Post-Weekend Blues

I have had a fab weekend and now I'm depressed that it is over so here is a post summing it all up along with what my sister wore out.

So my sister was going out to a 16th birthday party last night and she had left out her outfit that she was going to wear and it was unbelievable! So I thought, being the nice sister I am, that I would include it in my blog as it was pretty funkaaay. While she was getting ready I was up in Belfast and realised that I wouldn't be able to take photos of her before she left but I thought to myself "she has an incredible camera surely she will take it to the party and there will be photos of her in her outfit" but nooooo she did not take one photo of herself when she was out therefore I didn't even get to see her outfit on her. So I apologise for only being able to post the photos of the clothes that I took when she was planning the outfit during the afternoon!

 

 

These peep toe wedges are from New Look and were literally like £5 and I have only ever worn them once but I love the blue heel as it brightens up the outfit especially if it is an all black outfit which mine had been.

 

I took this photo in the afternoon when her toe nails were bright pink (Barry M Gelly) but she then changed them to cobalt blue (Barry M Gelly).

 

 

 

I am obsessed with Barry M nail varnishes, she used the blue as the main colour of her nails then decorated one nail on each hand with glitter. I find it pretty tricky to remove the glitter to be honest, does anyone have any tips to get it off easily without using half a bottle of nail varnish remover?

 

She wore pretty simple jewellery as the dress pattern is pretty fussy and so bright. She wore her silver star necklace that she had gotten from her boyfriend and her birthstone Pandora ring which was perfect with her dress as it is Peridot which was similar to the green.

 

 

 

Her skater dress is from Topshop and was initially bought for her 16th birthday a couple of weeks ago. It is a wild print but she is pretty hip so suited her perfectly! It was also the perfect dress for this birthday as they went out for dinner to Papa Joe's then back to her friend's house.

 

Ellen's dress can be found here!

 

 

Her purple leather jacket is from Miss Selfridge and matched the dress down to a tee.

 

I also had a fabulous weekend. I watched Skyfall at my boyfriend's house for the first time ever on Friday night - it is incredible! I have been seriously missing out. I then supported my sisters play hockey and my youngest sister became captain of her team so it was a proud day to say the least. I'm not even joking I almost was crying on the side lines when I saw her wear the captain's band around her leg. I then went up to Belfast and went to Maggie May's which had phenomenal shakes, you could get any flavour under the sun there like bubblegum millions, Crunchie, apple pie... the list goes on! I highly recommend it as it was so cheap too and I can tell I will be living there during student life. We then went to the Ulster Museum to see an exhibition called "Reflections" which basically reflected on the changing fashion from 1730-2013 and it included pieces from Alexander McQueen, Amanda Wakeley, Victoria Beckham and Moschino.

 

 

Oreo and Mars Bar shake!

 

 My playsuit and gladiator sandals are from River Island!

 

We then headed into Botanic Gardens for a walk and it turned out to be the Autumn Fair so we got to look around at all the food and activities  there was even a walking tree and a talking gnome which my mother thought was the most comical thing she had ever seen in her life. And then I went to a casual gathering at my friend's house so all in all it was a good weekend, only one more weekend til uni begins ahh!

 

RR xx

Formal tips

Last October was my school formal which is an annual event held for the girls in upper sixth. We get dressed up, bring a date, eat food and have lots of fun. However, I was really shocked at how rough the day had ran and it was pretty unpleasant so by the time the formal at night came I was stressed so I have decided to provide formal tips on the basis of my own experience and to prevent you from making the same rooky mistakes!

 

1. The dress! The main part of the whole formal so you have to get it right. Look for a dress well in advance and don't just jump at the first dress that you have seen - have a look around before making the final decision! I saw a dress in August and bought it straightaway and looking back I regret it as I spent £200 when other girls had got dresses which were just as nice for A LOT cheaper! Especially check ASOS.

 

 

2. I had never had a spray tan before and to be honest I was horrified with the Wotsit/Dorito shade of orange that I ended up being left. I got the tan the night before the formal and I cried all the way home as I felt horrible and I knew I had to wash off the dirty bits but it was obvious I was still going to be a gross colour. It turned out not too bad but my tip would be to get a practice tan - even just your top half done which is normally cheaper just to see what shade of tan suits you best and it will make you more confident for when the real time comes.

 

 

 

3. Similar to the last point - don't get individual false eyelashes applied if you have never had them before. I also got the lashes applied the night before and was not physically and emotionally prepared for the pain that was about to occur. My eye got glued together and the beautician couldn't get it pulled apart for ages while the glue was stinging me. Once they were completed the set of lashes on my right eye were in a straight line rather than following the curve of my eye which wasn't too flattering. Once again my tip here is to get a test done to ensure that your eyes aren't too sensitive to the lashes and glue and to make sure you like them. I would probably have prepared to wear a complete set of lashes strip rather than individual ones.

 

 

4. Try and keep the morning and afternoon of your formal totally free and only a couple of appointments e.g. hair and makeup. I had a Senior Official position in my school and I had to give a speech during the morning of the day of my formal which was absolutely horrendous. I would have been nervous enough standing infront of a room of 40 principals for different primary schools but standing infront of them with spider eyelashes and looking like a cheesy crisp did not make matters any better. Try and keep the day as empty as possible not including appointments though and remain calm and relaxed. 



 

5. Have a nice location for the pre-party before the formal to ensure that you get decent photos while you are still looking lovely! We went to a friend's house who had a beautiful grand staircase which was ideal for taking photos on.

 

 

 

 

 

6. In all honesty I wouldn't really worry about transport going to the formal as many of us found it be a waste of money and thankfully our friend's dad had lovely Mercedes which he dropped us off to the formal in which was perfect instead of hiring a limo but if there are a lot of people at the pre party before then maybe a coach would be a better option.

 

 

7. Normally at formals you can get a formal photo with your partner - please practice your "formal pose" beforehand as it will save a lot of awkward photos and moments when you receive the photos in the couple of weeks. Also try your best to get your photos before you eat which will save the risk of including your dinner in the photo and also before your too drunk as although it may be all fun then; you will look back at your photo and most likely feel embarrassed! I had made Andrew practice our stance so that our photos didn't look too dodgy!

 

 

 

8. Make sure your date (if you are bringing one) knows the colour and style of your dress so he can choose a suitable corsage. Most of the girls had the same cream corsage as boys being boys didn't really care about the detail. Also another bad thing was that some of the corsages really did not match the dresses of some of the girls. Don't go for a wild or unnatural colour like red, keep it simple and understated so it doesn't take away from the dress.

 

9.  Take lots and lots of photos as your school formal will probably only happen once and you will want all the memories captured!

 

 

 

10. HAVE FUN! Although a lot of my hints had been from negative experiences - the formal really was a fantastic night and enjoy every single moment of it! Here are some more photos of my night.

 

 

 

 

Hope this helps!

 

RR xx

 

 

"To love another person is to see the face of God"

You will either understand the title straightaway or will be slightly confused, which is what I would be if I had read the post title a couple of days ago. Last night I went to The MAC in Belfast to see Les Miserables with my mum, auntie and family friend. We had booked the tickets in May but in all honesty I completely forgot that I was even going until the day before when my mother helpfully reminded me. We really got a lot of things packed into one night including; going out for dinner, the play then I went to an 18th birthday party - it is all fun and games!

 

 

I went for quite a casual look as I hadn't been to a play at a theatre like this before but I think I hit the mark perfectly with my choice. I absolutely love the parka that I am wearing as not only is it sensible and perfect for Autumn weather but I got it in the NEXT sale for £20 down from £45 - bargain! It will be so practical for when I start university next month. I also am so pleased to have received a Longchamp bag from my parents for my results (the bag had been in my Lust List for quite a while!) Again not only is it a beautiful bag but it was also recommended by university students as being handy and useful. I especially love the fuchsia colour of it as it is pretty different to the navy, beige or grey that you would commonly see. The bag is also massive and can hold so much which is another plus, I totally recommend buying one for yourself for £68 as it is worth it and you are worth it!

 

Green Parka - NEXT

Cream Lace Collared Top - Topshop

Jeans - Pull & Bear

Nude pumps - Miss Selfridge

Fuschia Large Bag - Longchamp

 

For our dinner we went to Salt Bistro which is situated in Saint Anne's Square in the Cathedral Quarter of Belfast. My mum and her friends always go to restaurants in this area but this was the first time I had ever seen the place and it really was lovely and I can't wait to go back! It totally did not feel like I was still in the centre of Belfast as it was relaxed and very London-like. In the restaurant we got the Pre-Theatre menu which was 2 courses for £12.95 or 3 course for £15.95. I ordered the free range Chicken Caesar salad with olives and parmesan cheese and for dessert I got the chocolate brownie with chocolate sauce and ice cream. My mum and auntie ordered salmon and noodles which also looked tempting. The food was pure divine and the actual bistro was so quaint and lovely with little vintage hearts and signs around the place and also the plates that they served the food on were old fashioned and vintage which was adorable too!

 

 

 

 

We were sitting by the window in the restaurant and we got to sit and people watch, taking in all that was happening and even seeing various members of the Les Mis cast walking by taking a break. The food was good value and the atmosphere in the restaurant was unbeatable with many others there were looking forward to going to see the play in the MAC which is literally next door to Salt. We then wandered around Saint Anne's Square and there are so many restaurants that look lovely and everyone was basically just chilling and waiting for the play.

 

 

The MAC (Metropolitan Arts Centre) is a creative arts venue which consists of a theatre, rehearsal rooms, art galleries, classrooms, dance studio and a café and bar. I had never been before so there was a lot to take in at first. Everyone in the foyer was buzzing with anticipation of seeing the play.

 

 

So we knew previously that we were sitting in the front row but you can imagine the shock that we had when we were literally touching the stage. It really was amusing but hard when there was someone singing right at you in your face. The play was performed by Belfast School of Performing Arts for 6-18 year olds and really was outstanding with the standard of the talent being very high. I had read that people left absolutely gobsmacked at how young the people were yet the voices that left them were powerful and that is exactly how I felt! I had never seen or read Les Mis before so I did not know what to expect at all but the play was beautifully crafted by James Huish and the noise was phenomenal. There were no awkward moments in the play and no real hesitations which was also an achievement in itself and if something had gone wrong - no one had noticed! I really do commend the hard work and practice that was evident throughout the show. There were even a couple of faces that I knew in the cast which was lovely to be able to see their core talent too. The whole atmosphere in the MAC was fantastic and now I am currently checking what else is on that would be fun to go and see.

 

The play ended at around 11pm therefore lasting 3 hours with the inclusion of an interval. I then went to a friend's house half an hour away in Newtownards for his 18th and to be honest on the way over I nearly fell asleep as I was that tired but it was worth staying up late for even though I only stayed an hour. It was very chilled and everyone was just chatting and having banter which was the perfect way to end a fantastic Saturday night/Sunday morning and my friend even made me chicken curry at midnight which was fabulous!

 

So to wrap it up - go to Salt and treat yourself to a tasty meal, visit the MAC and see if there are any plays that would tickle your fancy or take the lazy option and just watch Les Mis on DVD (which is what I am about to do now!)

 

RR xx

 

 



Hectic 4 days

Back in May when Kings of Leon were signed to be the main act for Tennent's Vital in Belfast I was over the moon as I love them to pieces so naturally I immediately bought a ticket. It was absolutely incredible but not only because of KOL but The Vaccines, The Undertones and The Minutes were all awesome too!

 

Despite it not being too muddy I wore my Hunter wellies even though it hadn't been too wet but I didn't want to risk it. Please take note of our fabulous water ponchos, £2 - bargain! The shorts that I decided to wear actually used to be old River Island jeans which were slightly too big so I cut them - doing some DIY!

 

KOL were incredible as expected but they left the stage without playing Black Thumbnail, Radioactive and Sex on Fire so I had a slight mental breakdown but then they finished off with those 3 which was fantastic!

 

 



 

 

 

 

 

Navy Gloss Hunter Wellies - Hunter
Navy Camisole - Hollister
Pale denim shorts - River Island
Red and blue flannel shirt - Topshop

(The clothing in the collage do not always match up to the exact items I was wearing nor are the links always to the exact clothing)

 

 

 Thursday which was Day 2 of T. Vital, Snow Patrol, Jason Mraz , Foy Vance and Kodaline were playing which I would have loved to go and see but it was the night of my A Levels so I thought I wouldn't risk it incase my results were poor (which they weren't thankfully!) So instead we went to Cosmo in Victoria Square which is a buffet of all different Asian, Italian and British foods with incredible desserts. It was a celebration of not only my results but my sister's 16th birthday too!

 

 

 

 On Friday I was completely buzzing for the day ahead as Day 3 of Tennent's Vital had Avicii, Tinie Tempah, Rudimental, Naughty Boy and Tommy Trash all lined up which I knew was going to be absolutely phenomenal! I didn't particularly want to wear shorts again but in the end gave into it as I thought it was the best option and had worked well on Day 1. And of course I could not have bypassed wearing my Hunter wellies again!

 

 

 

It really was an incredible night and the atmosphere during Avicii was unbelievable despite being rapidly pushed about in mosh/dancing pits. We got Pit tickets again for Day 3 and was so close to Avicii even though we actually never really saw Avicii behind all the smoke etc!

 

Navy Gloss Hunter wellies - Hunter
Green shorts - Primark
Maroon top - Next
Denim jacket - H&M
Bronze cuff - French Market

 

Finally to top off the crazy 3 days that I experienced in the middle of August, I attended a Ben Howard concert at Belsonic in Custom House Square. I was expecting quite a chilled concert which it was in comparison to Avicii but it was still pretty crazy which shocked me a lot! We didn't arrive in time to get to see the support act and never even got to know his name but Ben Howard was definitely worth the money! In particular there was a girl who played the piano, cello, sang and played drums throughout the different sets - she was fantastic! It was a great night and it was especially good as I went with girls from school that I hadn't seen recently either!

 

 

 

 To Belsonic I wore disco pants, patterned camisole, leather jacket and black leather fringed gladiator sandals. My favourite song of Ben Howard that he played was "The Fear" as it was really atmospheric and the crowd just loved it!

 

Black leather studded jacket - Topshop
Black camisole with colourful animal print - H&M
Black disco leggings - Topshop
Black fringed sandals - Eram

 

It really was an amazing couple of days with lovely people! Hopefully you enjoyed looking at my experience and the different clothes that I wore. Feel free to comment any ideas or criticisms!

 

RR xx