We’ve all read the Glamour, Marie Claire, Vogue, and Refinery29 articles on the best products for self care and top tips on how to love yourself. I’ve read them all and to be honest, the older I get, the more some of feel like they're all just repeating the same things. There are so many different ways and opinions on how someone can practice self care. So, with that, what does self care mean to you, and how do you know which works best for you?
A couple of years ago, I was really fascinated by love languages and looked into what mine were. I took a quiz and found my primary love language is acts of service and my second is physical touch. This year, another year of being gloriously single, got me thinking about ways we can practice self love based on our love language. After all, what better way to practice self care when it's perfectly suited to our love language...
Ways to practice self care based on your love language
One // Acts of Service | I LOVE to cook. I love those occasions when you have a relaxing evening and can take your time with making a delicious meal. The other night, I decided to make homemade pasta with homemade pesto and lightly fried tenderstem broccoli with warm ciabatta and olive oil on the side. I shared it over on my Instagram (@aoifecaitrionaxo) and it was a heavenly meal made even better knowing I had taken the time to make it.
Two // Receiving Gifts | Regardless of whether you have someone there to give you a gift or not, buy yourself something. That thing you’ve been eyeing up for a while? It’s Valentine’s Day, you deserve it. Treat yourself to some flowers or sexy lingerie or a new bag, or even a sauté pan. Trust me, it doesn’t even have to be what mainstream considers “sexy”, a Le Creuset cast iron casserole dish has my heart pounding. You can tell I really like cooking!
Three // Quality Time | Apple has either upgraded it’s do not disturb feature or I have been blind to the settings on my phone, but you can now customise the names of do not disturb. Why not create another setting dedicated to 'Me time', 'Mindfulness' or 'Alone time'. This Valentine’s why not spend some quality time for yourself. You could run a bath, read a book, or watch that series or film that’s been on your list for ages but you’ve never had the time to sit down.
Four // Physical touch | If physical touch is your love language, how can you express and receive it without someone else? There is the obvious sexual touch that can release endorphins (feel-good) hormones. But —and partly linked— is the feel element to touch. How does your skin feel? I love a full-on a 'detox' shower. Mine consists of a hair mask, shaving and exfoliating until every inch of my skin is super smooth. Then applying a body oil or moisturiser with a heavenly scent; all to get me feeling sexier.
Five // Words of affirmation | This usually requires a third party to help build you up. If that’s not an option, why not create your own affirmations. I used them a lot at university to help motivate me and get keep me going when I was having skin issues. I'd have notes stuck around my mirror and above my desk. You can journal them too, which is a great way to express your feelings and thought processes. Alternatively, there’s are podcasts (Affirmation Babe, Habits of a Goddess- there are tons!) that whisper affirmations in your ear. Stand in front of your mirror and repeat after me: I am beautiful. I am smart. I am sexy. I attract what I desire.
Love, Aoife xo
We’ve all read the Glamour, Marie Claire, Vogue, and Refinery29 articles on the best products for self care and top tips on how to love yourself. I’ve read them all and to be honest, the older I get, the more some of feel like they're all just repeating the same things. There are so many different ways and opinions on how someone can practice self care. So, with that, what does self care mean to you, and how do you know which works best for you?
A couple of years ago, I was really fascinated by love languages and looked into what mine were. I took a quiz and found my primary love language is acts of service and my second is physical touch. This year, another year of being gloriously single, got me thinking about ways we can practice self love based on our love language. After all, what better way to practice self care when it's perfectly suited to our love language...
Ways to practice self care based on your love language
One // Acts of Service | I LOVE to cook. I love those occasions when you have a relaxing evening and can take your time with making a delicious meal. The other night, I decided to make homemade pasta with homemade pesto and lightly fried tenderstem broccoli with warm ciabatta and olive oil on the side. I shared it over on my Instagram (@aoifecaitrionaxo) and it was a heavenly meal made even better knowing I had taken the time to make it.
Two // Receiving Gifts | Regardless of whether you have someone there to give you a gift or not, buy yourself something. That thing you’ve been eyeing up for a while? It’s Valentine’s Day, you deserve it. Treat yourself to some flowers or sexy lingerie or a new bag, or even a sauté pan. Trust me, it doesn’t even have to be what mainstream considers “sexy”, a Le Creuset cast iron casserole dish has my heart pounding. You can tell I really like cooking!
Three // Quality Time | Apple has either upgraded it’s do not disturb feature or I have been blind to the settings on my phone, but you can now customise the names of do not disturb. Why not create another setting dedicated to 'Me time', 'Mindfulness' or 'Alone time'. This Valentine’s why not spend some quality time for yourself. You could run a bath, read a book, or watch that series or film that’s been on your list for ages but you’ve never had the time to sit down.
Four // Physical touch | If physical touch is your love language, how can you express and receive it without someone else? There is the obvious sexual touch that can release endorphins (feel-good) hormones. But —and partly linked— is the feel element to touch. How does your skin feel? I love a full-on a 'detox' shower. Mine consists of a hair mask, shaving and exfoliating until every inch of my skin is super smooth. Then applying a body oil or moisturiser with a heavenly scent; all to get me feeling sexier.
Five // Words of affirmation | This usually requires a third party to help build you up. If that’s not an option, why not create your own affirmations. I used them a lot at university to help motivate me and get keep me going when I was having skin issues. I'd have notes stuck around my mirror and above my desk. You can journal them too, which is a great way to express your feelings and thought processes. Alternatively, there’s are podcasts (Affirmation Babe, Habits of a Goddess- there are tons!) that whisper affirmations in your ear. Stand in front of your mirror and repeat after me: I am beautiful. I am smart. I am sexy. I attract what I desire.
Love, Aoife xo
Are you a morning or an evening person when it comes to showers? Or, are you both? I'm a morning person through and through. There is no greater way to wake up and get ready for the day than standing in the shower and feeling the water rain down on you. Don't get me wrong, I do enjoy the odd shower in the evening but it's a rare occasion. The only times I tend to shower in the evening is after the gym (as I go to evening classes), I'm feeling sweaty, or I just feel like having one.
I can see the attraction of evening showers. There is something nice about slipping between the sheets freshly washed but there is no way I'm washing my hair in the evening. Firstly, it'll take forever to dry; secondly, when I wake up I'll have a very flat patch on one side of my head from where I've slept; and thirdly, I have a fringe. And that's reason enough; they're hard work!
With that said, here are some of my favourite shower products lately...
ONE // Alterna Every Day shampoo & conditioner.
One of my New Years resolutions is to rescue my hair. It’s been looking a little sad as of late, a little limp, especially as it’s getting longer and the weight is pulling it down. I also have quite an oily scalp which means by about 36 hours later I look like I've poured oil on my roots - and not a good kind of oil. Or as my Mum likes to refer to it as, chip fat. I’ve been using this duo for a little while now and I’ve been enjoying the fresh salon feel my hair has. I don't use that phrase lightly. I double cleanse my scalp and gently massage my head, which is kind of difficult to do yourself. My hair feels a lot cleaner, lighter and importantly, healthier.
TWO // Dehlicious Black Tea body scrub.
Love, Aoife xo
Are you a morning or an evening person when it comes to showers? Or, are you both? I'm a morning person through and through. There is no greater way to wake up and get ready for the day than standing in the shower and feeling the water rain down on you. Don't get me wrong, I do enjoy the odd shower in the evening but it's a rare occasion. The only times I tend to shower in the evening is after the gym (as I go to evening classes), I'm feeling sweaty, or I just feel like having one.
I can see the attraction of evening showers. There is something nice about slipping between the sheets freshly washed but there is no way I'm washing my hair in the evening. Firstly, it'll take forever to dry; secondly, when I wake up I'll have a very flat patch on one side of my head from where I've slept; and thirdly, I have a fringe. And that's reason enough; they're hard work!
With that said, here are some of my favourite shower products lately...
ONE // Alterna Every Day shampoo & conditioner.
One of my New Years resolutions is to rescue my hair. It’s been looking a little sad as of late, a little limp, especially as it’s getting longer and the weight is pulling it down. I also have quite an oily scalp which means by about 36 hours later I look like I've poured oil on my roots - and not a good kind of oil. Or as my Mum likes to refer to it as, chip fat. I’ve been using this duo for a little while now and I’ve been enjoying the fresh salon feel my hair has. I don't use that phrase lightly. I double cleanse my scalp and gently massage my head, which is kind of difficult to do yourself. My hair feels a lot cleaner, lighter and importantly, healthier.
TWO // Dehlicious Black Tea body scrub.
Love, Aoife xo
Peter Carl Fabergé is renowned for his collection of Imperial Easter Eggs. A collection of 50 stunning eggs made with incredible craftsmanship that can fetch an eye wateringly obscene amount when sold. But there’s more to the goldsmith than his collection of egg-shaped gifts made for Russian royalty.
Inside the exhibition
Items made by Fabergé combined fiercely expensive jewels and stones with less expensive materials such as enamel (a technique fusing metal and glass).
Fabergé was a brand clearly designed and catering for the wealthiest who could afford the simplest of items but had plenty of money to afford an extravagant version. A lot of his clientele were royalty in some form- you’d have to be to afford the price in that era. A crystal Coronation vase was purchased for £430 which is worth about £4.8 million today. Similarly, a collection of silver bowls indented with a design cost the owner £250 but it now worth about £3.8 million today.
Fabergé also made a lot of animal figurines for the royal family. The placard explained some of them had been made purely for its artistic value than anything else. While I’m not entirely sure I can appreciate the value of a French bulldog made from Bowenite with diamond eyes, the level of detail was impeccable. You could pick out every hair and wrinkle on the dog, something that is not easy to do when you're carving stone. My favourite figurine on display was a snail. It was smaller than my fingernail but my oh my was the level of detail outstanding.
Final Thoughts
Peter Carl Fabergé is renowned for his collection of Imperial Easter Eggs. A collection of 50 stunning eggs made with incredible craftsmanship that can fetch an eye wateringly obscene amount when sold. But there’s more to the goldsmith than his collection of egg-shaped gifts made for Russian royalty.
Inside the exhibition
Items made by Fabergé combined fiercely expensive jewels and stones with less expensive materials such as enamel (a technique fusing metal and glass).
Fabergé was a brand clearly designed and catering for the wealthiest who could afford the simplest of items but had plenty of money to afford an extravagant version. A lot of his clientele were royalty in some form- you’d have to be to afford the price in that era. A crystal Coronation vase was purchased for £430 which is worth about £4.8 million today. Similarly, a collection of silver bowls indented with a design cost the owner £250 but it now worth about £3.8 million today.
Fabergé also made a lot of animal figurines for the royal family. The placard explained some of them had been made purely for its artistic value than anything else. While I’m not entirely sure I can appreciate the value of a French bulldog made from Bowenite with diamond eyes, the level of detail was impeccable. You could pick out every hair and wrinkle on the dog, something that is not easy to do when you're carving stone. My favourite figurine on display was a snail. It was smaller than my fingernail but my oh my was the level of detail outstanding.
Final Thoughts
What do your beauty products say about you? I know we’re a couple of weeks into the new year but I thought it would be fun to break down the last year into beauty products, highlighting which beauty products defined the months for me. To be honest, it was a bit of a tough one trying to remember some of the highlights of the 2021. A year is a long time!
I suffer with persistent acne so I started the year on antibiotics and prescription cream. I managed to have relatively clear skin up until August when it came back, only worse. By October, I was feeling really self conscious, my mental health was deteriorating rapidly and I went back on antibiotics which is where I am now. Back to square one. I have a dermatology referral in the summer (annoying but going private could turn out to be really expensive). I wrote an acne update back in 2020 but I think another one is due soon!
So, after spending an embarrassing amount of time trying to remember my year, here is a breakdown of my 2021 in beauty products:
January, Epiduo // New year, new set of skin care issues. I had a really bad acne flareup January and had to go back on medication again. I tend to phone my doctor when it gets to the point I can't manage it at home and it's affecting my mental health. Alongside the antibiotics I was on, the doctor also prescribed me EpiDuo, a benzoyl peroxide and adapeline cream. My skin doesn't agree with Benzoyl Peroxide and so my start to the year didn't quite go off with a bang. You can read about my experience with acne so far, here!
February, Avène Cicalfate // Back to basics and barrier repair for me. Cicalfate contains calming ingredients which help to soothe the skin and reduce redness. I was still using the EpiDuo cream in February which made my skin quite red so I gravitated towards calming skincare products.
March, Bondi Sands SPF50 // This sunscreen absorbs like an absolute babe. No, seriously, it absorbs very well into the skin without a white cast. The only issue I have is that it can sting your eyes if it gets too close.
April, Cerave SA Smoothing Cleanser // My acne isn't just contained on my face. I also suffer with body acne which had flared up at the same time as my face. I wasn't applying the EpiDuo cream to my chest as I was not about to risk my pyjamas having the same fate as half the towels in my house— covered in bleach marks. Per some recommendations on Instagram, I decided to try out the SA smoothing cleanser by Cerave. I still use it today, applying it in the shower with about 30-60 seconds contact time before I wash it off. I also apply iD care Barrier Cream to my chest after when I've dried off. This combination helped to clear my chest and back acne— something I need to get back into now I'm going to the gym.
May, Garnier Anti dark spots and anti pollution super UV SPF50 // Summer time arrived, well it popped up to say hi, and I picked up this suncream from Garnier which is perfect for wearing under makeup. It dries matte so your makeup can sit perfectly on top. I use this sunscreen exclusively for when I wear any form of coverage. I also picked up its sister SPF spray for suncream top ups.
June, GOW Alpha Arbutin 2% & Kojic Acid 1% Serum // My friend bought this to me for my birthday as it had been on my beauty Wish List for a little while. Kojic acid is meant to be really good for reducing hyperpigmentation and lighten skin discolouration. The product also comes highly recommended by my favourite skincare Twitter accounts. Check out them out here!
July, Chanel Vitalumíere Aqua foundation // For my graduation ceremony, I decided to treat myself to a little bit of luxury and splurge on a Chanel foundation. I prefer water-based foundations as it allows my skin to breathe and is so much easier to apply. You can check out my full review here!
August, Altruist SPF50 // If it isn't broke, don't fix it. Yeah, I didn't listen to that. My beloved Bondi Sands ran out and since it's such a pain to find in store, I switched to Altruist which my friend gifted me back in June. I have very strong mixed views on this SPF. Let me break it down for you: Pro’s: contains Zinc, doesn’t sting my eyes, high SPF. Cons: absolutely useless when applied to slightly damp skin, mostly absorbs (but wouldn't recommend to anyone with a darker skin tone), beads up and transfers onto everyone's clothing.
September, Nivea Irresistible Smooth Dry Skin body lotion // I love the smell of Nivea products! The smell reminds me of my first ever skincare routine which was made up of their cleanser, toner and moisturiser. I used to love their primer but I think that was discontinued. Anyway, I picked up the body lotion for typical body lotion purposes.
October, Eucerin Urea repair (with 5% Urea and ceramides) // This is my favourite ever intense moisturiser for super dry skin. The Urea repair normally comes with 5% urea which isn't quite as rich as the one with ceramides. It makes a wonderful night moisturiser too.
November, Differin // Following a severe acne flare up in August, I reached out to my doctor again to try and get some medication. My mental health was suffering really bad and my skin was the worst it had ever been. I asked for Differin cream instead of EpiDuo to avoid causing my skin further irritation.
December, Rituals foaming shower gel // It’s like magic! I have so much fun in the shower using this foaming gel. I love the way it comes out as a gel and you can watch it foam up. It’s really gentle and hydrating on the skin. I even picked up a couple of bottles for my friends and now I have lots of free samples of the stuff!
And that's my year in beauty products.
Love, Aoife xo
What do your beauty products say about you? I know we’re a couple of weeks into the new year but I thought it would be fun to break down the last year into beauty products, highlighting which beauty products defined the months for me. To be honest, it was a bit of a tough one trying to remember some of the highlights of the 2021. A year is a long time!
I suffer with persistent acne so I started the year on antibiotics and prescription cream. I managed to have relatively clear skin up until August when it came back, only worse. By October, I was feeling really self conscious, my mental health was deteriorating rapidly and I went back on antibiotics which is where I am now. Back to square one. I have a dermatology referral in the summer (annoying but going private could turn out to be really expensive). I wrote an acne update back in 2020 but I think another one is due soon!
So, after spending an embarrassing amount of time trying to remember my year, here is a breakdown of my 2021 in beauty products:
January, Epiduo // New year, new set of skin care issues. I had a really bad acne flareup January and had to go back on medication again. I tend to phone my doctor when it gets to the point I can't manage it at home and it's affecting my mental health. Alongside the antibiotics I was on, the doctor also prescribed me EpiDuo, a benzoyl peroxide and adapeline cream. My skin doesn't agree with Benzoyl Peroxide and so my start to the year didn't quite go off with a bang. You can read about my experience with acne so far, here!
February, Avène Cicalfate // Back to basics and barrier repair for me. Cicalfate contains calming ingredients which help to soothe the skin and reduce redness. I was still using the EpiDuo cream in February which made my skin quite red so I gravitated towards calming skincare products.
March, Bondi Sands SPF50 // This sunscreen absorbs like an absolute babe. No, seriously, it absorbs very well into the skin without a white cast. The only issue I have is that it can sting your eyes if it gets too close.
April, Cerave SA Smoothing Cleanser // My acne isn't just contained on my face. I also suffer with body acne which had flared up at the same time as my face. I wasn't applying the EpiDuo cream to my chest as I was not about to risk my pyjamas having the same fate as half the towels in my house— covered in bleach marks. Per some recommendations on Instagram, I decided to try out the SA smoothing cleanser by Cerave. I still use it today, applying it in the shower with about 30-60 seconds contact time before I wash it off. I also apply iD care Barrier Cream to my chest after when I've dried off. This combination helped to clear my chest and back acne— something I need to get back into now I'm going to the gym.
May, Garnier Anti dark spots and anti pollution super UV SPF50 // Summer time arrived, well it popped up to say hi, and I picked up this suncream from Garnier which is perfect for wearing under makeup. It dries matte so your makeup can sit perfectly on top. I use this sunscreen exclusively for when I wear any form of coverage. I also picked up its sister SPF spray for suncream top ups.
June, GOW Alpha Arbutin 2% & Kojic Acid 1% Serum // My friend bought this to me for my birthday as it had been on my beauty Wish List for a little while. Kojic acid is meant to be really good for reducing hyperpigmentation and lighten skin discolouration. The product also comes highly recommended by my favourite skincare Twitter accounts. Check out them out here!
July, Chanel Vitalumíere Aqua foundation // For my graduation ceremony, I decided to treat myself to a little bit of luxury and splurge on a Chanel foundation. I prefer water-based foundations as it allows my skin to breathe and is so much easier to apply. You can check out my full review here!
August, Altruist SPF50 // If it isn't broke, don't fix it. Yeah, I didn't listen to that. My beloved Bondi Sands ran out and since it's such a pain to find in store, I switched to Altruist which my friend gifted me back in June. I have very strong mixed views on this SPF. Let me break it down for you: Pro’s: contains Zinc, doesn’t sting my eyes, high SPF. Cons: absolutely useless when applied to slightly damp skin, mostly absorbs (but wouldn't recommend to anyone with a darker skin tone), beads up and transfers onto everyone's clothing.
September, Nivea Irresistible Smooth Dry Skin body lotion // I love the smell of Nivea products! The smell reminds me of my first ever skincare routine which was made up of their cleanser, toner and moisturiser. I used to love their primer but I think that was discontinued. Anyway, I picked up the body lotion for typical body lotion purposes.
October, Eucerin Urea repair (with 5% Urea and ceramides) // This is my favourite ever intense moisturiser for super dry skin. The Urea repair normally comes with 5% urea which isn't quite as rich as the one with ceramides. It makes a wonderful night moisturiser too.
November, Differin // Following a severe acne flare up in August, I reached out to my doctor again to try and get some medication. My mental health was suffering really bad and my skin was the worst it had ever been. I asked for Differin cream instead of EpiDuo to avoid causing my skin further irritation.
December, Rituals foaming shower gel // It’s like magic! I have so much fun in the shower using this foaming gel. I love the way it comes out as a gel and you can watch it foam up. It’s really gentle and hydrating on the skin. I even picked up a couple of bottles for my friends and now I have lots of free samples of the stuff!
And that's my year in beauty products.
Love, Aoife xo
The goals I’ve set myself are based around things that make my happy and what I aspire from my life. A couple of years ago, I wrote a blog post on all the things I’m leaving behind in the previous year (Over it) but this year, I wanted to get off to a positive start and all the things I want to look forward to.
I know that some people like to split their goals into different categories such as Personal, Health, Finances, Career and Lifestyle etc. I didn't approach my goals following that structure but I think they naturally fall into at least one of those categories anyway. I went for ones that are easy to achieve and are focused on doing things that make me happy.
What's on my vision board:
01 // Create more aka blog regularly
I say this every year but this time it’ll stick. What has me so confident? Well, blogging has always been an outlet for me. And, now that I’m working in an industry that can be very dry, blogging has also become a place of refuge of positivity, creativity and more importantly, colour! It’s a place for me to immersive myself and stay connected to a world I’d like to professionally jump back in to when the time’s right. I'd also like to experiment with different mediums and use video more.
02 // Work on building a career & increase my income
One of the things I'd like to focus on this year is my career. I want to work out where I see myself this time next year and in five years time, think about my goal and my end game. Do I want to continue in the job and the industry I'm in or do I want to take on a new career path? I know that I'm happy in the industry I work in but not so happy in the area I'm in. Another factor that ties into that is finances. I’d like to increase my income this year and end the year on a higher salary with potentially another income stream.
03 // Become a Pilates pro & be brave enough to use the rest of the gym
After the endless promises I've made about blogging regularly last year, which I sort of kept but also not really, I'm aware of jumping the gun with some things. However, I feel like I've already completed half of my goal. I joined the gym last summer and have been attending the Pilates class twice a week religiously ever since. I really enjoy it and can already notice a difference in where I hold tension and my posture. Now, I just need to venture past the studio and use the actual gym bit.
04 // Travel more
I know travelling is a little harder these days what with a pandemic and endless testing but I really miss going abroad, exploring new places and experiencing life. I know I could easily book a flight, get the right tests and checks so I can fly but it all seems like a lot of hassle. Plus, I don’t want to risk catching the virus or passing it on to someone. I did a couple UK-based vacations last year, but I'd like to make it past the borders at some point and ideally somewhere warm like Milan, Venice or revisit Nice.
05 // Have more confidence in myself and go on more solo outings
One of the things I’d like to focus more on this year is taking myself out on dates and adventures alone instead of waiting for a friend to be free to come with me. If I think of all the things I put off because I didn’t want to go alone and all my friends were busy, I have missed out on so many incredible things. I always say this but London is such a great place with so many things to do that you could never tire of, and if I don't go because I'm not confident enough to do it alone, how can I make the most of life?
What's on your vision board for this year?
Love, Aoife xo
The goals I’ve set myself are based around things that make my happy and what I aspire from my life. A couple of years ago, I wrote a blog post on all the things I’m leaving behind in the previous year (Over it) but this year, I wanted to get off to a positive start and all the things I want to look forward to.
I know that some people like to split their goals into different categories such as Personal, Health, Finances, Career and Lifestyle etc. I didn't approach my goals following that structure but I think they naturally fall into at least one of those categories anyway. I went for ones that are easy to achieve and are focused on doing things that make me happy.
What's on my vision board:
01 // Create more aka blog regularly
I say this every year but this time it’ll stick. What has me so confident? Well, blogging has always been an outlet for me. And, now that I’m working in an industry that can be very dry, blogging has also become a place of refuge of positivity, creativity and more importantly, colour! It’s a place for me to immersive myself and stay connected to a world I’d like to professionally jump back in to when the time’s right. I'd also like to experiment with different mediums and use video more.
02 // Work on building a career & increase my income
One of the things I'd like to focus on this year is my career. I want to work out where I see myself this time next year and in five years time, think about my goal and my end game. Do I want to continue in the job and the industry I'm in or do I want to take on a new career path? I know that I'm happy in the industry I work in but not so happy in the area I'm in. Another factor that ties into that is finances. I’d like to increase my income this year and end the year on a higher salary with potentially another income stream.
03 // Become a Pilates pro & be brave enough to use the rest of the gym
After the endless promises I've made about blogging regularly last year, which I sort of kept but also not really, I'm aware of jumping the gun with some things. However, I feel like I've already completed half of my goal. I joined the gym last summer and have been attending the Pilates class twice a week religiously ever since. I really enjoy it and can already notice a difference in where I hold tension and my posture. Now, I just need to venture past the studio and use the actual gym bit.
04 // Travel more
I know travelling is a little harder these days what with a pandemic and endless testing but I really miss going abroad, exploring new places and experiencing life. I know I could easily book a flight, get the right tests and checks so I can fly but it all seems like a lot of hassle. Plus, I don’t want to risk catching the virus or passing it on to someone. I did a couple UK-based vacations last year, but I'd like to make it past the borders at some point and ideally somewhere warm like Milan, Venice or revisit Nice.
05 // Have more confidence in myself and go on more solo outings
One of the things I’d like to focus more on this year is taking myself out on dates and adventures alone instead of waiting for a friend to be free to come with me. If I think of all the things I put off because I didn’t want to go alone and all my friends were busy, I have missed out on so many incredible things. I always say this but London is such a great place with so many things to do that you could never tire of, and if I don't go because I'm not confident enough to do it alone, how can I make the most of life?
What's on your vision board for this year?
Love, Aoife xo
I can't believe I can finally say I've graduated! I. Aoife Caitriona. Have. Graduated!!!!
I was so nervous and scared in my first year of uni especially as I moved to a new town and knew no one there. If I could send a message to my past self, here's what I would say...
Dear Aoife,
You are about to embark on one of the biggest journeys you'll make in life; University. And you'll smash it! I know this because you graduated today with first class honours and in true style, at the top of your class with 76%. And you won best student on your course!
I am so proud of everything you have done to take advantage of this opportunity and follow through on your dreams. You never once gave up on your focus or what you're passionate about. Oh, and those Jimmy Choo's you're lusting after? You got them and strutted across the stage looking like a woman who's got her sh*t together. Just a heads up, you're almost there!
You will have the most adventurous three years of your life. Sorry, that was the nicest way I could phrase it. I won't sugarcoat anything but you'll spend your first year feeling alone (but receiving your first piece of blogger mail!), second year living with a psycho (and spending all your money on train tickets home) and third year *finally* feeling confident in yourself.
All those nerves you are feeling are completely normal but find excitement in them. That feeling of loneliness you feel I'm sorry to say is one you'll get used to but it get's easier. Use that time to create. To blog. To film content. To have fun and make friends. The last one might take a little while to do but at the end you'll have a gang of girls who'll stick by you.
Nothing in life comes easy but you've been working hard all your life. Just remember to enjoy it and live in the moment! Make the most of the not-so-good times and turn them into a positive. Be passionate and stay true to yourself.
Love, Aoife xo
* * *
I have never been prouder of myself for not only completing university but graduating with first class honours and at the top of my course! I'm not much of a boastful person but I'm going to give myself this moment to celebrate my achievements.
The day itself was wonderful and it felt great to finally be able to celebrate. I wore a stunning baby blue Reiss dress with the pair of Jimmy Choo's I promised myself I'd wear when I graduate on my feet. We travelled down to Portsmouth for the ceremony and to take pictures before finishing the day at The Ivy in the Lanes in Brighton.
Some of my favourite moments at university:
- Getting dressed up to go to the Chancellor's ball at Portsmouth Guildhall in first year. This was my first official outing at university and we went with the magazine society. My friend and I dressed up for the event and kept ourselves entertained by creating stories for the people in the pictures placed along the Guildhall's corridor.
- Taco night with my flatmates in third year. We made our own fresh salsa and put the leftovers in a tub in the fridge. Despite it being in a somewhat airtight container, the fridge stunk of onion for the next week. Even the red velvet cakes we baked had a weird onion aroma.
- Going to the gym for the first time. During first year, I would go to the gym in my friend's building. I went a little hard in one of the sessions and my body ached the next day. I sent a very dramatic text to another friend complaining I couldn't move and go on anymore; she still hasn't let me live it down.
- Appearing on BBC Radio 4's Today show. I only managed to say about ten words but hello, I spoke on national radio!
- Getting an internship at Marie Claire and then working as a freelancer. Some of you may know working at a fashion magazine has been a dream since I picked up my first issue of Glamour. I started off as a summer intern and was asked to come back to help over Black Friday. I loved the team I worked with and I learnt my value as a professional here too.
I can't believe I can finally say I've graduated! I. Aoife Caitriona. Have. Graduated!!!!
I was so nervous and scared in my first year of uni especially as I moved to a new town and knew no one there. If I could send a message to my past self, here's what I would say...
Dear Aoife,
You are about to embark on one of the biggest journeys you'll make in life; University. And you'll smash it! I know this because you graduated today with first class honours and in true style, at the top of your class with 76%. And you won best student on your course!
I am so proud of everything you have done to take advantage of this opportunity and follow through on your dreams. You never once gave up on your focus or what you're passionate about. Oh, and those Jimmy Choo's you're lusting after? You got them and strutted across the stage looking like a woman who's got her sh*t together. Just a heads up, you're almost there!
You will have the most adventurous three years of your life. Sorry, that was the nicest way I could phrase it. I won't sugarcoat anything but you'll spend your first year feeling alone (but receiving your first piece of blogger mail!), second year living with a psycho (and spending all your money on train tickets home) and third year *finally* feeling confident in yourself.
All those nerves you are feeling are completely normal but find excitement in them. That feeling of loneliness you feel I'm sorry to say is one you'll get used to but it get's easier. Use that time to create. To blog. To film content. To have fun and make friends. The last one might take a little while to do but at the end you'll have a gang of girls who'll stick by you.
Nothing in life comes easy but you've been working hard all your life. Just remember to enjoy it and live in the moment! Make the most of the not-so-good times and turn them into a positive. Be passionate and stay true to yourself.
Love, Aoife xo
* * *
I have never been prouder of myself for not only completing university but graduating with first class honours and at the top of my course! I'm not much of a boastful person but I'm going to give myself this moment to celebrate my achievements.
The day itself was wonderful and it felt great to finally be able to celebrate. I wore a stunning baby blue Reiss dress with the pair of Jimmy Choo's I promised myself I'd wear when I graduate on my feet. We travelled down to Portsmouth for the ceremony and to take pictures before finishing the day at The Ivy in the Lanes in Brighton.
Some of my favourite moments at university:
- Getting dressed up to go to the Chancellor's ball at Portsmouth Guildhall in first year. This was my first official outing at university and we went with the magazine society. My friend and I dressed up for the event and kept ourselves entertained by creating stories for the people in the pictures placed along the Guildhall's corridor.
- Taco night with my flatmates in third year. We made our own fresh salsa and put the leftovers in a tub in the fridge. Despite it being in a somewhat airtight container, the fridge stunk of onion for the next week. Even the red velvet cakes we baked had a weird onion aroma.
- Going to the gym for the first time. During first year, I would go to the gym in my friend's building. I went a little hard in one of the sessions and my body ached the next day. I sent a very dramatic text to another friend complaining I couldn't move and go on anymore; she still hasn't let me live it down.
- Appearing on BBC Radio 4's Today show. I only managed to say about ten words but hello, I spoke on national radio!
- Getting an internship at Marie Claire and then working as a freelancer. Some of you may know working at a fashion magazine has been a dream since I picked up my first issue of Glamour. I started off as a summer intern and was asked to come back to help over Black Friday. I loved the team I worked with and I learnt my value as a professional here too.
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