Saturdays at Portobello Market

On Saturday, the besties and I decided to venture on down to Portobello market.

Its vibrant and colourful atmosphere and the enticing smells of incence, Middle Eastern foods, sweet sugary crepes and the spices of Asian cuisines make it irresistible, especially if our senses have anything to do with it!

Not only this, but the market is buzzing with pretty jewellery stands, vintage gems, and clothes stalls selling items which mimick the high street items for half the price...so you'd be a very silly sausage not to spare a visit! (Unintented tongue twister there).  

Jewels, jewels and more jewels...so much gold! Jack Sparrow would be in his element.

Knuckledusters turn fashionable!

I actually really liked this little gold clutch, but knowing me, thought it best to leave it as I could do some considerable damage with this on a night out!! (Accidental damage, of course).

 Flowers + pastels + statement necklaces. What's not to love?

When I have baby Nish's, I am definitely purchasing some of these little booties for them. How adorable are they? I want them all!

Unfortunately, they didn't have my size, but if they did, I can definitely see myself rocking the Winnie the Pooh pair (in the bottom left corner).

I was eyeing up this dress a few months back in Topshop...I particularly loved the fuchsia one (just like below) but couldn't justify the price. This replica was considerably cheaper and almost identical!

These jumpers are also just like Topshop's range of cropped pastel jumpers, so if you can't afford the High Street beauties, then Portobello is the place to go mofos.

Pretty pearl earrings for £3 a pair...apparently you can tell a pearl is real if it feels rough when you rub it against another hard object. Fact.

Also, pearls don't come from oysters (I thought they did up until Sunday). Fact two.

There ya go, you learn something(s) new every day!

My babes are everywhere...

Note the yellow rubber ducky just minding his own business on the side...

OUCH! Poor ducky goes splat...

We also came across INCENSE...and I became obsessed with the 'Gingerbread' stick. It literally smelt of...well, gingerbread, and I wanted to eat it. I never thought I'd say this, but after inhaling the sweet smells at the stall for 15 minutes straight, I probably would eat Gingy the Gingerbread Man from Shrek. To all Gingy/Shrek fans, I'm sorry okay! 

We found this 'local' market man casually busting some moves...

and then he took me to the floor...and literally wiped the floor with me. To conclude, I can't dance.

A man was offering 'Free Healing' sessions. At first I thought we should approach - the word free being the stand out word here. However, it soon became apparent that the man offering these complimentary sessions was nothing more than a drunk drinking a can of K, 'in pure daylight' as Ags pointed out, clearly trying to get in touch with his spiritual side...so we sensibly decided to walk on.

Now these little sticks of potato were everywhere. Essentially, they're nothing more than crisps on a stick and at £4 per one, I think I'd rather stick to a packet of Kettle Chips (sweet chilli & sour cream, the superior flavour) from the newsagent, thanks!

Mmmmmm...chocolate! 

We then went to the cutest little rooftop bar/restaurant called the Garden & Grill, where we drank wine in the sunshine...

Ags couldn't miss a photo opportunity with the multifunctional watering can/plant pot.

Working the pastels!

My Pretty girrrrrls <3 

Not a bad view (okay, if it weren't for the colourful flowers, the picture would be pretty crap. Shhhh).

Clearly, we had a whale of a time...

One last thing. On the way back we walked past a shop where Niall was chosen to dominate the window display out of all the 1D members. So of course I took a photo. Take that Harry. 

All in all, a lovely way to spend a sunny Saturday in London! I highly recommend you all to get off yo asses and do the same some time soon.

XOXO

A Day At The Races (& OOTD)

Hello and Happy (Lazy) Sunday!

Yesterday, the fam and I took a trip to Newbury Racecourse to watch my younger brother make his debut as a jockey, so I thought I'd do a post about our little outing, along with an OOTD as Spring is just around the corner and this excites me greatly!

Outfit Of The Day

I Am Wearing

Leopard Collar Top - Dorothy Perkins

Moustache Jumper - Forever 21

Leather Shorts - Topshop

Cut Out Boots - Missguided 

Khaki Jacket - Topshop 

Tartan Scarf - Urban Outfitters

Mini Rings - Miss Selfridge

Black Jewel Ring - Primark

Watch - Michael Kors

Nail Varnish - Maybelline in 'Marinho'

Lipstick - Mac in 'Ravishing'

Our Day: My Brother The Jockey

My brother Niall has always been the responsible one of the family. Being the middle child, but figuratively speaking, having grown up with two younger sisters, he didn’t really have a choice! Some may say that I am and always have been the “rebel” child, and thus not the greatest of role models for both my younger siblings (Ciara, fourteen and Niall, nineteen). The nicknames “Naughty Nish” and “Nice Niall” are definitely fitting! So it was ironic that the sensible sibling began to pursue the thrilling and widely speculated dangerous hobby that is riding, namely, riding race horses. 

Ironic, but not surprising. The three of us have grown up in a family whose passion for horse racing makes Frankie Dettori's look nugatory. I suppose it stemmed from our Irish background; our grandparents were born and bred in the Irish countryside’s of Clonus and Limerick, and when they moved to London after twenty farm filled years, one thing they brought with them (besides the not so fresh manure smell of country air) was their love of horse racing. 

Family trips to all the big meetings became routine from when we were little; Ascot, Sandown, Kempton, you name it, we’ve done it! A trip to the races has always been a big family affair to look forward to, for all parties concerned. The adults enjoy the gambling, the excitement of the game, the unpredictability and the excuse to drink pints of Guinness from 11:00am without feeling guilty because it is “part of the experience”.  As for us kiddies, we were sold by the promise of a £2.00 bet per race, courtesy of our parents, not to mention the copious amounts of donuts, burgers, chips and fizzy drinks that we endured. My personal favourite has always been the King George Weekend at Ascot, in other words, one big funfair at the races; I can't count how many times I had a go on those Dodgems!

Two generations later and my brother has taken the family hobby to a whole new level. As mine and Ciara's interest died down, Niall's grew dramatically as my dad went one step further and began building his own little army of race horses! With the help of Tom Gretton (an experienced trainer from Worcestershire who trains a few of my dad's horses), Niall was all set to race his first ever Charity race, seventeen months since starting out. Perhaps the nickname "Nimble Niall" is much better suited! 

The day was pretty spectacular to say the least. All of us were incredibly proud of him! Even before the race, he managed to remain as cool as a cucumber whilst my family stood around him a nervous wreck and I found myself shaking like I'd just seen a ghost...I blame the adrenaline. Niall must've temporarily lost his somewhere and found it again at the start line! 

He finished 5th out of 11 but was neck and neck for 1st with another horse coming up the home straight (that's the section of the racecourse forming the approach to the finish for all those who, like me, are as clueless as Joey Essex on a good day).

Our screams really were quite hysterical. It's safe to say we all had metaphorical frogs in our throats afterwards...I was convinced as he galloped past us to the finish that he could hear our chants. Apparently this isn't the case. 

For anyone who is interested, here's a link to a video my sister took: 

Niall's Race

...it isn't the greatest quality, but she did well to even take it. I was designated photo taker but was too busy jumping up and down like jack-in-the-box, and I 'forgot'.

You can hear all of us chanting and cheering. Niall's fan club!

I did, however, catch this great shot of him after the race: son, father and their horsey #proud

 

Hope everyone has had an enjoyable weekend! 

XOXO 

 

A Trip to Chiswick Car Boot

Picture this: 

On Sunday morning my bladder woke me up (as it usually does after a night out), my mouth tasted a mix of vodka and chocolate, and sprawled out next to me was a half naked guy. For a split second I thought 'what and more importantly who the hell happened last night...', until realising it was dear Foo Foo.

After this slight moment of madness, we had some tea and headed to Chiswick Car Boot Sale with Joely! 

I've always been a massive fan of this Car Boot which takes place on the first Sunday of every month! Saying that, the last time I went was in February... the heavy snow and lack of stalls left my sister and I with nothing but frostbite! Faaail.

Sunday's trip wasn't much better in terms of items purchased...but the sun was shining and we had a lovely little time.

Highlights!

I was never a believer in love at first sight...until I met this teeny weeny teacup puppy at the gates...in other words, the CUTEST thing I have ever seen in my life. And did I mention that it was literally the size of a teacup?  

Joely was on the lookout for a shirt similar to one which I got from here a few years back...he has taken mine captive and even wore it on Sunday (see below). Cheeky bugger.

Whilst Joel tried on various pieces of women's jewellery and examined teapots...

Ferrari was busy taking selfies...and I quote, "I wish there were two of me so I could fuck myself". 

His vanity has no bounds...

and I was making up for the lack of sausage the night before...

Purchases!

Joely got this beautiful vintage mirror:

mirror mirror on the wall, who's the gayest of them all...

His PR selling/negotiating skillz came in handy as he got it down from £25 to £20. 

Well I say that, but it was actually down to pure luck. The old man selling it wanted me to flip a coin to determine the price... £20 for heads and £22 for tails. 

Luckily for Joel, the guy was a bit ditzy in the head...it landed on tails and he still exclaimed "£20 it is!"

SAAAFE DOOOE. 

Joel and I also got matching watch rings for £2....bargain. Little did we know that neither of them actually work...but at least they look pretty :) 

and I also bought this statement pearl ring for £1..yay!

Most Shameful Moment:

It has to be when I tried to purchase a real Prada bag for £1.50 rather than it's actual price of £150. The woman looked me like I'd been dropped on my head a fair few times as a child.

To be fair I probably was. 

I'm going to do a style post tomorrow- 1 Item, 3 Ways. 

Have a look innit. 

xoxo