Tonight I’m gonna party like it’s… a party?

If I had my way, that’s how I’d look ringing in the New Year tonight.

I love Luella

Spring… Showers? Flowers?

After perusing through many of the SS08 collections online, I’ve decided that Luella’s is my favourite.

Floaty, pretty, fun but with a hard edge.

I like it.

What if I never lost you, I wouldn’t have to find you all over and over

I arrived back in Dublin today, somewhat embarrassed at the state my family found my bedroom in. When I offered them tea and they inspected the cups before drinking from them, I decided a mini-spring clean was in order.

But this proved to be too much effort so instead I made a half-assed attempt at tidying up my wardrobe after I unpacked. As I went through everything I don’t wear anymore (due to being either too small or just disgusting) I realised that I have a ridiculous amount of costumes and props. Of course this is due to being a dramahead and going to a college that has to have a theme for every event.

What am I going to do next year when I graduate? When will I ever again need to dress as a bad fairy, an Indian, a guard, the Cowardly Lion, an English bobbie or a cowgirl?

I also never realised how many scarves I have, including a Ralph Lauren one that I have never worn simply because I completely forgot I had it.

The real world and the animated world collide…

Disney’s latest offering comes in the form of “Enchanted”, a light, fluffy and somewhat cheesy film where some fairy tale characters have found themselves in New York City, a far cry from their kingdom of Andalucia.

Modern-day adult fairytales seem to be all the rage these days (”Stardust” I’m looking at you).

Apart from an amazing cast, this film has amazing costumes. One character whose style I admired immensely was that of Giselle, the lead, played by Amy Adams (whose previous roles included that slutty cheerleader in Drop Dead Gorgeous).

First of all, her frothy meringue of a wedding dress. While it’s something I would never ever EVER even consider wearing, it is straight out of a fairytale.

Those puffy sleeves, the nipped-in waist and HUGE skirt… lovely! And I love the little butterfly just on the bust. *sigh*

She also has a habit of making dresses out of curtains and the like.

So pretty.

The only thing I DIDN’T like was what she wore to the King & Queen’s Ball. I know she was supposed to look modern and beautiful but she lost all her quirkiness in that scene.

Although I spent the duration of the film salivating over the costumes and Dr McDreamy, I also fell in love with Giselle’s outlook on life. She is so happy-go-lucky and sees only the good in everyone. Kind of refreshing…

Crowd control

In a few years, I plan on uprooting and moving to New York. The only people who believe that I can successfully do this are myself and my parents.

I adore New York. It’s where I was born and was my home until the age of two. Everytime I go back there on holidays, I feel like it’s where I’m supposed to be. I’m very much a city girl. I love the hustle and bustle and the option of always having something to do.

One thing that I like about New York is how fast people move. Everyone has something to do or somewhere to go and they all move with a purpose. I like that. I know a lot of people don’t. They think it’s sad to see so many people rushing here and there, not caring about anyone around them.

There’s a time and a place for strolling, s’all I’m sayin…

I have no patience for dilly-dallying. I have no time for moseying. That’s why I prefer to go shopping early in the morning on a weekday. Because if I leave it to the weekend, chances are I’ll end up losing my mind.

1) Old people
Old people amuse me. I like to watch them. And I respect them. But what I don’t respect is when they bang into me with their little trollies and it’s ALL MY FAULT.

2)The Buggy Brigade
Just because you were silly enough to bring your baby shopping with you, does not give you the right to attack my ankles at every turn.

3) The husband
Look, I’m sorry that your wife dragged you here but PLEASE don’t stroll in front of me! I’m clearly on a mission and you’re clearly blocking my path.

4) Ignoramus ‘R Us
You know the type. They’re the ones that think they own the shop. While you’re casually rifling through a rack of dresses, they’ll knock you sideways for fear you’ll pick up something that should rightfully BE THEIRS. Rudeness personified.

5)Teenage tarts
They’re the ones that blatantly look you and up and down with a smirk on their face. They look like they’re capable of stealing everything you own. And they know you’re afraid of them.

“She went shoppeeeeng!”

Just as I predicted, I didn’t find anything I wanted in the sales. But that’s not to say there weren’t bargains. Because there were. I was almost disappointed that I didn’t need anymore jumpers or cardigans or wasn’t a size 12-14.

First port of call was Vero Moda, who were boasting an ‘up to 50% off’ sale. I love this shop because I tend to just stumble on little things that I end up loving. But not this time. While their racks were bulging with tops for €10 and the like, I wasn’t even tempted.

A/Wear, on the other hand, was a disappointment. Granted the Tralee outlet never has that much to begin with but the markdowns were poor. The only thing that caught my eye was a navy-blue checked duffle jacket, reduced to €50 from *gasp*…. €60. Are ya havin’ a laugh??!

I ventured to Penneys to stock up on black tights (which I will probably have ruined in a couple of days, such is my luck) and a white man’s shirt. Hello Serena! If it doesn’t work out, I’m not too bothered. At €4 for a pretty nice shirt, you can’t go wrong.

Shaws, as usual, had a brilliant sale. But it’s one of those places where you really have to root for something nice, even with the massive signs screaming “€7!” and “€10!”. I’ve often come away with pretty little dresses for a mere fiver.

The town itself was quite busy and after an hour or two among the crowds, I needed to sit down somewhere. So my mom and I (with my little brother Shane in tow) headed for Charlie Nelligans, the only place to go really. When I was young, my mom would take me to Tralee every Saturday morning to do the food shop in Dunnes but first we’d go to Charlie’s for breakfast. So I have a soft spot for the place. Anyway if you’re ever in Tralee, it’s well worth checking out. I’m forever shunning Subway in favour of the little cafe/bakery.

Off to the Manor West Retail Park then. If I thought the crowds were bad in town, they were ten times worse here. All I was interested in was the Topshop sale in Debenhams but I needn’t have bothered. There were no small sizes left in anything and the reductions were nothing special anyway.

The biggest surprise of the day was Heatons. I have to admit, I’m not a huge fan. It’s just a less-up-to-date-but-slightly-more-expensive version of Penneys. And it is there that I found the prettiest shoe collection I had seen all day. And everything was €15 or under. Before I knew it I had five pairs in my hands. But I settled on this pair of black ankle boots for €15

and these adorable patent MaryJanes for €12

Heatons! Of all places. I couldn’t believe it. I’d almost make it a regular thing except that I’m pretty sure their nearest store to me in Dublin is in Tallaght.

And so the sales season is upon us once again. Sales just do not excite me anymore. Unless there’s something that I really really want but would never pay full price for (I love a good bargain).

Another thing is the crowds. I rarely have the patience to deal with them and during the sales, my tolerance level is at an all-time low.

Fully recovered after the madness that was last night, I rolled out of bed at 1pm, just in time for my dinner (roast beef mmm…) and the RTE news, which featured sad souls queuing since 5am this morning for all the ‘bargains’.If I couldn’t see anything I wanted in shops before the sales, I doubt I’ll suddenly change my mind because something has a pathetic 30% markdown. But saying that, I’m venturing as far as Tralee with my mom tomorrow to have a root around. And I know I’ll probably come home with bags of stuff that I don’t want/need.

…What do I need? Nothing really. For some reason I want an oversized argyle mandigan (to try and work as a dress?) and an oversized b+w checked shirt (ditto).

I’m very much on an oversized buzz at the moment. After the Thanksgiving episode of Gossip Girl where Serena was wearing Blair’s dad’s shirt in a flashback. Maybe I should add a man’s white shirt to that list… cinched in at the waist with a ribbon?
Oh and a tea dress.

And a Luella-esque skirt.

I doubt I’ll find any of the above in the sales though. But I can always hope. In the meantime I’ll just get frustrated looking for them.

Hotties ‘07

Maybe it was living with Linda and her influence, but this year saw me salivating over celebrities more than ever before. In the past she would name drop and moan and I would nod and not have a clue who she was talking about. One such name was that of James McEvoy. He features in her all-time Man Sandwich. “Oh yeah… him…,” I’d say. But OH YES HIM! is what I say now. Ever since she dragged me to see Atonement. Once I managed to see past the beauty that was Kiera Knightley’s green dress, I saw the absolute BEAUTY that is James McEvoy.

Oh… yes…. please.

Yeah, I would.

Next on my list is Zac Efron. Yep, of Highschool Musical fame… We’re all allowed our guilty pleasures… Until Hairspray, I think you only admitted to fancying him if you were under the age of 16. But now it’s ok.

Because he IS hot.

*bites lip* Yeah it’s DEFINITELY okay to like that.

I’m a huge fan of Klaxons. Not an obsessive one though… so when I headed to their gig in the Ambassador last month, I didn’t really know what any of them looked like or what their names were. (It was all about the music see…) But one look at James and I was in love. As ever, Justin Timberlake. I will love and worship that man forever. He IS sex. By right this list should be a lot longer… but it’s late and I’ve forgotten most of the people I was going to put on it.

Light touched my hands…

I’ve forgotten why I even started this blog. I remember in the very beginning I had this mad vision that I was going to do a style blog and take pictures when I was out of people’s outfits that I liked. That clearly never happened. And then I wanted a kind of DCU gossip blog. And again, that didn’t happen.

Anyway

It’s Christmas, the season to be jolly, of freewill and festivites, mincepies and mulled wine, Jesus and Santa, presents and presents. Very much my favourite holiday.

I love the lights, the magic, the sparkle, the decorations, the trees, Christmas Eve mass, Santa Claus, presents, the wrapping paper, crackers and what’s inside them, eating so much that I can’t physically move, watching terrible telly, devouring whole selection boxes in one sitting, sing-songs with my family, not being allowed to play poker with the adults because apparently I’m still too young, reminiscing over times past, my nana warning us to mind the ice on the road…

I love Christmas because in my family it’s traditional, it’s constant, it’s routine. Every year we more or less do the same thing. It’s comfort really. When everything else in my life is going haywire, I know I can go home for Christmas and everything is perfect, if only briefly.

For some reason, this year just doesn’t feel like Christmas. The tree is up, the lights are on, the presents are wrapped but… it doesn’t have the same kind of magic about it as it usually does.

It’s still lovely to be home though. I’m being fed, I’m getting lots of sleep and my cold is nearly gone. And last night I got to go out with my ‘homies’ (sorry) for the first time in three months. JOY. Even if the town was packed with people I didn’t know.

I can’t decide whether or not it’s an ego boost to have 17 year olds come on to me. Especially when their female counterparts are clearly gagging for it. But especially when I’m clearly running away.

Things I am loving at the moment

Hats

My Macbook

Brightly coloured eyeshadow and eyeliner

Apple juice

Recycling old clothes

Photography blogs

Style blogs

Photoshop

My girls

Things I am not loving at the moment

My cold

Boredom

My bad luck with black tights

Feeling old

Being ‘frustrated’