Steal the Style..

I literally cannot get over the amount of views I got on my previous post "The weigh to go" it has been one of my highest reached posts so far, which really surprised me. So since my views went through the roof I decided that I would do a follow up post this week. This time something a little more casual suitable for everyday wear.

As I've previously said, I always get complemented about the clothes that I wear, and I can assure you that 100% of the time they're from Penney's !! I'm not a tracksuit type of girl, as generally anything baggy doesn't suit the build of my body and it just makes me uncomfortable in general, although I did find a really great pair of tummy controlling leggings in Penneys for just €11 so when I want to have a chill out day there my fave.

99% of the time I wear skinny jeans, but it took me FOREVER to find the perfect pair that fit both on the waist and the leg, as not only am I curvy I am also quite short so it makes it 10 times harder to find jeans that are the perfect fit. Lucky enough, I discovered that River Island do 3 different length in jeans Short, Regular, and Long leg so that's the length sorted but now the ultimate question, which jeans will be comfortable on my waist? I done my research last year after wasting money on jeans that just didn't suit my figure, and after trying about 4-5 different types the Molly jeans in River Island became my best friend. The Molly jeans are quite stretchy and they're also high waist so they keep you nice and snug whilst hugging your figure, the only down side is Molly jeans are €55 a pair.   I have them in white, denim and black. I found my black ones faded quite fast ( but then I used to live in them).

When my black Mollys ripped a month ago I honestly didn't know what I was going to do, first world problems or what , right? I'm not working at the minute so I obviously don't have €55 to splash on jeans so for the first week or two I just wore denims and I won't lie I survived but I did miss my good reliable black jeans! I popped into Penneys one day and decided to check out all the types of jeans that they had to offer and guess what? I found a Penneys version of River Island Molly's!! The ones I found have the same stretch and the same high waist, the only thing that differs is the material its a tiny bit lighter than the River Island jeans but they are still so comfy, and a bonus that they are only €11 which makes a massive difference to €55.

Anyway, enough about the jeans, the main reason I'm writing this post is to show all of you lovely ladies and gents if your reading, that you create outfits from High Street stores for just a fraction of the price, While dressing head to toe in Penney's clothes (apart from my roshes of course).I've used the same items of clothing in both these outfits with only substituting my bomber for something a little more suitable for daytime when the weather is too clammy to be wearing a jacket.

My clothes from Penneys that you can create two looks with.

Khaki Green Bomber Jacket €19

Denim shirt- €11

Black Jeans -€11

White/Silver Own It T-shirt- €6

Scarf-  €4

Total: €51

Steal the Style with River Island clothes.

Khaki Green Bomber Jacket €60

Denim Shirt €45

Black Jeans €55

White/Gold Your Dreams T-shirt €25

Scarf €17

Total: €202

As you can see the River Island outfits are 4 times the price of the Penneys outfits that I created during the week. The only difference in the outfits is the quality of the material which can make a huge difference to a curvy gal but for clothes that you are going to wear just for everyday wear I definitely wouldn't pass Penney's,although I do tend to shop from the likes of New Look or River Island for occasion wear as it does tend to have a better fit for my curves .That's all for now! But I'm heading to Dublin on Thursday so I'll keep my eye out for some more Style Steals. I hope you enjoyed reading this weeks post.

Until Next Time,

Much Love,

Caoimhe x

The Reality of M.E

I don't even know where to begin with this weeks blog post! It was a week full of mixed emotions. I'll start with the positive moments from the week, I'm sure the form isn't the best of a Monday evening so I'll try not to make it any worse. Anyway, if you follow my regular updates on my Facebook page "It's all about M.E" you will now be aware that I have won the #GalaxyStyle competition and I will be working with Frockadvisor as a Fashion Reporter for this years Dublin Fashion Festival during the month of September.   I've shared it enough on all of my social media accounts so I'm nearly 100% positive that you've seen it by now but you never know... Anyway I still can't put into words how thrilled I am to be given an opportunity like this at such an early stage of my career, it's literally a dream come through. I started my blog  back in April for the simple reason that I wanted to keep myself mentally active. So winning a competition just 3 months into blogging is a massive self achievement and something I will always be proud of myself for.

As you can imagine my phone has been hopping non stop  since the news got out on several social media  platforms, which I won't complain about as the views on my blog posts have gone through the roof from all of the publicity that my blog has been getting from both Galaxy Ireland and Frockadvisor. Since the word got out that I was the winner of the competition it has already opened so many doors that lead to new opportunities, I have had several bloggers contact me on Twitter  and on Facebook to congratulate me and they also gave me great feedback on my blog.

 Not only have I been contacted by bloggers last Friday evening, amid the numerous Facebook and Twitter notifications I received a private message from the lovely Louise Breslin fromthe  Laveesha Jewellery range.  She messaged me to say that she would like to send me  some new bits from her latest jewellery collection to wear for Dublin Fashion Festival. As you can imagine I greatly accepted her offer and I am now waiting in anticipation to see the fabulous pieces of jewellery that will arrive in the post over the coming weeks, but in the meantime why not click on the links to her facebook page--> Laveesha or Instagram account--->Laveesha and check out some of the fab bits and pieces that she has for sale.

At this point it seems like things really couldn't get any better right..? Unfortunately, when you suffer with M.E you have to wait for the big bang right  back down to earth. I spoke a few weeks back about how I suffered with my stomach lately, shortly after I posted my blog post discussing all things stomach related I stumbled upon several articles online discussing that new studies show that it is now proven that M.E patients have an abnormal bacteria which is found in the gut that causes several gastrointestinal problems, so as I said it's just something that you have to get used to and power on through each day but I normally carry tablets or my good old reliable gaviscon in my handbag everywhere I go just for emergencies.As you can imagine I was on cloud 9 the past week with the excitment of everything that I neglected my body and I was on the go non stop from Thursday-Saturday, I just couldn't sit down and relax.

I was looking so forward to spending my whole Saturday with my Mam and Dad as I don't do it as often as I used to. I woke up did my usual Saturday morning routine, shower, make- up , do my hair and get dressed, everything still going to plan until all of sudden my eyesight started to  go blurry, my head started pounding, I obviously just presumed that the lack of sleep had caught up with me, so back to bed I went. My head literally hadn't hit the pillow when  I began vomiting.   I spent a solid 10 hours vomiting non stop. I had obviously caught the stomach bug. This is the first time that I've been properly sick in months and it has really knocked me back, 2 days later I am still extremely weak and every single muscle in my stomach is torn.  I literally can't even laugh without been in pain, it will take me 2 weeks or more to strengthen up my immune system again to be back to myself . I think some people look at me and think that there isint a single thing wrong with me,but I can assure you when you see photos of me online I have a full face of make up on.   I have found the best lighting in the house (usually you'll find me in front of my sitting room window, such good lighting there ) and also I have probably taken 20-30 photos before Im satisfied,for example here's two photos of me there's roughly 7 hours in the difference and this sums up M.E to a tee.   As I have said multiple times M.E is an invisible illness where many people do suffer in silence, lucky enough I have so much support and love surrounding me that I'm able to get up and on with my life and well I love playing around with make- up so I always have the bags under my eyes covered up..

Thats all for now,I just wanted to show you that M.E doesn't go away over night, and it won't ever go away over night, you simply just have to get up and get on with your life, and the main thing is to  find the right balance that will allow you to do so, and like everything it just takes time so be patient. I could stay in bed and feel sorry for myself everyday of the week but if I did I would never get any of the opportunities that I have gotten so far . "Challenges are what make life interesting,  Overcoming them is what makes life meaningful".. I hope you enjoyed reading this post, I'd love to hear your feedback.. Until Next Time..

Much Love,

Caoimhe x

Galaxy Style Workshop.

As you would of seen on my facebook page a few weeks ago, I was chosen by Galaxy Ireland and Frockadvisor to attend a workshop By the very well known Blogger James Butler (Jus De James) ahead of Dublin Fashion week 2016. I had to submit my blog to both Galaxy Ireland who are the main sponsors of Dublin Fashion Festival and also submit my blog to Frockadvisor to be in with a chance to win a place at the Masterclass and  I was absolutely thrilled when I got the notification to say that I had been chosen and that they were impressed with the content of my blog, which was great to hear as I am only blogging with just a little over 3 months.

The Masterclass took place in the Dean Hotel from 9:30-12 saturday morning, so of course I made the most of my trip to dublin and I headed up to  my sisters house on Friday evening with my personal chauffeur (Colin) to have some well over due bonding time.  I was also lucky enough to be able to bring my fab sister with me to the event as my plus one and share the experience with her, and well If I didn't have her with me I probably wouldn't of made it to the event at all as I rarely venture outside of Tipperary, so you can only imagine me in the big city but she took me on my first ever ride on a Double decker bus so I got to see majority of the city.

The Masterclass was a great opportunity to get some very useful information from James himself and also from other attendees who are also at different stages of setting up and  running their own blogs, so I had the contrast of bloggers who are well known in the media industry and also people who are just getting the hang of blogging like myself. James shared some really useful information with us about the Do's and Don'ts of Blogging that he has witnessed first hand throughout his blogging journey so far, it can be hard starting out as  a blogger as you feel like no one actually cares about what you done with your day but he assured that perseverance will make you successful, everything takes time nothing happens over night. h  and he also provided  us with what seems like a months supply of galaxy chocolate so what more do I really have to say!!

Towards the end of the masterclass Sonya Lennon from Frockadvisor announced that one lucky person who attended the masterclass will be given the chance to become a style reporter for Main event sponsors Galaxy Ireland at this years Dublin Fashion Festival. So in order to be in with the chance of bagging that amazing opportunity I had to make a short 15-20 second video and post it on my twitter page- but that's the easy part. I now need help from all of you lovely followers, all you have to do is head on over to either of the following links that I've attached below, all you have to do is just press the retweet button. It will literally take 5 seconds

1--Frockadvisor Entry

2--Galaxy Ireland Entry

. I would absolutely love the opportunity to become #GalaxyStyle Reporter for Dublin Fashion Festival as It is literally a once in a life time opportunity, and also as if you know me you will know that I am obsessed by all things media related so it would be a step in the right direction. I hope you enjoyed reading this post- stay tuned for more updates. Until next time.

Much Love,

Caoimhe x

The WEIGH to go..!

Do you struggle to find the right outfit for an upcoming occasion/event? well don't you worry as I can assure you that you are definitely not alone. I honestly think ,no matter what size or shape you are it can be quite tricky to find the perfect outfit. Weight is always something that I have struggled with and will always struggle with, I literally only have to look at a bar of chocolate and it goes straight to my hips. Growing up with a fabulous group of girl friends who were all in or around size 8 and the most beautiful sister who was also size 8 was quite daunting as I was always the heaviest out of my circle of friends. During the early teenage years is when been heavier than the rest of my friends mostly affected me, the little things like not been able to share clothes with your friends for discos, or going shopping with all of your friends and not been able to buy the same things as them as they weren't in your size, it was like the end of the world at the time,  first world problems or what !. As upsetting as it was I thankfully didn't try and harm my body by fitting in with my gorgeous gal pals, I just accepted what was and learned how to find clothes suitable for my shape.  I didn't try and beat myself into a size 8 dress when realistically it would of probably only fit my arm.

Although I'm quite a curvy gal I've always loved staying up to date with the latest fashion trends, which can be extremely hard as nowadays  the "In thing " is that bodycon material, which isn't very flattering if you are a curvy lady as the material can be quite clingy. Of course there's a wide range of shapewear available nowadays that can allow you to wear something a little bit tighter than usual as it will pull you in, in the places where you may feel conscious about, but personally its not something I'm fond of as I'd rather find something that I'm comfortable in.  I try to keep my shapewear for emergencies when I really can't find anything else to wear so its my last resort as I just don't personally feel comfortable in it. I've always been so lucky that I have such a helpful mother who has always told me straight out what  suited me and didn't suit me when I was growing up and I'd like to think that because of her, I now know what type of clothes to look for when I go into a clothes shop, having someone who will be 100% honest with you is all you need she is the reason that I've never tried to fit in where I didn't belong.  My mother always said "size is only a number, it is better to look good in an outfit rather than being beaten into it".

 I wanted to show all of you that you can be curvy and still stay up to date with the latest fashion trends, you just have to find what is going to suit you! Take the outfit that I've attached below for example, A bodycon midi dress from river island, as I've said a bodycon dress will expose any little curve you have but that's not to say that curvy ladies cant wear them, its just figuring out the correct way to wear it. Personally I carry most of my weight on my lower tummy area and my hips, they're the two areas that I'm most conscious about so therefore, I themed this black river island  bodycon dress with a sleeveless waist coat from Penny's - therefore camouflaging my hips as the waist coat flows straight down over my hips and my curves were hidden , I am also quite short so I find adding a tiny heel to an outfit gives you a little boost as I just feel so stumpy when wearing flats, so I picked  up these fab black peep toe sandals in river island to complete the look, such a comfortable yet dressy outfit.!

Dress €18 - River Island Sale

Waist Coat €9- Penney's

Shoes €20- River Island Sale.

Necklace €6- Penney's
This whole entire look cost me €53, and each item can be worn with so many other different outfits.

I'm well aware that I'm not the only girl to grow up being extremely conscious of my weight and I'm aware that I wont be the last, but my aim for this post is to help even one person who may feel like I felt throughout my teenage years so far. I'm not an expert in dealing with curves/weight by any means but I have had quite a lot of experience with it. over the past few years.If you can take one thing from this post please, please, please realise that every single person is a different shape or size, not one single person on this earth is the exact same. Don't change yourself just to fit in, be your own person and do your own thing and just remember....

I hope you've enjoyed reading this weeks blog post I'd love to hear your feedback from it as its something I'd like to start posting about on a more regular basis, Don't forget I'm heading to Dublin next weekend for -James Butlers Masterclass, I cant wait to fill you in on all of the antics. Don't forget to follow all my updates on my Facebook page -It's All About M.E Until next Time.

Much Love,
Caoimhe x