Dublin Weekend Guide 2

Dublin Weekend Guide

I lived in Dublin in the early noughties at the height of the “Celtic Tiger”. Real estate prices were through the roof, Sex and the City was a TV revelation and I was wearing the most hideous gold and brown pleather trousers with abandon. And while there were plenty of great restaurants and bars around at the time, many of which I frequented on a regular basis, they don’t compare to what Dublin has to offer nowadays. Yes, thanks to the invention of hipsters, Dublin is awash with artisanal cafes, vegan restaurants, beard grooming parlours and design store pop ups. And I for one am a fan of all of the above.

On a recent trip back to Dublin, I did a bit of research and exploring to come up with my guide for a weekend in Dublin. Continue reading “Dublin Weekend Guide” →

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Freedom Hunters Episode 3: Celeste Wong


Freedom Hunters Celeste Wong

In episode 3 of Freedom Hunters, I talk to the multi-talented multi-hyphen boss-babe, Celeste Wong. You might also know her by her brand, The Girl in the Cafe.

Celeste started out her career as an actress and barista. Since moving to London, she has been listed as one of London’s top five baristas in The Financial Times and has held top positions in artisan cafes.

In recent years, in pursuit of more fulfillment from her work, Celeste produced and presented her own web series based around Continue reading “Freedom Hunters Episode 3: Celeste Wong” →

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Freedom Hunters Episode 2: Chloe Roberts

Chloe Roberts Freedom Hunters

Episode 2 of Freedom Hunters is out! In this episode, I speak with one of the coolest people I know, Chloe Roberts.

Chloe is a music industry executive at First Access Entertainment, a company at the leading edge of music management and publishing, TV, film and tech development amongst other things. Her company has been behind the careers of huge names such as Jessie J, Zayn, Ellie Goulding and Rita Ora.

Not only is Chloe leading the way for women in music, she is also an inventor. A few years ago, whilst on maternity leave, Chloe developed and ultimately launched the hugely successful baby product, Lapbaby.

I talk to Chloe about how she got into the music industry, Continue reading “Freedom Hunters Episode 2: Chloe Roberts” →

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Freelance Christmas Party 9

Christmas Party

The weather has turned frosty. The Christmas decorations were up in the shops weeks ago. And there’s sequins everywhere. I can feel it already: the tidal wave of Christmas parties, get togethers and drinks, headed straight for us. I do love a good drinks reception followed by karaoke. But this year, my first as a freelancer, what happens to the work Christmas party? And more importantly, what am I going to wear? Continue reading “Christmas Party” →

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Winter Style 9

Winter Style Ideas

During the summer, I bemoaned the challenges I experience with my summer wardrobe. Now that the evenings arrive earlier, the nip in the air is no longer that of a playful puppy, but more like an angry Rottweiler. And the problem of dressing for hot weather seems like a walk in the park compared to the one I face now: how to dress for winter, but still maintain some semblance of not having given up on life.

It’s not easy to stay warm in the depths of winter and still look cute. Outfits tend to take on an overall potato-like shape. All those layers, all the logistics, all the extra Christmas pudding consumed. After learning the hard way during last year’s hideous arctic vortex that hit London for an extended period of sartorial pain, here’s my tips for staying stylish when the weather doesn’t want you to be. Continue reading “Winter Style Ideas” →

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Winter Wedding Guest 3

Winter Wedding Outfits

Winter weddings are so romantic – candle light, ice sculptures, white swans (natch) and fairy lights peaking out through the ivy. But winter wedding outfits are an altogether different challenge compared to your run-of-the-mill spring/summer wedding.

How much time are you going to spend outdoors? Are you going to be required to pose in family photos for prolonged periods of time? Do you anticipate rain or snow? Are there muddy paths to be navigated from the church to the charming local pub? What’s the likelihood of developing frostbite?

Stress not, I’m here to provide some useful pointers and suggestions this winter wedding season. Continue reading “Winter Wedding Outfits” →

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Tokyo: Nine Things to Know Before You Go

Tokyo has to be up there in the top 3 cities that I’ve visited and fallen for big time. I first went to Tokyo a few years ago for a writing project I was working on. Nothing could have prepared me for the onslaught of everything that is Tokyo. The culture, the high-tech toilets, the anxiety-inducing interchange at Shinjuku subway station, the human wall coming straight towards you while you attempt to cross at the scramble crossing, the mind-blowing cuisine you can get everywhere. Everywhere. And of course, the people. They are the best feature of Tokyo. Polite, considerate, quirky, ridiculously cool, creative.

Yes. Everyone has to go to Tokyo at least once in their lives. Before you start booking, here are eight things to know to help you plan, and prepare you for the awesomeness of a visit to Tokyo. Continue reading “Tokyo: Nine Things to Know Before You Go” →

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West Hollywood Cocktail & Hangover Cure 6

A Guide to the Best Cocktails and Hangover Cures in West Hollywood

On my recent trip to Los Angeles I based myself in West Hollywood, home to some the most fabulous cocktail bars in the city. I planned to write up my ultimate guide to the best cocktails in this very cool neighbourhood. However, I soon learned that I was going to have to find some pretty effective hangover cures if I was going to be able to get out there night after night and sample the best that West Hollywood has to offer by way of cocktail refreshment (all in the name of research). And what better place than L.A. to find the most celeb-endorsed hangover cures? Urban sweat lodges, IV drips, comfort brunches and so much more…

After much trial, and some error, I present to you my ultimate guide and ratings (out of 5) of West Hollywood’s best cocktail bars and hangover cures. Continue reading “A Guide to the Best Cocktails and Hangover Cures in West Hollywood” →

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Black Trousers 7

Sustainable Fashion: 11 Things You can do to Reduce your Fashion Carbon Footprint

Some pretty scary statistics are coming out lately about the hugely detrimental impact that the fashion industry has on the environment. They vary from study to study, but by way of example, it is said that fashion is the second most polluting industry in the world. 300-thousand tonnes of clothing goes into landfill each year. Around 1⁄2 million tons of microfiber (or the equivalent of 3 million barrels of oil) is dumped in the ocean every year, nearly the same amount as the DeepWater Horizon spill.

Although I’m not perfect in this area, I’m taking more and more steps to address the way I shop and care for my clothes to bring sustainable fashion into my wardrobe. Here’s eleven things you can pick and choose from to reduce your fashion carbon footprint too. Continue reading “Sustainable Fashion: 11 Things You can do to Reduce your Fashion Carbon Footprint” →

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