Sourced Box Deliciousness

Friday 26 August 2016

Gif

My favourite time of the month has arrived, my August Sourced Box popped up on my door step and this time it did not disappoint.

London in Outfits & Building Self-Confidence

Friday 19 August 2016

Hi guys! So if you didn't know I was in London a little while ago for a quick visit with my boyfriend. If you want to read more about all the fun we got up to then you can check out my Day 1, Day 2 and Day 3 posts.

Today I thought I'd share with you a couple of the outfits I wore out to dinner while we were in London. Now if you've been reading this blog for a while you'll know that I'm no fashion blogger. I'm never 100% put together with the perfect hair, make-up and a cute outfit. I hardly wear make-up as is! But I thought London would be the perfect place to do a bit of dressing up and show some self-confidence.

We're Shortlisted for the Littlewoods Ireland Blog Awards Health & Well-Being Category

Wednesday 17 August 2016


YAY! What can I say? I'm absolutely thrilled to be shortlisted for the Health & Well-Being Category in the Littlewoods Ireland Blog Awards.

Some of you may have seen my previous post announcing that I had been longlisted for both the Lifestyle and Health & Well-Being categories along with some really amazing blogs. The competition is very high which is why I'm so happy to have been considered again for the shortlist stage even if it is just for one of the categories.

Life Travels | London Adventure: Brunch at Muriel's & The Natural History Museum

Thursday 11 August 2016

Muriel's kitchen and exhibits from Natural History Museum

After two days of walking miles on end we started our final day in London a little later than expected. But our lazy sleep-in just gave us an excuse to head to Muriel's Kitchen for a spot of brunch. 

Life Travels | London Adventure: Harry Potter & Butterbeer

Friday 5 August 2016

Harry potter studio tours london.

Hi guys I have another London adventures blog post to share with you today and this one is quite special. 

Life Travels | London Adventure: V&A, Southbank and Wahaca

Tuesday 2 August 2016

london, museum, v&a, victoria and albert,

I'm back with a new blog post that I've been very excited to share with you. Over the bank holiday weekend my boyfriend and I headed off to London to celebrate his birthday early. He had never been before and I'm always up for a Fundon adventure, so with 3 days to see the city we jumped straight into sightseeing after hopping off the plane Saturday morning.

We've Made It On The Littlewoods Ireland Blog Awards 2016 Longlist

Friday 29 July 2016



Major Announcement: The Uninteresting Life? has made it on the Littlewoods Ireland Blog Awards 2016 Longlist for two categories! We are on the Lifestyle Blog Longlist and Health & Well-being Longlist.

I'm so happy to have been considered and to have made it through the first round of judging especially for two great categories. I've had a look through the other blogs that were nominated and they're all wonderful so I'm happy to be among them. 

Perhaps I should make another Vision Board focusing all my energy on getting onto the shortlist.....

Fingers crossed,



Huawei Snapys 2016 Launch Event!

Friday 22 July 2016



Earlier this month I attended the Huawei Snapys 2016 launch night and had a great time. For anyone who doesn't know about The Snapys, they are Ireland's very own independent Instagram awards. They launched in early July and will be running until late October.

On the night we were treated to complementary drinks from Jameson and Galway Hooker and there were even a few nibbles too!

IgersDublin, the Instagram community, were also putting on their Dublin: Reflective City finalist exhibition and I must say some of the entries were amazing!

I didn't manage to get a proper photo taken so a quick iPhone snap will have to suffice!


Today they released their launch night video so I thought I'd share it with you because I may or may not make a little cameo ;)


        

If you want to enter into The Huawei Snapys all you have to do is use the hashtag #huaweisnapys and the category hashtag in the description of your photo when you upload on Instagram! Next you can tell all your friends to go and vote over here. I know I'll be entering a few snaps ;)

Thanks for stopping by,
Ciara xx

A Weekend of Food & Fun in Cork

Monday 11 July 2016


So late weekend my boyfriend and I decided to head off to Cork for the weekend to give ourselves a mini getaway. I recently got my driving licence (yay) so we took advantage of the family car to do the 3 hour drive in style. 

As it turns out it's very hard to do any exploring when it's wet and windy so to be honest we spent the weekend going from one eatery to another....

On our last night we decided to visit Scoozi, an Italian that showed with with great reviews on TripAdvisor. Inside, your surrounded with a cosy, warm atmosphere and decor consisting of old china plates hung on the wall, cottage floral wallpaper and regal chandeliers. 




I went for an easy vegan no cheese pizza with a delicious crispy base and spicy sauce and the boyfriend went for an interesting hazelnut and pesto burger.



For dessert I opted for some vegan chocolate buttons I had in my bag but the boy went all out on some Mars Bar cheesecake. 


I have to admit I may have tasted a bit and it was really delicious. I'm usually not a big fan of cheesecake but this one had a fluffy, light textured filling as opposed to the traditional, more solid filling. A solid 5/5!

We decided to finish the night off with a walk up the hill in the rainy mist to get a bird's eye view of the city.


(make it quick before you get run over!)

I think this weekend was really needed by both of us and I can't wait for our trip to London in a few weeks time!

Thanks for stopping by.
Ciara xx



Living Consciously | Vegan Haircare for Dry Damaged Hair

Saturday 25 June 2016

Vegan cruelty free haircare. Flowers. Pureology and Aveda.

Hello everyone,

I'm back with another update on my journey to living consciously, talking about everything from cruelty free food and cosmetics to yoga. I want to try it all. In case you missed my original 'Living Consciously' post you can check it out here.

This week I thought I would share with you the amazing vegan and natural haircare products I've been trying out. My hair has always been on the dry side and coupled with the fact that it's naturally waved (a fancy way of saying its plain old frizzy) I like to go for products that will condition and smooth down my flyaways.

While I was getting my hair done at my local salon my hairdresser used the some Pureology Hydrate haircare products on me. Pureology is great because its 100% vegan. No animal products, by-products and no animal testing! Not only are their products great for the world but they're also incredible. My hair felt instantly softer and stronger after one use. I liked them so much I bought the shampoo and condition myself at Peter Mark. They're a bit pricier than your regular high street products but not ultra expensive either. Plus their concentrated formula means you only need a little bit at a time.

vegan, cruelty free, no animal testing, haircare, dry hair, pureology

I've been using them for a few weeks now and my hair is still as soft as ever and their no sulphate formula doesn't weigh my hair down.

Next up is the Aveda damage remedy for intensive restructuring. I leave it in my hair for 5 or so minutes after using a clarifying shampoo. This product contains quinoa protein which actively repairs damage and wheat protein which helps protect against heat styling damage. I once got my hair highlighted at an Aveda salon and was worried my hair would become dryer but because of the natural ingredients I haven't experienced any dryness out of the usual.

natural, vegan, cruelty free, haircare, aveda, conditioner,


Of course I still use regular products that aren't so natural but it's a process of slotting in a few products at a time. I'm trying out a few other natural body care products too so I'll keep you updated if I find any winners.

Well that's all for now.
Thanks for stopping by,
Ciara xx

Vegan Chocolate Protein Smoothie

Sunday 19 June 2016

Hello everyone!

Today I thought I would share with you a breakfast that I have been obsessed with over the past few weeks and that is my chocolate protein smoothie. Its has a balanced amount of carbs, protein and fats to set you up for the day and satisfies your sweet tooth cravings in a healthy way.  Its super quick and easy to make which makes it perfect for a busy morning or if you're like me and you're starving when you wake and can't wait!

Here's what you will need:


1: 2 Bananas (I would recommend frozen)
2: Approximately 300-400ml of your dairy alternative milk of choice or water.
3: A handful of pecans or any other nut you want. I'd recommend walnuts or hazelnuts.
4: A cup of ice to make things frosty. (if you use frozen bananas you don't need to add ice)
5: A chocolate flavoured vegan protein powder of your choice. I'm using Sunwarrior protein which I'm loving at the moment.
6: A tsp of cocao powder or cocoa powder will do the job too.

All you have to do next is bang all your ingredients into a blender and blend it all up until everything is smooth. 


And here is the finished result.

Sorry I don't have a Pinterest worthy image to show you but my hunger made me impatient...

I usually pair this with some cereal and berries to make my breakfast a bit more substantial. Also we can't forget a cup of hot coffee! Try adding oats or peanut butter if you want a heartier smoothie that will keep you fuller for longer.

Let me know if you try this out and if you thought it was tasty!

Thanks for reading,
Ciara xx




A Poem For the Forest

Wednesday 25 May 2016

Hello everyone,


Exams are finally finished so no more stressful nights and studying boredom. However all the built up exhaustion and tiredness did hit me over the weekend so a good rest was much needed.

A few of my friends and I decided to go on a nice relaxing stroll through a nearby forest to catch up on everything we've missed during the exam period. Walks are always such a great way to destress and get the body moving without tiring you out too much. A casual stroll was just what my body needed.

Considering it had rained all through the day before we were actually quite lucky and didn't get a single drop of rain while we walked. It was quite eery and quiet as we walked through the trees with no one around through the damp, still air. But nevertheless it was great to have the place practically to ourselves for a little while.

I snapped a photo on my phone a decided I'd try write a little poem about it. Emphasis on the word 'try', I'm by no means a writer or a poet but I was in the mood to do something new.


I took a walk in time 
To clear my mind
Leaves, branches, trees thick with moss and ivy laden trunks
Winding paths through green archways pierced by sunlight 
Water and life released 
       a clarity, serenity and presence 
From their roots
Nutrients, ancient wisdom, strength and balance
Food from the base of Earth
Feed it to your soul
Watch it grow

So yeah there's my little poem about our walk in the forest as you can see its no Plath or Yeats but it was fun to think up. Maybe I'll try jot a few more down as they come to me and see how much improvement I can make with some practice...

Thanks for stopping by,
Ciara xx

Vision Board | May

Friday 29 April 2016

Vision board. Inspirational and motivational


Hey everyone,

It's about time I think I updated my vision board right? Yes I may have missed out on the whole of April but here I am making up for it with a fresh new May board to inject some motivation and inspiration into my life.

I haven't had much time recently what with finishing up college assignments and prepping for exams but throughout the month I've been collecting images from the interwebs and yesterday I decided to take the day off studying to set aside a little bit of time to put together my new vision board.

Some of you may remember my previous March vision board and how I used each section to represent a focus or aim I wanted to remind myself of everyday when I woke up. This month some of my goals have changed and I'll take you through a few of them.

Study Study Study


Yes unfortunately exams are visible in the near horizon (just over 1 week away!) and it's high time I get down to properly studying and combat my expert procrastination skills. These next few weeks will be filled with coffee, tea, snacks and notes.

Summer Plans....


To me a summer with nothing to do seems like a massive waste of free time which is why I'm currently on the look out for internships and making plans to use my time productively. Whether that's planning posts and going to cool workshops and classes or visiting friends and creating new experiences. I'm actually keeping my fingers crossed for a certain really really exciting social media marketing internship...

The Self-confidence Mission 


If you haven't read my post on building self-confidence by feeling good in your own skin I wrote about how I'm wandering into the realm of beauty and fashion to boost my self-confidence levels. My vision board will remind me everyday to embrace my personal style and be proud of my appearance.






Of course all of this beauty-ing and fashion-ing is just a support mechanism to help me on my road to self-acceptance, self-love and body positivity. These are the only tools in life you really need to feel sassy as hell!









Of Course Some Blog Inspo


It's super helpful and motivational to expose yourself to experts which is why I'm always looking out for great blogs and social media influencers.

Right now I think Tara of TarMarz.com is just killing it in terms of aesthetics, photography and fashion editorials. She has recently moved to New York and since then I think she has stepped it up in all of her platforms be it her blog, YouTube or Instagram. Seriously her look books are on point!

I'm so into Lenny Letter and love the content they are churning out on the daily. Their interviews and guest writers cover hardcore issues concerning feminism, health, politics and style in an entertaining and engaging way. 

Niomi Smart as I'm sure many will know is a health, fitness and lifestyle Youtuber and blogger who I really like. She approaches health and lifestyle from a whole foods and natural perspective and her videos are super sweet and classy. 

I hope you enjoyed seeing what I'm trying to achieve and focus on this month. As I've said before putting together your own vision board is so much fun and can help you inject some positive intentions into your everyday life. Why not have a go and try it out?

Self-confidence: Feeling Good In Your Own Skin

Monday 25 April 2016

Pink wall. Lemon water. Happy Girl


Hello everyone :)


As you may know, just like any other normal person, I struggle on a day-to-day basis with body positivity and self-confidence. Sometimes I wake up in the morning and the world is my oyster and I'm feeling great. But then other days, sometimes more often than I'd like, I wake up and suddenly I feel like my clothes don't fit as well, my skin is too red and puffy and I'm in desperate need of a duvet day.

Now we'd all love to be able to stay in bed and watch Netflix and drink tea all day when we're feeling rough but with life, college and work we all don't have that luxury. I've struggled a lot with these kinds of days, especially after nights when I've binged or overeaten but I'm slowly starting to come up with a few strategies to make me feel good on the outside so I can shine on the inside.

Obviously we all know self-love and body acceptance are the best ways to have good body image days all the time and that when we truly love our bodies we can reach levels of self-confidence we've never had before. However even for people without body image problems or disordered eating habits self-love and body acceptance is a hell of a lot to ask.

That's why I'm here to give you some tips on how to make yourself feel a bit better on the outside whilst you're doing the work to love yourself on the inside too.

A little bit of make-up can do a lot of good

I used to think wearing make-up was a bit like lying to yourself or covering up your insecurities. I felt that if I wore make-up I was somehow self-obsessed and superficial. But now I couldn't feel any more different. Now I'm by no means a 'beauty' professional, you won't find me sporting a perfect cat eye fleek or a smouldering smokey eye any time soon. I started off just wearing a tinted SPF with some mascara just to balance out my redness but now I've moved into dabbing on some concealer and highlighter to give my skin a glowy complexion. I know it may seem like a trivial but these little changes have helped a lot whenever I catch myself in a mirror. 

I went to get my make-up done for the Trinity Ball a week ago and picked up the Estée Lauder Double-wear concealer and their lip liner in which happens to match my lip colour perfectly so it's great for a causal look. 

Make-up. Mac. Clinique. Estee Lauder

Fab hair don't care

There's something about a freshly blown out mane that can give you a bit of sass in your step. Again, not really my strong area but I'm working on it. So far fishtail plaits are my forté and my blow drying technique is slowly but surely improving. Next on my to-buy list is a good curling iron so I can add to my naturally waving hair. 

Spritz it up

While I love a waft of perfume throughout the day I always, I mean always, forget to put on perfume before I leave the house. However in special circumstances like these kinds of days I make an extra effort to spray my favourite scent. A few of my personal favs are Taylor Swift's Wonderstruck and La Prairie Midnight. 

Perfume. Taylor Swift


Energise your inside

Rather than trying to cheer myself up with food I like to give myself a boost with a nice refreshing drink. Iced water with lots of lemon works wonders for me and gives my skin, energy levels and digestive system a well needed reboot. Cute glass jar is optional ;)

lemon water
lemon water























Wear clothes you both look and FEEL good in

All of us girls know how uncomfortable ultra skinny jeans can feel especially while we're PMSing or feeling bloated. Whenever I've had a bad night and my stomach is uncomfortable I don't particularly love the idea of a tight waistband digging into my stomach so I like to have a back up outfit on hand that I know I'll look and feel good in, even when I'm having a bad body image day. A usual go-to for me are some boyfriend fit jeans, a soft cosy jumper and a pair of comfy trainers. Nothing too fancy, an outfit that will boost my self-confidence and won't leave me pulling at my clothes all day.



So yeah those are a few things I've been doing to help me with my confidence levels and I'm sure I'll be able to add to the list as time goes on. Let me know if they are of some help and I'd love to know what some of your go-to feel happy tips are. Let me know in the comments!

Trinity Ball 2016

Saturday 16 April 2016

Hey guys,

So last night I went to the 2016 Trinity Ball and it was so much fun. I'm not the biggest festival or concert person so I was a little bit hesitant about going until I found out the Kooks were playing. They ended up being amazing live which made the night worth it!

 For my outfit I wore a dress from Lipsy that I got on ASOS and some New Look shoes. Also since I'm not the best at hair and make-up I got my make-up done at Estée Lauder and my hair blow dried so safe to say I was feeling nicely glammed up.

I thought I'd share a few snaps we managed to take during the night.







Some tips if you are going to go to Trinity Ball:

1) Bring flats! Cobble stones, alcohol, and mud do not make for a great heel situation. 

2) Wear a short dress or make sure you can tie up your long skirt. I brought a bobbin to bunch up my dress and make it midi length. 

3) Wear a coat. The last act for Trinity Ball goes on around 4am so during the night it will get really cold and you don't want to be freezing. 

4) No one cares what you look like once you're in. Get a nice photo with your heels on before you go in but after that pretty much anything goes. Wear flats, a scarf, a coat, anything!

5) If possible opt for a dress with no sleeves or thin straps just so you can dance freely without your arms being restricted. 

So yeah I just wanted to do a quick post about my night. Over all I had a great time at Trinity Ball and it was loads of fun. We were so lucky it didn't rain!




Vegan Food Heaven in Barcelona

Saturday 2 April 2016

Hey guys,



I've been so excited to share this post with you because it's all about one of my favourite things, food. And delicious vegan food too!

Now my family and I had been in France for 3 days before my sister and I went to Barcelona for a night. Let me tell you, from my times in Paris and general experience of eating in France, being vegan there is pretty tough. They love their cheese, their meats and you'll find a bit of something animal-based in nearly everything you pick up in a shop or look at on a menu. While I try be plant-based like 99% of the time because that's what I find makes me feel good I don't mind if there's maybe a little bit of milk hidden somewhere in my cereal or bread. France however was another story because save for bread and super oily deep fried chips there wasn't anything nice and nutritious for me to eat. That's why I was super excited to go to Barcelona because after a quick Google search I found loads of cool looking vegetarian and vegan restaurants to go to.

So without further adieu lets get the ball rolling.

Gopal Vegan Deli Shop


This place was seriously the best! They mainly serve 'beef', 'chorizo', 'chicken' sandwiches and burgers with sides like chips, salads or patatas bravas. My sister went for their house 'Gopal Buger' and I went for the 'Chorizo' Sandwich with a side of fries that came with a tasty dipping sauce.




But the best part about this place were hands down the donuts! I wish I had a few more days to try them all because they were seriously good. The first night I had a chocolate and coconut combo which was tasty but the next day, our last day, I went for the Oreo donut which stole 1st prize. They legit taste like regular donuts if not better because they're not as heavy.




CatBar

We went to CatBar for dinner to try out their burgers I had read so much about. So good guys, so good. My sister isn't vegan and she loved them too. 





Boqueria Market

You can find so much good food here so it suits vegans, vegetarians and standard diets alike! We went to one of the many awesome fruit vendors to pick up breakfast. All this gorgeous food for €5!



So yeah Barcelona was great all-round: food, weather, amazing beach, sites and shopping. I'm definitely going to have to go back for longer next time.




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