Outfit Of The Day: Pub To Club

Hollaaaa

Yesterday I went to the pub with my girls and gay to watch The Grand National. We really used this monumental sporting event as an excuse to get merry in the pub, and it was great fun! Made better by the fact that no horses died this year- yayyyyyy!! Me and Rosie were flinching/screaming at every fence in anticipation of another horrible fall. Poor horsies! 

I came second this year and ma bezzie Laura won 100 pounds!!!! Wooo! Although there was me cheering on for her like an idiot, thinking both my horses were out of the race, when actually I was in second with Balthazaar King! (and I didn't do it each way whereas Laura did so the ideal outcome would've really been for me to win and her to come second so we could both splash the cash. But life goes on!)

It just goes to show it really is a game of luck. My dad,  the 'Mr Know It All' of horse racing (or so he likes to think) didn't win anything and my brother, another horse whizz, did win some dollar, but this was probably because he had about six different bets going!

After the race, we had some more drinks, chowed down a Nando's and then went on a bit of a pub/bar crawl up Northcote Road in Clapham. Of course, we ended up in a club - Artesian Wells - which, despite being £10 entry, was a really fun and was a refreshing change from the standard Clapham High Street. I definitely recommend for all you South-West Landaners innit.

Anyways, I went shopping recently (there's a surprise) and put together an outfit with some of my purchases. I didn't realise we would be ending up in a club, but I think you can just about get away with it for an evening look, minus the jacket and sunnies!

Boyfriend jeans are so comfy and can be dressed up or down. I love. 

I also love my new jacket from New Look. It's nice and light, but definitely appropriate for the  unpredictable nature of British springtime!

I Am Wearing

Crop Top - Missguided

Boyfriend Jeans - Topshop

Jacket - New Look

Boots - Missguided

Socks - Topshop

Sunglasses - Topshop

Bag - Asos

Watch - Michael Kors 

Gold Leopard Bracelet - Christmas Present from Joely

Rings - H&M

Necklace - Chiswick Car Boot Sale

Nail Varnish - Rimmel 60 Seconds in 'Mind The Gap, Victoria'

Lipstick - Mac's 'Ravishing' and Maybelline's Colour Sensational Shine Gloss in 'Cashmere Rose'

Sunday smooches all round!

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 

 

Boozy Sunday Fireworks

Last night, myself and Charlie ventured to Richmond for the fireworks display on Richmond Athletic Ground. 

Outfits Of The Day 

Appropriately dressed as a firework...

Top- Beyond Retro

Leggings- Next

Boots- Debenhams

Fluffy Headband- Primark

Lipstick- Rimmel Lasting Finish Colour Rush Lip Balm Crayon in 'The Redder The Better'

Standard selfie

Charlie was rocking his autumnal look in a leather jacket and stripey scarf.

Quote of the eve: 'I broke the cardinal rule of getting a jacket that's cooler than I am'. 

So true. 

To be honest, it's a miracle Charles managed to temporarily remove himself from the comfort, class and city life of Notting Hill to the 'countryside' of East Sheen/Richmond, so I thought it was only right that we made the most of this rare situation. 

A bottle of red to share in The Orange Tree was followed by another bottle, and a basket of chunky chips was washed down with some sambuca shots. By the time we stumbled down at 7pm to the fireworks, they had already started and tickets were all sold out. 

On the down side we missed out on the music and the toffee apples! Shock horror. 

But on the plus side we saved 8 quid and still saw the display from outside the gates...winning? Well not quite. 

looking hip with his hip flask 

Bang

 Bang 

Sparkle 

Glitter 

Woop

Charlie also bought me some flashing glasses. However, he failed to mention that I looked like a class a dick'ed in them...and there was me thinking I looked well cool like. 

haps

The display was short and sweet. 

We then turned to the most reliable of sources, google, for the best pubs in Richmond. The Cricketer just by Richmond Green came top, so we headed there and got even more boozed up...and it was pretty awesome. I'll always have a friend in google.  

Loving life...

Chocolate cheesecake obvs happened.

And then some cheese...

Then back to mine...

Where we harrassed Dora...

Played with sparklers...

Ordered two pizzas (both of which I ate) 

...and passed out on my sofa (or in Charlie's case, floor)

...the sign of a successful Sunday night! 

xoxo