My Year in Review – 2015

2015 can be described as one of the best and one of the worst years of my life. So many wonderful things happened, but a few heartbreaking moments also happened.

I’ll start with the good things that happened in 2015:

• In January, I got my voice back. In case you didn’t know, on December 1st 2011, I lost my voice. After 3 long years, which included intense speech therapy for 14 weeks, endless doctor visits, horrible pain and acupuncture, my voice started to come back slowly but surely. Now it’s a task to make sure I don’t lose it again!

 

• Also in January, I started my CoOp placement with I Love Limerick. There are no words to describe my experience with I Love Limerick, it was more than I ever imagined it would be. I learnt so much in my 6 months there and it helped me grow as a person and I became more confident in myself. The opportunities that came from working with I Love Limerick were unbelievable: meeting Maria Walsh, Paul O’Connell, George McMahon, Leanne Moore and of course Celia Holman Lee; helping many local and national charities; working on the Vote Yes campaign, oh there is so many incredible memories I have from my time there. Although, the best thing about my experience has to be meeting Richard. Richard Lynch is one of the most amazing people I have ever met. He has helped me in ways I’ll never be able to thank him enough for; he has taught me so much, both personally and professionally, he allowed me to see what I was capable of and helped me see the career I want. Most of all, he always believes in me. Thank you Richard, I love you xx

 

•  I have always wanted to take part in the Laois Rose Selection and this year, I got the chance. It all started back in January, when working with I Love Limerick, we got to meet Maria Walsh. After stealing her crown and taking selfies with her, she mentioned to me how I should go for it. I laughed it off because I had just got my voice back, so it was kind of the last thing on my mind. But then Anne Marie Bowe, one of the ladies behind Laois Rose Centre, asked would I go for it. After a chat with Mam and Dad, I found myself filling out the form and submitting it. I am very glad I did. What an experience it was. Hopefully, I will go for it again, when I am wiser and older 😉 I would love to represent Lovely Laois one day! I wrote a blog about the whole experience, if you would like to read it, click here

 

• With working with I Love Limerick, Richard set me up with the amazing opportunity to work for Celia Holman Lee. Oh wow, I have admired her from a very young age (ask my Mam!). To me, Celia is Ireland’s most fashionable lady and always will be, she truly defines Irish Fashion! Getting the chance to work with her from May through till August was a dream come through for me. I look back on the days we worked together and it still feels like a dream to be honest; working on photoshoots, fashion shows, tv shows, even just working in her office and having chats with her! Just like Richard, she has taught me more than any college degree can about the fashion/media industry, as well as giving me life advice along the way. She has helped me realize that a career in Fashion Media is one I most definitely would love. I am looking forward to working with her again in 2016!

• As part of my course in University, I had to go on Erasmus. So I went to Tarragona in Spain (well it is actually Catalonia) and what a four months it was. It took me a while to settle but once I did, I began to love Tarragona. The new friends I made, the new cities I have travelled, the memories with my old friends, it was a wonderful experience. To anyone who is offered the experience to go, TAKE IT!

• I started my Youtube this year. After many friends saying I should, I built up the courage and made a channel. I have been vlogging since May and my channel is doing quite good. I have 39 subscribers and over 4,500 views! If you haven’t check it out yet, click here to see my channel. Also, subscribe if you can and give a few of my videos a like! Cheers!

• I got to meet two YouTubers this year! On July 11th, I met Alfie Deyes aka Pointless Blog! Then on August 12th, I met Marcus Butler! Both were so nice. Alfie was very supportive of my YouTube and even gave my video a like and commented on it, making views and comments go crazy for about 2 weeks!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

• I met a few other celebrities throughout the year also.

 

Now to the sad parts of 2015:

• On January 31st, I almost lost my dad. He had a massive heart attack. This was one of the most terrifying few hours of my life. To think someone so vital to my life could’ve been gone just like that is petrifying to think about. Thankfully, my Mam got him to hospital in time and he is doing good, with 4 new stints in his heart. I am so grateful to still have my Dad. I wrote a blog about the whole thing – here

• Cancer once again appeared into my life in 2015, with two of my family members being diagnosed, making it 3 members of my family battling cancer. Thank god, all of them are doing great at the moment and hopefully they continue to get better and hopefully beat cancer.

 

• In July,  I lost one of my friends, Lorcan, suddenly. I don’t think I will ever be over his death. I have been friends with him since I can remember. Lorcan, it was a blessing to have you in my life, even if it was cut short way too early. You’ve made me proud to be from Trumera, but most of all, you always had faith in me and because of that, I’ll never give up until I have reached where I am supposed to be.

 

• I also lost my Auntie Lorna this year, 8 days ago in fact. Christmas will never be the same again. It just doesn’t seem real that she is gone. I am expecting her to call into my house any time I hear the doorbell. Lorna was one of the most thoughtful, kindest and funniest people I’ve ever know and even though we had our disagreements at times, I was blessed to have her as an Auntie. My heart is still broken. It will take me a very long time to get over your death Lorna, if I do at all. I am glad you were in my house when I came home from Spain and I am glad we got to have that one last drink with you.

 

2015 has made me realise how much my family and friends mean to me.

My New Years resolution is to appreciate my family and friends more, more than I do now. To appreciate every moment with everyone I love, because one thing I have learnt from 2015 is that life can change in a split second.

Finally, I want to wish everyone reading this blog a very happy and healthy new year. May it be filled with joy and laughter and many good memories.

Here’s hoping 2016 will be a great year!

January Favourites 2015!

I had planned to post this blog a week ago, but if you read my previous blog post, you will understand that I wasn’t in the mood to blog but now I’m back and ready to blog. So here is some of the things I have been loving in the month of January.

Make-Up 

So I have two favourite make-up pieces. I am in LOVE with Topshop Lipsticks, almost as much as I love Mac Lipsticks. I am obsessed with plum/wine toned lipsticks and had to get this shade from Topshop. It is called ‘Twin’ and is around €10. It’s not matt like Mac lipsticks, but has durability, has a lovely shine and it’s easy to take off when removing make-up!

Topshop Lipstick in shade Twin

Image from Topshop’s Website.

What Twin looks like on.

My second make-up favourite is Benefit’s Roller Lash Mascara. This is one of the best mascaras I have ever used. It does everything you want a mascara to do. I have naturally really long lashes and find it hard to a mascara that doesn’t clump my lashes together. This mascara also curls your lashes when you are applying it. It doesn’t clump and goes on so smoothly. This mascara thickens and volumizes your lashes. It is just perfect! It is €26 but it’s worth it! I got my tiny bottle in January’s copy of Elle so if you aren’t ready to commit, buy that magazine if it is still in shops!

Benefit’s Roller Lash Mascara.

What the mascara looks like on! (BTW I HAVE PINK HAIR!)

 

Clothes

My favourite piece of clothing this month has to be my Black Ripped Skinny Jeans. I love ripped jeans and have done for a few years now. I don’t think they will ever go out of fashion. They are casual but can be dressed up at the same time! I never had a pair of black ripped jeans and have been looking for a while but I never had the money to buy Topshop’s pair. Luckily, my mum bought me these pair last week and I LOVE THEM! They are high waisted and extremely comfy. They have a super-skinny style so they’ll lengthen and give a slimming look. They are from Littlewoods and are €37.

Although this isn’t the most flattering image, these jeans are my favourite jeans ever! Plus those socks are so stylish!

Book

January has been a busy month so I haven’t got to read many books but I did read Zoella’s Girl Online. This is Zoe Sugg’s first book and with her being one of my favourite Youtubers, I had to read it. The main character, Penny, is a Year 11 student ( which is equivalent to TY/5th Year here in Ireland, I think!) and the story is about every teenage girl’s problems – boys, beauty, the so called friend who are actually mean to you, but it also covers some modern issues that some girls go through like anxiety and panic attacks and the pressures social media can cause. Penny begins blogging about all her problems, anonymously as Girl Online. After an embarrassing situation in front of her whole school that ended up on Facebook & Youtube, her Mum gets a job in New York over Christmas. Penny meets a boy called Noah. And well, it’s a love story! I am not going to ruin it for you but it is a good book. It’s easy to read and I had it read in 3 days. It’s innocent, sweet and very realistic of what teenagers go through nowadays! It was kind of predictable at times for me but I still liked it! 8/10 from me! 

Music

My favourite song for January is Ellie Goulding’s Love Me Like You Do. Firstly, it’s Ellie Goulding and I love her. Secondly, this song is from the highly anticipated 50 Shades of Grey. It suits the movie down to the ground, with lyrics like “You’re the pain..”, ”You’re the fear/I don’t care/’Cause I’ve never been so high” and the famous ‘Touch me like you do..’. Even though the movie is not one bit innocent, Ellie’s sweet, romantic tone is nothing but innocent. I’ve listened to this song so much this month and I don’t think I will ever get sick of it. It will have you dancing around your bedroom, while imaging Mr. Grey is there dancing with you. (A girl can dream okay?!)

Shoes

I have these Doc. Marten’s since my birthday but I fallen even more in love with them recently! My gal pals Susan and Laura bought them for my 21st Birthday! They are lighter than my black ones, but just as durable! They are also extremely comfortable while being very stylish at the same time.

Wine Doc. Marten’s ❤

TV Show/Series

So I have became obsessed with Gossip Girl in January and although Sarah and I had planned to have all 6 Seasons finished by now, we are on season 3. From wishing I was Serena to wanting a boyfriend like Chuck Bass ( you have to say his whole name, it sounds better!) to nearly every episode having some sort of Houndstooth fashion, I LOVE GOSSIP GIRL. Although, for a while, I was extremely annoyed with the amount of incest in it at one point!! But I have gotten over that and I am even more addicted than before!!

Movie

I didn’t watch that many movies in January and I didn’t get to the cinema to see any new ones that are out! I did watch Two Night Stand a few weeks ago. It is about how a snowstorm forces two people who made an online connection via a dating website to unwillingly extend their one-night stand as the blizzard goes through the night. It has Miles Teller (who is kinda cute!) and Analeigh Tipton in it. It is funny and kind of romantic! Don’t watch it with a couple though. Being a third wheel is awkward and makes you feel even more alone!

Youtuber/s

I am obsessed with Youtubers and this month I have found myself watching more of the Sacconejoly’s. The Sacconejoly’s are Irish Youtubers who now live in London and daily vlog their everyday lives! The have two children, Emilia and Eduardo, who are SUPER CUTE! They are currently in Florida for Playlist Live but went to Disney World and the video below is when Emilia met the Disney Princesses!

Most importantly, I still have My Dad!

Like I mentioned at the beginning, if you have read my previous blog, you would know my Dad had a heart attack a week ago. He is now home from hospital and is doing good. Doctors have said he has made a great recovery but it is still a long road ahead. Yesterday (Saturday 7th February) we got to watch the Ireland V Italy rugby match together at home and it was great! Memories I will tresure forever.

My dad and I after the rugby match.

See you in a month for my February Faves!

You Know You Love Me, XOXO,

SJ