Gym Excuses - A Litany

Image courtesy of
http://elizabethharmonblog.wordpress.com

Below please find a sample of excuses used exclusively but not limited to persistent gym avoidance. Despite Carlisle Fitness being squarely visible from my bedroom window, I find myself using a combination of said samples in tandem; sometimes simulatneously. My powers of eschewal are sterling. I deserve an award; but not before I have some ice-cream....

Why I Can't Go to the Gym Today (or any day for that matter)...

      1.      It's Monday
2. I'm cleaning out my closet.
3. The floors need a good scrub.
4. I have to weed the garden.
5. I'm going to the cinema tonight.
6. I want a glass of wine later tonight.
7. I had a glass of wine last night.
8. I have an article to write.
9. I just ate a dougnut; there's no point.
10. It's Tuesday.
11. Is Cougar Town on again?
12. I have an article to write.
13. I'm giving my muscles a rest.
14. There’s someone at the door.
15. I feel fat.
16. The cat needs to be fed.
17. I have to wash the windows.
18. I forgot to wash my gym gear.
19. It’s Wednesday.
20. I must write that article.
21. There's ice-cream left in the freezer?
22. Catching up with friends tonight.
23. There's more to life than killer abs...
24. I should really do more charity work.
25. You know what they say about 'too much of a good thing'.
26. Wait, that's my phone.
27. Is it that time already?
28. It’s Thursday.
29. The cat ate my homework...I mean, my gym bag.
30. My knee hurts.
31. I’m alphabetising my collection of Douglas Coupland books.
32. This Wikipedia entry has me hooked!
33. What’s the meaning of life?
34. Cleaning out my spam folder.
35. Did you see that? (points to the distance and runs)
36. Dungeons and Dragons? Count me in!
37.  It's nearly the weekend; I'll start next week.*

      * and repeat

Happy Birthday - Heaven Hair & Beauty!

I'm jetting off to sunnier climes for a while but before doing so, I'd like to extend a Happy 3rd Birthday to my local salon:  Heaven Hair & Beauty, Kimmage. I've been popping into Donna and the gang regularly for my beauty MOT - wax, tan, nails, hair colour and have always been impressed at their competitive prices and amazing service. Speaking of which, I just got my debut Wow Brown! pre-holiday spray tan done today and I'm so impressed. No biscuit smell, no orange hue, no tell-tale signs, nada; just a lovely deep glow. What's more, it's organic which is a boon for sensitive skin like mine. The salonn do regular offers, so give them a buzz and see what deals are new for the summer.

Heaven Hair & Beauty, 21 Ravensdale Park, Kimmage, D12; 01-492 8633

Joanne Hynes / Helen Steele AW/11 collection - Hair and Make-Up

A special post is well deserved to the talent behind the hair and make-up at the Joanne Hynes / Helen Steele AW/11 show - 'Les Guerriers'. Thanks again to you all. x

Let's start with the hair. The original inspiration for the hair came from Irish dancing braids and the free flowing mane of a piebald pony. Combined with the talent of Toni & Guy's tress tamer Pinar, the result was a rope style plait matted out into a mohawk. Very 'guerrier'!

The illustrious Jo Frost headed up the AOFM team at the Vauxhall Fashion Scout show with a clever combination of coral lips and eyes set against punchy pink cheeks and alabaster skin. Think Galway girl does  glam rock!

Irish Examiner Millinery Photoshoot

CROWNING GLORY
Bijou garden parties, whimsical weddings, champagne galas or race meets – wherever you go this summer, you need little else but a hat to make an entrance. Make sure yours gets them talking!

Shot 1 – Gatsby Girl
Frieda
Lace and Swarovski crystal hat, Edel Ramberg €POA
Waterfall diamond earrings, Boodles €7,150
Blossom pink gold and diamond long necklace, Boodles €9,900
Gloves, stylist’s own
‘Becca’ shoes, Nina Divito €585

Shot 2 – Tea for Two
Anya
Vintage mink and lace hat, Edel Ramberg €385
Vintage sable stole, stylist’s own
Yellow beryl and diamond earrings, Boodles €7,980
Yellow beryl ring, Boodles €6,400
Fingerless lace gloves, Glovedup.com £45
Inta
Philip Treacy hat, Design Centre €1,239
Raindance long strand earrings, Boodles €19,800
Double row Raindance collar, Boodles €POA
Large Raindance ring, Boodles €35,000
Vintage lace gloves, Jenny Vander €28
Manolo Blahnik shoes, Brown Thomas €495

Shot 3 – Travelling in Style
Anya
Swarovski crystal heart hat, Tootsie Royale €POA
Amethyst and diamond Tonneau earrings, Boodles €3,800
Amethyst and diamond Tonneau pendant, Boodles €2,750
Amethyst and diamond Tonneau ring, Boodles €2,850
Gauntlet gloves, Glovedup.com £75
Miu Miu bejewelled patent peep toe shoes, Covet €80 to borrow for 3 days
Frieda
Leopard print pill box hat. Tootsie Royale €110
Raindance large loop necklace, Boodles €POA
Raindance droplet earrings, Boodles €6,800
Gauntlet gloves, Glovedup.com £75
Mary Francis bag, Alila €195

Shot 4 – Dressage
Frieda
Riding hat, Linda McKay €490
Firefly earrings, Boodles €16,000
Black organza bolero (worn as a neckpiece), Bonzie Crotty €145
Cotton grosgrain ribbon (worn as bow), A. Rubanesque €2.50 per metre
Glitterati stud earrings worn on bow, Boodles €6,600
Gloves, stylist’s own
Manolo Blahnik ‘Napoleana’ boots, Brown Thomas €960

Shot 5 – Vanity Fair
Frieda
Philip Treacy pink floral spray, Design Centre €989
Morganite spaghetti earrings, Boodles €7,370
Kunzite and diamond cocktail ring, Boodles €8,650
Scarf, stylist’s own
Inta
Silver embellished disc detail headpiece by Sarah Mc Gahon, Covet €75 to borrow for 3 days
Glitterati diamond earrings, Boodles €6,600
Blossom white gold and diamond long necklace, Boodles €9,900
Large Roulette diamond bracelet, Boodles €17,000
‘Livi’ shoes, Nina Divito €585

Anya
Bejewelled combed headpiece by Brett O' Mahony, Covet €80 to borrow for 3 days
Ribbon, stylist’s own
Lace ribbon (worn as bra), A. Rubanesque €28 per metre
Cuff, Bonzie Crotty €67

Shot 6 – Brideshead Revisited
Frieda
Lace ribbon (worn as headband), A Rubanesque €28 per metre
Pearl necklace, stylist’s own

Shot 7 – Portrait of a Lady
Anya
Vintage lace pillbox hat, Linda McKay €390
Diamond Lagoon earrings, Boodles €17,600
Red silk wrap (worn as neckpiece), Bonzie Crotty €48

Credits
Stylist and Shoot Producer: Annmarie O'Connor @ iblogfashion@gmail.com; 087 976 4920
Stylist’s Assistant: Catherine Glasheen
Hair: Susan Corcoran @ John Geaney for Hair - www.johngeaney.ie; 021 450 3788
Make-up: Kate O’Reilly using MAC Make-up- info@kateoreillymakeup.com;
Models: Anya, Frieda and Inta @ 1st Option www.1stoption.ie; 01 670 5233
Photography: Miki Barlok - www.barlokphoto.com; 086 223 7081
Location: The Westbury Hotel – www.doylecollection.com; 01 679 1122


Special thanks to The Westbury:
The Westbury Hotel, part of the Doyle Collection www.doylecollection.com.

Linda the Super

In a bid to ease myself into post-holiday work mode, I popped out for a coffee and Vogue break; as one does. Flicking through the July issue I came across 'The History of the Supermodel' - with an icnonic 1991 shoot of Linda Evangelista draped in Dior. I squealed...and may have spilled some coffee. I remember seeing this shot for the first time so many years ago - that red pixie cut, those gold boots, the sculpted bars on the lamé fishtail skirt; and man, can she work a turtleneck! Those elevated poised arms and peek-a-boo eyes said 'you want this' and I did. Ever since, I've used this silhouette as my sartorial archetype. Most recently I found a pair of gold lamé capri pants for €20 in Lucy's Lounge and bought them as an homage. I spied Erin O'Connor at LFW in a similar pair of gold Marc Jacobs boots and coveted them lascivously. Similarly, I found a website that makes fishtail skirts - albeit in black - and declared this to be the AW10/11 sequel to summer's tubular maxi. If one shot could capture the imagination of the public for so long, there's a damn good reason Linda & Co. were dubbed 'super'.

If It's Good Enough for Cleopatra...

My very wise stylist friend Claire once revealed a clever tip for removing fake tan. Milk. The lactic acid acts a natural exfoliant by helping lift dead cells; while the fat binds moisture, keeping the skin soft. Sounds like urban legend? Try it. Just add a litre into a very hot bath and soak for 20 minutes. Afterwards, use a washcloth to slough the skin and be staggered by the results. I've been using top drawer exfoliants in a bid to fade tan remanents without half the success of plain 'aul bainne. Apparently Cleopatra was onto a good thing.

Note: sounds silly but apparently this tip isn't the safest if you're lactose intolerant or have high blood pressure.

Heaven Hair & Beauty

D12 isn't just a hip hop group folks. It's also an up-and-coming postcode, not merely because it lays claim to resident Martin Foley (a.k.a. The Viper). It's new salon - Heaven Hair & Beauty - looks set to have punters boarding the 19a to sample some of their killer deals. Take their 3-week manicure which at €28, trumps the rather elevated €70 fee at one particular Dublin hair salon. What about their Vita Liberatea organic spray tan? The results are sweet - no biscuit smell, no questionable brown transfers on white clothing and at €30, it fades like a sweet summer romance. To cap it all off, they've got a banging deal on at the mo: €50 for a Brazilian, half leg, underarm and eyebrow wax.

Heaven Hair & Beauty, 21 Ravensdale Park, Kimmage, D12; 01-492 8633

Bumper Giveaway!

I Blog Fashion is giving readers the chance to get a head start on summer with one of four bumper goody packs to be won. Each bag contains:

Girls (3):

Sally Hansen airbrush legs
Sally Hansen nail varnish
Kate Moss Vintage perfume
Rimmel nail varnish x 2
Rimmel bronzing powder
Rimmel liquid eyeliner
Rimmel kohl eyeliner
Rimmel lipstick x 2
Rimmel matte perfection foundation
NYC lip plumper
NYC mosaic face powder x 2 (large; small)
NYC eyeliner

Guys (1):

Beckham signature hair & body wash
Beckham signature Story eau de toilette
David Beckham Instinct eau de toilette
Adidas Ice Dive eau de toilette
Adidas shower gel x 1
Adidas hair & body gel x 2

To be in with a chance of winning, just answer the following question:

Which supermodel is one of the faces of Rimmel?
a) Kate Moss
b) Naomi Campbell
c) Gisele Bündchen

Send your answer, name and address to iblogfashion (at) gmail (dot) com by Friday, April 30th. Winners will be posted on I Blog Fashion the following day.

Good luck!

The Fashion Bloggers' Brunch @ Milano's

A sunny Saturday afternoon warrants a good brunch, dontcha think? To honour the appearance of the orange ball in the sky, the Irish fashion bloggers hit up Milano's for some chow and chat. Antipasti and vino, followed by warm mushroom bosco salads and some rather fetch lemon gelato and tiramisu made us all giddy as gumdrops. The staff were super duper friendly and the goody bags were prodigious to say the least. Thanks to Coty for hooking us up with everything from Sally Hansen airbrush legs and nail varnie, Rimmel bronzer and N.Y.C. lip plumper (and that's just the start of it!). We'll be glowing like goddesses before the summer hols! Oh...Nicky's Rag Tales had a swell idea of taking the brunch on tour. Antwerp or New York anyone?

Nails @ Dylan Bradshaw

I had a big meeting on Thursday. Given said meeting, I did my own manicure the night before. By that I mean, I slapped on two coats of Rimmel '60 seconds' and tried making a cup of tea. Needless to say there were some technical difficulties. Don't get me started on the sheet marks. Anyhoo, between the jigs and the reels, I was running about Dublin trying to find a manicurist that could desmudge me on the fly. I thought all was lost until I hit up Dylan Bradshaw's new funky sci-fi palace on South William Street. Lauren sorted my talons out with a Leighton Denny express manicure (€25 for 20 minutes) which included a file, polish and much-needed cuticle work. Given the drama-rama I had with a certain Dublin manicurist back in November, I was overjoyed with my results. I'm surprised I actually got through the meeting as I kept gawking at my fabulous new fingers. What's more, the salon offers a loyalty card where you get your 5th treatment free. I'll definitely be back - this time for the three-week manicure (€70) and to purchase a bottle of the new Leighton Denny beige polish (out April 11th). In the meantime, I'll be waving, holding up placards, making Lady Gaga V gestures and generally brandishing my enhanced digits. Heck, I might even flip someone the bird.



56 sth William Street, Dublin 2
www.dylanbradshaw.com

Kikoh Reiki

I was a bit frazzled after LFW to say the least. Nay, I was even more frazzled before. T'was a befrazzled period. Anyhoo, what kept me going was knowing I'd be 'chillaxin' (©: Mike & Karoona) at Kikoh Reiki shortly afterwards. Kikoh is an oasis of calm for busy urbanites. Based within the Ranelagh farmers' market, Kikoh offers a unique proposition in its binary approach to the Eastern practice. In a nutshell, you've got two sets of hands channeling twice the amount of energy through your tired bod over the course of an hour. They even throw in nifty little touches like spraying you with a pre-session aromatherapy mist and massaging your third eye (a bit like your spiritual g-spot). The result? If you can manage to get your body off the massage table (trust me - this is a feat in itself), you'll feel calmly invigorated, centred and refreshed. For those feeling mentally drained, expect clarity and decisiveness. If nothing else, it's the best legal high you're likely to get. Try it out - your bliss will thank you. Log onto www.kikohreiki.com for details.

StyleNation - Nuxe Launch

Check out the latest installment of StyleNation at the launch of Nuxe in Dublin's Radisson Hotel.

I Smell French

My quest for Gallic nous continues. Not only have I adopted an all black palette; but I've also mastered the elusive art of digestible torpor. (Trust me ennui is a lot more complex than it suggests.) Now that I've got the look down, my quest has gone multi-sensory with smell next on my list. With that in mind, I've swapped the American crispness of Calvin Klein Truth for the more complex topnotes of Thierry Mugler's Alien. This transition was not without its teething problems. Used to spraying myself liberally, I've learned to hold back and use but a soupcon of this heady scent. The trick is all about subtlety, suggestion and not giving it all away. "What's that you're wearing?" should be the question on people's lips. The reply? "Something French (insert look of fabulous disinterest here)."

Alien by Thierry Mugler - €34 for 30m; €55 for 60ml.

Jolie Rouge - Indeed

Autumn - season of mist and mellow fruitfulness and sweet new products. Keats may be turning in his grave at my gratuitous use of poetic licence but I feel I'm rather justified. With siren red lips doing the rounds again, the curse of Krusty the Klown isn't very far away. You know, that dodgy shade of claret that makes you look like a deranged asylum escapee? Not pretty. Clarins however have a new shade of Jolie Rogue hitting the shelves in September. Keep an eye out for Red Terra; or 729 in beauty boffin speak. Not only does the warmer hue suit most skin types, it also looks glossy, boosts collagen and smells nice too. Let the kissing season begin. Mwah!

Jolie Rouge €20.09 @ stockists nationwide from September

NARS Sheer Glow Foundation

I'm feeling pretty smug right now. After many a year investing in lotions and potions, I've finally found the Holy Grail of foundation - NARS Sheer Glow. Fêted earlier this year at New York Fashion Week (Marc Jacobs anyone?), the satin finish foundation finally hits our shelves on September 1st with its modest sidekick - Sheer Matte. I'm all sorts of giddy about the instant air-brushed quality it gives to the skin. As I'm heading down to 'The Kingdom' this Sunday to judge the Rose of Tralee Best Dressed Lady Competition, I shall be a pinnacle of polish and poise. Love it? Much.

Get that sheer glow on September 1st from Brown Thomas counters nationwide. Price: €34.

Benefit's Crescent Row Perfume

You may remember back in April, I Blog bought you the skinny on Benefit's new perfume range - Crescent Row. Good news kids - it's in store now! Choose from three fragrances - Laugh with Me Lee Lee, Something About Sofia and Your Place or Mine Gina - all available for €43/ 30 ml from Brown Thomas stores nationwide. I rinsed my Sofia in about a fortnight so I'm off to stock up. Yay!

Yummie Tummie™

Prefer to eat your muffins than wear them? Me too; although now that I'm wheat intolerant, I have to make do with gluten free macaroons. But hey, I digress. If you, like many women, are looking for a smooth silhouette sans lumps and bumps, a Yummie Tummie™ could be your answer. Created by fashion designer and celebrity stylist Heather Thomson, the new shapewear tops bear the appearance of a luxe tank or tee with the benefit of a firm control midsection panel. What's more, the clever fabric technology also acts like a yoga instructor, making you stand and look taller. I trust Heather. Having worked with J-Lo and Beyoncé, the woman knows a thing or three about how to dress real curves. Since nabbing one, I've been wearing mine under dresses and as a tank with jeans - blissfully delighted that my ribs aren't crushed and circulation cut off like some shapewear garments (ahem - you know who you are). I've now got my beady eyes on the lace tank - very AW09 - very mine! Get yours at Brown Thomas 01- 605 6666.

The Cellulite Challenge - 33.3 centimetres lost!

Apologies for the hiatus. My laptop melted and left me offline for a week. Funnily enought, that's not the only thing that's melted. I finished the course of my Meditech treatments this Wednesday and the final results are in. Drumroll please.... I've lost a total of 33.3 centimetres off both thighs! Check out the before and after results below. In the meantime, I'll be running around Kimmage in my bikini!

Left top thigh: was - 62.3; now - 55.5 = 6.8 loss
Right top thigh: was - 63.5; now - 56 = 7.5 loss

Left mid thigh: was - 53.7; now - 46.7 = 7 loss
Right mid thigh: was - 53.2; now - 47.5 = 5.7 loss

Left end thigh: was - 42.1; now - 39 = 3.1 loss
Right end thigh: was - 42.2; now - 39 = 3.2 loss

Left thigh loss = 16.9 cms
Right thigh loss = 16.4 cms

The Cellulite Challenge - parts 9 & 10

Only two days left of me Meditech dimple destruction and the world will be safe for democracy. We had a little 'plateau' issue due to some water retention; but with that behind us and only two sessions left, the shedding should continue. Despite my body's uncanny ability to make like a sponge, my skin has never been smoother. Did I mention I lost some junk in the 'aul trunk? And the permanently flat tummy? Could this be a religious experience? I'm beginning to think so.

The Cellulite Challenge - Parts 7 & 8

It's hard to believe I'm on the last stretch of my miracle cellulite treatment regime. Only four more sessions to go until I emerge as Heidi Klum's doppelganger! Since starting the Meditech challenge 2.5 weeks agao, the DTs have ended, my skin is flawless and I've melted almost 20 cms from my thighs; the cellulite isn't bad either! That's is the beauty of it. I went in to blast those dimple marks and in turn received complimentary body sculpting and a new diet to look forward to. All that wheat and caffeine was causing me to drag my ass like a prehistoric sloth. Now? Perky. So very perky. Loving it!

PS - last two sessions saw another 4.5 cm lost. Sweet.