Friday is the new lazy day

"Procrastination is my sin. It brings me naught but sorrow. I know that I should stop it. In fact, I will--tomorrow” Gloria Plizter

This is my sexiness outfit of the day to date.  Last minute day offs are amazing! I am currently curled up on my mum's sofa watching day time tv & waiting for my nails to dry. Bliss!! I love the blog, I love everything it has given me but I hate when it runs into my weekend.  If you read this & you work all week as I do, you really live for your weekends. Not only just to party but to relax, get things done and to spend time with family and friends. So hence my day off. And boy, is it good so far. Who ever said Friday the 13th was unlucky??

The reason for my day off today, other than servicing my car & pigging out on my mum's sofa is that tomorrow I am travelling to Derry with my fellow bloggers, Gemma Louise from That Belfast Girl and Caroline from The Red Dutchess to experience the amazing festival that is Culture Tech! With the City of Culture celebrations, Derry/Londonderry is the place to be at the moment. The Culture Tech festival is a festival that is running from the 9th of Sept to the 15th of Sept.  It is an epic festival celebrating digital technology, media, music and art featuring 150 events, 100 + speakers, 100+ acts and of course 3 random bloggers let lose on Derry!!!

Tomorrow, the three of us will be wearing fab outfits gifted to us from the amazing shopping centre that is Foyleside Shopping Centre. Now each of us was told that we could go to Foyleside, pick a voucher and we could shop to we drop.  The vouchers were to a value of 50, 100 and 150 pounds.  Guess which one I picked?  Yup, the girl who hasn't shopping in nine months picked the 50 pound one.  Oh, don't get me wrong, receiving anything because of a blog is amazing!!! But imagine if I had got the 150 one? I probably would have went crazy. 

I had travelled to Foyleside with my mum and little sis.  Being from the North coast myself, travelling to Derry on a shopping trip was part of my teenage years.  Closest Primark to Coleraine!!!! Usually we used to drive but mum has now been converted to the train because it was easy.  Michael Palin himself called the Derry Translink Railway one of the best in the world due to its beauty. 

Once I had picked my voucher, I didn't know where to start.  Foyleside has great shops; Topshop, River Island, Debenhams, H&M, Marks and Spencer.  But we had to buy a full outfit with our voucher. Now that is hard.  Trying to restrict an addict to indulging her passion.  I hit up H&M first and I fell in love with this shirt.  I had wanted a green shirt for ages, a nice fitted one.  I tried this on and I had to have it.  I wanted to get something I didn't have and really wanted but it was 30 pounds.  That was over half my voucher gone and I still had to get something for my bottom.  Nightmare. I tried so many options in other shops. Black pencil skirt in River Island, white jeans in Topshop, a skater skirt in Dorothy Perkins.  But I had all those things.  There was no way I was getting something I already had when I haven't been allowed to get anything this year!!! 

So back to H&M I went and I picked up this black loose maxi skirt.  I had got a black maxi skirt for my birthday but it had a thigh high split up it while this one is more casual.  I didn't even think of trends, or colours or styling.  My brain went to mush at the fact I could pick clothes for free.  With the skirt costing 12.99, I was able to pick up some stacking rings and a pack of trainer socks which I needed badly.  Sorted my lovely!!

Check out my full outfit tomorrow at the Culture Tech festival!! I can't wait to have fun at all the events that they have lined up! Most are free and around the city so if you are about, come check them out! Culture Tech Festival!

Channelling my inner Morticia Addams

"I'm like Johnny Cash. I only wear black." Adele

 

H&M black vest

Topshop black double tube skirt

Warehouse neon yellow necklace

 

I am going to say the same thing that everyone is saying at the minute.  When did it get to September?? It's basically autumn, summer is over, it's 114 days to Christmas, tights will start to be worn, girls will stop shaving their legs and my electric blanket will be on full blast every night.

 

It also means I've only 4 more months left of this challenge.  It is killing me, the actual thought of having to go back into trousers again and my winter clothes.  The summer allowed me to explore a different half of my wardrobe.  I felt like I had bought new clothes when really I hadn't.  It was all an amazing magical experience that was basically a lie.  How am I meant to completely re-style a wardrobe that I wore for the 1st 6 months of the year and not get sick of wearing the same thing, over and over again? *sigh* Thank god for the changing trends with each season.



And thus with life, there is balance in fashion.  The first half of the year saw the all white outfit being a big hit.  This was one of my favourite looks I was able to create from my wardrobe.  I did find it hard to keep recreating/revamping the look as I didn't have that many white bottoms in my wardrobe.  But as I said thank god for balance.  Ying Yang. Black and white.  The all black outfit is in this autumn. Amazing news for me as I have enough black in my wardrobe for Morticia Addams not to have to do any washing for a month.

 

 

 

I love this look.  Every girl does.  It is effortless, chic and best of all it suits all shapes, all sizes, all skin tones, dressed up, dressed down, you just know that you will look great no matter what.  It is one of those looks that if you are having one of those days were you think nothing is working, just pull on black trousers and a black top & bam!!! Life is back on track.  Add a statement piece necklace, a pop of colour.  Accessorise it any way that you want, it will work no matter what.

 

And on the 7th day, God created black so every girl could pretend that the pavement was a catwalk.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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!  

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.

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 :)





 

 

 

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.

 

Can I please have?

"This is not a wish list as such but a needs list" Bill Plasko

 

 

Zara Navy blue blazer-similar here

Primark Striped tshirt-similar here

Topshop Leigh Jeans

 

 

I have had this post written for the last couple of days but just haven't had the focus to post it before I go away on holidays due to my hyperness and inability to settle myself for 5 mins.  I joined my mum and little sister on a shopping trip to Ballymena. (hardly little as Carla is nearly 16 and towers over me already & looks older than me.  For instance, I got ID for buying cigarettes for my Dad the other day. I am nearly 25!!! You have to be over 16 to buy them!!!!! Facepalm) Anyway, I thought I would do a post on what I would have bought if I was allowed to buy anything for my holidays.  Thankfully Ballymena hasn't got a Zara or this post would have been a bit longer.

 

 

 

 

 

Not really sure if I would have worn these in Florida but I love the colour! If I buying clothes, I would definately invest in a electric blue pair of shoes for this summer! Fab colour

River Island £50

 

 



 

Loved this tie dye dress! It would have been lovely paired with a cropped denim jacket and flip flops to be worn at night time.

River Island £30

 

 

Gorgeous Boho chic playsuit! This was a size 6 and it looked a bit big so not sure if I had tried it on, it would have fitted nice but I love this style.  Def a festival idea though white would easily get dirty!

River Island £40

 

 

Orange is another colour for this season.  I am not sure if it really suits me, I love the colour on my step mum who is a brunette.  A colour I would like to try for the future but I though this shirt would be could with shorts and white converse.

Topshop £38

 

 

I have seen these bags everywhere and I love them! They just remind me of being back at school! I would love one but then again they could easily give you a sweaty back if you were wearing them in a hot country! Thankfully my boyfriend loves them and carries them all the time.  Will be slipping my purse into his bag to carry around! Sneaky

Topshop £34

Double Denim

"Double Denim: A way to dress that mixes trash and class: Denim on the top and bottom." Urban Dictionary

Denim Shirt H&M

True Religion Bootcut Jeans

Asos Grey Jumper

 

 

Back to work today but at least it is wednesday! And thus it is back to basic day.  It is only since starting this challenge that I realise how much I have come to rely on my denim shirts.  Granted I do have a few, all different styles and colours though!! But you can create so many different looks with a simple denim shirt so I wanted to include it in my basic checklist.  Dress it up, dress it down, wear it with skater skirt, pencil skirt, jeans or with shorts as I plan to do when it is nicer weather. It works and it is so easy to wear. This is me today, back to work & wearing bootcut jeans! Ooooohhhh I know! Can't remember the last time I wore bootcut but I thought this morning it was that I would channel my inner cowgirl. Yeh ah!


Here is just an selection of outfit ideas to wear with a denim shirt. Have I missed any other way to wear it???

 

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 

1 skirt, endless possibilities

"I will be a president that wears a skirt, but I will wear the pants" Josefina Vazquez Mota

H&M Denim Shirt

Asos Jumper

Black Skater Skirt Topshop

 

 

It is Wednesday, no longer known as hump day but rather back to basics day.  To me this whole outfit is a great foundation to have in your wardrobe.  Oh the possibilites with a denim shirt and a grey jumper.  I wear this denim shirt all the time and the grey jumper is great especially when there is no heat in work (gas leak, oh the joys.)  But today, I am going to focuse on the skirt.  Black skater skirt from topshop, £16, what a buy.  I love it, it's so simple but goes with so many things.  I am so glad I bought it (Before Christmas!!!!).  I know the skater style suits me, I actually think it suits everyone.  I have never seen it look bad on anyone from tall, petite, curvy to skinny.  I have this skirt in grey too! Though I am finding it harder to piece the grey skirt with other items from my wardrobe so I would say, start with black and go from there.

 

 

 

Here is the skirt in a completely different style. I wore the skirt going out one tonight (ignore the state of my room, It is always like this before I go out!) This just shows you that this skirt is great to have for casual to fancy, work to a party, it works.  And for such a staple piece of clothing that you can wear so many times for £16 that isn't bad at all!  The only problem now is what colour you want?!?!

Back to basics

"This shirt is dry clean only, which means...it is dirty." Mitch Hedburg

Topshop White Blouse

Topshop Navy Leigh Skinny jeans

 

 

God bless the white shirt!  I was asked by the lovely rachel if I could do a post on the main basics in my wardrobe.  So from now on for the next few weeks, Wednesday will no longer be called hump day but instead, Back to basics day.  So the first basic that everyone should have in their wardrobe is a white shirt.  Now I am going to write about my style and shape but I would recommend to everyone to find one that suits your style and shape.  I am skinny and petite, always have been and fingers crossed always will be. (Much to my friends disgust as I stuff my face with the biggest load of crap. For example, Friday night I had a chippy, Saturday night I had a chinese and Sunday night I went out for dinner and had chicken goujons and chips. Yum) I have always been called skinny, prob the only person to get excited about putting weight on so I have a little voice in my head that has an insecurity about this.  I like balance, I don't like to look too skinny.  That sounds completely gay when I write it but we all have our own wee hang ups.  So I like to go for one loose thing and one tight clothing. Balance. Hence why I bought a loose shirt, that and I thought I looked cool in it.

 

 

This shirt goes with anything.  Wear it with jeans, skirts, wear it under a jumper, wear a top underneath it like I am today. Casual, smart, going out, a white shirt always looks great.  It screams classic and ladylike while being cool and with it whatever the season or trend.  It has so many possibilites, you can see from my pictures that I have worn this shirt to death and it looks different everytime. Now I wish I had a button up white shirt too as I would love to have the collar & jumper look that is in at the minute. But unfortately I can not buy anything :( Just to remind you all so I can have some sympathy.

 

I have selected some of my favourite white shirts out there at the minute.

 

Asos white shirt £32

 

Urban Outfitters £38

Miss Selfridge £32