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 

 

One Yellow Dress, Three Different Looks

Okay so I'm going to attempt to do my first style post but seeing as I'm no Einstein when it comes to technology, don't expect anything outstanding. But I've promised myself I will learn!

I was at work today and I couldn't stop thinking about my Missguided order that I knew would be delivered. I am a big fan of online shopping for two simple reasons:

1) The ease and simplicity of the whole thing; how with one click of that button, 'add to bag', results in a considerable amount of happiness and a whole new wardrobe (yes, I do get carried away).

2) The guilt-free feeling. For some unbeknown reason, the absence of physically handing over my card to a cashier behind the counter of the likes of Topshop means that I can convince myself that the majority of the months pay wasn't actually spent on clothes...so much so in fact that when those dreaded words 'card declined' pop up, I genuinely think that my account has been hacked. Denial denial denial. And I will probably continue with this denial for years to come. 

...BUT, the one thing I hate almost as much as the guilty feeling that comes with going to clothes stores (and the effort of dragging myself around the shops of Central London on a busy Saturday afternoon) is the inevitable disappointment that comes with online shopping. Like when the beautiful coral dress you ordered ends up making you resemble something less Cara Delevingne-esque and more Tigger from Winnie the Pooh. FAIL.

So anyway, I ordered this yellow dress on the off chance that it might possibly turn out as pretty and well-made as it looks on the website. And I was extremely happy with it so thought I'd do a post of three different looks I've composed:

Casual Chick

Dress- Missguided 

Shirt- Primark

Necklace- Topshop

Shoes- Nike

Watch- Michael Kors

Ring- Topshop 

Sunglasses- Topshop

Party Bitch

Dress- Missguided

Shoes- Missguided

Watch- Michael Kors 

Earrings- Primark 

Uptown Girl

Dress- Missguided

Blazer- Primark

Shoes- Primark

Watch- Michael Kors 

Here is the link to the dress - Missguided Yellow Bodycon Dress ...not bad for £19.99! It also comes in mint but I am loving yellow at the moment...especially with the recent heatwave. When I wear it I feel like the sun, and that makes me happy :)

And now it's bedtime for me...two day hangovers are not the one. I guess I should expect it now that I'm 22...I can't help but feel old!

Nighty night for now

xoxo