7) BUT its so different! Its a different shade of blue, it has pockets on the front and its so soft and easy with rolled up sleeves.  I rest my cause.

 

Topshop Casual Blue Shirt

Now this is an outfit is all new.  Top and maxi skirt picked out by me but bought by my little sister and necklace bought by my mum.  That woman is really a legend. Though I think Carla, my little sister helped her pick this necklace, kinda fuzzy in this photo but I am sure you will see it over the next 6 months.

 

Topshop black & white cord necklace

Asos white swing cami

Asos black maxi skirt

 

Now on to the boyfriend who had my Asos password repeatedly shoved down his throat.  It took him a while to realise but he got there in the end. Actually the black cami is another present from mum. Jesus mum!!! You need to curbed your presents!!! The black skirt is from Connor though.  It is one of the black wrap skirts that all the bloggers are wearing.  Can I just say it is dangerous!!!! Gorgeous skirt but the slit is right over my va jay jay & I don't know how someone hasn't figured this out yet & why it is selling so well!  That's actually probably the reason why it has been selling well.

Last & not least, what I have wanted for months.  Black trainer wedges. Praise the Lord. Praise the Cocopops. He done well, oh he done good. 

Topshop black Cami
Asos black wrap skirt
Topshop Black hidden heel wedges

Oh trust me there is more to come.  I was a very spoilt girl from everyone. I think they just felt sorry for me as I have stupidly taken on this challenge or maybe it is a reward for doing amazingly so far.  Yeah that's it. Rewards.....Not spoilt...rewards. Wish it was my Birthday ever month.

 

Hyperness

"When I was little I wasn't allowed to put sugar on my breakfast cereal because it made me so hyper." Dan O'Brien

 

Sandwich Pattern Blouse

Topshop double layer tube skirt

 

 

As some of you may have already read on my twitter or Facebook I am going on holidays tonight.  Blame it for not have posted that much this week.  It's not that I haven't had time, I am fully organised for my 2 weeks away, been packed since last friday night but that quiet anticipation that keeps rolling in my belly means I haven't been able to sit down and focus.  It is even hard typing this as all I want to do is count my dollars again or look up secret facts of Disney world just to randomly drop them into conversation. 

 

 I am so excited to wear pieces of my wardrobe that I haven't worn in ages due to the bad weather. Typical though that the good weather is right before I go away! Can't wear any of my nice summer wear as I don't want to have to wear it and get it dirty before I head away so hence why not that many clothing posts this week!

 

 

Obviously as I am going on holiday I won't be blogging as much as I would like too (lies, I can't to have a break from everything and just scream weeeeeeeeeeee on the roller coasters).  I do still hope to do a few blog posts and post some outfits of the day photos as it will be nice to show you guys how I am styling some of my summer clothes.  Most of my clothes I have worn before and posted about them but now with a summer twist! No tights in sight!!!! If you would like to follow my holiday, keep an eye on my other social media sites!

 

 

Links:

 

Facebook: Fashion Fasting

Twitter: @laurinak

Instagram: laurinamkennedy

Pinterest: Laurinak



Miss Selfridge Black and Gold maxi dress-similar here

Topshop cropped denim jacket

Wildest Fantasies

"Abandon the search for the truth; settle for a good fantasy." Arthur Conan Doyle Sr

I feel like I am avoiding fashion. Apart from my own wardrobe and working with samples everyday and writing the blog & modeling.....ok, still pretty much surrounded by fashion everyday!!! But I can't remember the last time I looked at Asos. This is coming from the girl who was on their website, a minimum 3 times a day. Easter Monday because it was the first day that you could tell that the season was starting to change, I really wanted to go into town and go shopping so instead I drove 20miles away from Belfast to Connor's house to ensure that I didn't fall to temptation. Now when I go into shops with Connor, we don't kiss at the door and part our ways for half an hour. One to the male section, one to the female section. I trail behind him to the male section to play the doting, opinionated girlfriend. I haven't bought as many magazines either.

I'm scared, scared that I will see something I really like. I don't know, I don't think I will but who knows. I feel I am failing as a so called fashion blogger. So this weekend, I will be catching up on the fashion that is out there at the minute! Shops, magazine, blogs, u name it. I will be having a nosey to see what is out and about & letting you know my favorite looks as I find them over the weekend! Stay tuned my friends :)

She's My Angel

"She's beautiful- just like, like an angel!" Bashful, Snow White

Green Day Dress Primark - similar here 

Asos Gold Studded belt - similar here 

Black Brogues Primark - similar here 

Black Benetton Boyfriend Blazer 

 So after creating a food baby with my housemates last night in the form of a Thai Chicken Curry, we decided to roll out the door to the first Miss Northern Ireland heat. The heat is always held in Cafe Vaudeville, a gorgeous bar and restaurant in Belfast city centre (they do the most amazing strawberry and apple martini!) and is always the best heat to go to. Honestly, you simply go to have a nosey at the new contestants, judge them on their dress, make up etc and try and guess who will win. For the girls who enter the Miss Belfast/Miss Cafe Vaudeville heat, I honestly think it is the hardest heat to get through to the final on as there is the highest number of applicants and it has the biggest crowd so it is very nerve wrecking.

Cafe Vaudeville's gorgeous ceiling

So off we went, 2 of my gorgeous housemates Ciara & Jayne, Connor and I. It was like we were Charlie's angels but instead Connor's angels. Now why would my boyfriend like to attend a Miss Northern Ireland heat you may ask? Cause he is a even bigger gossip than girl I know. All night he keep talking about what dresses he liked and who had the best hair, at one point I had to ask him who he was talking too as I had been talking to someone else & he just shrugged his shoulders & continued on. Men are most definitely from Mars.

I have been wanting to try a certain look for a while now. I saw a blogger on Instagram wear a similar outfit to Milan Fashionweek last year and I thought I would be brave and try it.

Now when I think of white, I think of warm summer days so the fact I decided to wear white trousers let alone a full white outfit was quite out there for me. It sorta almost has an angelic look to it which is totally not me! I had thought to wait to try it at Belfast Fashionweek at the end of March but I had no idea what else to wear and I was on a time limit of 30minutes to get ready so all white it was. And my bravery paid off!!!!

 Photo of Moi last night taken by the dashing Brendan Gallagher

At the heat I won Best Dressed! It was sponsored by the fabulous The Outlet, Banbridge (I love going to The Outlet, it has fab bargains and I always get my Calvin Klein underwear from it!!) The gorgeous and sneaky Eve Brannon, The Outlet's stylist presented me with a gorgeous Hot Diamonds Bracelet from Chapelle Jewellery (just another one of the amazing shops at The Outlet) after lying to me and telling me she wanted a photo with me as she was doing an article on winter whites. I was in shock, I never win anything! It just shows you that everybody has great items in their wardrobe and if you don't think you do then start from the basics like a great pair of skinnies or a white shirt & you can mix them up whenever you want to.

My Gorgeous prize from The Outlet

Once the shock of winning wore off and once I had stopped chatting to friends I haven't seen in ages about my blog, the night was nearly over! Congrats to the new Miss Belfast Stacey Webb and Miss Cafe Vaudeville Emma Ward! Well deserving winners, the girls looked gorgeous. I tried to chase them at the end of the night like a stalker to ask them where their dresses were from but they were too busy getting photos done. But I recongised Stacey's dress from stalking Asos and it's a gorgeous Lipsy one! Check it out here!   The super hot babe Finola Guinnane, Miss Northern Ireland 2011 who is a good friend of mine looked out of this world as normal. She let it slip to me that her lovely dress was also Asos, Finola suits a bit of sparkles cause she's a diamond herself ;)

 Top Seven

What an exciting night! And on a school night for that matter! Thanks again to The Outlet for my gorgeous prize!! Just shows me that I am on the right path as I attended this heat last year and I couldn't have been further from best dressed if I tried. Last year I wore a navy long body con dress which went to below my knees, pearls and my hair up in a bun. I looked twice my age so it makes me even prouder of how much this challenge has caused me to change in a short period of time. And the prize was a gift so it was completely within the rules!!!!

 Left to Right: Finola Guinnane (Miss Northern Ireland 2009), Miss Cafe Vaudeville Emma Ward, Miss Belfast Stacey Webb and the current Miss Northern Ireland Tiffany Brien

Check out The Outlet for amazing offers all year round

Just incase you get the bug and want to enter Miss Northern Ireland, click here for the link!

Full moon, half moon, total eclipse

"It's an extraordinary thing, this tiny little province of Northern Ireland, where carnage happened. And I was a part of it.  I grew up in it." Liam Neeson

Primark Stripe top -similar here

Coral caridgan Therapy- similar here

Ladies navy chinos

This weekend I am backing Belfast!  If you haven't guessed by now I am from the lovely country of Northern Ireland.   I don't know about other bloggers who are reading this but I am fascinated by the views I get.  I am constantly refreshing to see how many have viewed it since I last looked. The amazingness of the internet is that you can track where people are viewing your blog from.  This week alone I have had viewers from New Zealand, Hong Kong, Poland, America, France and Germany.  It is unbelievable the power of the internet.

 View of Belfast from my balcony

So I wanted to do this post (and the next one on monday) as a review of Belfast as sadly it has been getting some bad press due to a small minority of people.  There has been a massive drive across Northern Ireland lately mainly focusing in Belfast to "back Belfast."  Due to the protests and the fact it was a very cold and long January, people have been mainly staying at home.  Understandable but it has been affecting business across the province.  Also, many visitors have been put off coming to Belfast due to what they are hearing on the news.

To be truthful, it doesn't affect my life if they fly a flag or not over City Hall in Belfast city centre.  But to some people it does and that is fair enough.  My take on it is that when I am 85 or whatever age, lying on my death bed, I won't remember the day that they decided not to fly the flag over city hall.  I will remember my family and friends,  my wedding day, giving birth to my children, their 1st smile and loving my grandchildren.

I am "half a Jaffa," as I like to call myself.  I was brought up half protestant, half catholic.  My mum was a catholic, my dad a protestant.  I went to a very protestant primary school where I wore the red hand of Ulster on my chest via my school jumper.  We said the Lord's prayer each day with the added doxology (that's the bit at the end of the Lord's prayer that protestants say).  When I was eight years old, I did my First Holy Communion and I brought my Communion dress into school for show and tell.  I didn't know that I was different, I wasn't treated different, I wasn't brought up to think there was any difference.  I just wanted to show off a dress that I had worn at the weekend.  I then attended the most catholic school in the area with nuns and everything.  Of course, I had no idea.  I just loved the school, the teachers and it was my choice.  Religion was never mentioned.  That was until the first day and we said the Lord's prayer in Assembly and I continued on at the end.  I had no clue why everyone stopped.  Call me naive, call me silly but honestly, I think my parents did a great job bringing me up not to judge people or know there is a difference between the two.

I have always got on with everyone, none of my friends care what religion I am.  I have attended mass and church.  I know the name of my family's priest and I know the name of my family's minister (I even fancied his son at one point).  Belfast is a beautiful city and I honestly can't see myself living anywhere else.  Sure, I want to go travelling and possibly live in another country for a few years but I will always come back to Northern Ireland to raise my children.  It's my home.

View of Belfast from my balcony last month

So this weekend, my schedule is jammed packed! Well tonight I am travelling to the boyfriend's house which is about half an hour outside Belfast and having a lovely home cooked belated Valentine's day meal.  Tomorrow, Connor, Connor's little brother, Harry and I are going to the Mac, Belfast's brand new arts venue.  They are showing an exhibition on Andy Warhol, the first time any of his work has been showing in Northern Ireland!  Then on Sunday, I am having a girly catch up day with my two best friends, Zoe and Jenny.  We are going to have a day of fun!!! Plan is to hit the Titanic museum which is unbelievable, ice skating, dinner in Victoria Square and who knows where else.  Probably Lisburn Road too for ice cream and a cup of tea.

So tune in Monday for lots of fun photos, reviews and what I was wearing over the weekend!

Lady and his Tramp

"Anyone can be passionate but it takes real lovers to be silly" Rose Franken

Dear spaghetti kiss (of Lady and the tramp movie, it's a metaphor post people, do try to keep up)

You highlight the way a Valentines dinner should be like. The little sigh expelled at the end when they do kiss properly truly is sweet and innocent. It represents everything that love should be. So cheers to you spaghetti kiss. Thank god you exist.  But how did you worm your little sigh into my life?  Lets begin as everything should start according to me as I am a control freak.  Let's begin at the start and go step by step chronological order.

You began as most relationships do, in very special places. Ba ba ba ba baaaaaaaaaa I'm loving it, and you. You played Lady to a T, the shy guy hiding behind his floppy hair, just like when her coy smile peeked from behind the fence in the movie while I was loud, chatty and apparently according to you, had great breastage that night.  Just like Tramp, stuffing my face with mcnuggets. We parted ways, no spaghetti kiss just yet.

Oh we tried, just friends, that was it cause I was picking up my pieces.  Ok honestly, we didn't try that hard, we meant well but please its very hard, you are very distracting.  So my tummy rumbled for you.  Cue the soundtrack and the serenade. The will they, won't they?!? Connected by that string, that piece of spaghetti. Yummy.

 

It was a lovely bella notte when it happened.  My breath smelt like alcohol, yours, well I don't quite remember as I was quite giggly ie. tipsy. Finally the spaghetti kiss! It has everything, romance, humour, impromptu musical performance, meatballs, everything I have ever wanted. I hope you know how sincere I am spaghetti kiss! You make me feel warm and fuzzy and my tummy completely full.

Ps. Happy Valentines day everyone!!! Please ignore my soppy metaphorical post that has nothing to do with fashion at all.  Here's some fashion info though. I am wearing a red dress that has been in my wardrobe for the last 3 years, yes I really said 3 years and I have never worn it!!! This again clearly highlights why I need to do this challenge!!!

Gifts

"I don't want expensive gifts; I don't want to be bought. I have everything I want. I just want someone to be there for me, to make me feel safe and secure." Princess Diana

  

Red Jumper Zara- similar here

Light Denim Shirt Primark - similar here

Topshop Leigh Skinny Jeans

I survived! Friday night was messy but I awoke on Saturday morning with only puffy stuck together eyes and a headache, saved by Dragon again!! (Dragon Rendezvous, a lovely Chinese restaurant in Belfast where drunkards like myself can go enjoy a proper sit down meal at half 2 in the morning.  Have you ever tried to use a knife & fork when you are drunk???)  Keeping with the Spring 2013 key trends, I went for a monochrome look.

White Blazer Zara

Black Leather Dress Zara

As you can clearly see from the top photo, my bedroom mirrors definitely need a good clean!! This dress was actually one of many dresses that is in my wardrobe with the tags on it! I was so excited to wear it as well, as I had got it for Christmas from my darling mother.  However, I didn't even really get to show it off as I didn't take my blazer off all night.  Oh well, I'm sure it will get another outing this year!

This weekend was a big weekend for me, this weekend I got my first clothing items of 2013. Ok, I am going to refer you back to one of my 1st posts before anyone starts arguing with me THE RULES I refer you to rule number 4 and 5, no hinting or slipping people money to buy me clothes but gifting is ok.  This weekend I got my first gifts, both were a complete surprise and unnecessary! But I accepted them with grace (I did not sleep with them in bed with me last night, hugging them for dear life...)

The first was from my dearest & nearest Mr Cocopops aka Connor.  I came back from work on Friday to this sitting on my bed

My first thought was Omg is someone watching me?!? I promise it wasn't me!!! I don't know where this came, please believe me!! Have I been shopping in my sleep??  But no, a cute note was attached & a t-shirt I had pined after was in the bag. (You don't need to know the soppiness this early on a Monday) Completely overwhelmed, it went straight on me & didn't come off all weekend.  Now at the weekends I usually take a break from blogging so it never even crossed my mind to take a photo of me wearing it.  But here it is on the All Saints website. All Saints grey Tshirt Why out of not buying anything for 6 weeks and potentially for the next 46 weeks would I crave a grey t-shirt so much that it penetrated my boyfriend's mind and clicked with him that it might be nice to get this for me?? a) he is an absolute sweetheart *sigh* b) from not buying things and looking up new ways to piece my wardrobe together, you learn the basics that you need to do this.  I did not have a grey tshirt, I now do and can now do 50 million new outfits with this 1 piece of clothing. (ok, maybe not 50 million but I've so many ideas that I may have to write them down so I don't forget)

The second item of clothing I received was a sympathy gift.  On Saturday I went up home as my aunt was visiting my mum and celebrating her 50th birthday!  Sorry I just announced your age on my blog Auntie Lisa!!! I arrived on sunday to my mum's house to be greeted by my mum in her outfit from saturday night, classy mum, classy.  She still looked great though! My aunt had purchased a red dress from Asos, that she wasn't sure about so I got it instead!!!  She said she couldn't be bothered to send it back but I think she just felt sorry for me as I stared at it longingly, the Asos tag hypnotising me, calling my name.  Now it's a size 8, and as I have the body of 14 year old boy, it could potentially not even fit but here it is.

 

Asos Midi Red dress

So can I just state that I still haven't bought any clothes or accessoires for myself in the year 2013. I promise, turn around, touch the ground, no comment about it.....

Sucking in to the Max

"I tried for modelling work but it was a bit slow and that's when I took a part-time job at McDonalds. It gave me income while I was waiting for my big break and at the very least I could eat." Sharon Stone

 

Topshop Strip Monochrome dress-similar here 

So what do you get when you put 5 female models & 2 male models together? Why the West Coast Cooler Belfast Fashion Week Trends shoot for Spring/Summer 2013 of course! So last night, I hightailed it across town from work to Paddy McGurgan Make up Pro Store on Royal Avenue to get my hair & make up done.  I actually took inspiration from one of the key trends for this season in what I wore yesterday! Black & white striped monochrome dress! Totally on trend even though it's a good 4 years old! I think at one point last night Eve Brannon, the gorgeous stylist for the shoot had a still freak out cause she saw this dress bunched up & rolled up like a ball lying on the floor and thought it was one of the dress from the shoot!

I don't want to give too much away as you will have to wait to see the fabulous photos!  So to give you a backstage peak into being a so called "model".  If you think modelling is fun and glamorous (Ok, maybe it is at some points) but honestly it is a lot of sitting around.  It is unavoidable especially on these types of shoots as there are so many looks and other models to shoot as well.

First things first, straight in to the make up chair.  I had the gorgeous and sexilicous Gemma Garrett (Former Miss Great Britain and all around hotty) do my make up last night.  Gemma is currently taking part in Paddy's very exclusive and sort after Make up Academy that he runs for 8 weeks, twice a year. As she is away in Thailand over Belfast Fashionweek (B**ch), she got roped into painting my face. 

So for our make up, Paddy wanted a pale, doll like complication.  There was no contouring (basically creating angles on our face), the foundation was a shade paler than our own skin tone and a illuminating base was applied to our cheekbones to give a shine when the light hit it at certain angles.  Our eyes, cheeks and lips were a coral colour, a very in colour for this season. A gloss was placed over our eyes to really make the colour pop.  This kind of made my eyes sticky but it actually helped as I was tired from working all day too so they stuck open. 

Out of the make up chair and into the hair chair. Andrew Mulvenna and his highly experienced team were in charged of hair.  I have worked with Andrew a couple of times on different project and each time my hair is completely different.  I don't know where he gets all his ideas from!  Check his website out, his salon in Belfast was voted one of the top 10 salons in the UK by Cosmo readers. Andrew Mulvenna Hair   Our hair was to be shiny, sleek and poker straight.  Now a style I would go for myself as I like my hair big and bouncy when I can be arsed to put effort in but it looked fab flicking through the images.

So hair done, upstairs to Kharas studio to where all the styling and photos will be done. All the Cmpr team have all hands on deck and the lovely Eve is styling. 8 different trends, nearly 16 different outfit changes for 5 females models. That's a lot of clothes, I don't envy Eve trying to pick different looks for each of theses trends. Clothes off, sexy nude underwear on and as usual I'm being told off for having my triple gel bra on! Being called too busty doesn't happen too often for me.  Of course, Connor is on this shoot as well as one of the male models.  How are you meant to look sexy in front of your boyfriend wearing nude underwear and a pop on over your head????? (A pop on is basically a see through shower cap for your face, it protects the clothes from getting make up on them)  It's simply not possible. Sexiness is left at the door to be picked up on the way out again so it is firmly back in place for when we are back home again.

4 hours later, 1 make up change, 1 new hair do, 16 outfit changes, numerous poses, 23 conversations about what food to get when we were done (you see models do eat, Jayne & I got a chippy sooo good) and we were finished. At one point, I had to get my nipples rubbed as they were standing to attention & could be seen very clearly through the dress. You see!! Modelling isn't that glamorous!! Do you think that the Victoria Secret models have their own personal nipple rubbers in case that happens to them?

Back, sack & craic

"Beauty is in the eye of the beer holder" Kinky Friedman

 

Asos Army Jumper 

H&M Denim Shirt 

Topshop Midi Black Skirt 

Lovely name for a blog post but I think it explains exactly what I will be doing tonight.  Tomorrow after work, I will be sprinting straight to the lovely Paddy McGurgan Make up Pro store to get my hair & make up done then upstairs to Khara Pringle photography studio to shoot the West Coast Cooler Belfast Fashionweek S/S13 Trends shoot! Its a friendly affair as my annoying poohead yet gorgeous boyfriend Connor & another of my housemates, the gorgeous Jayne Higgins are shooting it too.  Incest is best as they say.

So tonight, eyebrows need done, nails cleaned (I am like a five year old, always dirt under my nails), a lot of areas need shaved (sorry about that last night, Connor!) & my whole body needs exfoliated and washed. Sometimes I hate being a girl.

It's really great to be involved with Belfast Fashion week in any way possible. I've gone from attending it to West Coast Cooler Promo girl to walking in it to the face of Spring/Summer 2012. So tune in tomorrow where I will be blogging directly from behind the scenes with all the craic & goss.

As yesterday was a review blog (skin is getting better & better, fingers crossed! Thank you Medi Comestic!), just a quick update on my going on at the weekend. My lovely Furby aka Ciara, my housemate had a big birthday bash at her house in Newcastle! Aw I hate dressing for house parties! Here's what I wore.

 

Zara Neon Blazer 

H&M grey Vest 

Topshop Black Skater skirt 

Topshop Black & Gold neck- similar here 

Ok so I probably over dressed. But better to over dress than under dress. I was green with envy, not only by ciaras gorgeous legs all night which turned into me just taking pictures of them all night but also of her gorgeous skirt that her boyfriend had got her for her birthday! 

It was £175 down to £50 in All Saints Victoria Square at the minute.  And according to Ciara, there are loads of sizes in the sale and I should def go buy one.....yeah thanks ciara.  Not shopping for a year, remember?!?!?!?! So yeah, still haven't bought anything, still haven't saved any money and not feeling enlightened at all. Please some one remind me why I am doing this again???

Skin Deep

"Beauty, to me, is about being comfortable in your own skin.  That or, a kick ass red lipstick" Gwyneth Paltrow

 Asos Navy Skater dress

One day a little girl wrote a blog post about her skin, she sounded moany & whiny but the skin gods took pity on her.  They heard her cries of frustration & answered her.  They directed her to a salon on the Bloomfield Avenue called Medi Cosmetic & all was right in the world again.

If you are a loyal follower of my blog or just a dipper (dipping in & out cause you are nosey), you might have read my blog post about my skin. If not, I have basically hit puberty at the age of 24.  No I haven't finally grown boobs or suddenly become mature, I have developed spots.  My skin was clear the whole way through my teens & then on my 24th birthday, everything went down hill.  It has knocked my confidence to be honest and nothing I am doing or using is helping.  No I'm not stressed, no I haven't change my Pill, no I haven't changed my make up remover are all the answers to the questions you are thinking.  In the great scheme of things, spots aren't that big a deal.  I am now at that stage that I'm just like "meh, there's another one.  Aw well, I haven't lost a leg or I'm not dying, it's just spots." POSITIVE THINKING

So I almost cried when Nikki Marks from Medi Cosmetic contacted me. She had read my blog & wanted to offer me a facial at the Medi Cosmetic salon to help my skin.  Thank you skin god Nikki, thank you.


Homework, not something I am used to anymore but I love being organised so this was just an excuse to research something & take notes. Medi Cosmetic, a salon which offers a range of skincare & body treatments.  Their website advertises everything from cosmetic surgery to non surgical laser to beauty & spa treatments.  No botox or boob job for me, just a simple facial. Well that's what I thought till I started to read about it.  I will be the first one to admit, I'm not girly at all. Yup, I take my make up off, wash my face, brush my teeth but that is the height of my pamper sessions.  I assumed that I was just going to get a splash of water on my face, a good scrubbing, mask & moisture & that was me. Oh no.

I was greeted at the salon by Melanie & 1st thing I noticed was of course her skin. Wow. I was guided to a lovely warm treatment room, soft music playing, wrapped in a warm towel, tucked into the treatment bed and told to relax. I don't know what Melanie was saying as I was still staring at her skin. Flawless.  We then had a chat about my skin. I explained about the change in my skin in the last 6 months and Melanie helped explain what was happening & how spots develop.  She gave me some tips which I greatly appreciated. Did you know that standard exfoilator actually annoy skin & encourage breakouts!?! She recommended a fruit acid exfoilator. This basically takes away the dead skin cells on the top layer of skin where bacteria breeds.  She also recommended a Vitamin A moisturiser as this helps skin to recover faster & promote cell growth which keeps the skin always regenerating rather than bacteria building up & clogging up your pores & skin. I wanted to be taking notes but she had me all tucked me with a fluffy blanket so I just nodded & stared at her skin.

 Treatment Room

The facial I had was an Omnilux light facial.  Developed to help damaged skin rejuvenate & repair, a light is shone over your face for 45mins penetrating the deeper layers of your skin.  Reading up on the website about the facial I was a bit nervous to be honest.  It stated that it was great for ageing skin due to the rejuvenation process...now I'm only 24 but I am willing to try anything at this point to get my skin back on track.  Melanie reassured me that it assists in everything from acne, helps to moisturise your skin to increasing collagen produced in your skin.  Australians apparently love it, why they need more sunlight I have no clue.

 Ominlux Light Facial

So the facial started like any normal facial, she cleansed, exfoliated, moisturised then she put a suncream on my face.  Now the light used in this facial doesn't have any damaging rays. No UVA, UVB or IPL.  (If you have no idea what these letters mean, they simply stand for the bad rays of light that cause cancer & that are used in sunbeds)  This was one of my worries as I had never done a sunbed nor do I want to start so that was my first question to Melanie.  Poor Melanie was assaulted due to all my questions. But she was great and answered all of them & more.

Vitage Products used in the facial

Goggles on, the light was positioned over my face and it was like I was on a beach in Thailand.  Sun on my face, Melanie massaging my hands & arms, waves in the background, all that was missing was a Strawberry daiquiri in my other hand.  Now the light is uncomfortable for the first few minutes as it is quite bright but your eyes do adjust.  My dog used to sneak upstairs to my bedroom during the day when everyone had left the house as my room always got the afternoon sun.  I felt like him, stretched out, enjoying the warmth as much as possible. For 30 minutes, I sunk deeper & deeper in my little fantasy of Thailand, massages & my boyfriend in speedos.  Too soon it was over.  But oh no, wait... My face was cleansed again, a vitamin C antioxidant mask was put on for 10mins then cleansed again & moisturised.

The facial itself was quite expensive at £65 but you really get your money's worth.  I have had facials before that are meant to last an hour but the time you change, put on your gown & lie on the table counts as 10mins, the facial last 40mins then you have to re-dress and that counts as 10mins too.  I was in Medi Cosmetic for 1hr 10mins, counting the chat Melanie & I had at the start. I have also really noticed a difference.  Call me brave, call me crazy but here is a photo of me no make up on. Left is before the facial, right is after the facial.  Now I know what people are like so both photos were taken at the same time a day apart and at the same position/spot in my flat so light exposure was the same.

You can clearly see my spots but the photo on the left my skin looks dull and I have a redness across my nose & cheeks.  The photo on the right, my skin looks brighter, healthier and the redness of my spots, across my nose and my cheeks has reduced. I look glowing. I really recommend this facial if your skin needs a kick start like mine did and Melanie at Medi Cosmetic was fantastic.  I will def be back in my quest to conquer late on-set puberty.

For more info or to book an appointment at Medi Cosmetic, call 028 9086 1186 or check the website, http://www.medi-cosmetic.com/ for a list of all the treatments they do.

Medi Cosmetic Salon on Bloomfield Avenue