Anna Saccone

February Glossybox!

2012-03-08T22:36:00.000Z

Here's what I got in my February Glossybox. I was pleased with the contents of this month's box and I'm even more excited about March's "mystery box" which I'm sure most of you know all about by now! (If you don't, I won't spoil it for you ;)

The first product I got was the one I'm the happiest about -- the DuWop Venom Gloss in Buttercup. This is a beautiful, delicate nude shade with hints of gold and peach in it. So flattering and wearable! My hubby is a big fan of the nude lip so this is right up his alley as well, ha ha ha! I was most excited about this because I already own a Venom Gloss in the shade Coral Tree which was sent to me as a gift from a subscriber of mine last year and it is one of my favourite glosses. These are plumping glosses which leave your lips feeling tingly and have a yummy cinnamon & ginger scent. Here's how the product looks on my lips. I have been wearing it religiously since I got it!

Full size Venom Glosses are quite expensive at £16 for 10.4 ml, but you do get a 20% discount with the February Glossybox.

Next up is Dr Bronner's Magic Liquid Soap, which is made with organic extra virgin cocounut, olive, jojoba and hemp oils. I'm always open to trying out new lotions & potions so I love that Glossybox normally include interesting and new skincare products that I've never heard of before. A full size bottle of this is only £1.99 at 59ml.

The second item I was really excited to try out is the Paul Mitchell Round Trip Liquid Curl Definer. A full size bottle retails for £12.95 (the same price of a Glossybox! Ha ha ha :) for 200ml and this is for curly/wavy haired girls like me so I can't wait to see how this goes. I've always loved the haircare products I receive in my Glossybox so this sounds promising.

Next is a sample of the BM Beauty Pure Mineral Eyeshadow in Noir (black). Last night I watched Katie Elisabeth's video on the February box and I had to agree with what she said about this. Because it's a pigment/mineral eyeshadow this will most likely last a very long time and being that it's black it will probably last forever...lol. Black isn't a colour I wear very often on my eyes (unless it's in the form of liner) as I feel it can look very harsh especially for daytime. So we'll see how this goes but I have a feeling I won't use a lot of it! A full size 2g eyeshadow retails for £7.00.

Last but not least is the Como Shambhala Invigorate Body Lotion, which I'm also excited to try out especially after reading their description of the product on the Glossybox info card. "A revitalising blend of essential oils that puts you into a perfectly uplifted mood." Sounds good to me! This is another quite expensive product as a full 300ml size bottle is £20.00. Again, I had never heard of this brand before so I'm curious to see what it's like!

You can subscribe to Glossybox on their website for £12.95 a month (incl. shipping). Watch my video on the February box here!

Stay Stylish!

Disclaimer: February Glossybox was kindly sent to me for consideration to review. I was not paid for my review nor am I affiliated with the company in anyway. My 100% honest opinion, as always! :)

Car Shopping!

2012-03-06T21:00:00.000Z

Oversized tee/LoveClothing, Jeans/Zara, Boots/Dune, Jacket/LoveClothing, Earrings/Talullah Tu

I realise this outfit is almost exactly the same as another one from last week but today's weather was awfully gloomy and drizzly so my number one goal ended up being comfort & warmth, lol. I had planned on wearing my crochet cardigan from LoveClothing but I think I'll save that for a warmer day!

I actually wore this out car shopping as we're purchasing a newer, bigger & safer car for when little Pancoga arrives :) We're pretty sure we've found the right one today but will be taking it for a test-drive tomorrow so I will let you know what we decide! ;)

Watch the OOTD video on this outfit here!

Stay Stylish!

Week 14 Bump Update!

2012-03-05T20:55:00.002Z

I've decided to upload my bump posts on a Monday instead of a Thursday, to coincide with my pregnancy vlogs. I actually change weeks on a Monday anyway but seeing as we took our first bump shot on a Thursday that was why I kept uploading them on different days. I just think this way makes more sense and is less confusing, ha ha! Hopefully you guys don't mind :)

How far along? 14 weeks

Total weight gain: 5lbs based on this morning's weight! I know last week I said 6, this was based on what the scale said at the hospital when I went for my ultrasound. One of the requirements is that you drink 1 litre of water before the scan, so that's probably why I weighed a little more then! According to this nifty little site I discovered thanks to Regina, (SexyFitPregoMom on YouTube) I am right on track :)

Maternity clothes? As you can see from the pictures, I am still wearing and using my bump bands from Mothercare and I love them! I haven't purchased anything else maternity wear since then but based on how my clothes are looking I will probably have to soon! This morning was the first time I actually had difficulty picking out a top that didn't make me look like a marshmallow stuffed into cling-film...lol!

Stretch marks? Nope -- at the moment I am still using Mama Mio Tummy Rub oil each night after my shower.

Sleep: I'm actually still sleeping really well, which is wonderful! I also find that my left side is still my favourite position to sleep in.

Best moment this week: I'm still going to put getting married legally in Ireland, because it only happened on Wednesday :)

Miss anything? No, not at all!

Movement: Not since that one time after the ultrasound! :(

Food cravings: Aside from the Ploughman's cheese sandwich incident, cravings haven't been too crazy! I would still say my number one is oranges...I have been known to eat about 3 or 4 before bed!

Anything making you queasy or sick: Still shrimp & prawns, bleugh!

Gender: I'm still thinking boy but of course we don't know for sure yet! At 18 weeks we are going to get a 3D ultrasound to find out. I can't wait!

Labor signs: No.

Symptoms: My boobs are still sore and my new bras are getting too small now, acne around my cheeks and jawline is still there but not as bad as before, some dry/flaky patches but again nothing like before, crazy/vivid dreams, it's also getting kind of uncomfortable whenever I bend over or need to reach down to get something - haha!

Belly button in or out? In!

Wedding rings on or off? On.

Happy or moody most of the time: Happy!

Looking forward to: Decorating the rest of the house, and buying our new rug for the bedroom (I've had it picked out for ages)!

Stay Stylish!

Fresh Spring Make-Up!

2012-03-02T19:17:00.000Z

Today's make-up look was totally inspired by spring! I used cool-toned colours like navy, grey & white on the eyes, a fresh glowy pink blush and a neutral lip. I don't normally wear cool colours as I'm warm toned so they don't suit me as well but yesterday I was wearing lots of blue & grey and the weather was so bright and beautiful I just felt like a fresh change! Here's a list of the products used:

For the Face: The Body Shop Vitamin C Skin Reviver (primer)

MAC Studio Moisture Tint with SPF 15 in Medium

Maybelline 24hr SuperStay Concealer in 2

Benefit Get Even Powder in 02

Maybelline Dream Mousse Blush in 07 Peach Satin

For Eyes: HD Brow Palette in Ash Brown

The Body Shop Shimmer Cubes Palette 20 (white on the brow bone & inner corners, silver on the lids and navy blue in the crease)

The Body Shop Kajal Eyeliner in 03 (steel) in the waterline

Eyeko Beauty Graffiti Eyeliner Pen in black on upper lashline

CoverGirl Lashblast Volume mascara on top & bottom lashes

For Lips: A dot of concealer (to blank them out)

Avon Hollywood Lights lipgloss in Celebrity Pink

Watch the tutorial here.

Stay Stylish!

Week 13 Bump Update!

2012-03-01T18:12:00.000Z

How far along? 13 weeks 3 days

Total weight gain: About 6lbs total! (Forgot to take measurements this week...sorry!)

Maternity clothes? Yes, as I mentioned in previous posts I purchased 2 bump bands from Mothercare in white & black and so far I am loving them!

Stretch marks? Nope!

Sleep: My dreams are getting more and more insane...it's literally like there's a new movie showing in my sleep every night, my hubby actually looks forward to my early morning accounts and finds them very entertaining!

Best moment this week: Getting (legally) married...yeah I know it has nothing to do with baby stuff but it was too important not to mention! :)

Miss anything? Not really.

Movement: Yes! I felt the baby move the night I wrote my last bump update actually! It was so bizarre...like a little creepy crawly running up and down my belly. I freaked out thinking it was a spider but then realised it wasn't...ha ha ha! I was in bed asleep at the time and right before it happened something woke me up...I think it was Pancoga wanting to say hi to his/her mommy :)

Food cravings: Oh my God...so on Monday Jonathan and I were watching Celebrity Apprentice, which by the way gets worse every time, I don't know why we watch such crap but for some reason we do. Anyway, one of the tasks was to make and sell sandwiches...well this was after we had eaten dinner and I had devoured about a half a pack of Oreos so you would think I was pretty full but I instantly started craving a sandwich. And not just any sandwich, a big, fully-loaded, packed with veggies, mayo and cheese SANDWICH! It was crazy!! I didn't satisfy the craving right then because I convinced myself I was just making this up...but it continued on for the next 24 hours until finally at about 10pm Tuesday night we ventured out to the petrol station and while Jonathan got himself chocolate I picked up a big fat juicy Ploughman's cheese sandwich -- I tell ya it was the most amazing sandwich I've ever eaten...lol!

Anything making you queasy or sick: Shrimp/prawns.

Gender: I think boy, but we don't know for sure yet!

Labor signs: No.

Symptoms: Some round ligament pain, boobs are still sore, acne around my cheeks and jawline (weird), some dry/flaky patches on my forehead but not as much as before, crazy dreams.

Belly button in or out? In!

Wedding rings on or off? On.

Happy or moody most of the time: Happy, happy, happy!

Looking forward to: Decorating the rest of the house :)

Stay Stylish!

Happy Leap Day!

2012-02-29T19:08:00.000Z

T-shirt/LoveClothing, Jacket/H&M, Jeans/Zara, Boots/London Rebel, Scarf/Zara, Watch/Phosphor, Necklace/Urban Outfitters

Yesterday was the first time wearing a bump band, and they work like a charm! I'm wearing the black one here, with my jeans unbuttoned. They hug my bump and keep my pants up surprisingly well, not to mention the fact that I feel so much more comfortable now...yay!

I also unintentionally matched my scarf to my new rug, ha ha ha! I like this outfit but was really wanting to wear it with a pair of red skinnies, I just feel like that would look so cute but I don't currently own any nor do I want to buy a new pair with a growing belly (and I don't want to buy a maternity pair either, I'd like one that will last long-term!). So instead I added a pop of colour with my scarf but didn't realise how well it matched the floor, lol.

Hope you're all having a fabulous Leap Day! ;)

Stay Stylish!

Room Tour!

2012-02-28T19:17:00.000Z

Yesterday I finally finished decorating my studio/make-up room/closet room...whatever you want to call it! These pictures were actually taken a little prematurely because this was before I collected my make-up storage from my old bedroom in my mom's house (where it had been patiently waiting for me since the big move). So I will probably update this post once we take some more pictures tomorrow when the light's good.

But this is what it looks like for the most part! You'll have to wait for my video (which is uploading this evening) for the entire "grand tour" but here's a sneak preview. The mirror, lamp, rug and cupcake canvas were purchased from Argos. The lantern tree is from Homefront and if there are various other items you have questions about please wait for the video because I think I mentioned where everything is from!

Stay Stylish!

Spring has Sprung!

2012-02-27T18:49:00.000Z

T-shirt/LoveClothing, Jeans/Zara, Necklace/Urban Outfitters, Shoes/LoveClothing, Bag/Chloé, Watch/Phosphor

It's still way too cold to wear this outfit (I bundled up with my shearling jacket when we went out) but I love the t-shirt and it's made from such a comfy, soft material. Plus it almost makes me believe it's spring! I purchased two bump bands from Mothercare last week and although this isn't one of them (it's just a long tank top worn underneath) it works in the same way. Basically the bump bands are just a piece of fabric worn around your bump & hips in order to get more use out of non-maternity jeans...essentially you can wear them open without anybody noticing, genius!

My mom brought this statement silver necklace back from Belfast for me -- I saw it and instantly thought of pairing it up with this shirt. The boots are very soft and comfortable in terms of material though the 3 and 1/2 inch heel does get a little ouch-y after lots of ~~shopping~~ walking! These jeans have quickly become some of my favourite "maternity" pants because of the low waist and stretchy fabric. Yay for making my wardrobe work with the bump! :)

The t-shirt and boots mentioned above are both from LoveClothing. The t-shirt is available for £18.00 and I got it in a size 8. The boots are currently available on sale for £16.20 and I got them in a size 5. Both items fit true-to-size!

Stay Stylish!

Week 12 Bump Update!

2012-02-23T16:53:00.000Z

How far along? 12 weeks 3 days

Total weight gain: I took measurements again this week! My waist is now 26" and my tummy is 31"!

Maternity clothes? Still haven't bought any yet but I have actively been window shopping online for more...especially pants/jeans. It's getting more uncomfortable to wear mine with the button closed!

Stretch marks? No new ones although I did see some really faint "translucent" ones on my hips that aren't very noticeable depending on the light. I think they must have been from when I lost some weight as a teen. They don't bother me though, I'm still using a concoction of different products! The Body Shop Cocoa Butter and Mama Mio Tummy Oil are my favourites of the moment!

Sleep: Been having some wacko dreams lately!! But sleeping well & through the night. Sometimes it's a little uncomfortable because I'm used to sleeping on my belly but now I always sleep on the left side and it gets a little sore after a while. But no real complaints.

Best moment this week: Definitely our ultra-sound! I can't even begin to explain the emotions we both felt when we finally got to see our baby which we had created...it's bizarre. He/she is so cute :)

Miss anything? Not at the moment, now that my energy is back and in full force!

Movement: No, even though we saw the baby move on the screen at the ultra-sound...it was asleep and the nurse had me cough a number of times to wake him/her up and finally it did...I can't believe how much it was moving and yet I could feel nothing, I can't wait to feel it!

Food cravings: Oranges and fruit...that's about it.

Anything making you queasy or sick: I still couldn't stomach shrimp/prawns, the coffee aversion seems to have gone away and I enjoy a cup now & then but it's not the same as it was before! Herbal tea is another thing I've totally gone off.

Gender: We still don't know, and won't till my next scan in April! That's okay though, I can wait. But I still have a feeling it's a boy ;)

Labor signs: No.

Symptoms: Sore boobs (like always), acne, dry flaky skin in patches, weird/vivid dreams.

Belly button in or out? In!

Wedding rings on or off? On.

Happy or moody most of the time: Happy, now that my energy's back!

Looking forward to: Nothing really in particular, I think I'm still just excited after the ultra-sound experience...it may take a while to wear off!

Baby Saccone-Joly, measuring right on track!

Stay Stylish!

Pancake Tuesday!

2012-02-21T19:04:00.000Z

Top/LoveClothing, Leggings/Heatons, Boots/Dune, Cape/LoveClothing, Watch/Phosphor, Necklace/MyNameNecklace.ie

Happy Pancake Tuesday!

It's one of my favourite days of the year, where you get to eat as many pancakes as you want without feeling guilty...because tomorrow is Lent and we're all giving up sweets, right?! Ha ha ha, okay maybe not. But I still love pancake day! And I aim to eat as many as my own little pancoga will allow room for :)

This is the perfect pancake/fat Tuesday outfit, don't you think?! The baggy top by Selected hides a multitude of sins and these leggings are already too big for me so it's really a win-win situation all round! I love this top as it's silk on the back and front pocket. The material is soft and comfy but I do recommend wearing a tank top underneath to protect the silk from getting too crumpled or god forbid, sweaty...(gross I know but who wants sweat stains on a silk shirt?!). The cape is from last month's haul but I never featured it in a blog post. It's by Vila and made from incredibly warm wool so it keeps you super snug! It also features a hood and comes with a big pin which I'm not wearing here.

I hope you all have a fabulous pancake day! And if you don't celebrate, at least eat something yummy for me ;)

Stay Stylish!

Walk in the Cold

2012-02-18T18:22:00.001Z

Sweatshirt/LoveClothing, Jeans/GAP 1969 Always Skinny, Chelsea boots/LoveClothing, Leather jacket/LoveClothing, Earrings/Accessorize

These are just some of the lovely items I got from LoveClothing this month. This sweatshirt reminds me that SPRING is right around the corner, yay! And I have wanted chelsea boots for so long...I remember when they were in style back when I was little and my mom wore them all the time...it's funny how things like that become trendy again years later.

The shearling jacket is a definite must-have for long walks in the cold. I have wanted one so badly ever since I saw Wendy from wendyslookbook wearing her black aviator jacket on her blog!

For reference, I got the sweatshirt in the size XS (6/8), the jacket in the size 36/8 and boots in a size 5. They all fit true-to-size.

I also don't know if any of you guys noticed but I am wearing my jeans with the button opened, ha ha ha! :) Little pancoga needed some more room in there...

Stay Stylish!

Week 11 Bump Update!

2012-02-16T17:41:00.000Z

How far along? 11 weeks

Total weight gain: No clue, BUT I did take measurements this week! And my waist was 25" and a half (pre-pregnancy it was 23"-24" depending on the day ;) and my tummy was 30"! I also think this is the most visible the bump has ever been yet. Yay!

Maternity clothes? None yet but I did pin some items I liked from ASOS on Pinterest. I'm going to my cousin's wedding in June so I need to find a bump-friendly dress...we still have plenty of time though :)

Stretch marks? None to report yet. Still using Burt's Bees Mama Bee Belly Butter and Mama Mio Tummy Oil.

Sleep: Much better, aside from the fact that I do nap during the day which means I'm not tired till much later on and then end up sleeping in till late. I hate that because then I feel like the whole morning is wasted!

Best moment this week: Picking out middle names...we already had our first names chosen since the very beginning (we have a boy name and a girl one as we still don't know the sex)! But we just recently picked the middle names and I love them!

Miss anything? My energy...it's still not back yet!

Movement: No.

Food cravings: Not really, but looking at pictures of food in recipe books or online makes me crave it so much!! It's a dangerous habit!

Anything making you queasy or sick: Prawns/shrimp is still making me feel ill, and I'm totally turned off by any chocolate bar or candy.

Gender: OMG. As if that Intelligender test wasn't confusing enough, last night Jonathan and I decided to do the ring test...and guess what happened?! It started swinging back and forth in a line, then straight away went round in circles, then back to a line, and then back to a circle again...what?!?!? All the signs are pointing to twins, ha ha ha! But at the same time, I don't really believe any of these old wives' tales :)

Labor signs: No.

Symptoms: Sore, ever-growing boobs (my new bras are already too small for me), fatigue, acne.

Belly button in or out? In!

Wedding rings on or off? On.

Happy or moody most of the time: It really depends on whether I'm hungry or not...lol.

Looking forward to: Getting our ultrasound THIS TIME NEXT WEEK!

Stay Stylish!

Happy Valentine's Day!

2012-02-15T02:49:00.000Z

So I know it's technically no longer Valentine's Day as it's 2am my time and the date now reads Feb. 15th but my day has not ended yet so I still consider it to be the 14th, ha ha ha! So Happy Valentine's Day! I hope you all had a wonderful day, no matter what you did or who you spent it with. Jonathan's birthday is the day before so my expectations are generally pretty low this time of year being that it's really his time to get spoiled. Yesterday I cooked him dinner, baked him a chocolate birthday cake and set up a treasure hunt for him around the house (yes, he is 32 but he's still just a kid at heart :)

I did not expect anything this morning, so you can imagine my surprise when I found this beautiful bunch of a dozen roses waiting for me on my desk with a card...yay! We had a relatively low-key Valentine's day which involved ordering pizza and watching ourselves on TV...ha ha ha! That sounds so conceited, but it's not meant that way! Earlier last week we filmed the Valentine's episode RTÉ 2's Juice in Dublin which aired today at 5:30pm. If you don't live in Ireland or missed it and would like to watch, Jonathan recorded it for tomorrow's vlog. Otherwise I'm sure it will become available on RTÉ Juice at some stage!

Stay Stylish!

Week 10 Bump Update!

2012-02-10T17:19:00.000Z

How far along? 10 weeks

Total weight gain: No idea, all my clothes still fit me but I definitely can see a little bump! Yay!

Maternity clothes? Not yet but sweats have become my best friend :)

Stretch marks? Nope! Been using Burt's Bees Mama Bee Belly Butter and Mama Mio Tummy Oil.

Sleep: It depends on the day/night but being that I am very tired all the time, I do take naps so that tends to break up my sleeping pattern a little. I also need to pee at least once during the night, so it varies.

Best moment this week: Seeing the beginnings of my bump in the mirror after taking a shower Wednesday night!

Miss anything? Having normal amounts of energy...it seems like all I want to do is get into bed & sleep!

Movement: Nope.

Food cravings: The nausea has definitely gotten better, so I'm enjoying food more now! I have been craving anything cake-y recently like muffins, pancakes, bakewell slices (YUM!) and the orange craving seems to have subsided!

Anything making you queasy or sick: Coffee, chocolate...never been a huge chocolate fan but for some reason right now it makes me feel ill, also prawns/shrimp. I honestly feel like throwing up even thinking about them...ugh!

Gender: I took that stupid Intelligender test this week and it messed up!! I was so annoyed! First of all the syringe was cracked when it arrived so I had to somehow pour my pee in manually (gross) and then I didn't have a clue how much or how little it ended up being. Then the results ended up being half green half yellow so I'm thinking it's either a big fat scam OR we're having twins, a boy and a girl...don't think so though ;) So we still have no idea who is in there! Lol.

Labor signs: No.

Symptoms: Still sore boobies, fatigue, a little bit of nausea now and then but not as much as before, dry flaky skin & breakouts...my skin is acting very weird!

Belly button in or out? In!

Wedding rings on or off? On.

Happy or moody most of the time: If I eat every three hours, happy :)

Looking forward to: Still getting our ultrasound!!

Stay Stylish!

Waterfall

2012-02-07T21:23:00.000Z

Cardigan/Soaked in Luxury, Jeans/Zara, T-shirt/GAP, Boots/London Rebel, Bag/ASOS, Necklace/Agatha

It's been a while since I posted an actual outfit of the day, being that I've still been feeling the effects of morning sickness and as a result have been living in sweats! Today I felt much better (if a little bloated) and was glad to get dressed up in some "real clothes" for a change! We also went to Nando's for dinner, yummy :)

Tomorrow we'll be travelling to Dublin to record for the Valentine's Day episode of the RTÉ 2 show, Juice. We're both so excited and honoured to have been asked to be on the show, especially since it's such a special episode! I believe that you guys will be able to tweet us questions on Thursday while we're recording, so I will let you know the specifics if you're interested in getting your question answered by us on TV!

Stay Stylish!

Week 9 Bump Update!

2012-02-03T15:29:00.002Z

Welcome to week 9! I honestly feel like I'm smaller than last week...lol. I guess my doctor was right and I probably won't show for ages...boo! :( Oh well, I will continue with these anyhow just to track my progress each week. And although this post is a day late (due to yesterday's being late also) the pictures were taken yesterday. So we're right on track :)

How far along? 9 weeks

Total weight gain: Nothing yet...I think that's normal though for where I'm at.

Maternity clothes? Not yet but I have been loving leggings lately :)

Stretch marks? Nope! Still using Mama Mio tummy butter/oil every day.

Sleep: This has thankfully gotten a lot better. I can actually sleep through the night and although I'm probably still not getting enough sleep (I'd say about 7 hours on average each night) I am feeling a lot better when I wake up in the morning.

Best moment this week: Getting our first ultrasound appointment!

Miss anything? Licking the bowl after baking...ha ha ha! That used to be my favourite thing to do especially when I was little!

Movement: Nope.

Food cravings: Still oranges...and lately I've been craving any food item anybody mentions but then feeling nauseous right after eating...ugh :(

Anything making you queasy or sick: Eating anything...I still eat regular meals about 5 times a day but like I said, everytime I eat I feel sick/bloated or nauseous after. Still hate coffee!

Gender: No clue.

Labor signs: No.

Symptoms: Sore growing boobs, morning sickness, fatigue, getting super emotional for the stupidest reasons, acne...although that cleared up a little bit it's still there.

Belly button in or out? In!

Wedding rings on or off? On.

Happy or moody most of the time: It depends, now I'm not as moody as last week because I've actually gotten a little bit more of my energy back. I find that in the evenings when I'm tired I'm more moody but during they day I'm happy :)

Looking forward to: Our ultrasound!!

Stay Stylish!

What I Ate Wednesday...A Day Late!

2012-02-02T17:51:00.000Z

Sorry this is actually a day late, but I wanted to get it up anyway because I had been planning to do one of these for a while and a lot of you requested it! I have been feeling really sick these past two days (which explains the lack of posts/videos). It seems that just when I thought things were getting better the morning sickness & nausea came back with a vengeance! I don't even get it in the mornings, just throughout the day at different times. But this is an example of what I eat in a typical day! I try to eat as healthy as possible during my pregnancy, and have switched to eating more frequent, small meals throughout the day to try and help with the nausea.

I start off the day with a glass of water and my HUMONGOUS prenatal vitamin, lol. It smells like fish but it makes my nails & hair grow like crazy...oh and there's the whole "good for the baby" element to it as well, ha ha ha ;)

Breakfast is almost always the same, porridge/oatmeal with soy milk, blueberries, 1/2 banana and cinnamon. My favourite meal of the day -- yum!

This isn't actually the norm, but we were heading to The Body Shop for a pregnancy pampering session yesterday at 11am so on the way we stopped by Marks & Spencers as Jonathan hadn't had breakfast. I wasn't hungry yet so I just got a cup of peppermint tea.

Again I don't normally eat lunch out during the week but yesterday we happened to be in town so we stopped by Wild Ways and I got the spicy vegetable wrap with bean salad & sweet chili sauce (I never eat the sauce).

At about 4pm I was hungry for a snack so I reached for my current craving, an juicy orange and a granola bar. This one is from Nature Valley and it's the chewy fruit & nut variety.

For dinner last night, we made bangers & mash! Jonathan made mashed potato with olive oil and I made veggie sausages and peas, I also added about 2 tbsp of ketchup. It was delicious!

I had baked red velvet cupcakes the night before and was really looking forward to them but unfortunately I felt so nauseous and sick I couldn't stomach them :( So I stuck with a lighter snack of an apple and some extra light Philadelphia cheese.

Hopefully this morning/and not-so-morning sickness will go away soon! I love food and enjoy it but the nausea I get after eating is not fun! However I think that eating small meals throughout the day so you never get hungry is a great way to help that and keeps me from getting too sick. I hope this will give you guys some healthy veggie food ideas! :) P.S. I also drink a lot more water than the one glass shown here, I just drink it all the time throughout the day and didn't take pictures of it!

Stay Stylish!

Getting My Energy Back!

2012-01-30T14:10:00.000Z

Jacket/LoveClothing, Pants/Primark, Top/H&M, Boots/ASOS, Scarf/Accessorize

I am 9 weeks 1/2 today! I just got back from my doctor's appointment and got the bloodwork back (everything's fine). He said that I was about 9 1/2 weeks which is further along than we had estimated. I should have been 9 weeks today, but never really tracked my last period correctly so we were doing our best at guessing. We will know for sure when I get my first ultrasound next month...exciting!

This is what I wore two weeks in a row to the doctor's office actually, but last week I accidentally deleted the pictures off my laptop -- argh! I love this jacket because it's so cosy and warm. The sheepskin inside makes it so snug and I went with brown rather than black just for some variety as I already have SO much black in my wardrobe! The jacket is by Vila from LoveClothing and available for £45 here. (For reference, I got this in the UK size 6/8 and it fits true-to-size.)

I'm also happy to report that my morning sickness is slowly dying down, my skin's clearing up and I am getting some of my energy back. Yay! I really want to keep active for my pregnancy so I had wanted to start walking in the mornings, five days a week for at least 30 minutes. I asked my hubby if he would do it with me and he was totally supportive, plus we knew the pups would benefit too. Last week I was way too sick to even get in a 5 minute walk so we started today and I feel great! My doctor's appointment was this morning so we got up early and whipped on some workout gear & left. It was raining a little bit and kind of gross out so we did some hardcore power-walking (so we'd finish quicker, lol) and did exactly 30 minutes. I think Albi and Sina were very happy doggies because they were brought on a "proper" off-the-lead walk and they got to run around and play...now they are much more relaxed for the rest of the day. As a result of this I feel 10 times better already...I hope to keep it up for as long as I can, I think it will be great for both of us to get fit for when the baby comes :)

Hope you're all having a great Monday! If you like you can watch my 9 week pregnancy vlog here and don't forget to check out today's daily vlog here! :)

Stay Stylish!

Movie Night & Dinner Date!

2012-01-29T13:16:00.000Z

Cardigan/LoveClothing, Scarf/Soaked in Luxury, Jeggings/ASOS, Boots/Dune

I originally had started writing this post last night but it was really late by the time we got home and I was exhausted so I just went to bed! But this is what I wore yesterday evening for our dinner date & movie night! We just went to Nando's, so nothing fancy...very casual and it was pouring rain outside so all I felt like doing was bundling up! This cardigan from LoveClothing is perfect for that as it's extremely warm and sort of doubles as a coat. Worn with my grey sequined scarf it keeps me very toasty :) I love the asymmetrical zips and large pockets. I just wore a plain black Vila t-shirt underneath and simple black jeggings. The cardigan is by Selected/Femme, is great quality wool and a mottled grey colour. You can get it for £90 here!

I should have snapped a picture of my food from last night but my Instagram app never works in Nando's for some reason :( I got the usual thing I get almost everytime we go there, a veggie burger with ratatouille -- OMG I love it! The only downside of course is that if you order anything vegetarian at Nando's, you're going to be one of the last people served because the quickest thing for them to make is chicken & chips...which is what most people get I think, ha ha ha!

The movie we saw was Intruders with Clive Owen and it was really nothing special...don't waste your money! If you want to see a great film in the cinema, I highly recommend The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo...it's AMAZING! I'm not a Daniel Craig fan but even I was won over by his part in this. Intruders was just blah...

I hope you're all having a relaxing Sunday! I have to clean my house & am looking forward to using our new bedding I got last week. You can check out my home decor and fashion/maternity haul here to see what I'm talking about! And don't forget to check out yesterday's vlog where I take you guys shopping with me!

Stay Stylish!

Week 8 Bump Update!

2012-01-26T21:30:00.000Z

Even though I don't feel like I even have a bump yet (more like just "bloat"!) I've always wanted to track my progress from the very beginning of pregnancy so I've decided to start at week 8! Some of my favourite pregnancy blogs like As The Forest(e) Grows, The Art of Making a Baby and more recently Little Baby Garvin do a weekly questionnaire which I thought would be fun to do! Let me know what you think! I will be doing these every Thursday since I found out I was pregnant two weeks ago on a Wednesday and the day after we snapped a pre-pregnancy belly pic.

How far along? 8 weeks

Total weight gain: I have no idea...I don't really intend on weighing myself every week unless the doctor does it or something! But I will say that I still fit comfortably into all of my skinny jeans! My "pre-pregnancy" weight was somewhere between 115-120lbs.

Maternity clothes? Not yet!

Stretch marks? Nope (although the marks that the zippers in my leggings left on my tummy might look like them...they're not :)

Sleep: Awful :( Although I'm really tired earlier in the evenings, I haven't been able to sleep through the whole night in what feels like weeks! It doesn't help that I have a cold/cough that won't seem to go away!

Best moment this week: Announcing our pregnancy :)

Miss anything? Fitting into my bras! Real green tea, and sometimes my morning coffee even though it tastes disgusting to me now. I still miss that tradition, I guess.

Movement: Haha, no.

Food cravings: Oranges! I eat them every morning for breakfast and crave them every night before I go to bed.

Anything making you queasy or sick: I got some morning sickness this week (but not as bad as last week) although I can't put my finger on what exactly causes it. Coffee has become disgusting to me, but that's about it!

Gender: No idea!

Labor signs: No.

Symptoms: Sore, huge boobs, morning sickness, fatigue, moodiness, acne breakout all over my face (and cheeks!).

Belly button in or out? In!

Wedding rings on or off? On.

Happy or moody most of the time: I would have to say...moody :/ Sorry Jonathan!

Looking forward to: Hearing the heartbeat for the first time!

And here's a little bump update so far. I don't know, I really feel like Week 7 was when I felt the most bloated and this week I feel flatter...it's so confusing! Also my leggings were way too high up in this week's shots so you can't really tell anything even if it is there. I guess we'll wait till next week to see!

For today's videos you can watch my review on Color My Smile lipglosses here and our daily vlog here!

Stay Stylish!

How To Wear Straight Cut/Cigarette Pants!

2012-01-25T21:00:00.000Z

Pants/Zara, Blazer/Vero Moda, Top/Vila, Shoes/Hello Kitty Store (Sorrento)

Pants/Zara, Shirt/Tommy Hilfiger, Shoes/ASOS

Pants/Zara, Rugby shirt/Ralph Lauren, Shoes/New Look

Pants/Zara, Rugby shirt/Ralph Lauren, Boots/Faith, Scarf/Accessorize

Pants/Zara, Sweater/GAP, Boots/ASOS

These are just some different ways I like to style straight cut/cigarette pants. The ones I'm wearing were bought last spring from Zara and although they are last year's stock, I believe they still sell similar styles. I know they had them in different colours as well! I really love cigarette pants as they've always reminded me of the ones Brigitte Bardot or Audrey Hepburn used to wear in the 60's. I especially like them styled with ballet flats or kitten heels but you can also transfer them into autumn and winter with some boots!

If you want to check out my video on how to wear these pants you can watch it here, and don't forget today's daily vlog here!

Stay Stylish!

Maternity Style Outfit

2012-01-24T21:00:00.000Z

Leggings/LoveClothing, Boots/London Rebel, T-shirt/Primark, Cardigan/ASOS, Necklace/Agatha, Scarf/Soaked in Luxury

This is totally the kind of outfit that would be perfect for expanding tummies (ie. maternity wear!) largely due to the fact that it features leggings with zips that you can open to make the waistline bigger! I actually had no idea I was pregnant when I ordered these from LoveClothing last month, so it's weird how I picked them! Maybe deep down my womanly instincts were trying to tell me something... I bought these in a size XS and they are pretty loose on top, however that is a good thing given my situation! And that's with the zips closed. Another cool feature is that when you open the zippers it doesn't reveal anything, it's just another strip of fabric underneath. They are warm and cosy so that's perfect for cold winter days like these and so comfortable to wear!

If you want to see my video on this outfit of the day, click here and to watch today's daily vlog you can do so right here! I also want to say a huge thank you to everybody who reads my blog for all the supportive messages and comments on yesterday's post, I really appreciate it and wish I could hug every one of you :) Thank you for your support & love, it means so much to me!

Stay Stylish!

I'm Pregnant!

2012-01-23T21:05:00.000Z

In case you hadn't already figured it out, hahaha :) I think it was pretty obvious if you watch our daily vlogs or maybe even if you read this blog, this is the reason why I've been feeling so sick the last few days...morning sickness/nausea/cramping/fatigue are all some of the symptoms I've been experiencing these past few weeks -- oh, and not to mention the ever-growing sore boobies...lol. Those were probably the first tell-tale sign, I actually legitimately BROKE one of my bras yesterday. I swear I have gone up an entire cup size already...I need to go underwear shopping!

Also, this picture was taken two weeks ago when I was 6 weeks along. I am now 8 weeks pregnant and will be doing bump updates each Thursday (since that's when I started taking them!) but right now it's pretty insignificant and looks more like bloat than bump!

To watch our special announcement video click here, and if you want to see my 8 week pregnancy vlog (the very first one!) you can watch it here!

Stay Stylish!

Furry Boots & Chunky Knits!

2012-01-21T22:00:00.000Z

Cardigan/LoveClothing, Top/Vila, Jeggings/ASOS, Boots/LoveClothing, Watch/Phosphor, Necklace/MyNameNecklace

First let me start off by saying that if I don't look very happy in these pictures it's because I am currently sick with a sore throat...boo! I knew it was coming on last night and this morning I woke up barely being able to swallow :( But yesterday I received my LoveClothing order and wanted to share some of the new goodies with you guys!

This cardigan is absolutely beautiful, I immediately fell in love with it when I saw it on the website. It is by the brand Selected/Femme, it's 100% wool and it is quite pricey at £90. However the material is great quality and it feels so cosy on! It has bat-wing sleeves and a little "duffle coat buckle" at the front. The only downside to this is that it sheds A LOT. I'm assuming the wool is angora because my black top is totally covered in hair! But I do think it's worth it for the quality & how it looks. I got it in a size M (UK 10).

The boots were also from LoveClothing and are by Chinese Laundry. I got them in a UK size 5 and they fit pretty small. They are suede leather and faux fur with about a 3 and 1/2 inch wedge heel. They are so pretty but an absolute nightmare to pull on (not off though!) so I would recommend sizing up for these. I love the faux fur detail, it's so cosy and they were super warm on the inside, plus the leather is great quality so they are perfect for cold winters! These are £115 and you can find them on the website here.

Hope you like the outfit, and again sorry for the not-so-happy sick face! Hopefully I will be feeling better tomorrow... If you want to check out my haul/review of everything I got from LoveClothing you can do that here, and don't forget to watch today's vlog here!

Stay Stylish!

Disclaimer: LoveClothing items were kindly sent to me for consideration to review. I was not paid for my blog post/video nor am I affiliated with the company in anyway. My 100% honest opinion, as always. :)

School Style

2012-01-20T16:12:00.000Z

Jeans/1969 Always Skinny GAP, Shirt/Heatons, Cardigan/Soaked in Luxury, Boots/Faith

I'm sorry for the lack of updates this week, but I was travelling all day Tuesday & Wednesday (more on that later), and then we arrived home Wednesday evening only to discover that there was an electrical fault in our house and we would have no power for 2 days. I literally cried for about 20 minutes, I was so shattered from all of our travelling and all I wanted to do was get into my own bed! Luckily enough my mom's house is not far from ours so we bunked there for 2 nights...let's be honest, hotel mama is not so bad ;) But now we are back in our own house and everything's working smoothly again so I am trying to get back on track.

This is the outfit I wore in yesterday's OOTD video, and also the one I wore to the school I gave a talk in (the reason why we were travelling). Jonathan and I both spoke to two classes, about positive body image, self confidence & bullying. It was a hugely positive experience and we really enjoyed every second of it. A big thank you to my lovely aunt for organising it for us :) If you'd like to see a tiny snippet from the talk we gave, you can watch it on our daily vlog from that day here.

I hope you're all having a wonderful Friday -- I just got back from lunch in Café Paradiso, a vegetarian restaurant...yum-yum! Now I'm stuffed and ready for bed...hahaha! I should also add that this cardigan is new and was bought on sale in MeMe boutique in Douglas Court, for those of you who live in Cork.

Stay Stylish!

Sale Shopping!

2012-01-14T18:17:00.000Z

Top/French Connection, Jeggings/ASOS, Boots/Dune, Scarf/Soaked in Luxury, Bracelet/Dyrberg Kern

This is just a quick outfit of the day without much imagination -- the main reason I'm posting it is because I wanted to show you guys my new top/cardigan (not really sure how to describe it!) that I got on sale from French Connection for only €53.00 yesterday. It was reduced from €175...total bargain! It's actually a lot dressier than I thought and would look perfect with a pair of heels but unfortunately it's just too cold for that where I live right now :( It's super long with a bow at the waist and the sleeves are silk. This means it's actually a lot lighter than I realised and I found myself freezing cold even underneath my coat on our walk today. Maybe I need to save this for slightly warmer spring weather!

Anyhow, I will be wearing this look out to dinner tonight (it's date night, which we've neglected for quite some time now!) and I'm hoping I won't be too cold. Here's the link to the cardigan in case you're interested! I got it in grey (Mercury) but it's also available in black.

Don't forget to check out today's daily vlog here and I will be back with more blog posts/videos next week. I hope you're all having a fabulous weekend!

Stay Stylish!

New Sweater!

2012-01-13T22:00:00.000Z

Sweater/Zara, Shirt/Tommy Hilfiger, Jeans/Zara, Boots/London Rebel, Watch/Phosphor

I LOVE my new sweater from Zara! My mom got it for me as a present a few days ago, when she heard I had been feeling sick and it could not have come at a better time...I am so happy with it! Plus, my hubby paid me a compliment this morning on the colours I was wearing and noted that he always liked me in light blue (had never heard that one before, but I will keep that in mind from now on!). Here is the link to the jumper if you're interested. But hurry, hurry! It's on sale! My mom got it for an amazing deal of €12.99.

I also couldn't take outfit pics outside today because of the crappy rainy weather so I apologise for that, but I actually quite like how these turned out. They were taken in my study. What do you guys think? Do you prefer outside pictures or inside? Or does it make a difference to you?

If you'd like to watch this week's Ask Anna video on tips for the first date (eek!), click here and don't forget to check out today's vlog here.

Stay Stylish!

Grandpa's Back in Town!

2012-01-12T21:00:00.000Z

Cardigan/Topshop, Pants/Primark, Top/Vila, Boots/Dune, Necklace/Agatha

Yes that's right, it's the return of the grandpa cardigan. You know, the one that's super unflattering, makes you look like you've gained a few yet keeps you warm and cosy? Yup...that one. Well it's been hanging in my closet for quite some time now and a little bit of feeling under the weather coupled with a cold dreary day was just what it needed to bring it back out of hiding! Hope you enjoy the pictures :)

If you'd like to check out today's video on how I whiten my smile, you can do so here and don't forget to check out today's vlog here!

Stay Stylish!

How To Dress Like Rachel Bilson!

2012-01-11T22:00:00.000Z

I was requested to make a video/blog post on Rachel Bilson's style and how to dress like her...so here it is! I have to admit I really enjoyed styling these looks and researching her, it sort of reminded me why I started making YouTube videos and blogging in the first place. Let me start by saying that I do not think I look like Rachel Bilson in anyway, shape or form! This was just requested by one of you guys and I thought it would be fun :)

I also need to point out that her style is different than mine...it's more eclectic, vintage, slightly bohemian and sometimes even hobo chic (think Mary Kate & Ashley Olsen). My style on the other hand is more simple and classic, or boring as some of you guys like to tell me! But that's okay because what I'm trying to convey here is that everybody has their own style! Also please keep in mind that I was obviously limited to my own wardrobe so I did my best but this post probably would have been a lot better if I had a limitless supply to beautiful clothing, hahaha!

Finally, one more point before I begin -- it's important to realise that Rachel Bilson is petite (I think she's roughly 5'1" but I'm not sure...you can probably find out online) and pear shaped, even though she's very slim. This means that if you have the same body shape or are the same size as her, the outfits she wears are probably going to look best on you BUT that does not mean that you can't emulate her style if you're NOT the same shape/size. You'll see that in my video I give lots of tips on how to vary and change up the outfits based on your own body shape.

Blouse/Saint Tropez, Shorts/Zara, Sandals/New Look

This is a classic Rachel Bilson look -- shorts, a pretty vintage blouse and gladiator sandals. I would have preferred if these shorts were less baggy, more fitted and a tiny bit shorter but this was what I had to work with. For reference, here's the look I was inspired by.

Jacket/Bershka, Sweater/Benetton, Skirt/Esprit, Shoes/Hello Kitty Store in Sorrento

This look was probably my least favourite because it's something I would never wear or think of putting together but Rachel Bilson tends to wear a lot of really shapeless sweaters over dresses and then throw a khaki jacket on top, creating a sort of hobo chic style which is kind of arty and cool! In the look I was inspired by, she had actually paired it up with black brogues and matching tights but instead I went with beige flats because that was what I had and I thought this colour went better with my outfit! Also, the skirt should ideally be in a delicate floral print like what Rachel favours but I hate floral print so I own nothing in it...haha!

Boyfriend jeans/ASOS, Blazer/Zara, Scarf/Accessorize, Boots/London Rebel

My face in the picture above is saying "Yay! Finally, something I would wear too!". I have to say this is my favourite of all four looks because it suits my style as well as hers. Rachel Bilson is the queen of boyfriend jeans in my opinion, as she was one of the first celebrities to make it a popular trend. She also loves to pair this style up with shoe-boots, mostly of the beige or brown variety but I only had black so that's what I went with. I think that she likes the menswear trend in general as I've seen her pair her jeans up with boyfriend blazers or "power shoulder" blazers as well. To finish off the look I added a scarf as she does tend to wear scarves with her more casual outfits. Here's an example of the look I was going for (it's the first picture).

Dress/Whistles, Blazer/ASOS, Shoe boots/ASOS

To re-create Rachel Bilson's "going out style", I think a mini dress, fitted blazer and pair of shoe boots just about does the job. Although she does like the maxi dress, I feel like that was more her style a few years ago...now you often see her at events looking like this. As I've said before, the shoe boot is a staple of her wardrobe and pairing an edgy dress underneath a more classic black fitted blazer is the perfect way to show off her style. To see the looks that inspired me, check out the first and third picture of this set.

I hope this helps you guys to re-create and emulate Rachel Bilson's style! If you want to check out the video version of this post, you can watch it here and don't forget to check out today's daily vlog here!

Stay Stylish!

Under the Weather

2012-01-10T18:27:00.000Z

Cardigan/GAP, Jeggings/ASOS, Tank top/Heatons, Boots/London Rebel, Bag/Love Moschino

Sorry for the lack of blog posts yesterday...I have been feeling a little under the weather. I think it actually has something to do with the weather! It's so gloomy and grey, I'm praying for a bit of blue sky but all I see are clouds...*sigh*

On a brighter note, I am cooking pasta fagioli tonight. I can't remember the last time I had it, but I think it's the perfect winter-y dinner for when you're feeling sick. Thank goodness it's also some kind of pasta dish that Jonathan likes...hahaha. Oh yes, and I realise that this outfit looks incredibly similar to this one but hey - the boots are different and although you can't really tell my tank top is actually black and look at the bag! That's different too! Hahaha...I thought I would distract you with a pretty bag :)

Don't forget to check out today's vlog here and if you want to see Jonathan's Glossybox for Men review you can watch that on my channel here! I hope you're all having a great day and that you had a relaxing weekend! What are you cooking/eating for dinner tonight?

Stay Stylish!

Family Dinner

2012-01-06T23:58:00.000Z

Jacket/H&M, Dress/Benetton, Shoes/Zara, Watch/Phosphor, Bracelet/Dyrberg Kern

This is what I wore out to my husband's family dinner tonight! I love this dress, it's super cosy, warm and hugs me in all the right places (with the right pair of tights, lol). I am back home now and racing to get this up before midnight...hahaha :)

I hope you all have a fabulous weekend! Don't forget to check out my Ask Anna video on self-motivation tips here and also today's daily vlog here!

Stay Stylish!

Lady Godiva

2012-01-05T19:40:00.001Z

Cardigan/Numph, Jeans/Zara, Boots/London Rebel, Watch/Phosphor, Bracelet/Dyrberg Kern

This beautiful cashmere navy-blue scarf was a lovely gift from a subscriber of mine, Nicola. It's so gorgeous and soft, plus I love how I kind of accidentally matched it to my jeans! I also really like this cardigan which I got for my birthday and it's amazing how adding something so simple like a scarf can give it a whole different twist.

I was thinking a lot about hair today...my hair that is. I usually cut my hair about once a year (horrendous, I know) which is generally when it's gotten quite long and I'm bored and fed up with it so I will get it cut back to mid-length. Then once it's mid-length I decide I'd like to grow it out again and in a couple of months it's back to where it was...and so the cycle continues. I'm also quite lucky with the fact that my hair grows like a weed -- it has always been that way and I thank God that it is because this enables me to be so fickle with it.

I have gotten a few very nice and lovely comments on YouTube asking me whether it's real or do I wear extensions...I am happy to say that I've never worn extensions and yes, my hair is all my own. It's gotten really long now, to the point where it's just under my bust and I had been getting a little fidgety wondering if I should cut it to mid-length again. Now I've decided that NO, I am going to keep growing it! Not much longer but I would like it to grow about 2 more inches. The reason why? I was thinking about hair today like I said, and the first thing that popped into my head was a story my dad used to tell me when I was a little girl. It was about Lady Godiva, who rode into town naked on a horse with her long blonde hair covering her body. (Actually, I don't think her hair was blonde...I think I just imagined it that way being a blonde girl myself ;) I remember thinking that was the most magical and beautiful thing in the world! So although I have no plans to ride horses in the nip, I thought I might live out my little girl fantasy of having super long hair for a while...what do you think?!

Something that's certainly not Lady Godiva-ish is this picture, but it was too funny I had to share it with you! To give you a little idea of how this nonsense came about:

Jonathan: Try some different poses for a change!

Me: Uh, okay I guess I could lift my leg up like thisssss...?

Jonathan: Yeah, that just looks weird...

If you're interested in hearing my tips on how to organise your closet for the New Year (or just in general!) you can watch my video about that here, and don't forget to check out today's daily vlog here!

Stay Stylish!

World's Worst Cook!

2012-01-04T23:14:00.000Z

Cardigan/LoveClothing, Scarf/Marc O'Polo, Top/Mat de Misaine, Pants/Zara, Boots/Faith, Watch/Nina Ricci

I actually ended up wearing my trench coat & matching leather gloves that I got for Christmas when we went out for a walk yesterday, but of course I didn't manage to get a picture of those! It has gotten so cold here lately. But thankfully it's not raining much, so I've been doing really well with my "walk for 30 minutes everyday" resolution!

In fact, every resolution has been going fine except for the cooking one. I am doing horribly with that! I don't know what it is, or why I have this sheer aversion to cooking. My mom was an amazing cook and my sister seems to have inherited her talents, so why not me? I honestly get no enjoyment out of it...does anybody else have this problem?! I feel like everything about cooking annoys me, hahaha which makes me sound like a total crank but it's true! I guess I'm just lazy, but cooking just always ends up coming last on my list of daily priorities for some reason...I really hope to change that this year!

If you want to check out today's video on diet tips for the New Year, you can watch it here and don't forget to check out today's daily vlog here!

Stay Stylish!

Wonderfully Versatile

2012-01-03T20:45:00.000Z

Jeans/Zara, Sweater/Benetton, Shirt & blazer/ASOS, Boots/London Rebel, Scarf/Soaked in Luxury, Bracelet/Dyrnberg Kern

I'm so happy to have rediscovered these acid-wash blue jeans, I had forgotten how much I love them! I wore them to death in the spring/summer (even took them on my honeymoon with me!) and now here they are making an appearance in my winter wardrobe as well. How wonderfully versatile! I remember I bought them on a clearance rack about 2 years ago for €5!

How are everybody's New Year's Resolutions going?! I loved hearing from all of you about what your goals were...I would love if you updated me on how they're all going (I know, I know...it's only January 3rd, lol!). I found this amazing website with 7 cheap & easy vegetarian dinner recipes that I think will come in extremely handy to me! I have also been walking about 30 minutes everyday this week, even though the weather has been crappy and I always have to make sure to do it AFTER I film or take outfit pictures because otherwise by the time I'm home and rained on my hair is a frizzy mess...hahaha!

Oh yeah, and I couldn't help but include this picture in today's post -- I think it's so funny...my expression clearly reads "oh crap, the jacketless pic...it's freaking FREEZING!!" hahaha. Don't forget to check out today's vlog here and my much requested full make-up routine video here!

Stay Stylish!

Happy New Year 2012!

2012-01-02T16:45:00.001Z

Welcome 2012! May this year be full of happiness for everyone and I truly hope that you all achieve your goals & dreams -- no matter how big or small they are! We celebrated New Year's Eve at my mom's house where we ate tons of yummy food. Above are shrimp wrapped in bacon (for the meat-eaters of course ;) I believe Albi & Sina may or may not have sneaked two of those under the table...sometimes Mommy being vegetarian has its advantages!

The spread at my mom's house. Finger-food courtesy of M&S and also my mom/sister home-made some items too...I don't know how they do it.

Veggie plate! Onion bhaji (amazing) and mozzarella sticks...yum!

Vol-au-vents, my hubby's personal favourite.

Me being classy and elegant, as always...lol.

Well, now you can see why we're made for each other...hahaha!

After the festivities, we retired like the old grandparents that we are to our own house and rang in the New Year as a foursome (you can watch the vlog from this day here)!

Happy New Year 2012!

I hope you all had a wonderful night. If you'd like to see exactly what I wore on New Year's Eve you can watch my OOTD video here, and don't forget to check out today's vlog here!

New Year's Resolutions 2012

2011-12-31T21:37:00.000Z

Jacket/Zara, Scarf/Pieces, Jeans/Oasis, Boots/London Rebel

Happy New Year's Eve!

I hope everybody has a safe and fun night tonight, no matter what you're doing. I'm about to get ready to go out to my mom's house for dinner/finger food/champagne celebrations but I just wanted to share a quite and relatively boring outfit of the day with you all from earlier today, haha! It's quite a simple, all-black outfit but I had gotten a few requests to show the jacket/scarf combination I'd been wearing recently on the vlogs. And then it occurred to me that I hardly ever remember to include my outerwear in my blog posts. This jacket was bought in Zara in Munich about 3 years ago. It's missing a button and too long in the sleeves but I still love it!

I'm going to change into something a little more festive (probably the LBD from yesterday's post!) but I'll share those pictures with you next time. I also wanted to share with you my New Year's Resolutions...here they are:

1. Cook a (healthy & nutritious) dinner 5 days a week.

Yes, you heard it here first folks...I am going to make the commitment to cooking dinner even though it's something I'm not so fond of. I tend to eat really healthy during the day but in the evenings both Jonathan & I get lazy and usually opt for something quick, either take-out, out of a jar, or ready-made which we all know is not so good for our health. So I have bookmarked a few "idiot-proof" healthy and quick recipes to follow for the New Year.

2. Try not to get so stressed out over every minute detail.

Anyone who knows me will tell you that I'm a complete perfectionist and often end up getting myself way too worked up and stressed out for the silliest reasons (like, for instance a tiny stain on the carpet or the house not being vacuumed when visitors come). I even feel like I spent a huge part of my wedding day worrying and stressing about other people...it was completely ridiculous. I remember at one point Jonathan had to take me aside and say "STOP thinking about everybody else!! Just enjoy your wedding day!" So I'm going to try and really work on this. I know I just need to relax more, enjoy life and focus what's really important.

3. Keep active every day.

I'm not a gym bunny, or a sporty person...I don't think I ever will be. However I love to walk and keep active, in fact I think it's a very important part of daily life. I'm usually pretty good at it (having two dogs helps!) but this year I want to make an effort to do something active every day, whether that's taking Albi & Sina for a 30 minute walk or an hour long hike...it doesn't matter. Walking clears my head and makes me feel more relaxed so I definitely want to keep it a part of my daily routine!

4. Make a baby...

...say what?! Hahaha I know you're probably all thinking "huh?!" and at first I was going to keep this one private BUT then I realised you know what, I may as well be honest with you guys. This is not a spur of the moment decision, it's something that Jonathan and I have been thinking about since we got married. So yes, a little Saccone-Joly would be a nice addition to our family in 2012, but no promises or anything -- I will leave everything else up to fate!

What are your New Year's Resolutions?! Don't forget to watch today's Ask Anna video here (where I basically talk about everything I just mentioned in this blog post!) and today's daily vlog here.

Stay Stylish!

New Year's Eve Outfits Inspo

2011-12-31T01:00:00.001Z

Today I filmed a styling video on some outfit inspirations for New Year's Eve! I put together three different looks for various occasions that you might find helpful. Let me know how you plan to spend New Year's Eve and which outfit you like best!

Dress/Benetton, Boots/London Rebel, Bracelet/Dyrberg Kern, Belt/ASOS, Times Square Earrings/JewelMint

Outfit 1

I think this would be great for a night on the town, whether it's in a club or bar. It's a little dressy, edgy and sexy all at the same time -- but still warm enough for January (see black opaque tights, haha!). I haven't worn this one a lot, probably because I feel like it's not the most flattering of dresses but I still like it. It's very voluminous and would be perfect on somebody with a boyish shape that wants to increase the size of their curves! I find it really only looks good on me belted at the waist as otherwise it is quite shapeless. However I love the detailing at the back and the silk fabric!

Dress/LoveClothing, Belt & shoes/ASOS, Freshwater pearl earrings & bracelet/Sorrento, Italy

Outfit 2

This is a more conservative outfit which would be perfect for a family get-together, dinner or New Year's Eve celebration spent in a more formal setting. This dress is one of my favourites, and I love to pair it up with some classic pearls! I feel like this is more me, in fact it would look great on almost everybody being that it's a super flattering shape/cut!

Blouse/Amity, Jeans/Oasis, Shoes/Saint Tropez, Blazer/ASOS

Outfit 3

This is probably the style of outfit I've gone for 9 out of 10 times on New Year's Eve parties. I tend to think that house parties are most popular for New Year's (or at least they always were for me & my group of friends!) and the last thing you want to do is look over-dressed or like you're trying too hard. Sometimes clubbing dresses can look a little forced, so I've always favoured a nice, dressy/sexy top with skinny jeans and heels. It's comfortable, chic and cute all at the same time!

I hope these outfits will give you some inspiration for New Year's Eve! I'm actually spending it with my family & eating finger-food, nothing too crazy or cool...lol! Stay safe and have fun, whatever you choose to do tomorrow night! Don't forget to check out my New Year's Eve Outfit Inspo video here, and today's daily vlog here!

Stay Stylish!

Wind, Lipgloss & Hair!

2011-12-29T21:48:00.000Z

Cardigan/Soaked in Luxury, T-shirt/Primark, Boots/ASOS, Pants/Cheap Monday, Watch/Phosphor

Freezing!

struggling to get the hair out of my lipgloss! ;)

Sina, having just devoured one yellow dog-treat, moving onto the rest of her chewable "Christmas pudding" - lol!

Some of my favourite things about today: going for a long off-the-lead walk with Albi & Sina, grabbing a sneaky lunch at my mom's house (falafels & cherry tomatoes in an English muffin are my new fun and random culinary invention...hahaha!), buying our groceries at Marks & Spencer's for the first time ever and feeling very posh about it!

Yesterday Jonathan attempted to cook for me, it was very sweet and kind of a disaster but I appreciated it so much -- anything to avoid cooking, sometimes I think I should just go raw but then I remember how much I love cooked food...so that wouldn't work or last very long!! We also made a new friend, a beautiful neighbouring Golden Retriever who calls to our house every so often to see how we're doing, haha! He's so adorable and well-behaved, as he won't dare set foot in the house but instead quivers his big paw -- so cute! I wish Albi & Sina would befriend some big dogs too, they are so much fun.

To watch today's daily vlog (and meet our new canine friend!), click here and if you want to see my video on how I keep my hair looking shiny even when it's not, you can do so here!

Stay Stylish!

Christmas Cardigan!

2011-12-28T21:00:00.000Z

Cardigan/GAP, Jeggings & boots/ASOS, Necklace/Agatha, Tank tops/InWear & ASOS

This cardigan was my favourite Christmas present from my mom. She definitely knows my style, being that she got me a beautiful waterfall cardigan with grey & cream colours in it -- perfect! I have worn this several different ways, but decided today to layer it over two tank tops thinking that would be enough for our surprisingly mild weather we've been experiencing lately. I was wrong. Today it got considerably colder and I ended up bulking up with a black Zara coat and huge cream scarf (not pictured) when we took Albi & Sina out for a long walk.

I'm a little sad that Christmas is now over, it seemed like the month of December flew past so quickly! But I'm also looking forward to the New Year and making resolutions. That's about my only favourite part of the next coming months...for some reason I find January, February and March to be the most "blah" time of year. Which is really a shame because Jonathan's birthday is in February, hahaha maybe I should be a bit more positive about it for his sake! What are your New Year's resolutions and would you like me to do a post on mine? I think I did one last year, but I'm not sure if I stuck to them! I hardly ever do. If you made some last year did YOU stick to them?

If you'd like to watch my last Christmas-themed video of the year, check out my December Glossybox review here and don't forget to watch today's daily vlog here!

Stay Stylish!

First {Married} Christmas!

2011-12-27T22:24:00.001Z

Jonathan's stocking stuffers!

Dyrberg/Kern Agatha SS Crystal Bracelet -- present from Jonathan :)

Lanterns from Homefront -- for my studio!

My 31 year old husband's gift from me, hahaha! :)

Albi chillin'

Editing the vlog!

I hope you all had an amazing Christmas (if you celebrate the holiday -- if not, I hope you had a fabulous December 25th! :) ! Santa Claus truly spoiled all four of us this year...Albi & Sina had so much fun going through their stockings and ripping open their gifts! In case you're wondering why Sina's not in any of these pictures, it's because she was too busy devouring all the edible treats both she and Albi got...lol. To watch our Christmas special vlog, click here and watch my What I Got for Christmas Haul - here!

Thank you for sticking with me & supporting my blog this year -- I really appreciate each and every one of you! <3

Stay Stylish!

Christmas Decor House Tour!

2011-12-21T19:25:00.000Z

Front door -- home made "wreath" made by Jonathan's aunt, we get one of these every year and I love them!

Hall table

Living room (excuse the bare accent wall, we still haven't framed our picture!)

Christmas tree!

Mantlepiece

Coffee table

Living room window

Christmas cushion (Laura Ashley)

Side window (one of my bridesmaids' lanterns)

Living room door - gingerbread brought back from Munich by my mom :)

Kitchen table

Glass vase filled with Christmas baubles! An idea given to me by a subscriber!

I hope you guys enjoyed my mini Christmas house tour! I am still in the process of fully decorating the actual house so I will do an updated home decor post whenever I'm done! :) I also filmed a video on this which will be up later this evening.

Stay Stylish!

Christmas Outfits for Your Body Shape!

2011-12-20T20:20:00.000Z

Hourglass

Dress/French Connection, Cardigan/Oasis, Belt & shoes/ASOS

Pear

Sweater/H&M, Leggings/Heatons, Shoes/Hello Kitty Store, Scarf/Possibly Accessorize!

Apple

Sweater/Esprit, Shorts/GAP, Tights/Esprit, Shoes/ASOS

Today I filmed a video on Christmas outfits for your body shape. I know that many women suffer from negative body image, especially around the holidays and times when there will be a lot of parties or family get-togethers. Not knowing what to wear, or how to dress your shape can be so stressful so I wanted to help! :) Here are a few tips:

- If you have an hourglass shape, go for a waist-cinching belt and a-line skirt to accentuate your curves. Same goes for the full-figure, just choose a thicker belt!

- Pear shapes should opt for something darker on bottom and more decorative or detailed on top. Horizontal stripes will broaden out a smaller upper body which in turn makes your shape look more balanced. A bright or colourful scarf will also add bulk and make your bust appear bigger!

- If you have an apple shape or an athletic shape (broad shoulders), try to draw the attention towards your lower body instead by wearing a voluminous pair of shorts. These will show off your legs and make your hips appear larger. If you have a bigger bust, go for a v-neck top as these are more flattering.

- Boyish shapes can basically get away with any of the three outfits shown above but the second will suit you best :)

I hope you guys liked this post and hopefully you found it helpful! Which outfit do you think I should wear this Christmas?! Knowing me I will probably change my mind 100 times and then go for something entirely different...hahaha!

Stay Stylish!

Christmas Party!

2011-12-18T13:39:00.002Z

Kind of a weird pose, lol!

Cardigan/Oasis, Top/Vila, Pants, boots & belt/ASOS, Bag/Love Moschino, Watch/Phosphor

This was what I wore to my hubby's family Christmas party! I had originally wanted to wear a dress but it was too cold plus we were travelling 2h30m in the car so it probably would have gotten all crumpled anyhow, hahaha! I love red for the holidays, it's so festive :)

A video on this entire look (plus hair & make-up) is coming soon...to a YouTube channel near you, lol! I hope you all are having a wonderful weekend and enjoying this 4th Sunday of Advent with family & friends!

Stay Stylish!

OOTD: ApartStyle, Accessorize, ASOS

2011-12-14T01:10:00.001Z

Scarf & earrings/Accessorize, Cardigan/ApartStyle, Top/GAP, Pants/Cheap Monday, Boots/ASOS, Bag/Chloé

I feel like this bad weather is helping me give you guys a mini tour of my new house, hahaha! Well, here is the master bedroom. And this, ladies and gentlemen...

...is the bathroom. Oh so glamorous, right? Hahaha!

Stay Stylish!

My Daily Diet! (Vegetarian)

2011-12-13T00:06:00.001Z

I've been promising this post for ages...and now here it is! I've gotten a lot of requests to show examples of what I eat since I became vegetarian two months ago, and I can honestly say that I've never been happier with my diet. I have always wanted to go veg, but for the sake of convenience I kept putting it on hold. I love animals and hated the feeling of guilt I had everytime I ate one. Most of my family are meat-eaters, which is why it was virtually impossible for me to become vegetarian as a child/teenager. My husband Jonathan also still eats meat (although he generally sticks to chicken or fish!) and I want to make it clear that although I've changed my diet I have absolutely nothing against anyone who eats differently than me. I don't intend for this post to offend anyone, I would rather it be a tool for people like me who might want to "take the plunge" but are afraid that they won't have enough options without meat in their lives.

The transition was not difficult, probably given the fact that I didn't eat a lot of meat before then anyway. I also don't feel much different physically, but the emotional effects that going vegetarian have had on me have been huge. I feel SO much better about myself now, my conscience is clear and knowing that I'm doing something to help animals is amazing. So here is what I generally eat in an ordinary, boring day at home! ;)

Oatmeal with soy milk, 1/2 banana, blueberries & cinnamon

Cup of coffee (black)

Wholegrain sandwich with feta cheese, cherry tomatoes, cucumber & red onion

Cup of green tea with jasmine (not pictured)

Apple & low-fat strawberry yoghurt

Vegetarian chilli with basmati rice (recipe! -- I omitted the beef, obviously)

Orange & low-fat peach yoghurt

Green tea with jasmine

And right before bed -- a relaxing chamomile tea while blogging with Albi ;)

Stay Stylish!

Review: Just Lashes by Ja'Maal Buster

2011-12-11T18:52:00.001Z

I have never been a huge fan of false lashes because I feel that the more dramatic & fun ones tend to make me look like a drag queen! When I was in beauty school, I took a class on lashes and we were each matched up with the correct pair to suit our face shape, features and eye shape. I was always given the simplest and most boring pair, hahaha! Apparently this is because I have a square face-shape and more masculine features, so while bold lashes will make me look drag-ish simpler ones will soften the angles in my face...interesting, no? I think so, which is why I made a whole video about it last week! :) I've always been interested in face shapes, body shapes, why certain angles work and others don't etc.

Being that I was naturally blessed with quite full & thick eyelashes (thank you, Dad!) and the only false ones that suited me were plain and boring, I never really bothered with them. I didn't even wear false lashes on my wedding day! So I'll admit when I was first approached by Just Lashes I was a little hesitant but my curiosity got the better of me and the opportunity to "play" with different styles was very appealing.

Product Details:

- Created by Ja'Maal Buster, the "eyelash guru to the stars" (Rihanna and Beyonce being his most well-known clients)

- Features five different sets of lashes: Whisper, Rockstar Chic, Sold Out Show, Bold & Beautiful and Looking for Love

- Each pair comes with their own tube of glue which dries clear

- All lashes are re-usable

(Rockstar Chic not pictured as I gave them to my sister!)

As expected, the lashes that suited me best were Looking For Love. Everything else made me look crazy or ridiculous however my sister Emma looks more like my mom, has an oval face shape & much softer/feminine features and she looked amazing and "doll-like" in the more dramatic lashes. Lucky her! ;)

Pros: Each pair come with their own glue which I found very convenient, there are many different styles to choose from, you can use them over & over, they are relatively easy to apply.

Cons: I found the Whispers' length far too long (length, not width) and would need to trim them which can be quite tricky.

Price: €6.85 available from the official UK & Ireland website.

Disclaimer: Just Lashes were kindly sent to me for consideration to review. I was not paid for my blog post nor am I affiliated with the company in anyway. My 100% honest opinion, as always :)

Stay Stylish!

Ice-Skater

2011-12-10T19:02:00.001Z

Scarf/Pieces, Boots/Lacoste, Jeggings/ASOS, Cardigan/ASOS, Tank top/InWear, Bag/ASOS, Cuff/Newbridge Silver, Necklace/Agatha

Here is the outfit from today's video. To be honest, these are not the best pictures in the world because the lighting isn't that great but I wanted so badly to show you guys our Christmas tree! I love it! We got a real tree, like always -- I was debating whether to get a fake or not because I was scared Albi might mark it but he is such a good boy and neither he or Sina have had any "accidents" in the new house since we moved in. Yay! :)

These boots are so cool, they are my ice-skater boots which I bought on sale last spring. They are hands down the most comfortable shoes I own. Lacoste shoes are amazing! They are also lined with jersey material so they really cushion your feet and the outside is a kind of "jacket fabric" so they're quite easy to keep clean.

I also wanted to share with you our 2011 Christmas card! How cute are Albi & Sina?!

Stay Stylish!

Christmas Traditions with Ashley from The Shine Project!

2011-12-09T12:00:00.000Z

Hey all you pretties on the other side of the pond :)

My name is Ashley, I run the blog The Shine Project,

and live in America with my sweet husband and pup Oliver.

And, like you, I'm a HUGE fan of Miss Anna!

Christmas is my favorite time of the year.

Not because of the presents

(We're actually not getting them this year, just giving to two families

who otherwise would not have it),

not because of the good food (although it makes my tummy so happy),

or sparkly lights....

But because of the love that comes along with the season.

The celebration of Christ's birth brings more happiness to the air,

and it brings a time that causes reflection and gratitude.

There are a few Christmas traditions that are my absolute favorites!

One is exchanging pajamas on Christmas Eve.

My husband and I get each other PJs,

and we spend the night at my family's house snuggling,

eating, and watching Christmas movies.

My favorite is when he gets me PJs with the little feet on them...

Another tradition I love is called the Christmas Service Star.

Growing up, my mom had this beautiful wooden star.

She would start it off by doing a small service for someone in the family...

Then whoever had the star would anonymously give it to someone else.

We'd make each others bed, leave a small note of encouragement,

buy them their favorite candy, etc,

and leave the star where they could see it.

It was always so fun, and my family grew closer because of it.

I encourage you to do something for someone else this Christmas,

and feel the love and joy of the season.

I can't wait to meet you!

Come over HERE, and say hi!

And leave your favorite Christmas tradition

if you would like to share :)

Comments are turned off so that you can go say hi to Ashley on her blog!

Review: Korres Party Survival Kit

2011-12-08T22:53:00.001Z

Product Details:

- Features six travel sized essentials including the brightening wild rose moisturiser, nourishing guava body butter and shower gel, 3 in 1 cleansing lotion and rich evening primrose eye cream.

- All natural and organic

- Mineral oil free

- Silicone free

- Propylene glycol free

- Ethanolamine free

- Essential fruit oils & herbal ingredients sourced locally

I was really excited to try out a few Korres samples, as I had heard so many great things about the brand. I can honestly say that I was not disappointed, being that so far the items I've tried have been excellent quality and not harsh or overly perfumed like many other skincare products tend to be.

I think that the Party Survival Kit is a really cute idea, especially for the holiday season when there are lots of Christmas parties & late nights. I also think that this would be the perfect Secret Santa gift for a co-worker or girlfriend! If you're a total party-girl and know you're going to be out all night with an early start the next morning, these products could be super useful.

PROS: Good quality products, all natural and organic, great way to try out samples from the range, small enough to carry in your purse, affordable price.

CONS: Although the gum is a quirky addition to the kit, the lemon flavour lasts all of about 10 seconds. After that it's really just like chewing rubber.

PRICE: €19.95 from BeautyBoutique.ie (it's €24.00 on the Korres website)

Disclaimer: Korres Party Survival Kit was kindly sent to me for consideration to review. I was not paid for my blog post nor am I affiliated with the company in anyway. My 100% honest opinion as always :)

Cosy Winter Outfit

2011-12-07T17:35:00.001Z

Cardigan/Vero Moda, Scarf/Soaked in Luxury, 1969 Always Skinny jeans/Gap, Bag/Modalu, Boots/Dune, Necklace/MyNameNecklace.ie

Here's the look from my most recent outfit video. Just a simple, cosy outfit for winter...it's getting cold outside! I actually could have done with a coat over this, especially in the evening. Half of my wardrobe is still at my mom's house though, so right now I'm making do with what I have and trying not to let my outfits get too boring, hahaha! Oh, and welcome to my new garden by the way...isn't the shed cute?

Stay Stylish!

November Glossybox

2011-12-06T09:38:00.001Z

Here are the contents of last month's Glossybox! I received mine rather late this time, I think this must be because I live in Ireland so the shipping is a little slower.

I am most excited about the leopard print nail wraps (can't wait to try them out for Christmas!), the bath salts and the recovery balm. A little birdy on Twitter told me the balm is very soothing and makes your skin feel amazing. The two fragrances are unisex -- I love the silver one, hate the black one.

Also Glossybox are proud to be launching a Glossybox for Men! Just in time for Christmas! It's a quarterly box that comes with 7 luxury samples every three months. I think it's a wonderful idea and when I asked my hubby what he thought, he seemed genuinely interested. We'll see, maybe it could be part of his Christmas present! What do you think of Glossybox for men?

Subscribe to Glossybox for £12.95 a month and receive your box of 5 luxury samples each month.

Stay Stylish!

Disclaimer: Glossybox was sent to me for consideration to review. I was not paid for my blog post nor am I affiliated with the company in anyway. My 100% honest opinion, as always :)

Festive for December!

2011-12-04T17:41:00.001Z

Jacket/H&M, sweater/Esprit, jeans/Oasis, scarf/Mexx, bag & boots/ASOS

I wish these pictures had been taken earlier today but unfortunately we were just too busy and it gets dark really early now! So please excuse the crappy lighting/flash. Yesterday I filmed an outfit of the day video (which you can view here) and this is what I wore. You can't really see the entire outfit in the video because my camcorder has such a wide angle so I wanted to give you guys a better idea on my blog!

I'm also super excited to show you guys the beginnings of my study! This week I got my desk (available here) and chair (here) which my hubby was kind enough to build for me! I am already looking forward to decorating it and I love having my own room to work in!

Stay Stylish!

We've Moved!

2011-12-01T20:52:00.001Z

What I'm Wearing:

Grey cardigan from Numph

Navy blue tank top from Primark

Grey acid wash jeans from Zara

Charcoal calf boots from Dune

Grey wool sequin scarf from Soaked in Luxury

Pale grey coat from New Look

Silver necklace from Agatha

Silver cuff from Newbridge Silver

Black patent leather Appear watch c/o Phosphor

Diamond stud earrings from my husband :)

We have officially moved into our new house! Yay!! I'm so happy about it, and it feels like a luxury to have heating, hot water and a working stove, hahaha! Also we got internet the day we moved in which was super impressive! (In case anybody also living in Ireland is interested, we went with Nova Networks and I highly recommend them!)

I promise to post pictures of our new house after it's all tidied up & decorated properly. Right now we're still trying to unpack boxes! These photos were taken in my mom's house again, while we were collecting the last of our stuff. I hope you guys like the outfit! It's gotten really cold recently so I thought I'd show you my scarf & coat as well :)

Stay Stylish!

Black & Brown

2011-11-28T16:21:00.001Z

What I'm Wearing:

Taupe and white striped tee from GAP

Taupe cardigan from Soaked in Luxury

Brown skinny leg pants from Cheap Monday (ASOS)

Black wedge boots by London Rebel from ASOS

Freshwater pearl earrings & bracelet from Sorrento, Italy

Black patent leather Appear watch c/o Phosphor

I'm still in "housing limbo" but I get the keys to our new home this evening, yay! These pictures were taken in the sitting room of my mom's house...sorry about the flash but today is SUPER dark and gloomy so there wasn't much natural light at all :(

I'm wearing my sister's top because my clothes are all still in storage and I don't know where everything is but I am really trying to get back on board with these outfit posts! I miss doing them and am looking forward to getting back into a routine once we're moved into our new house.

Albi in the sunroom -- such a cutie! <3

Stay Stylish!

Happy Thanksgiving!

2011-11-25T01:05:00.001Z

I hope you all had a lovely Thanksgiving, filled with lots of yummy food! And if you don't celebrate I hope you had a great Thursday!

As most of you guys know, although I've lived in Ireland since I was seven years old I am originally American and my family lived in the US for some time which is why we still celebrate. In all honesty, Thanksgiving has always been one of my favourite holidays! I love spending time with family, cooking and preparing great food and giving thanks for all that we have. Even when life seems tough and things aren't going the way we'd planned, there is always something to be thankful for!

I know, it's a Christmas candle but we couldn't resist the cookie flavour! The one next to it is a pecan scent from TK Maxx. My mom's place-mats and napkins are from Williams Sonoma (last year).

My crazy family :)

This year we celebrated at my mom's house (like always), which was really not a surprise since we're staying there temporarily until we get the keys to our new house next week! Yay! My mom made the turkey and green beans, my sister Emma made the stuffing, baked corn and pumpkin roll for dessert (check out the recipe on her blog!)* and I baked vegan cornbread which surprisingly turned out to be a success! I got the recipe here.

*I just checked out my sister's blog and burst out laughing when I discovered that almost all our photos are the same, hahaha! Needless to say we're sharing pictures ;) Having said that there were a lot to choose from, obviously we have the same taste - lol!

Stay Stylish!

Celebrity Make-Up Tutorial!

2011-11-22T22:39:00.001Z

Since I am still technically in house-limbo and it's very difficult to film/edit/take proper photos at the moment with our stuff all packed up in boxes, I thought I'd share this make-up look that Karim Sattar did on me last month! He did a more natural daytime look using the brown eyeshadow palette from The Body Shop Winter Trend. These pictures were taken the morning after The Body Shop's Christmas Launch, and I was so honoured to have Karim do my make-up once again!

You can watch the make-up tutorial here, and don't forget to check out more of The Body Shop's Winter Trend products here! I will (hopefully) be back soon with more regular posts soon...I promise!!

Stay Stylish!

Bloggers in Real Life!

2011-11-16T16:17:00.001Z

Hey guys! I'm sorry I've been so MIA on my blog lately -- we're actually in the process of moving after all of the house drama we were having these last three months and it's been super stressful so I haven't been online much. However I am really excited and honoured to have been featured on both Ashley from the Shine Project & Casey Leigh from The Wiegands blogs as a part of their Bloggers In Real Life series. Below is a little more about this amazing project -- and I thoroughly recommend you check out both girls' blogs, they put so much effort into them and are really sweet! Thank you, Ashley & Casey for featuring me this week!

Creating, sharing, and inspiring connects us all together. Every day we are drawn to blogs that make us feel something, and we take a little piece of it with us. Behind every one of our favorite blogs, there's a person. A person with real emotions, fears, goals, and weird quirks that we never really get to experience first hand. We've brought together your favorite bloggers to give you a more intimate take on their lives, so you can catch the little details that make them who they are. Every Wednesday, we'll be capturing the lives of the people behind your daily reads in a way that you wont experience anywhere else.

So get ready. We have lots to share! xoxo

Each week on Casey's blog, you will hear a more personal story about one of your favorite bloggers.... why they are the way they are, stories on loss or happiness, struggles or triumphs...we want to have them share the happiest moment of their life, or a time that they grew stronger because of an enormous trial placed in their path.

On Ashley's blog, they will be sharing any advice they have for you readers. It can be about fashion, being a mom or wife, how to grow your blog, how to start your own business, etc. Whatever their niche is, you will hear their expert advice! Read my personal story HERE and my advice post HERE.

Animal Print

2011-11-09T01:02:00.000Z

What I'm Wearing:

Brown cardigan c/o ApartStyle

White v-neck tee from Primark

Khaki skinny leg pants from Primark

Tan suede boots from ASOS

Gold & taupe animal print scarf from Accessorize

Gold & faux pearl earrings from Accessorize

Gold Scorpio necklace from my dad

Vintage gold bracelet bought by my sister in Newport, Rhode Island

Black patent leather Appear watch c/o Phosphor

This scarf was my birthday gift from my sister, Erika! It's soooo pretty and although it's my first time wearing it I can totally see how this would work with many of my future outfits! It has elements of gold and taupe/cool brown so it would work well with a lot of colours.

On the moving front, something absolutely AMAZING happened today. We went to check out a "maybe" option in an area close enough to my mom but it ended up being too dark in a not-so-great neighbourhood. (When we got out of the viewing, we walked out of the house only to witness a group of little boys throwing themselves onto and banging the windows of our car -- they were tormenting Albi & Sina who were waiting inside :/ Poor things were terrified and it was kind of the last straw and deciding factor for us!) So, we decided to make an unexpected visit to my mom's house where Jonathan quickly checked out the lettings website to see if anything new had come up. Literally EIGHT minutes prior one of our "dream houses" had popped up -- a modern, 4 bedroomed semi in our ideal location/area, and guess what? It was within our budget! This is the area that we eventually would like to buy in -- Jonathan called the letting agent straight away, and I think he was slightly taken aback with our promptness, lol! We are going to see it on Thursday and I will be going there with my deposit in hand!

Please cross your fingers that we get this place, it would mean so much to both of us and it's really put everything into perspective...I truly believe that if we do end up here it was worth all the headache & problems we've been having with our last two places. Everything happens for a reason, right?!

Albi & Sina right before going for their walkies :)

Stay Stylish!