FEBRUARY WHAT IS UP! I am never normally one to dislike January or complain that its the worst month ever, but oh my god it was quite a weird/long/cold month! Despite all of that I feel like I had some pretty good/stylish looks! Having less work, only having one exam and only going back to lectures like last week meant I had more time, so I was able to go out a little more than normal, meaning I could throw more time into my style! It was nice but I feel like as I get older (GASP, SIGH, WHO AM I), I prefer to wake up fresh and use my time productively as opposed to wasting it dying of a hangover. Especially because a hangover for me isn't like a day, it is normally about 3 and recently I've found that heavy drinking and hangovers often leave me feeling really depressed and unproductive. So one of my goals for February is to drink less and just do more in terms of creating content across all my platforms and also putting my head down in college. 

So all that aside, this blog is just a little insight to my January like I do most months, some of my favourite looks, products etc! 

So I have been wearing my wigs for just about a month now and if you cannot tell already I love them! I am so insecure about my hair, as i've mentioned before it's not in the best condition from the combination of excessive bleaching over the years and poor nutrition. SO being able to wear these wigs and have long stunning hair makes me feel so confident! Since I've started wearing them I have gotten SO many questions from people about them, so I decided to try and address a lot of the questions people have asked I would write a whole blog post on them as well as giving a little bit of info on what I am doing to my natural locks to try and restore some health and help it grow!

So my first wig is this stunning wig by CC Clarke Beauty! I asked my boyfriend to get it for me for christmas and begged him to give it to me a day early because I was so desperate to wear it for Christmas Eve and Day lol! 

This wig on the website is 65 pounds, including shipping in euros it cost about €80. It is synthetic hair, but is also heat resistant so can be styled using heat. When I first got this it had super bouncy curls, but I wanted a straight look so just straightened it. I personally think this wig looks extremely realistic, some of my family members didn't even realise it was a wig on christmas day LOL!

The only negative thing I have to say about this wig is it isn't very practical if you're looking for a wig if you can wear on a day to day basis as its 150% density so it is quite thick and does tangle quite easily, I always carry a hairbrush in my bag when I am wearing wigs out! 

Here I styled the wig slightly differently into little plaits, which would be ideal if you did decide to wear this wig on a more day to day basis.

Having worn this wig so many times it is still in really great condition and you can wash it so even if it does go a little more grubby I will be able to wash it and give it a whole new lease of life however currently normally just a brush and a straighten does the job! 

My next wig is this STUNNING light blue one which I adore! It is so extraaaa! Believe it or not, I copped this lil number on EBAY and the best part? The total cost including shipping was €50 and it came with 2 wig caps and what made it EVEN better was it literally arrived within 2 days after I had ordered it and the seller was in China! The quality of the wig is pretty much the same as the rose gold one and the lace and cap on the inside is also basically identical! It is heat resistant too! The only difference I think is obviously the colour and this one is also about 2inches longer than the other one making it a little bit heavier!

Again I think this one looks quite natural because of the front lace and also the routes!

I will 100% be buying from that seller on eBay again when I am ordering more wigs in the future which I definitely will be! I think I am obsessed! 

Other questions I have kinda gotten is about how they stay on, both of mine have clips on the inside and you can adjust both to make them tighter so I just have mine on the tightest and they stay on pretty well! I wore the blue one out recently and it slipped a little bit but I realised when I took it off that it wasn't actually on the tightest so that is probably why! I know some people like to glue their wigs down around the front but I personally as of yet haven't felt a need with either of these wigs!

I wear a wig cap underneath mine and tie my hair in a low bun at the back of my head.  

Onto my natural hair, which is doing pretty fab lately. The colour and my routes are still absolutely gross but I just keep telling myself when its long and luscious and healthy it will be worth it!

So, lately to help it get there basically what I have done is cut out all bleaching and colouring, the last time I had my hair coloured was May 2017! As well as this I have started using sulphate free shampoos and only washing my hair once a week, which sounds pretty gross to some people but it really works, in any hair care blogs/youtube videos I have watched people who have repaired their hair recommend this as like key to hair care! By over washing your hair, you strip it of the natural oils which help it to grow and stay moisturised and hydrated! On the day that I was my hair I also use a hair mask, my sister got me an amazing one from the body shop. It is called Banana truly nourishing mask, completely vegan and obvs cruelty free also! I can't seem to find it on their website so sadly can't link it but they do have the Shampoo & Conditioner which they recommend using before the mask! I think I will be investing in these to try them out soon enough because I love the results of the mask so far! It smells so good and leaves my hair so soft! 

As well as all of the above steps I barely ever use any heat on my hair anymore, the wigs really help with this because the only time I ever used to apply heat was when I was going out, now I just pop a wig on and look fabulous lol! Also saves so much time if the wigs don't need to be styled! 

So, that is the story of my hair right now! I think perhaps coming into festival season I'll perhaps get braids again because I loved them so much last summer and for festivals they are ideal! 

Also, I have been blogging a little less lately because I have recently launched my Youtube channel just to have an extra platform because why not! I am having so much fun with it, although I still love blogging so my aim for this year is just to have as much content as possible on both! 

This is my latest video, so if you haven't already before to check out my channel and subscribe! 

I literally cannot even believe we've come to the end of 2017, I feel like I've blinked a few times and the whole year has come and gone. 

ANYWAYS, 2017, what a year. I feel like it has been an incredibly important year for me as I have learnt so much about myself in this year that I know I will carry into 2018 and use to manifest amazing things. 

I started 2017 with quite a rough start, I fell back into the hands of my eating disorder and did lose quite a lot of weight, worst of all I  failed to admit it to myself for almost the first half of the year. I was down and tired and ran long days on very little energy. When I finally recognised I was sliding fast down a slope to being quite unwell again I realised that there was no way I could travel around Asia or go to festivals the way I was. THIS was when I really started to learn about myself, I discovered self help books and started to educate myself on spirituality and made time for yoga and meditation. I began self love days where I'd face mask, light a candle or even just shave my legs and it was through all of this that I actually for once in my life felt able to look in the mirror and tell myself I am worthy. 

It was definitely no walk in the park after this I certainly had some highs and lows a long the way, but right now, thanks to all of the things above I taught myself to do I am in such a good place right now and genuinely feel really positive and inspired by the future, even though another thing I learnt this year is that we need to not worry to much about the future nor the past and just be in the now. 

So with all of that said I am gonna wrap up some of my top 2017 moments, some of my favourite outfits from the year and some tips for 2018.... 

2017 Highlights

Asia 

I think my obvious highlight from this year was travelling around Asia for two months with two amazing gals. I love travelling, so getting to travel around three stunning countries and explore so many different places, cultures foods and meet so many amazing people was literally a dream come true and made me hungry for more. 

I can't wait to see more parts of the world but I really think Asia will always hold a special place in my heart. 

Festivals 

You probably guessed this one already, it's a highlight every year but FESTIVALS. Despite my two months travelling I still managed to make it to two camping festivals and 3 day festivals this year. Every single year my experience at festivals gets more and more magic. 

Blogging 

This year was the first year I got some really cool opportunities from my blogging and my instagram. I started this blog in the march of 2016, so just over a year and a half when I started getting some exciting things from it. 

My festival season make up was absolutely on fleek thanks to the amazing Festi Fox who I cannot thank enough and hope to work with again!

I got some really nice gifts to promote from brands and one of my favourite highlights, I got to work with and model for the amazing Fresh Temple Bar. I loved this work and all of the pictures got featured on the instagram as well as asos market place. Hopefully I will be working with them again too! 

While all of these things may seem small, for me they are really exciting, this kind of thing has always been my passion, I started my first Lookbook account when I was about 14 and posted there a lot. I lost my confidence a lot when I got sick and I well and truly have this blog to thank for getting it back. Now being recognised and rewarded for doing what I love is genuinely so amazing and I genuinely believe 2018 is going to be a year for further growth!

My Top 5 Outfits

Electric Picnic 

Life Festival 

St. Stephens Day 

Christmas day 

I had so much fun with my clothes and styling and putting together looks this year, especially in the second half, so I am already so excited for more in 2018! 

2018 Tips

So, being in such a good headspace right now, I decided to compile a list of some of my top tips for y'all but also for me to look back on when I don't feel so good! 

1. Clear Space, Clear mind 

This is one thing I have really noticed the importance of in the last few weeks and it starts with something as simple as making your bed every single day, then keeping the space around you clear and tidy. All of this is a feeling of having accomplished something before you even leave your house in the morning and like the title says when your space is clear so is your mind. 

2. You are You 

I've spoken about this before but its always an important one to be reminded of. It is so easy for us to compare ourselves to others and its pointless and self destructive in the long run. We are all on our own journeys and paths in this lil thing called life and some people figure it out faster than others and thats ok. Do not compare your success to others. 

3. Love Yoself

Do a facemask, eat healthy, exercise (not excessively), drink water, take care of your hair, your nails your skin, your mind. 

Remind yourself daily that you are worthy and amazing! 

4. Travel 

See new places, meet new people and make amazing memories that will ground you, make you feel present and remind you why life is amazing 

5. Every day is a new opportunity 

People often wait for new years to come around to set their resolutions, personally I have never been a fan of this epidemic because why wait? Literally every single day is a chance to start something new and be the best you and live yo best life! 

6. Journal

Journaling my thoughts has been a huge factor in my well being this year. Sometimes it can be hard to talk about how your feeling, so by writing it down you get it out and clear your mind. It is also nice to write down the good moments to reflect on them and always remember them!

My Goals

This section is kinda for my own personal growth and I hope next year I can look back on this and tick a lot off the list! 

My first goal is to pass my final year of college and graduate and get my degree! 

Once I have that out of the way I want to work on turning my passion which is this into more than just a hobby! 

I want to create more content for youtube which I already have started doing because I was determined to get it going before the new year came in! 

I want to travel more again and go to more festivals than last year! 

Overall, I want to be happy and healthy and I want everyone around me to feel the same!

So, that is a wrap on my 2017, thank you to everyone who has read my blog this year and supported me. I hope you continue to enjoy my content in 2018 as there will be plenty more of it! 

Thank you to my amazing friends, boyfriend and family around me who supported me through my highs and my lows this year. I love you all!!! 

P.S. CHECK OUT MY FIRST EVER LOOKBOOK ON MY YOUTUBE CHANNEL! 

Grainne 

XO 

SKOOL IS OUT! I am finished college for Christmas thank god! I'm working crazy hours still but at least now my days off are actual days off and I can get a lil bit freaky and creative and do some blogging/photos/looks etc. you know my vibe! 

In all of my Monthly blog posts I've been doing lately I have been featuring some of my fave trends this Autumn winter... TODAY with my day off I decided to go wild and throw them all into one crazzzzy look! 

Next up is platforms/flatforms. My demonia ones are my favourite shoes ever, they just add such a badass vibe to any look! 

CHAINS CHAINS CHAINS! I cannot get enough chains, I am literally obsessed. They completely finish off any look and make it super stylish! 

I buy most of mine in hardware shops! 

Thigh high and knee high socks are a total must have for that 00s/Bratz Rock angels kinda look!

Mine are from H&M and actually keep your legs warm! 

If you ain't got faux fur this Winter, who even are you? 

Jokes aside, I can't get enough of it this year, scarf from, coat form, Hats, it is everywhere!

Big hoops and white liner! Two things I adore right now! White liner is literally my new fave, it is so different, especially as normally I wear a black flick!

It is probably a lil too cold out to be braving this outfit out just yet, but roll on festival season! 

I am already excited to start planning looks like this because I think all of these trends are here to stay for 2018!

I am hoping now with my few days off in-between lots of partying I will find some space to blog as I have some HUN-REAL outfits planned for the next two weeks and I am even looking into starting a youtube channel in the next while which is mega exciting. It is something I have wanted to do for a while and just feel like why not just bite the bullet now with the new year coming in!

So stay tuned and stay cute! 

Grainne 

XO 

Another month done and with that I am coming super close to the end of my second last semester in college! Assignment season is in full swing and to make it a lil bit more fun is retail at Christmas time! But really I can't complain because overall I am genuinely content with life right now even if every few days or so I panic about the fact that I have less than 6 months left in college and no clear direction of where my life is going afterwards, BUT I also see a bit of fun in this. I could never imagine myself as someone with tunnel vision on what they want to do, like you know those people who come out of the womb knowing they're going to grow up and be a doctor. Nothing against those people, in fact I applaud you for having your shit so together, personally I am just accepting the fact that I am organised chaos and unpredictability is what suits me, I'm a gemini, structure will never suit me. 

November was actually a really great month for me I kicked it off with a weekend in Belfast and had some fun nights out throughout the month and in terms of work and college, despite both getting busy now, all is good! 

So like I always do with these monthly update style blogs I am going to kick off with what my steeeez of the month and some of the looks I have been wearing! 

Mesh Camo top - Prettylittlething

Corset style top - Dollskill 

Trousers - Charity Shop 

Coat - Forever 21

Shoes - Demonia 

Hat - eBay 

This was a look from the very start of the month, but one of my faves! I think I've mentioned before my style inspo of this season is heavily influenced by the Bratz dolls (LOL) and I felt like I completely channelled that here! 

Trousers - Topshop 

Cropped top - Prettylittlething

Belt - Prettylittlething

Chain & choker - Fresh Templebar

Hat - House of Erotique (on depop)

I got these trousers whilst in Belfast in topshop and I am obsessed with them, they are such a good fit and the wide legs make them so stylish, they make literally anything look FASH-UN!

Leather Bralette - Missguided 

Harness - Wildthing 

Trousers - Unexampled Apparel

Hat - House Of Erotique

Shoes - Demonia 

How kick-ass are these flares? I love them so much and they are made by the AMAZING unexampled apparel who I got my amazing festival two piece from for Body and Soul this year! I love to support an independent brand too! 

Blouse - NastyGal 

Shoes - Demonia 

Trousers - H&M 

Coat - H&M

Hat - House Of Erotique

Just when I thought I had enough coats for the season, I lay eyes on this one and black Friday happened shortly after. But I regret nothing, it was the best money I have spent this season so far. This faux fur beauty is super heavy and perfect for this baltic winter we're having! I went about 3 sizes up in mine to make it even more extra. 

First up on my list of faves this month is white eye liner! It is so different yet so simple!

I got mine from inglot, I cannot remember the exact price but its not too pricey and they are cruelty free! 

Corset Style tops! 

I can't get enough of these little cuties at the moment, I bought this one in H&M even though it is almost identical to one I have already! I love them because they can be worn alone or over tops to add something extra and finish off a plain top and pants kinda outfit! 

... And thats a wrap for november! The countdown to Christmas is officially on, I am genuinely really excited this year even though I have been freaking out about the food side of things for like months, especially as it is my first Christmas as a vegan. I have of course done plenty of veggie Christmas dinners but unlike most people I actually hate Christmas dinner so me personally this year I think I am just going to make a curry of some sort for myself to enjoy while the rest of my family enjoy their traditional dinner lol. 

I think my aim for December is to keep focused in terms of college, work, my blog and set some goals for 2018 and of course have a good time, because despite the darkness and the cold of the winter Christmas is one of my favourite times of year! I can't wait to reunite with all of the people I haven't seen in way too long! I think another aim of mine this month is to remember that Christmas isn't all about receiving gifts and it is important to give too, especially to the people not as lucky as you might be. Dublin has so many rough sleepers right now and the weather is unbearably cold so it is important to try and give where we can, even if it isn't money there is plenty of charities accepting warm clothing and other necessities. 

Stay cute, Stay warm and have fun this December cuties and remember Mercury is in retrograde so don't let your emotions get the better of you! Especially all my fellow gemini's! 

Grainne 

XO