The past few days have been very tough for my Father. Last weekend he was woken with the news that his brother had passed away. As my uncle lived in London I didn't have the opportunity to see him much but my tears still flowed. Heavy tears for my father's pain.


As a child our parents were our protector's but as I grow older I realise that my role has reversed and I now have the same worries for my parents that they had for me. I worry when they worry...I go through their up's and down's, highs and lows as they go through them.
Family should take preference - something we should all realise before it's too late.

My parents, sisters, their partners and children are all my best friends..they never judge and always love - seeing beyond my flaws.

 

You are my child..
I am your parent, you are my child.
I am your quiet place, you are my wild.
I am your calm face, you are my giggle.

I am your wait, you are my wiggle.

I am your dinner, you are my chocolate cake.

I am your bedtime, you are my wide awake.

I am your lullaby, you are my peekaboo.

I am your goodnight kiss, you are my

I LOVE YOU.

This week I have been mostly loving...

Gift Hunting..My friends 30th brought me the task
of trying to hunt down the perfect gift

Rose gold bamboo and sparkles

Caffeine Fixes

Shopping calls for coffee pit stops

Then I saw this quirky & hilarious sign

Treat Night
Japanese take out..
I went for crab sushi and some Tori Katsu Curry...yum

Surprise Parties

Citrus..Bright colours have influenced my recent purchases



Denim
A denim jacket becomes my
summer staple piece each year, so when I
spotted this with a €17 price tag I had to grab it!

Things I am not loving..The sudden down pour of rain so I am hibernating &

recovering from last nights partying

Sipping cups of tea with my new mugs

my new lip balm will hide the fact I have

been tucking into icecream:)

I bid you farewell as I snuggle on the couch with my
new throw, a mug of tea and a good book! BLISS

Night night

Ali

x

Last weekend I was mostly loving.....

Gifting myself with flowers

brightens up my day

The colour grey..

my Zara top a steal in the Sale for €13..a hooded

scarf to protect me from the sudden chill

Looks fab against my gold

spikes & skulls!!



All that glitters....

American Apparel polish

 

Putting my Chef's Hat on...

Friday's Steak Night

a quick fix for lunch...chorizo, parma ham

with brie, rocket and a drizzle of balsamic on honey

multiseed bread YUMMY!

Zero Calorie Cupcakes...

I never said edible...LV windows look tasty:)



Games Night...

my competitve streak was out in full force

Night night

Ali

x

Nothing quite as golden as the globes...

It was pouts at the ready this week when the starlets graced our screens on the red carpet at the Golden Globes. Our office was full of girls debating over who had the best hair, dress and make up.
We oohed and aaah'd as coverage started to appear on blogs and news websites. After a busy day in work I returned home to follow E! as they stalked the red carpet and asked 'cutting edge questions' like 'who are WE wearing'...double air kisses...complimenting guest after guest with the same insincere talk. It took me back to what all girls spent their last year in secondary school planning (I know I should say it was what college to go to or the end of year exams) but no - all that was going through our heads was the Debs.
We planned straight down to hair styles and make up...what colour nail polish to wear...threatening our date to choose the right corsage (and then acting shocked when they showed up with the perfect colour 'How did you know?')
I loved my dress. It wasn't made like so many of my girlfriends at the time. On a trip into the city with my Mum I bought it from Oasis (somewhere i rarely venture to now unless I need some faux diamond studs) but at the time, thirteen years ago I thought I was brilliant as I skipped out of the store with the carrier bag swinging over my shoulder. Purchasing it months in advance I reduced the risk of having - horror of horrors - a run in at the Debs Ball with someone in an identical dress. Fashion suicide.
I wanted to stand out. You see the Debs was also the first time you saw the majority of your class mates after the summer months since we had left school. This was the grand unveiling. Leaving the school girl behind and saying hello to adulthood.
I went for a super tight silk dress, sitting just on the knee...plain with the exception of boning all around the waist (making my size 8/10 frame look even smaller), organza ruffle sat just along the under wired chest (creating a similar effect that a Wonderbra could) which was held in place with the help of skinny bra straps. The hem was finished off with a trim of black lace. For a 17 year old girl I felt like I could finally be seen as a woman. God now I cringe when little children bump into me and their Mum says 'mind the lady' - How I wish they still said 'mind the girl'!
My other plan - which I kept from everyone - was that I was to go blonder and shorter. My inspiration, and I almost laugh now when I think of it but I walked into the hairdressers on the day of my Debs clutching two photographs, Gwyneth Paltrow (Sliding Doors) and Cameron Diaz (There's Something About Mary) when they were both sporting California blonde bobs.
I decided to recreate this look in Ireland. I am sure the stylist looked at little innocent me thinking how deluded I was. There was no false eye lashes or gel nails for me. I kept it simple, even doing my own make up...painting my nails as my Mum and Dad rustled around downstairs getting all the food and drink ready for the guests who were to join us and send me on my merry way.
These days I have an obsession with Designer bags but back then and it makes me cry thinking how sweet this was but my Mum made my beautiful bag. She would sit up late at night cutting the fabric, stitching on tiny little beads and roses individually just for me.  The fabric was identical to my dress, she added a wrist strap as she knew It would come in handy as I danced...the roses matched my golden nails...it was perfect. A golden organza wrap and black silk wedges were added and I was good to go.
Arriving at the hotel on the night of the Debs was just like the red carpet. Old class mates eyed each other up and down...bumping into one another in the toilets as we freshened up our make-up we greeted each other with cheery 'i love your dress I could never wear that' or 'I should have worn my hair up like yours...mine looks awful'.
After hours of bubbly, shots and dancing...no one cares about their dresses anymore, shoes are thrown, abandoned under the tables...hair which was curled, flowing over shoulders, now scraped back in buns...
Watching the red carpet I wonder in a couple of hours at the after parties will Gwynnie and Cameron have hair in croyden buns...lipstick smeared...and finish off the night with a burger just like us mere mortals.

My top Golden Globe Girls....

It was all about minimalism

Kirsten Wiig

nude dress, romantic make-up & a natural curl
or perhaps the girl is just glowing because of her new boy!!

Heidi Klum
Showing less is more..
blush toned dress complimented by a pop
of turquoise jewels..take note Madonna!

Mila Kunis
Channeling Black Swan in Dior



Proving she's still got it
Ms Elle Mac Pherson
With those curves she looks like a
golden statue

Ali
x

Weekends are for relaxing and hell did I do plenty of that. Walks with Mum (although her version of a walk also involved a coffee stop) and with the boy...plenty of fresh air had me feeling energised and ready for the week ahead!!!


I managed to not step inside a clothes shop too...a true sign it's the week before pay day..Roll on Friday :)

Saturday:

A walk with Mum started off well..

but then Anderson's appeared and we were sidetracked:)

mmm...

we were strong, keeping away from the yummy cheese and breads..

 and opted for a coffee

Once our cups were empty...

Mum decided we deserved a vino...

Love her style of 'walking' ha!

By the time we left...it was evening WHOOPS

Sunday:

Up early for some pilates

&

A trip to lovely Malahide with the boy..

it started off lovely and bright

And then it was dull, cold and windy...

but god it was refreshing :)

Ali

x

My week...so far

Such a busy week in work but made time to meet up with friends I hadn't seen in a long long time. Excited for the weekend ahead...cleaning the apartment followed by a bit of pilates...a cycle around my area & starting my New Year detox to get motivated for the summer!

This week I was mostly loving....

Getting Summer Inspiration 'The Gladiator'

Mulberry Bayswater or Acne

Closer to heaven ...
with these Gretta Sandals from Steve Madden

Magpie Spy:

how amazing..how sparkly...cognac pave diamonds

courtesy of Astley Clarke

From Australian Soap Star to Hollywood:

love this shoot with Isabel Lucas



Catching up with friends

A visit to The Cheese Pantry for chats..

over a bottle of wine and the most dellish

pork belly Mmmmm

Have a fab weekend,

Ali

x