Feeling 22

Hey Ladies!

So this week I had the pleasure of celebrating my birthday and although it wasn't what you would call a 'big' birthday, to me, it was big and I'll tell you why! As you may already know from my previous post about my 2014 'Bucket List' I was a wee bit nervous about turning the big 22, not because I think 22 is old, but because all my life I had imagined at 21 I would have graduated college and be living an adventurous and exciting life traveling the world! 

(Image: www.favimages.net)

Twenty one was supposed to be my year, a year of fun, adventure, new countries and new experiences. I did manage to graduate with my honours degree before I turned 21 but the traveling the world part didn't happen. Don't get me wrong, 2013 was an amazing year and I had many fantastic opportunities from swimming with Alligators to being on TV and Radio, being a finalist in the RSVP/OASIS blogger competition, doing a Fashion Styling course, starting work with a radio station, meeting NEYO and so much more! I've been blessed, but back in December, a sudden panic came over me, I was about to turn 22 in less than two months, and what had I done? What had I achieved in life? It felt like I'd spent the previous 21 years at home watching TV and not achieving anything (okay so sometimes I'm a drama queen I didn't quite feel that bad but still).

(Image: www.sayingimages.info)

After lots of talks with some of my closest friends and family, I decided to do something about it and by the end of 2014 I will have accomplished some things on my bucket list and I intend to spend the year trying new things and taking every opportunity that comes my way! 

One of the biggest things I hope to achieve is learning how to be happier as I am a natural worrier. I worry and over think about the smallest things and I can be an awful moaner sometimes. Learning not to rely on others to make you happy is probably one of the best life skills you can attain! So far so good as I have started exercising regularly and have already begun trying new things in every aspect of my life, from my wardrobe to my career and everything in between, but I can't fill you in on that stuff just yet!

 

(Image: www.vuible.com)

As someone who has avoided the colour pink as much as humanly possible for at least 6 years now, I decided to take the risk, bite the bullet and buy a pink dress for my birthday celebrations (start as you mean to go on and all that jazz). I'm not going to lie, wearing pink was totally out of my comfort zone, but I got such positive feedback on the night that I decided to share it with you!

This was my first time ever to wear a bandage dress and all I can say is WOW! I will definitely be investing in more! These dresses are amazing, they pull you in exactly where you need it and give your figure a nice smooth outline, it was so comfortable to wear and the strong material meant that when you sit down and stand up and dance throughout the night it doesn't budge! I loved the mesh detail too, it really adds to the look of this dress!

I ordered this beauty of a dress from Gorgeous VIP last Wednesday and it was delivered to my door first thing Friday morning, which makes it perfect for your last minute shopping needs! The dress fit perfectly, as if it were made for me and the best part; it was in the sale!! I couldn't believe my luck, this dress is reduced from €129 to just €52!!

Gorgeous VIP have loads more bandage dresses as well as accessories and tonnes of different style dresses, the service is impeccable and I couldn't recommend them more highly! We are huge fans of their on site blog too so be sure to check it out for fashion, beauty, celeb and lifestyle posts!

Being the Recessionista that I am, I teamed this dress with some brand new heels from Penneys!

These heels were an absolute steal at just €15 and are in most Penney's stores now!

I kept my accessories simple with my Michael Kors watch and brand new Kardashian Kollection bracelet!

I had a fabulous birthday and I hope it is a sign of things to come, in the words of Taylor Swift..

I'm feeling twenty twoooooo

(Image: www.toutlemon.de)

I have got lots of plans for the rest of being twenty two and I can't wait to share them with you all, but for now, I need to catch up on some sleep!

Megan

Recessionista HQ

xxxx

All Things Irish - My Top 3 - Fashion Special

Hi Ladies,

We've got more exciting news!!! We have been asked by the fabulous Sinéad from Yummy Mummy Fashion and Lifestyle Blog to join her brand new network for Irish Bloggers! The idea behind Into The West Blogger Network is that each week a theme is selected and all the Irish bloggers that are involved write a post related to that theme, then they are all put together and promoted on one platform to make it easier for readers to find new blogs and posts to enjoy!

It is a really lovely way to unite bloggers and to help us to help each other. Blogging for some has turned into a sort of cat fight, stealing each others content and intentionally being nasty about one another when in reality, blogging is a platform for your personal views, stories and more, and so we aren't really in competition with each other.

 I love to read blogs and when I find a new blog that I enjoy, I certainly don't stop reading the other blogs that I previously enjoyed. If your work is your own and you write it yourself for your love of the topic or for your love of writing itself then that speaks to your audience and people will read more than one blogger's work. I love the idea of bloggers helping each other out and supporting each other in any way they can. 

Personally I have had nothing but nice experiences with bloggers such as Aoibhe Devlin from The Secret Obsession and Nicole and Shauna Spain from Flutterby Fashion Styling/Custom Flutterby all three of these girls are more than supportive and have given me great advice about blogging! I have also had the pleasure of meeting some other lovely Irish bloggers and I've had the same response from them all!

Anyway, without going on too much of a rant (bit late now)and sounding like an extra on the Miss Congeniality movie wanting world peace, lets get down to business. This week's theme for the Into The West Blogger Network post is 'All Things Irish' so I have decided to write a post about three of my favourite Irish Shops/Companies!

1. Flutter On By / Custom Flutterby

Nicole and Shauna Spain are a mother and daughter duo that have taken the industry by storm! Nicole has worked in the fashion industry for the past 12 years and daughter Shauna began hair styling at a young age, in 2010 they decided to come together to bring you, what is now one of the best out there, a blog that keeps you up to date with all things fashion, beauty, hair, celebrity, fitness, a very successful fashion styling school and if that wasn't enough they also own www.customflutterby.com a site that allows you to order customized levi's shorts, jackets, converse and more!

Their shorts are amazing and are favourites of tv babes such as TOWIE's Lauren Pope, Lauren Goodger, Billie Faiers, Jessica Wright even Bobby Cole has some of the men's ones! Corrie's Brooke Vincent is also a FlutterBabe!

TOWIE's Lauren Pope (above) and Corrie's Brooke Vincent (below) in Custom Flutterby Shorts

These girls are amazing as if they weren't busy enough blogging, teaching and making all their customized products, Nicole still works as a stylists and is regularly out on shoots and Shauna runs her own business Shauna Spain Hair Styling and they are often working as a team on shoots too!

There is no stopping these girls and we couldn't love them any more than we already do, make sure to follow them on twitter (@flutterbystylex @ShaunaSpainHair) and check them out on Facebook too!

2. Gorgeous VIP

Gorgeous VIP is a young, fresh, Irish, online fashion boutique that was set up by Jessica Kelly in 2011 (formerly known as DropDeadGorjess). Since then  Gorgeous VIP has fast become the first port of call for hundreds of style savvy young ladies in Ireland, the UK and now all over the world!! 

Jessica Kelly - Owner - Gorgeous VIP

Jessica saw a gap in the market for an online boutique that is inspired by the catwalks but with prices that suit practically every budget and the reputation she has built for herself is phenomenal!

Gorgeous VIP also sells a range of accessories!

Not only is Gorgeous VIP a one stop shop for dresses and accessories, Jessica also runs Gorgeous VIP Blog where you can read about all things fashion, beauty, celebrity and lifestyle! Jessica is also great for advice about all things fashion, beauty or blogging related so make sure to follow her on twitter (@GorgeousVIP_com) and be sure to like her Facebook Page too, she's definitely one to watch!

3. Fi Bourke Fashion

If you haven't already heard of Fi Bourke Fashion then you must be living under a rock! But fear not, we're here to fill you in anyway! Fionnuala Bourke founded FiBourke Fashion, and as she says herself her grandparents were costume makers ('the Bourkes of Dame Stree') making it a natural progression for her to begin making costumes! Now she is one of the best in the business and has made costumes for Katherine Lynch, Davina Devine and Victoria Secret (two of Dublin's most famous drag queens) Miss Ireland Rebecca Maguire, former X- Factor contestant Rebecca Creighton and many more!

Singer (and former X Factor contestant) Rebecca Creighton in a Fi Bourke Dress

The fabulous Fionnuala now makes the best custom made phone covers in the business, with prices ranging from €15 to €45 there is something to suit every budget! Fionnuala can create personalized phone covers for any phone along with passport covers, photo frames and more!

Here is an example of some of her amazing work!







Here at Recessionista HQ we love to find celeb style at high street prices, and with Fi Bourke fast becoming a celeb favourite, you can literally get almost the exact same phone covers as some of your favourite celebs (I say almost the same because if you are ordering your phone cover, it is meant to be custom so you should just use the celebs choices as inspiration and choose your own pieces).


Charlotte from MTV's Geordie Shore with her Fi Bourke Cover


Former Miss Ireland, Rosanna Davsion with her Fi Bourke Cover



Model Rachel Wallace with her Fi Bourke Cover


Corrie Babe Michelle Keegan with her Fi Bourke Passport and Phone Cover

TOWIE babe Maria Fowler posted her Fi Bourke Cover on Instagram this week!

So why not get ordering now for the perfect Christmas pressie to yourself or for you girlfriend, best friend or sister! Check out her facebook page facebook.com/fi.bourkefashion or follow her on twitter @fibourkefashion but hurry, Christmas orders must be in this week!


Although choosing my top 3 was very difficult as there are so many amazing Irish companies/services/brands/products I will hopefully get to showcase many more when our new site is launched!

Have a great Tuesday and keep an eye out for Sam's next beauty post coming later this week!


Meg
Recessionista HQ
xxx