Paleo, vegan, gluten-free ...whether you're into it or not health and wellness has become part of everyone's daily lives, even if only in a small way. Coming from a dancing background, and then dabbling in modelling, I suppose health and fitness has always been a part of my life to some extent, but I've always tried to make it enjoyable and never feel like a chore. If I don't like doing something ( just the thoughts of running for example make me uneasy!) I'm always trying to achieve balance in every aspect of life - and I find that if you focus on what makes you fell good, it makes that al little more achievable. In Dublin we're spoilt for choice when it comes to food and drink in general, and there's some absolutely awesome place to find a healthy lunch. Last week I discovered a real gem in the form of Cocu Kitchen. From the coolest breakfast pots, homemade nutella sourdough toast to poke bowls and tailor made lunch boxes. My favourite thing to order from Cocu is their Poke bowl. It's an absolute nutrition power house with consisting of salmon sashimi, brown rice, edamame, kimchi, pickled radish, avocado, seaweed, sesame, siracha yoghurt dressing and is just so satisfying when you're starving at lunchtime! I always feel like I'm ding my body good a whole heap of favours with this. Cocu also take their coffee seriously(very important to me haha) Their coffee is actually roasted in Dublin's first micro coffee roaster Cloud Picker - pretty impressive right? They also source their fish, baked goods and juices right here in Dublin which I think is amazing and shows the type of business they are. Check out Cocu Kitchen at www.cocu.ie/ Slip Dress - H&M similar style here www.lyst.com/clothing/asos-cami-slip-dress-nude/ T- shirt - Primark Boots - H&M Belt - vintage Photography - David Gannon
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After being away for a little while, I couldn't be happier to be back in Dublin for the Summer. It's my absolute favourite time of year in the city - Everyone's in top form an there's a real buzz about the place with after work drinks taken outdoors and noisy tourists exploring what Dublin has to offer. The weather can be a bit hit and miss but considering this is Ireland it's not half bad! Life can get so hectic for us all between work and everything else that it's easy to miss all the great things at our fingertips. Whenever I get the chance,I love nothing more than strolling around town, grabbing some lunch with a friend and doing some people/style watching(and Grafton Street is definitely a good place for some inspiration!) Next time you have a moment, go out and explore part of the city you haven't been before, take a walk around Stephens Green, browse through the markets in Temple Bar, head to Howth for a walk, or discover a new pace to grab some grub! We're so spoiled for choice when it comes to food and drink in Dublin - Check out my post on some of my favourite spots here yasminlaura.weebly.com/blog/top-six-barsrestaurantscafes-in-dublin. Fall in love with the charm and beauty you walk past every single day and you'll realize - It's nothing short of magical. Mom Jeans - Pull and Bear
Denim Jacket - Primark Sunglasses - River Island Bag - Zara Photo Credit - Cormac Power Call me nuts, but I’m really looking forward to Winter fashion! I hate pretty much everything else about Winter, but the fashion makes it just that bit more bearable. I’m already eyeing up what’s going to everywhere next season, so I thought I’d share with you some of my favourite trends for this A|W. Red If there’s one colour that’s going to have a moment next season it’s red, and red head to toe at that. From Deep wines at MaxMara to Scarlett Reds at Alexander McQueen it was everywhere during Fashion Month. I think if it's done right this looks so elegant - it's bold but so classy. MaxMara Velvet We saw and loved it last season and thankfully velvet will still be very much a hot topic this year. This is a trend I absolutely love – it’s so elegant and has a real luxurious vibe about it. Granny Style You can let your Nanas know you’ll be following them for fashion inspiration this season! I mean if Gucci are adding pearls to their chunky oversized cardigans who are we to argue? Anything that’s going to keep me warm is a winner in my eyes – I get to that point in Winter when being warm starts to take priority over anything else! For great quality knits on the high street you can't beat H&M and Zara. Corduroy makes a Comeback My only memories of corduroy are as a child and of course as I got older and started choosing what i wore I thought it was horrific! Well next season I may just change my mind as corduroy is making a major comeback. The Prada and Mulberry A|W 17 shows showcased what’s to come. This is a cord revival but with a feminine twist. Instead of mustard yellows and greens, think blush tones, terracotta and teals in feminine silhouettes. Francesco Scognamiglio
It may be August, but hopefully you've found a little inspiration there for the seasons ahead :) That's all for now, Chat soon, Yasmin xxx We all want healthy, glowy looking skin and I really believe that this can be achieved without spending a fortune. Everyone is looking for the ‘secret’ to good skin, when the simple truth is that you just need to keep everything as raw and natural as possible. That goes for what you put into your body but also what products you’re putting on your skin every day. My brows were in serious need of some help a few weeks back(the struggle is real haha), and that's how I stumbled upon Skinfull Affairs on Exchequer Street and I fell in love with the whole concept of the place. Skinfull Affairs operates with this distinct focus on health and wellbeing. All of the gorgeous products available are bursting with natural ingredients, 100% vegetarian with the majority vegan friendly with high content of organic ingredients. I was surprised that the products are actually super affordable which is amazing considering the high quality. They also offer natural face and body treatments and even vegan manicures! I was delighted to discover they also offer facial treatments using Yon-Ka products which I’d heard only great things about so I came back for the Express Glow Facial. Firstly, after being my usual stressed self all week I’ve never been so relaxed! The girls are so lovely and you just know you’re in good hands! Its a 30 minute treatment so it’s a treat you can easily squeeze into a hectic day! The products used in all of the facials at Skinfull affairs are plant based products by Yon-Ka and if you want to really look after your skin it really doesn’t get better than this stuff. In the heart of Yonka products and treatments, the Quintessence and its 5 essential oils – lavender, geranium, rosemary, cypress, thyme – an exclusive formula which reinforces the effectiveness of the natural active ingredients from plants from all over the world. My favourite product used was the exfoliant. I expected a scrub of some sort but this is actually a peel and is so gentle you can even use it on your eyelids! This is basically a non-abrasive, botanical scrub which gently removes dead cells, provides clarity for dull complexions, hydrates and is said to balances the oils in your skin so great if you’re like me and have combination skin. We also used a purifying mask, a regenerating booster serum, and a gorgeous hydrating moisturiser from the range – I will leave the link to Yon-Ka below so you can check it out. I’m looking forward to getting to know the range a little bit better I was so impressed with it – there’s a massive range of products and it’s always interesting to find what you should actually be using on your skin and not just guessing. I'll be keeping an eye on all the latest products and treatments available in Skinfull Affairs, so I'll keep you posted. It's such a gem to have in the city! Until the next one, Chat soon, Yasmin xx See Skinfull Affairs here > www.instagram.com/skinfullaffairs/?hl=en See Yonka here > www.yonka.ie/ Video credit: Ben O Beirne www.instagram.com/theoutrageousben/ Photo credit: Cormac Power https://www.instagram.com/cormacpow/ Whether you like it or not, social media is now at the forefront of our daily lives. With so much content coming at us each day, it’s easy to see why some people have come to the conclusion that it’s a negative thing, or the that it’s just too overwhelming. But when you think about it, there are hundreds of TV channels – it doesn’t mean you watch all of them though. For me, I love to follow accounts that inspire me, motivate me to be better in certain aspects of my life and people that are just really genuine and REAL! The content I like won’t necessarily be what you will, but I thought I’d share with you just a few of the amazing Irish people I like to follow on Instagram. There are SO many I could mention but you’d be here all day haha! These are people that I think really add value with their content and are really informative as well just being cool people in general! Check them out if you reckon you need a little boost of inspiration! Have a great week :) Yasmin xxxx The Food Medic www.instagram.com/thefoodmedic/ If you’re in anyway interested in health, nutrition or general well-being you need to follow this girl. Hazel Wallace is a doctor from Ireland living in London who runs The Food Medic Blog and has just taken out her own cookbook. Her recipes are so simple but delicious, it makes trying to be healthy a bit easier. Having lost weight due to stress the past while which I'm not not happy about, I find her really motivating in terms of managing stress and eating a healthy balanced diet. I think because she’s a doctor as well, she really knows what she’s talking about and her posts are so informative. She also gives out great advice on achieving a work-life balance and what I love is that she really seems so genuine and the kind of girl you’d get on great with! Her cookbook is also a must have if you’re a lazy cook like me! It just shows you just how easy to it is to cook and eat really well on a daily basis no matter how busy you are. Holly White www.instagram.com/hollywhite.ie/ Holly is a blogger who shares her passions of wellness, natural beauty and plant-based eating. I’m only a recent follower but I have to say I really love her content. As someone who appreciates writing, she posts some really well written articles. She recently talked about her struggle with anxiety and I found it such a helpful but still really enjoyable read. I think it’s a great thing that bloggers can make you feel like you’re not the only one who may deal with something and that they can actually add a lot of value to people’s lives. Aside from that she posts amazing recipes, fashion tips, vegan make-up, and all things natural basically! Her fashion style is very classy, elegant, and never over the top which I love.That said she also knows how to rock a messy bun and jumper and still manages to look just as elegant. Her fashion sense couples really well with her content if that makes sense - if you're into one part of it you'll most likely love all of her content. :) Siobhan O Hagan www.instagram.com/ohfitness_ie/ Keeping with the fitness fanatics, Siobhan is a personal trainer and online coach who has followed her dreams and created an extremely successful business doing what she loves. Have to be honest here though - the main reason I like her is that she just seems like great banter! I’m not one to get excited about the gym, but she’s so enthusiastic about what she does it kind of rubs off on the viewer! (ok, I’m not exactly there, but you know what I mean!) I also love to follow her Instagram stories where she takes her audience through her daily life of training, nutrition, tips as well as showing us that it’s perfectly to have a night out and a splurge once every now and then - she makes the point that it’s a lifestyle and I think it’s important to spread that message to people. This is simply a girl who followed her dreams and created her dream life and who doesn't aspire to that. :) DTMDMagician www.instagram.com/dtmdmagician/ If you want to feel motivated in business, or on the contrary feel completely inadequate (considering his level of success at such a young age), then this is the young man you need to follow. This is a young Dublin man that will for sure have world domination fairly soon! At just fifteen he already has his own clothing like Joker Clothing and is about to launch his own book on I’ve had the pleasure of meeting Abdullah and I knew when I met him that whatever he’d do he was gonna do VERY well. I don’t know what it about me, but I can really spot not only talent in a person but the hunger or drive they have which I really believe is what counts. As Will Smith infamously said “Talent you have naturally. Skill is only developed by hours and hours and hours of beating on your craft.” And it’s so true. I’m always motivated by his Instagram stories where he shows his daily hustle! I think it’s so interesting follow a young person’s journey to success (or more success in Abdullah’s case!) I wear a lot of black in Winter, but when it’s dark and miserable out it’s really nice to wear brighter colours. Grey is simple, yet packs a lot in one punch – It’s elegant, chic and suits pretty much every skin and hair colour. In this look, I’m wearing a really simple grey coat from Zara which is so casual but the tailored style of it makes you look really put together. I picked this up in a medium so I can easily fit this heavy knit from H&M underneath and I’m wearing my baby pink ripped jeans(also from Zara). And because casual always wins, I’ve finished the look with a Zara beanie and some kicks. I thought I’d share a message today that might interest a few of you – if even one person needed to hear this today I’m happy out. Below are a few thoughts of mine on embracing uncertainty. We all like to feel like we’re on top of things, or that we’re ‘in control’ of our lives to a certain extent. I’m forever writing to do lists and priority lists( and basically every list you could think of), and don’t get me wrong it is a great way of getting organised. But the fact of the matter is that we are not in control. We never have been and we never will be. I’m not religious, but I really do believe that there is a force much bigger than ourselves and that everything stems from that. I look back on even the last few years of my life, and I can see very clearly why some things didn’t work out, why the tough times happened and why things that I thought “didn’t go my way” didn’t. They made me stronger, wiser, and it may sound silly, but I’m proud of the person I’ve become because of them. I’m beyond grateful for all of it in fact. What you need to focus on in life is really so simple. Be kind. Be a good person. Learn about who you are and what makes you happy. Work hard, but enjoy what you do – life is way too short to be stuck doing something you hate. I’m now at a point where I’m seeing things so much clearer than I used to. I’ve changed my fear of the unknown with the curiosity of a child and it’s the way to live! Wouldn’t life be hella boring if we knew exactly what each day would bring?! I like to think of my life(and you should think of yours) like a film or book, and I’m always excited to see what the next chapter will bring (and all I can say is that in my life, if it’s not good, it sure as hell will be interesting haha) I read a quote recently that said “Embrace Uncertainty. Some of the most beautiful chapters in our lives won’t have a title until much later.” If you feel like your life is falling apart right now, I promise you it’s not. Yasmin xxxx Coat - Zara
Jumper - H&M Jeans - Zara Beanie - Zara Kicks - Adidas Photos by Greg Dalleau Dresses.ie are quickly becoming one of Ireland's leading online fashion retailers with fashionistas all over the country discovering raving about it, and if you’ve checked out the offerings from their latest collections it’s easy to see why. The Summer Collection captures the seasons major trends from lace to ruffles and is perfect whether you’re hitting up the festivals in Ireland or if you’re jetting off somewhere with a slightly more tropical climate! Last week I got a first look at the collection and I left wanting pretty much everything. The pieces are bang on trend but just a little bit different – real stand out pieces. I’m definitely after the Wrap Flute Sleeve Dress from the Festival Collection! They also have some amazing staple pieces – ripped jeans, Rock-tee, Boho vibes. It’s these easy, throw on pieces that will keep you looking on point even on those days when you mightn't feel like such a fashionista :) The site is also super affordable, but without compromising on the quality of the clothes at all.
The entire collection is available to buy right now on www.dresses.ie/ Thanks for popping by! Chat soon, Yasmin xxxx With the weekend finally with us, I thought I'd share with you some 'wining and dining' inspiration because weekends are for doing exactly that! If there's one thing I love about Dublin it's the huge choice of amazing places to eat and drink! There's something to suit everyone and there always seems to be a new bar or restaurant cropping up to check out (I still have many to work my way through!) I feel like a I could write an entire guide of the best places to go but for now, here are six that stand out to me as places that if you haven't already - you NEED to!!! For Cocktails: 37 Dawson Street After a long weeks work I enjoy absolutely nothing more than a catch up with some friends in a great bar over a nice cocktail – and for me there’s simply nowhere better than 37, I don't even know where to begin, I can’t say enough good things about the place! 37 is not just another generic Dublin bar. It’s original, unique, it exudes class but not in a rigid way. 37 has a real London vibe I think -a hideaway of supreme style in the heart of Dublin. It’s perfect whatever mood you’re in whether that’s dance all night long or just chill out in the Whiskey Bar. The decor is stunning but also different and fresh and the service is top class. They handpick their staff and it really comes across in everything from the banter over the bar to the drinks(those cocktails though!) How did I discover it? I actually bartended there when it first opened about 5 years ago now! But I worked in MANY bars throughout my college years and it’s the only one that if anyone ever asks I will recommend without hesitation. Also, if it’s grub you’re after, 37 also has an incredible restaurant upstairs(also stunning) and they also have an insane bar food menu! See 37dawsonstreet.ie/ For Coffee: I’ve definitely developed a taste for coffee over the last while and I find that now I really appreciate a decent cup of coffee! There are so many places that could be here, but I’ve narrowed it down to my favourite three! Nicks Coffee Company The first time I tried this place I genuinely started thinking of moving to Ranelagh just so I could drink this every morning! This gem is a tiny kiosk in the heart of the lovely village of Ranelagh with just a few tables for customers outside. It’s got a super friendly, warm atmosphere and the coffee is TO DIE FOR. You can also buy their own locally roasted coffee beans to take home too! Fallon & Byrne I dashed in here on a desperate caffeine hunt one morning and was very glad I did. It’s one of them times where you think to yourself ‘Dayumm I’ve been missing out on that!’ Simply delicious. See www.fallonandbyrne.com/ Clement & Pekoe Whereas the others are more of a quick coffee dash, Clement & Pekoe is a great place to sit with a friend and have a chat or simply relax on the bench outside and do a bit of people watching. Great coffee and always a good buzz about the place. See clementandpekoe.com/ For the Health Nuts: Cornucopia Thankfully health and wellness is the topic of our generation and we are spoilt for choice when it comes to eating out in Dublin. There is always somewhere new popping up and I could write a post dedicated to just that, but for now I’ll share my current favourite! Cornucopia is a vegan restaurant right in the heart of the city and the food is amazing! You can tell that the guys here are passionate about what they do. Everything is fresh and locally sourced, and the menu is really exciting and inventive which I love. They do an amazing sweet potato, butter bean and roast garlic soup (just try it!) They also have their very own cookbook, so if you’re feeling (very) ambitious you can recreate some of the dishes at home! See www.cornucopia.ie/ For Wings: Wishbone Naturally plenty of restaurants claim to have the best wings in town, but I think it’s safe to say Wishbone is up there at the top! I’m not a meat eater at all, but when I popped in there last week on a whim the smell alone drove me mad! Wings are really the main focus of the place and they have loads of variations. They also do some serious sweet potato fries! See www.wishbone-dublin.com/ For Indian: Jewel in the Crown 25 years on and Jewel in the Crown is still one of the most popular Indians in the city. If you love authentic Indian food you will go mad for this place. I think Indian is a really interesting option for dinner with all the little side dishes and different options. It really feels like a treat! The atmosphere in the restaurant is really cosy and somewhere you can sit back, chill out with a friend over a nice meal. My favourite thing about this restaurant is the vegan menu – healthy but delicious!! You can also order brown rice if you’re trying to be good. This is a great take away option too when you want something healthy and delicious fast!! See www.jewelinthecrown.ie/ Have a great weekend everyone! Chat soon, Yasmin xxxx I love fitness and it really has become a part of my life, but as fitness goes I really do categorize myself as quite lazy!! I used to be a lot more dedicated and went through phases of running and weight-lifting, but I can safely say those days are long gone! That said, I still look after myself and I suppose ‘get it done’. I just don’t kill myself. Here’s my lazy gals guide to keeping fit! Floor Workouts These aren’t as easy as they look! But if you’re not into jumping around and just the just the thoughts of burpees and squat jumps are enough to make you feel queezy, floor workouts are your new best friend! There are loads of mat exercises you can do to work your whole body. Make your own little routines, and stick on your favourite tunes and you’ll be flying! Here are a few of my favourites: Glute Bridge This is an amazing exercise for your bum(an area I need to pay more attention to!) You can add a weight if you want to feel it even more. Side leg raises Again these are working your bum while also working your legs and tummy. I try and incorporate these every second day. Kick-backs Ok so you may have guessed I’m on a mission for a bum! Plank Everyone’s favourite(NOT!) Push-Ups Push-Up are amazing for toning your arms – I won’t lie though, I’m brutal at them but still try add them in even once a week! Do what you actually enjoy In my opinion, if you’re absolutely hating your workouts and dread thoughts of it, you’re wasting your time. You’ll never stick to it and more importantly – Who wants to be miserable?? If you like going to them gym, great – If you love pilates, do that, yoga, running, dancing, weight-lifting… Do what you enjoy and your whole attitude towards fitness will change. Rest Listen to your body. If you’re tired take it easy. In the past, there’ve been time when I’ve felt exhausted, stressed from work, even sick and still pushed myself to do something telling myself “No pain, No Gain Girl!!” But I’ve learned to be kinder to myself. Balance is every aspect of your life is so, so important. Walk Life is so sedentary nowadays and our bodies really do go into lazy-mode when we don’t move. Walking is such an easy thing to fit into your day. I absolutely love nothing more than taking a walk in the evenings after a long day – I find it almost like a form of meditation! It gives me a chance to gather my thoughts and just breathe. So it’s just a bonus that you’re getting in a little exercise. Short Spurts Everyone has different goals, but for the vast majority of us, the main aim is to be a healthy weight and just be healthy in general. A few years back I was mad into cycling and even did a charity cycle from Dublin to Kilkenny at one point – nowadays the thoughts of it make me tired! I now prefer short bursts of exercise squeezed into my day in the morning or the evening that are enough to give me a new burst of energy, rather than tiring me out! It’s easy to feel intimidated by the #fitfam culture of today and jusy give up totally! The trick is to just do a little bit here and there, do what you enjoy, take care of yourself and everything else will fall into place. Have a great week everyone! Chat soon, Yasmin xxxx I feel like in Ireland at the moment, you almost have to guess if a girls hair is real or not! All I can say is that the hair extensions industry is the business to be in! Don’t get me wrong, as someone who has had damaged hair in the past I’ve had them myself and loved them to bits. If you get it done by a professional and the hair used is of high quality they really can look amazing! But being totally honest I always felt a bit weird having someone else’s hair mixed in with my own! I really think that there’s nothing nicer than a head of natural hair that is actually your own. So I decided to take the extensions out and really start looking after my hair. I’ve been going to The Hive Salon in Dublin for about three years now and I praise the lord for the day I decided to walk in there! I feel as if my hair literally improved with every visit! I could keep rambling here, but I’ll get straight to it. Here is basically how I changed my hair from damaged and dull to healthy and shiny! Daily Nourishment I never used to really put anything in my hair on a daily basis, which makes zero sense if you think about it – I mean you wouldn’t not moisturize your skin everyday, so why should your hair be any different?? Nobody wants oily looking hair, so everyday I use a dry-oil which still gives your hair the love it needs without looking greasy. There are a few of these on the market, at the moment I’m using one from OGX which is available in Boots or online See it here:www.ogxbeauty.com/shop/argan-oil-of-morocco/weightless-healing-dry-oil/ Treatments The Hive introduced me to a keratin treatment that is AMAZING! It’s made my hair so soft and silky and really just more manageable. For more information check out www.facebook.com/TheHiveSalonDublin/ Good quality Shampoo I can’t emphasize enough the importance of using a good quality shampoo that is sulfate-free. I know it’s a little bit more expensive, but its honestly so worth it for the damage your saving on your hair. I managed to find a decent one that’s affordable too! Its also from the OgX range. See it here: www.boots.ie/ogx-ever-straight-brazilian-keratin-therapy-shampoo-385ml-10128765 Trim every six weeks I used to never do this, regardless of what the professionals told me! The team in The Hive finally persuaded me to start getting regular trims and my hair only really started growing when I gave in. Make it a priority to get into the salon every six weeks to get rid of those split ends and you will thank yourself in the future! Coconut oil Mask Coconut oil does wonders for your hair but it's hella messy! I just try and do this once a week - simply melt some coconut oil( a lot in my case) and massage it all through the mid-lengths and ends of your hair, leave it for a few hours or overnight and its amazing for the condition of your hair. Hopefully there's a tip or two that you can try out! Chat soon Yasmin xx |
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