December and January Photo Diary: Christmas and a trip to Dublin

January felt like a year so these photos seem so old but I wanted to catch up between Decemeber and now.

This Christmas I celebrated some of it in Cardiff and some of it at home in Ireland. This picture is from Winter Wonderland in Cardiff.

I've been loving festive beauty this year, particularily anything festive from Lush and the Body Shop.

Chris got me some amazing gifts for Christmas this year. My favourite is the Fred Perry bomber from the Amy Winehouse collection, its soo cool. I also got an amazing Edie Sedgwick vinyl, its a soundtrack from the movie Ciao Manhattan which I watched a few years ago and is quite confusing but it does have some great footage of Edie. I also got this amazing photography book on Andy Warhol's factory by Stephen Shore which has some great photographs and a few I haven't seen before. 

some more presents that I got for Christmas, I especially love the Andy Warhol badge and the Tarte gifted mascara, its so good I recommend.

I also got Black Opium by YSL from my brother for Christmas, Ive been wanting it for so long, it kind of smells like Jimmy Choo which is another of my favourites but its a tad sweeter

My parents got me some makeup (that I requested lol) including the Naked 2 palette. I love this palette because it has such a good range of colours and lots of shimmer shades which Im a big fan of these days.

This picture is of my garden at home just after the snow. I miss living in the country sometimes and I cant wait to go back to visit.

we celebrated four years together on New Years, we went out for food in Las Iguanas and then to gig before catching the fireworks. We went home soon after midnight though bc I was working New Years Day (don't you just love retail haha)

I treated myself to a candle from the white company because it was in the sale and I absolutely love their candles, they last so long too!

In January France Gall passed away so I thought Id commerate her by listening to a record of hers I picked up in a market in Paris. I love French music and its always sad to lose a star of the sixties

I went to see Paramore last month. It was such a flashback to my teens, I loved Paramore and went to see them twice in Ireland. I wish they played more of their earlier music but I still enjoyed seeing them again.

Dream Wife finally released their first EP last month so I got the limited edition copy with a signed zine because Im a sucker for limited editions. I love Dream Wife, I think they are a great band with lots of energy and I definately recommend that you catch them on their UK tour.

An outfit I wore out last month, I love the detail on this mesh top from Topshop. In hindsight though, maybe January isnt the best time for mesh, I was freezing haha

I also went to Dublin in January. I'm looking for a new job at the moment so I really wanted to see friends before things got busy. I love Dublin and it was really nice to be back and hang out in the city for a few days.

I went to a few of the book stores that I love in Dublin, this picture is from a shop called The Winding Stair, I also really like Books Upstairs too.

Dublin have an And Other Stories  now which Im super jealous of because I honestly love this store.

I'm really hoping to go back in August and maybe do a tour of Ireland and visit Dublin, Galway and Donegal.

I really hope that one day ill actually have time for blogging again, I miss it a lot...

all photos from my instagram where Im a lot more active

November Photo Diary: Autumn Walks, Retail Therapy and Graduation

It's the 11th of Decemeber and I'm only posting this now but at this time of year its hard to get a minute. In November, we took a walk around Roath park in Cardiff, it isn't too far from where we live so it was nice to explore the neighbourhood.

It's honestly such a pretty place, it has a huge lake, parks and a tennis court.

dont know what this is but it makes for a great picture

We celebrated Chris's birthday at the beginning of November, we out for a fancy meal and had the best cocktails!

I got my hair cut super short again, it wasn't intentional and I felt super sad about it because I knew my graduation was only a few weeks away and I felt so self-consious but what can you do, it will grow back!

We also went out to The Lanes in Bristol one week. I love The Lanes because they play indie, rock n roll and 60s classics. They also have cheap drinks which naturally means we get super drunk and take photobooth pictures.

We bought some more Ikea furniture to store our records and books. We got one of the Kallax square units and a Billy bookcase. We have quite a big set up in the living room now which does make it more homely plus we can actually take our records out now and use them.

I went on a bit of a spending spree this time of year because the amount of sales and discounts is too hard to exist, plus the change of the season meant I needed a bit of a wardrobe refresh. I bought these amazing Vagabond Marja ankle boots from Office. They are such good quality, really sturdy but comfy. I've been looking for a nice Chelsea boots for ages because my current ones are quite scuffed so I'm happy I found these.

I also got some Benefit goodies because they had a 3 for 2 offer for black friday. I absolutely love the galifornia blusher and the dandelion twinkle highlighter as a combination. Roller lash is my favourite mascara, I had it in the travel size and I was running out so I got the full version.

I also graduated in November! It was such a nice day but it flew by so fast, I would have liked to meet up with friends and make the most of the free prosecco but all of a sudden it was midnight and I had to catch my bus home (very cinderalla here)

I will miss the student life

While I was in Bristol I went to lovely cafe called Poco, its a bruch/lunch place by day and a tapas bar by night. One thing I miss about Bristol is the food, there's so many nice places to eat especially along Gloucester Road.

We also went to the Christmas markets in Bristol. I feel like Christmas has just crept up on me so fast, I haven't had much time to do festive things but next weekend I plan to do something Christmassy.

all photos from my instagram

August Photo Diary: First Month in Cardiff, My Birthday and Wolf Alice

I always love August not only because its my birthday month but because it always has great weather and it feels like the last celebration of Summer. I know a lot of people love Winter but Im dreading leaving the Sun behind. I think if you are born in Summer you just like Summer and vice versa.

At the beginning of August, I moved out of my flat in Bristol. I was actually so sad to leave because I loved my flat and the area I lived in. I will also miss all the cool things there are to do in Bristol but Cardiff is only an hour away so I wont miss out too much.

Before I left, I went to the Bristol Balloon Festival with the charity I was interning with this Summer. Although I couldnt stay to see any of the hot air balloons, I did really enjoy the festival especially since the weather was so nice.

The weekend before my birthday I went out in Cardiff with a few friends. This is the picture I took before I got rained on and competely ruined my hair haha

On the day of my birthday I had a really nice day shopping with Chris, I got some things for the flat, a bag and some loafers.

Chris got me this beautiful necklace and the dress I'm wearing in the last picture. The necklace is even more special because it looks exactly like the necklace he gave me on our first Christmas together that I lost in Paris. 

We went to Cote Brassiere for my birthday meal. I love the atmosphere in there, it feels like you are dining in Paris, also the garlic bread is amazing!! lol

Afterwards we went next door to Bills and got some drinks and dessert

My doughnut in take this month is shocking!

We also went to see Wolf Alice in Pontypridd near Cardiff. Wolf Alice were doing an intimate tour where they play in lots of small venues around the UK. I couldn't believe it when I saw they were playing in Pontypridd, the last time I seen them was in the Motopoint Arena in Cardiff. They were honestly so good this time, they are a band that should always play small venues. You dont get the same buzz at an arena. I love their new songs Yuk Foo and Beautifully Unconventional, I can't wait to hear the new album now!

I also went to Hubfest in Cardiff this month. They had lots of bands playing in venues around Womanby Street in Cardiff.

A friend recommended Rainbow Maniac and I loved them, you should check them out

It was such a nice night, I just love festivals in a city.

I've also been exploring Cardiff myself this month. It takes a while to get used to a new city but I'm starting to find my way around it.

Last week I went for a walk around Bute Park in the sun, I cant believe how big it is.

Last weekend we went to Cardiff Bay for a few hours because it was so nice out

They had a fair on but it was really for young children so I couldnt participate :( but it was still a fun little day out nonetheless

September will be an interesting month because I have to submit my 20,000 word dissertation and find a job, eek! wish me luck ...

July Photo Diary: Mums 50th, moving house and all the food

July flew by, I took two trips home to Ireland and I was flat searching which those of you who have done it before know it is very very stressful!

The first trip home was to see Mum on her birthday, she was 50 this year so there was lots of celebrations. We went to our favourite restaurant in Letterkenny The Yellow Pepper for dinner and drinks!

this breaded brie tasted as good as it looked

sex on the beach

we also went to the Glebe House Gallery in Churchill, it was home to the painter Derek Hill. It is such a lovely place to visit if you are in Donegal. We took a tour of the house and it has such major decorating inspiration and a very impressive collection of art.

Mum and my auntie then flew back with me to Bristol. The first night they were there we went to Fishers restaurant in Clifton. I would totally recommend it for seafood lovers. I had salmon fishcakes and they were gorgeous

That night we decided to to visit the Clifton suspension bridge. I have been in Bristol almost a year so I thought it was time I visited the iconic landmark. It is really spectacular especially at night, you need to have a head for heights though!

The next day we took a shopping trip to Cabot Circus. We had food in Cote Brassiere which is a chain of french restaurants in the UK. We were able to sit outside in the courtyard in the sun so it literally felt like I was on holidays again

Cod, lentils and spinach, yum!

I didnt buy much in the summer sales this year but I did pick up these espadrilles from Zara. I really love how good they look, Im very fussy when it comes to shoes! They are so versatile, they literally go with anything from jeans to dresses.

cute photobooth of me and Chris on a night out that I love so much! :) sometimes you just need a good night out 

I flew back home again to go to my Mums party, she held it two weeks after her birthday so everyone could come. We had a marquee, lots and lots of food and the best company. I had to leave the next day which was sad because I left behind so much gorgeous food.

After lots of stress, we finally secured a flat in Cardiff and are moving tomorrow. I'm sad to leave Bristol but excited for our new move :)