This Week in Pictures: New Hair, New Discoveries

I don't know about you, but this week has gone super duper fast *queue my poor American accent impression*.

On Saturday, I finally gave my big bush of hair a much needed grooming. And yes, I'm talking about the hair on my head, for all those who squealed at the thought of it being something else (I don't blame you, I'd squeal too!)

Well I say me, but it was really a lovely woman called Amanda who works at Timothy Williams on Church Road in Barnes. I was lucky enough to have been recommended this place through a friend, and I can't recommend it enough! It's rather pricey, but one thing they do is really listen to what you want (I find a lot of hairdressers don't do this...I'm sure you've been in that situation where you ask for an inch off and they take three...why God why?). Also, I don't know what they use, but I find that my hair manages to retain its soft texture even with the colour that I get put in. This time around, I wanted a slightly lighter brown colour than I usually get, just in time for spring! I also got the dye starting higher up my hair, rather than the dip dye I usually get, so I'm now officially a "caramel". Do caramels have more fun? I guess I'll find out!

I Am Wearing

Floral Dress- Asos

Boots - Missguided

Necklace - Topshop

Lipstick - No7

After our hair was done, Eve and I popped a few doors down to feed our groaning tums, and discovered our new favourite place to eat. Gails. They have everything from chocolate brownies to cake to coconut macaroons to smoothies to healthy pots of love. It's honestly incredible and I think I'll try and make it a weekly place to visit, even if just for a coffee which I've yet to try! (I've heard great things from my auntie who, like me, is a bit of a coffee connoisseur).

Apologies for my "Salad Fingers" (who remembers this cartoon from YouTube? "The feeling of rusty spoons against my salad fingers is almost orgasmic...I must find the perfect spoon". Errrr okay, this dude is almost as strange as me!)

I went for the parmesan chicken with some sort of 'healthy' deliciousness to accompany it in the form of kale and bulgar wheat...say what? I also tried a 'Lemon, Jasmine & Earl Grey Iced Tea' as the sun was shining and iced caffeine delicacies are my fave. It sounded odd but tasted amazing and healthy. I felt as if it was cleansing my body from all the alcohol, pizza and nutella I had consumed the night before! (Or maybe this was just wishful thinking).

Mmm Nutella, my mouth is watering at the thought of it.

Oh, and I may have purchased a coconut macaroon upon leaving...I know I'm supposed to be off artificial sugars for the Lenten period but I couldn't resist. Plus, they said 'gluten free', and when I asked what they were made of, the woman replied 'just coconut'. She failed to mention the no doubt copious amount of sugar that stuck the perfect little snowball-like treats together...but I chose to believe her anyways to lessen the guilt!

On Wednesday I ventured into Topshop on the way home from work. Sneezing and full of flu, mind you, but no amount of sickliness can keep me away from my favourite clothes shop! Their spring collection is beautiful; full of floral dresses, bright structured tops, pastel jumpers and these beauts:

 I need these boyfriend jeans and Breton top combo in my life. The boyfriend jeans were so so comfortable. I think they will be replacing leggings, my usual go-to staple!

Payday, I need you more than Kim Kardashian needs her daily instagram fix (I know I know, I can't talk).

One more thing. I started a 14 Day Teatox on Monday (not gonna lie, they had me pretty much sold on the pretty pink packaging). I'm now five days in and I don't feel much different but my skin is definitely clearer. I'll do a review on it when the fourteen days are up.

 Kisses XOXO

Four Key Spring Staples & My Style Crush's

Good evening and Happy Thursday!

So Dave Berry & Lisa Snowdon from Capital (the one and only breakfast show to listen to in the mornings) kindly informed me this morning that temperatures could reach a whopping...wait for it...17 degrees this weekend! Woah. And to make this even better, it's not going to rain either! Double woah. I had to blink to make sure I wasn't dreaming. Now this may sound silly seeing as 17 degrees isn't even hot, but if you've grown up in England all your life just like I have, then you'll understand my excitement.

In celebration of this news, I felt inspired to do a little post on four of my favourite Spring trends of 2014. They are most definitely on my Spring lust list!

1) Tanya Burr Lips & Nails

Tanya Burr is one of my favourite fashion/beauty bloggers and she has just recently brought out her own makeup range! I am desperate to get my hands on every single one of her products, but seeing as my bank would probably drop dead with a heart attack, I have listed below my faves:

Lip Gloss

- Aurora

-Picnic In The Park

-Vampire Kiss (this isn't so much a Spring colour, but it's absolutely gorgeous and I would still use it for evenings out / cocktails / dinner with friends)

Nail Varnish

-Little Duck

-Bright and Early

-Peaches & Cream

Here's a link to her blog post about her lip glosses, with swatches to show the colours more clearly: The Tanya Burr Lip Glosses

2) Two Pieces

Two pieces, in other words, matching top and bottoms were in last year (see below two looks I love), and they're back with a bang baby!



Below are two from Asos which I wouldn't mind getting my hands on and body into:

                           

        

Asos Floral Shorts / Top                        

  Asos Pastel Blue Blazer / Shorts

3) Breton crop

I am totally in love with this simple breton trend. Here are two of my faves: 

Asos Breton with Heart Elbows    

Topshop Breton Crop Top

4) Boyfriend Jeans

Again, comfortable yet cool and chic. These beauts can be dressed down with a plain top and pair of converse or dressed up for the evening with some pointed shoes or heeled sandals, and a stylish crop.

Rosie Huntington-Whiteley is clearly a fan...

Personal faves:

Topshop Boyfriend Jeans 

   Mango Boyfriend Jeans on Asos              

                   

7 for All Mankind Boyfriend Jeans on Asos

(pricey but I love them!)

My Style Crush's! 

Both these fabulous ladies have the Breton / boyfriend trend down to a T.

Niomi Smart

Fashion & Lifestyle Blogger

 I love the bright orange bag which brightens up the outfit and gives it a springy feel! 

Photo taken from her blog

www.ladysmart.co.uk

Ashley Madekwe

 Actress & Fashion Blogger

The bold red lippy and matching toenails add a pop of colour, and the sandals dress up this casual look.

Photo taken from her blog

ashley-ringmybell.blogspot.com

 XOXO

Best & Worst Dressed At The Oscars

So today isn't quite as depressing, dull and dreadworthy as Mondays generally are. As many of us awake with the expected 'Two Day Hangover' from the weekend,  and the impending work load which is sure to greet us as we face yet another whole week, we also opened our eyes to the morning after the most notorious film/entertainment awards ceremony in the world, The Oscars. 

Of course, the first thing I wanted to see was the series of outfits which actors/actresses chose to wear for the evening. Get it right, and you're deemed the next 'fashion icon' almost immediately. Get it wrong, and you may as well just hang your career out to dry there and then. Well not quite. But you get the picture.

I have made a list of my personal Faves...and Least Faves.

Best Dressed

Cate Blanchett

Looked beautiful in this chic nude Armani number! It reminds me of a classy, covered up version of Britney's infamous sheer diamond bodysuit worn in her video 'Toxic'. Pure, innocent, demure, yet absolutely fabulous at the same time.

 Lupita Nyong'o

The 'Best supporting Actress' wasn't the only thing she picked up yesterday evening...she also gained  style points in this gorgeous blue Prada dress which compliments her skin tone wonderfully.

Emma Watson

Looked stunning in this dazzling Vera Wang beaut. You can't go wrong with a simple black gown, but the metallic gives Emma's the "wow factor". The bold red lipstick completes the look. And who doesn't love a good bum flash?

Olivia Wilde

Worked the monochrome trend in this stylish Maison Valentino open back maxi dress. It hugs in all the right places. Anyone who manages to look this glowing while pregnant is winning in my eyes. 

Jenna Dewan-Tatum

Now I understand how she bagged the second most beautiful man on earth (after One Direction's Niall of course). She stunned in this sparkling Reema Acra gown with feathered bottom. Oh, and did I mention that she only gave birth less than a year ago? Kudos. 

Worst Dressed

Kristen Bell

Less red carpet, more 'My Big Fat Gypsy Wedding'. Just no. 

Margot Robbie

WHAT HAS SHE DONE TO HER HAIR?!?! Not a fan. Margot was almost unrecognisable. It seems the former blonde bombshell got a bit confused...it was the Oscars, not the Twilight Premiere! 

Charlize Theron

I'm eating my own words...it seems like there is such thing as a black gown gone wrong. It's not so much the gown itself, more the giant "see-through" straps grasping each shoulder. Christian Dior, what were you thinking? 

Pharrell

Pharrell was seen rocking a "short suit"...?! Baffled. I'm unsure whether to love it purely because it's Pharrell, or loathe it because those chicken drumsticks of his are best kept covered up. 

Until next time! 

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 

 

Frigid is the New Cool

Hi guys! 

I was reading my book on the way to work this week (Dawn O'Porter's 'Paper Aeroplanes') and came across a word I haven't heard in years: 

Frigid.

And suddenly all these memories came rushing back to me about my teenage years. The ages ranging from 14 to 19 aka the stage in our life full of fun, frolicking and firsts (first kiss, first date, first makeup purchase, first alcoholic drink, first time...). 

An era when house parties were 'the thing'. When Snake was as addictive to teens as cocaine to a druggy. When evenings were spent sitting on a park bench drinking Strongbow with friends. When cannabis was legal. When 'emo' was a stage in one's life. When MySpace was cool.When first, second and third base were part of one's everyday vocabulary. When Sunny D was on every supermarket shelf. When witches existed in the form of Sabrina. When cafes were divided by Smoking and Non-Smoking areas. When penny sweets were treats (fruit salads and blackjacks were my fave). When Blue was more than just a colour (Duncan, you'll always have a special place in my heart, even if you are bisexual). When One Direction were just foetus' in their mums tums. Shock horror. 

Weird how one word can lead to so many other thoughts, right? I imagine touring my brain would be an experience rather similar to Stealth at Thorpe Park; fast paced, random and crazy.

Anyway, back to the point. It also got me thinking about the meaning of the word frigid, a term thrown around many times when I was a teen, particularly one I was used to, being the second last to experience my first kiss out of our big girl group of friends. We called ourselves 'The Sheenies' because we all lived in Sheen. Originality at its finest.

Urban dictionary, the source of all knowledge, defines it as 'being afraid of any interaction with the opposite sex' or 'being sexually unresponsibe, pokerfaced to his/her attempts to kiss/hug/have any interaction with you', whilst the Oxford Dictionary defines it as 'very cold in temperature' or 'stiff or formal in behaviour or style'. These all have negative connotations. When I was a teen, it was cool to be easy, to get with any and every boy, to be a slut. There was an immense pressure to be this way or risk being tagged a 'loser' or 'unpretty'. 

However, I feel like there has been a complete change with this and in 2014, it's cool to pick and choose wisely, to have an heir of elegance, to be classy, to not put out for everyone and anyone.

Yep, frigid is the new cool. 

Either that, or I'm just oblivious, old and ignorant as to what the younger generation get up to these days! 

Peace & love from a very nostalgic Nish

XOXO