Sleep is for losers

"No rest for the wicked" Book of Isaiah

 

Zara Navy Studded Blazer-similar here

Topshop striped Jumper-similar here

Zara Beige skinny trousers

 

Channelling my inner Paris chic today or well trying too.  Not my favourite look of this year, I think the jumper doesn't work as well as I expected. Anyway, a few posts ago I had mentioned that I haven't stopped recently. I think my quote of the day was about how females can not rely on men but must strive for themselves especially in their careers.  My boyfriend Connor was like hmmm *cough* *cough* is this a subtle but quite obvious quote directed at me??? I was like quiet, baby.  All will be relived. Do not question what actually goes on in my head & my trail of thought. Hush.

 

I don't actually speak to him like that. I sound almost like Yoda.  But to be honest it was sort of about him but not in such a negative way.  Connor at the moment is back and worth to London a lot with work as he has just signed a contract with Elite Model Management. (Remember I flew over to London to watch him on a catwalk in the Elite Model Look competition in July?? Sexy leather dress? Blue heels?) Well, with him away a lot now, I am trying to keep as busy as possible.  I miss him when he is away, he's my best friend so busy equals time flying & actually the good point is that I am able to focus completely on blogging.

He does these photos & I'm like what the heck??? I don't get this sexy man beast, I get my goofball.

So events galore! Last night I was at the Debenhams A/W launch.  The girls were showcasing their key looks for Autumn/Winter 2013.  A lot of monochrome, berry colours and animal print coming through. Was lovely to see all my blogger friends & have a cup of tea with them before I had to sprint off to yoga at 7pm. Namaste.

 

 

I am also one of the finalist in the Directory 14 competition as an individual with a standout sense of style in Northern Ireland.  I had to go to judging on Monday night, where we were asked questions like what is fashion & what is style.  The winners will be announced on the 19th of September at Riddel Hall, Stranmillis so keep an eye out to see how I get on. Fingers Crossed! 

 

 

I actually destroyed a pair of jeans because of this event.  I can't even acknowledge it or else I will probably freak out.  I want boyfriend jeans, I want them so badly.  There was a gorgeous pair in Zara yesterday when I was wandering around town. I haven't really tried to DIY any of my clothes due to the fact I am crap at physical creative things.  Sure I have cut backs out of my tops to make them backless but other than that nothing.  So I took one of my cropped pair of jeans and thought...hmmm I could cut some holes in these & they could be boyfriend style.  No.  They just looked like Edward Scissorhands and I were having a mad passionate love affair and he had tried to take my jeans off. Fail on that front.

 

So I have got loads of things on in the next few weeks. Culture tech this weekend, Directory 14 event, Cruise Fashion Show at the Merchant, Victoria Square Style September catwalk, RSVP/Oasis Ireland Style Blogger of the year. I know this isn't really a fashion post, more of a rant that my diary is stuck to my hand lately to make sure I remember everything but I think it's nice to let you know what's going on & to stay tuned for final few months of my challenge!! I think they are going to be the most difficult! 

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.

Model looks

“Build me up and I with you. For we are more one than two.” Deborah Day

Mango beaded vest top-similar here

Topshop Black Tube Skirt

 

This was me at 8am this morning. I barely brush my hair in the morning so this is quite a feat.  I had such success with stealing my housemate Jayne's Cloud Nine 0 heated rollers for the photoshoot with my family on Sunday that I stole them again to try and do my hair for tonight's adventure.

 

I am getting off work early at 4pm to be at Belfast City Airport for my flight at 5pm to fly to London for 12 hours. My cocopops of a boyfriend is in the final of the Elite Model Look, down to the final 11 boys. There is a catwalk and an afterparty in London starting at 7.30pm and I will be there!!!Well maybe 10 minutes late, depending on what train I am able to sprint to get at Gatwick.  He has been away for the last week on their Model bootcamp in London so I am excited to see him.  Now less about him and more about what I am wearing. 

 

Ta daaaahhhhhhhhh!!!!! Sexy right???? I have worn this leather dress before, not since February I think but I have funked it up with the blue heels.  All from Zara.  Looks good in that photo but I have no idea what I will look like arriving straight from a plane then a train then to walk to the venue. It is thunder & lightening in London. My hair has been clipped up all day to try and keep the volume and curls, I have the dress in a bag which I plan to put on before leaving work and I have pumps with me to stick in my bag 3 foot before the venue & whip the heels on. Make up will be done on the train on the way into London.  Oh the joys!

This is the magically ending bag.  Its got all of my make up, cardigan for wearing back tomorrow morning (If you see a girl in a leather dress walking through Heathrow airport at 6am tomorrow, that's me! wave!!!), pumps, umbrella, thong, boarding passes, passport, money, keys, iphone charger.  Zoe J Watson, you are a legend for lending me this!!! I found it so hard to choose a bag as I had small clutches which only fit your phone and big massive bags that ruin the look of the LBD.

 

I would have loved a white dress.  Maybe it was just the hot weather but I think it would have been nice and fresh for this sort of event.  I would probably look like an eejit turning up in a thunderstorm in a white dress so my Fashion fasting saved me! First and only time I am saying that! Can't wait to see how the style differs from Belfast to London!!!

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.

 

America Wish list



"I was brought up differently to the average American child because the average American child is brought up expecting to be happy." Marilyn Monroe

 

 

So if you are just tuning in now, where have you been for the last 6 months??? Quick catch up.

 

1)I am not shopping for a year.

 

2) Yes I am a idiot but I have succeed so far!!

 

 

3) I went on holidays to Florida at the start of June and of course, couldn't buy any of the lovely clothes they have there.

 

 

So this is my American wishlist.  I just assumed that because I had been doing so well at home that I would do ok on holidays with the no buying clothes situation. Never truer was the saying "Assume makes an ass out of you" It was hard, oh god was it hard.  At one point I rung my mum while Connor went in to a couple of shops by himself, just to have a break.  I had to do Abercrombie as I had a list of presents to buy for people so while in there I took photos of some things I would have bought. *sigh*.  Apologises for the bad photos, my hand was shaking so bad from having to stop myself buying anything and also cause the light in Abercrombie is as bad as Hollister!!!

 

Definitely going back to America next year to buy what I want when I want!!!!

 

Abercrombie Boyfriend style jeans £88

Abercrombie Boho top £68

Abercrombie Tweed skirt £68

Abercrombie grey sequin jumper £78

 

 

I could have bought the whole shop, but then again if I put my rational head on all of the stock was summer stock and really how much wear am I going to get out of summer stock in Northern Ireland. That didn't really help to be honest. 

 

 

A fan of the designer shops my lover is. (Though do you find that men are more inclined to spend more money on nice clothes??? Going for the higher end shops like All Saints, Ted Baker and cruise than girls??? Just a thought) So of course we had to pop into Armani. I loved these Armani Super Skinny jeggings. 

 

Armani Exchange Super Skinny Jeggings £120

 

 

The final stop of the day was Macys which we found out had free wifi so we sort of randomly stood around the Aisles for a while.  Got some strange stares from the employees as we uploaded as many photos to facebook as possible and used Whatsapp to text home.  Wifi is precious in America!!! Although my eyes were glued to my phone, I was able to spy these Steve Madden wedges! To die for!!! 

 

Steven Madden Wedges £120

Back with a bang

"I have had a holiday and I would like to take it up professionally!" Kylie Minogue

Stills loose top

Topshop Leigh Skinny Jeans

Brown Brogues

Sandwich Silver Cuff

 



 

I am back from my holidays! Well to tell you the truth I have been back since Thursday but my brain actually hasn't worked until today.  Jet lag, delayed flights and going to bed at nearly 5am every night over the weekend didn't help.  So lack of sleep and motivation has kept me from posting until today.  It is so easy to get out of the way of things, our resorts wifi wasn't very good in Orlando and not even starbucks had wifi (Whhhhhaaaaaaa????? I know!!!!!)  There was wifi in the Disney parks which I used to quickly upload photos to Instragram but I got so easily distracted by the bright lights and rides that the wifi was quickly forgotten.  So forgive me but there was no way I was going to have a tan line of my phone on my face from trying to shade my eyes as I posted a blog.

 

 

Holiday was amazing! Though we had a tropical storm the first few days of our holiday while back in Northern Ireland, it was a heat wave. Typical!  I am going to do a few catch up holidays posts over the next few days to ease my mind back into the way of writing.  So hard to get your mind back into the way of thinking after being a child for 2 weeks straight.  Even as I type this I am rubbing my eyes and nearly falling asleep at the screen.

So what did I learn from embracing my inner child for 2 weeks in Florida?

1) my hatred for cockroaches has grown in my old age. My feet barely touched the ground when we were walking home one night due the thought of them crawling anywhere near my feet.  Oh and the snake that slithed past in front of us.

2) Nick Cannon is hilarious! And Mel B on America's got talent is very very annoying.

3) I def do not like spinny things or 3D fast moving neck jerking rides. How do I know this? I fainted coming off the Harry Potter ride at Universal. Couldn't even open my eyes to enjoy the amazingness that is Daniel Radcliffe flying in front of me.  Lucky his voice was calming enough to allow me not to boke on the ride.

4) I am better at riding a bike than Connor

5) It's amazing the lack of fear we have as a child.  My mum will be the 1st one to tell you that she used to turn her back for 1 second on me as a child and I would be gone.  Climbing a tree or carpet roll or cartwheeling off a wall but at nearly the age of 25, the summit plummit at blizzard beach nearly had me walking back down the stairs.

6) Don't go to america on a fashion fast.

7) Connor attracts crazy people to talk to him.  They see his cheekbones & they zone in on him.

8) Mcdonalds in america DO NOT do 6 mcnugget meals.  Only 10, 16 or 20 mcnuggets.

9) The Kennedy Space Center is actually not named after me, it's named after some president with the same surname....to say I was hurt is an understatement

10)  The detail at Disney is amazing.

SO back to point number 6 and actually the reason behind this blog (not the funny random facts of my holiday) but I succeeded in not buying a thing.  Oh believe me I could have bought the whole Abercrombie shop.  It didn't help my boyfriend walking around asking did I want anything or my mum saying that as I was on holiday, just to buy stuff and not tell anyone! Thanks for the support guys. 

So hard! But I did it! Though I will be going back to America next year and buying whatever the hell I want just to prove a point.  Now back to getting my life back on track.



 



Leaving on a Jet Plane

"Well, you go to Holland and everybodys on a bike - nobody would think to have a car." Stone Gossard

Topshop White drape Blouse-similar here

Zara Black Skinnies

Converse white

Never in a wildest imagination did I think last year that in May 2013, I would be sitting with Connor in Belfast International airport stuffing my face with a Burger King on my way to my first bloggers conference to speak at. It is funny the way life works out. 

When I got asked to take part in the Travel Bloggers Unite conference back at the start of March by the organiser Oliver Gradwell, I thought aye, ok mate, sure I will come over! No problem. It was a sort of smile and nod reaction. I had only just started blogging and you get approached by many people suggesting ideas or wanting to work with you. I assume that till I get the product in hand, it is all BS (think a male cow & another word for faeces) but this wasn't even a product so I took it with a pinch of salt. Also, the fact is I am a fashion blogger edging on lifestyle, what did I know about travel blogging apart from having a cute pink passport with my initials on it??  

Got my essentials packed! 

And yet, here I am on a easy jet plane flying to Holland to talk in front of god, knows how many people. Never in my wildest dreams. Myself and another fashion blogger, Retrochic (she specialises in vintage fashion) are the key niche speakers. We are heading over to give insight into our blogging niche and hopefully be able to offer our advice to the travel bloggers on how we go about blogging. I guess at the end of the day, blogging is all the same but the only thing that differs is the topic. The conference last 3 days from Friday to Sunday with each day offering key speakers, workshops, seminars, networking opportunities and tours of the beautiful city that is Rotterdam. 

Sneak peak of article for Foam Magazine

So what does a fashion blogger pack? Aw I have no idea. I packed last minute, I was taking OOTD (Outfit of the day) photos for an American magazine before we left and I was late. Literally bunged my suitcase with random item of clothings which hopefully I will be able to put a nice outfit together from. I wanted to be smart but at the same time casual and approachable. How do you portray that in a outfit which also has to say hey! I'm cool and stylish enough to be a fashion blogger? No idea.  Not only that but I had Connor hovering over my shoulder while I packed so he could see if he could fit another pair of shoes in my luggage. He has size 12 feet, needlessly to say we fitted them in.  I think he put more thought into what he packed than I did and I am the fashion blogger!! 

Stay tuned over the next few days to see if I was able to make a nice outfit out of what I packed and my adventure of my first bloggers conference!! You can follow me here or check out my social media sites as well!! 

Twitter: @laurinak

Facebook: Fashion Fasting

Instagram: laurinamkennedy

Pinterest: Laurina Kennedy

Also if you want to check out Travels bloggers Unite & the conference, check out their sites! 

Twitter: @tbloggersunite

Website: tbueurope.com for info on the conference 

Travelbloggersunite.com