Valentine's Day is just around the corner. 
I suppose everyday you should show your love to your loved ones but Hallmark need another day to make money and we needed another reason to get all dressed up and eat chocolates!!

Whether you are spending a day with your other half or spending the day with your friends why not spend it looking chic and fabulous!?? :)
Embrace reds and pinks for the day and get into the festive mood! Valentines Day can be just as fun a holiday as any other, even for those who are spending it solo!





















Here are a few fun, inexpensive, and functional ideas for whatever you have planned!

If your going for a lovely romantic dinner or out clubbing with your boyfriend, and you want to look super smouldering and gorgeous, why not try this fitted dress! Paired with a Blazer and some bling Jewelry, you'l be looking fab when your stepping out with your one and only!

  




































If you need something a bit more toned down, this rose colored baby doll style dress is perfect for Valentines Day Dinner and can be worn easily with flats too!!

On the other hand, if your thinking of keeping it casual, this pink Shift dress is super cute and can be dressed down with flats and a scarf and some funky tights or socks if a more casual date is on the cards!

If you think red is not your colour or you just dont like it, try some of these funky accessories instead!!

Alternatively, if your on a budget and getting something new is just not an option, why not root out that classic black dress from Christmas and pair it with some killer heels and some vibrant red lipstick!

Nothing is more glam and sexy than a matt red lip with some dark lashes!

If however you don't happen to have a boyfriend/girlfriend and the thought of Valentines Day and loved up couples parading their affection everywhere sends you hiding under the duvet, then don't fear!! :)

You can still enjoy the festivities just as much with a group of single friends!!

Try rockin' this cool tube dress for a night of dancing and some extra flirting! ;)

You wont be long bagging a date for Valentines Day!

So instead of putting on your best pjs and setting a date with the new episode of 90210, grab your buddies and head out for some girlie cocktails...and who knows maybe you'l find someone that you may be spending next Valentines day with!! ;)

Pampered Pooches!

This week I'm going to write about something a little different!
And hopefully it will give us all a bit of a lift and some much needed mid-January motivation!! :)

In recent years, Toy dogs have become a huge trend, not only with celebrities, but with regular folk too!
I myself have a Bichon Frise, who is a seriously pampered pooch!

But along with owning a dog smaller then a cat, it seems the latest trend in Hollywood is pampering your pooch to the extreme! There are now numerous websites and stores that you can purchase anything and everything you could need for your dog! Dresses, Halloween costumes, wedding outfits, shoes, swimsuits, you name it! There are specialized boutiques devoted specifically to dogs, which are also very expensive!
It seems people are willing to spend anything on making sure there puppy is looking chic!

Teacup puppies are extremely delicate and do need to be cared for exceptionally well! (You may need to be extra careful with the hoover!!)
People spend hundreds and sometimes thousands on clothing and accessories for their little teacup puppies.

This collar seen in the photo below costs $150,000!
I know we love our puppies but does this seem a bit extreme?? Especially since the puppy would probably rather ditch the diamonds and go play in the mud!

Your Pooch will be able to catch up on some serious Zzzz's with this bed! Costing $800, with handcrafted wood and silk lining, youl want to squeeze into it yourself!

Your doggie could be rockin' these "Christian LouBarkin's" for a mere $100!

There is no denying that they look super cute in these outfits though!

Check out this Video for a look at how small they really are!

Get the Vintage bug!

Did you ever get that feeling when you go shopping that everything looks the same? Or that you have somethig similar at home already?
Did you ever have a special occasion where you just wanted to stand out from the crowd and look amazing?
Well the answer to these problems may be found here! :)

Vintage clothing is something that not everyone is willing to try, but teamed with the right pieces it looks amazing. The best thing about it is that your look will always be original.
I am personally very into classic glamour, so I love browsing vintage clothing, especially the accessories which can be fabulous!
We are also lucky enough to have three great Vintage stores right here in Cork city, The Torquise Flamingo, Mercury goes Retrogade and Miss Daisy Blue. There are also some fabulous vintage accessories shops, such as Velvet Bow.

I am going to share some of my favourite Vintage pieces in hopes of getting some of you to try if for yourselves :)

The above dress is an example of some of the exquisite detailing that can be found on Vintage pieces.


Im a huge fan of the white lace blouse, which is a classic Vintage look.


This look is a little different, but I love the cute babydoll look and especially the lace and button detail on the sleves. Its very difficult to find these little touches on high street clothing.
As seen in this photo, the upstyle really compliments the dress, so make sure that you try a few different hairstyles to match the vintage theme.
There are really no rules when it comes to wearing vintage clothing, as the more diverse the better, but the wrong hairstyle could throw the whole look off if it looks to modern.

Vintage stores are also great places to find a classic coat, such as this fab fur one shown in tho photo which is very cheap at just €60, when you might pay twice that for a similar coat on the high street.

Beat the January Blues...

So Christmas is officially over!
It may be time to hang up the sequins but also time to embrace some fresh new trends!

Before you do though, make sure to scour the sales for some great bargains!
Shopping online is brilliant in the sales as you can avoid getting your toes rolled over by buggies and getting stabbed repeatedly by sharp elbows! Most major stores now ship to Ireland and within a few days!

This year in particular a lot of people have waited until after Christmas to buy their clothes, as they are half the price that they were two weeks previously. The good news about this is that there will be a lot of sizes left in the stores.
If you think about it, why do we panic over buying "Christmas Clothes" a week or two before Christmas? When the same clothes are going to be twice as cheap after Christmas, why do we panic to get clothes for one day?
This Christmas, the recession has definatley left its mark, with shops being left with a lot of stock after Christmas. Are people wising up to the power of marketing and resisting the temptation to splurge on things that are not necessary? Are our Christmas presents becoming more practical?
I certainly think so. Personally I prefer getting a good old voucher and popping on down to the shops to buy something I really need, rather then a basket full of smelly soaps or cosmetics that I may never use.

I think the extravagance of Christmas with regard to both fashion and gifts is rapidly changing.
The other positive about buying a few practical items of clothing that you really need, is that you can still afford a few treats to brighten up your January!!:)

One of my favorite trends that has carried on from last Spring/Summer is pastels!
There so fresh and vibrant!
Like these pink high waisted jeans from American Apparel..paired with lilac, lemon or torquise can be a very cool colour pop!

Because were not into Spring yet, people are often unsure about wearing sandals/pumps/stilettos with skinny jeans and braving the cold!

Leaving the comfort of your cozy winter boots can be hard, but pairing some cool patterned socks or brightly colored socks with shoes, you can stay cozy and still look cool! 

I love these orange jeans and Lilac shoes, both from Asos!

So don't let the return to normality dampen your style!! 

Treat youself to some pastel and put some colour pop in your style!:)