Irregular Choice Muppets Collection: My Top Five Picks

 

In today's fast paced world of online networking, it can often feel like new products are being hurled at us from every angle. From social media 'influencers' to celebrity endorsements, it's difficult to keep up with what's on trend and what's old news as our feeds are saturated by a constant stream of fat burning energy drinks and shimmery eye shadow tutorials. I suppose it's just gotten to a stage where I aimlessly scroll through Instagram, Facebook and Twitter without actually taking in what I'm looking at. Truth be told, there is so much repetition within the fashion and beauty industry that everything has kind of merged together in my mind as one large mass of nude lips, smokey eyes and bodycon dresses. (All of which I wear, I might add...) However once in a while, there comes a collection that's just too exciting to ignore. Something that makes your lightning fast fingers come to a halt as you flick through your Instagram Explore page. Something that's so gaudy and so over the top that you can't actually decide whether or not it should even be a thing. Yes my friends, Irregular Choice have done it again...

Irregular Choice are a UK based footwear and accessories company who are renowned for their unique and quirky designs. Founded by designer Dan Sullivan back in the late 1990s, Irregular Choice began as a way for Sullivan to express his creativity and pay tribute to his roots as a punk and an outcast. Since the beginning, Irregular Choice has made a name for itself as a brand that isn't afraid to push boundaries and explore new styles. A favourite on the alternative fashion scene, Irregular Choice takes inspiration from subcultures such as punk, goth and rockabilly to create amazing designs that really are the stuff of dreams. As a teenager, I would spend my Saturdays lovingly staring through the window of a local shoe shop, completely in awe of their display of Irregular Choice heels. I would tell myself that one day, when I was older and cool, I would be able to buy beautiful shoes like that. (That day has yet to come. I'm still not cool...)

Shop Here: https://www.irregularchoice.com/womens/high-heels/tabbris-a.html?___SID=U

Over the years, Irregular Choice have continued to produce new and exciting designs unlike any other footwear on the market. From frills and sequins to their iconic heel designs, it's almost impossible to pass a pair of Irregular Choice shoes without picking them up and shouting over to your friend 'OMG, look at these!' before noticing the display behind them of unicorn loafers and cupcake kitten heels and having a meltdown over the fact that the heels have a tiny princess figure inside them that literally spins around and plays music. (True story!)

 

Shop Here: https://www.irregularchoice.com/disney/star-wars/glitzy-artoo-a.html

 

 

As if they could get any cooler, Irregular Choice have branched out even further through collaborations with companies such as Disney, creating beautiful designs inspired by Star Wars, Disney Princesses and now...The Muppets! Recently, the brand released their newest collection, a collaboration with everyone's favourite little furballs, The Muppets. Following the success of their Star Wars and Princess designs, Irregular Choice decided to go even further with their love of popular culture to bring to us a collection so outrageous that it would make Miss Piggy blush. These designs are definitely not for the faint hearted but as a lover of all things big, bold and retro, they make me more excited than Animal! Here are my top five pieces from the collection...

1. Original Diva

Shop Here: https://www.irregularchoice.com/disney/disney-muppets/original-diva-a.html

2. All About Moi

Shop Here: https://www.irregularchoice.com/disney/disney-muppets/all-about-moi-b.html

3. Who Moi Bag

Shop Here: https://www.irregularchoice.com/disney/disney-muppets/who-moi-bag-a.html

4. Daredevil Bag

Shop Here: https://www.irregularchoice.com/disney/disney-muppets/daredevil-bag-a.html

 

5. She's Hip He's Hop

Shop Here: https://www.irregularchoice.com/disney/disney-muppets/she-s-hip-he-s-hop-a.html

Ok, so they're not the kind of things you'd throw on if you were nipping out for a pint of milk but you can't deny that these are completely badass. It's clear that every detail of these pieces have been designed with such a unique vision and the end result really is something to behold. These pieces are excellent examples of how Irregular Choice, as a company, continue to strive for top quality and originality within a market where thinking outside the social media box isn't always prioritised. Irregular Choice isn't everyone's cup of tea but they deserve to be commended for their ability to deliver fresh and fun ideas and make us question how we ever lived without a pair of Miss Piggy cowboy boots.



Photos from www.irregularchoice.com

Unnecessary Festival Fashion

So, it's that time of year again. Festival season is upon us. Time to dust off your old wellies and break out the raincoat, right? Well, wrong apparently as these days it seems that practicality has been tossed in favour of face jewels and body glitter. Don't get me wrong, I'm all for creativity and expressing yourself through fashion. You do you. Get down with ya bad self. Festivals can be a great chance for doing something a bit crazier with your look but seriously gals, you have to think practically. Gigi Hadid might look unreal in her booty shorts and fringed bralet as she saunters around Coachella but this look won't have the same effect when you're standing in a field in Stradbally in the torrential rain while your Coco Brown streams into a puddle. Here's a list of my top five unessential festival items.

Too Many Jewels

Ok, I know these are all the rage and I probably sound like a begrudging old witch but seriously, this whole face and body jewel thing has gotten way out of hand. It started off with a dash of glitter under the eyes and now young ones are going around in full jewel encrusted body armour looking like the damn Tin Man. Maybe I'm just jealous. Jealous of the fact that I can't even wear regular foundation without it sweating off around my mouth and making me look like Homer Simpson. Of course face jewels can look fabulous and I am amazed at the work that goes into creating these looks but I can't help but wonder what those perfectly placed gem stones will look like after a few naggins and a sweaty shift behind the portaloos.

Tons of Accessories

When it comes to festivals, less really is more. I know, sometimes accessories can make an outfit and while a flower crowns and chokers can seem like the perfect way to dress something up, there is a fine line between an accessory and nuisance. When you're at a festival, you want to be able to relax and enjoy yourself so the last thing you want if something wrecking your head or causing you unnecessary pain all day long. Chunky belts, dangling jewellery, anything tight, heavy or capable of rubbing against your skin should be avoided at all costs. Coco Chanel once said "before leaving the house, a lady should look in the mirror and remove one accessory." In this case, before leaving the house, a lady should look in the mirror and remove the glittery unicorn horn. You don't need it and it will probably end up being snatched off your head by some culchie singing Maniac 2000.

Impractical Clothing

It always amazes me when summer rolls around and I see the some of the shite that's being advertised as 'festival fashion'. Maxi skirts/dresses being one. Now don't get me wrong, I love a good maxi, they look dressy without any real effort and bonus, you don't have to shave your legs. However, there is a time and a place for them and unfortunately a festival is neither. Have you ever tried to walk through a muddy field wearing a maxi skirt? You may feel like a free spirited forest nymph but you will end up dragging along a large chunk of said field on the hem of your skirt. Not a good look. Also, playsuits are out of the question. I know, they are super cute and summery but try and consider the toilet situation. (Trying to unbutton a playsuit after a few cans and then having to hover naked over a smelly toilet while some young one hammers on the portaloo door telling you to hurry up.) Yeah...maybe give the playsuit a miss.

 

Impractical Footwear

I think it goes without saying that there are certain shoes that just should not be worn to festivals. Anything with a high heel or an open toe is a huge no-no. This is knowledge that I take for granted and assume that everyone is aware of but I continue to be surprised by the amount of people who wear RIDICULOUS shoes to outdoor music events. Seriously girls, don't be hung up on looking glamorous. Those Western style boots with the chunky heel may go really nicely with your outfit but you have to look beyond your Instagram photos and think about the long-term effects. Blisters, cuts, your heels sinking into the mud. Also, avoid gladiator sandals unless you want your toes to be left in a plaster cast of hardened mud.

Designer Bags

Everyone loves a designer bag and I'd be lying if I said I didn't want one. But gals, there's a time and a place. And a mucky field certainly isn't the place for your YSL blogger bag. Perhaps I sound a bit too over protective but just think about it. Rain, dirt, muck and not to mention the possibility of it being stolen by some little scourge. Get yourself a cheap little cross body bag from Penneys and be on your merry way. The same goes for jewellery and accessories. Leave your Michael Kors watch and your Ray Bans at home and invest in some cheaper alternative that you won't have to stress over. You can enjoy yourself without worrying about carrying your life savings under your arm in the form of a bag the size of a Tic Tac box.

The Five Emotional Stages of Clearing out Your Wardrobe

 

 

 

 

Ah March, that time of the year when New Year's resolutions already seem like a distant memory. When all those hopes you had of going for runs every day and drinking green smoothies have been tossed in favour of spice bags and cans. If you're like me and have accepted the fact that you have no willpower when it comes to dieting, you begin to look at other areas of your life and wonder what you can do to feel less shit (with absolutely minimal effort). Of course! A spring clean. A new outlook on life, out with the old and in with the new, a healthy space leads to a healthy mind...and all those other 'feel good' slogans that you see printed on Pennys workout gear. What better place to start than your wardrobe. They say that a wardrobe clear out can do wonders. You throw out all your old crap and suddenly find your true sense of self as you're free from all the bad stuff that's cluttering up your life. Sounds like a wonderful, spiritual experience right? WRONG! Maybe I'm not a mindful person. Or maybe I'm just the human equivalent of Oscar the Grouch. Either way, I think we can all agree that clearing out your wardrobe can be an extremely stressful task. Here are the five emotional stages one goes through when attempting a wardrobe clear out...

 

Determination

You start of with the best intentions. You're sick of looking at a messy wardrobe and you want a fresh, new start. You have your roll of bin bags on hand and you're ready to get ruthless. You're going to get rid of every piece of crap you haven't worn in the last six months. One bag for the bin and anything that doesn't have tan or any other unidentifiable stain on it will be sent to the charity shop (because you're new-found Zen has made you care about the human race). You're ready to get stuck in and not stop until every peplum top from 2010 is out of your sight for good.

 

Confusion

About mid-way through (when your organisation technique is slowly beginning to wear thin) you're hit with that nagging confusion and begin to wonder how the hell you managed to accumulate so many clothes. Where did they all come from?! And how, despite this mass cultivation of crap, do you never seem to have anything to wear? This question is later answered as you delve deeper into the abyss and discover things which make you question your own mental stability. A metallic wrap dress with a Boohoo tag still attached to it. Purple jeans that have zips going down the side of the legs. When were these ever a thing and why on earth did you pay money for them?!

 

 

Nostalgia

After the determination has worn off and you become buried under a mountain of polyester, you begin to dig out some old gems that briefly distract you from the horror at hand. That string top you wore every day in summer 2007, your first pair of converse, numerous items of clothing that you 'borrowed' from your friends. Each one reminds you of a different period of your life, both good and band, which makes it hard to ever get rid of them. This nostalgia usually leads to you wasting at least thirty minutes trying to squeeze back into your old bodycon dresses and convincing yourself that you can't throw out those diamanté cowboy boots. Sure if you throw them away then there's no doubt you'll be invited to a Western-themed birthday party next week and you'll be absolutely raging.

 

 

 

Regret

After the nostalgia has worn away, and you finally accept the fact that you're just not fitting into those old disco pants, you begin to wonder why the hell you started this in the first place. Sitting on your bedroom floor, as mountains of clothes pile up around you, you cast your mind back to a few hours previous when you had such high hopes of getting your life together. You were so determined to get this done and, like a fool, you believed in yourself! As you look around the room, surveying the chaos that you created, you start to imagine how big the crane will be when they have to rip off the roof and lift you out after you become consumed by the mess in your cesspit of a bedroom.

 

 

Acceptance

After numerous mini-meltdowns you eventually pull yourself together and decide to power through so you can finally be rid of this horrible task. You're filling up bin bags left, right and centre and you finally start to see the mess subside. Your wardrobe becomes visible again and you start hanging and folding every item of clothing neatly and precisely. You promise yourself that you will continue doing this from now on and you will never let your wardrobe get that bad again. As you stand back and look at your newly organised wardrobe, you feel a great sense of pride and accomplishment. You remind yourself how good it feels when things are neat and in order. But who are you kidding? Although this provides you with a mild sense of satisfaction, you know deep down that you have no real intentions of keeping things tidy and those bin bags full of clothes will probably sit on the landing for the next two months until you finally get rid of them...

 

 

 

 

 

 

 



What I got in New York: Sephora, Tiffany & Co, Disney Store & More

 

 

 

It goes without saying that if you love to shop, New York is the place for you. The city has such a wide variety of shops and pretty much anything that you could want, they have it! From the more high end brands of Macy's and Bloomingdales to the outlet malls where you are bound to pick up a bargain, New York really has something for everyone. When it comes to shopping, I'm more of an online kinda gal. I don't care for spending hours trawling around shops and when I do go shopping, I usually have some idea of what I want so I can try to get in and out as soon as possible!

Before travelling to New York, I had a list of a few things that I wanted to pick up while I was there. These were mainly makeup products from Sephora but, while walking around in the city, a few other things managed to catch my eye. I am not rich, by any means, and I don't want this post to come across as bragging. A lot of hard work and saving went into this holiday so I was able to treat myself more than I normally would...or probably ever will again!

 

 

 

Sephora

•  Anastasia Beverly Hills Modern Renaissance Palette

 

This was a product that I was unsure of for quite a while. Although it was hyped up so much in the beauty community, I was worried that all those red shades combined with my lack of makeup skills would lead to me creating a look that embodied the symptoms of conjunctivitis. However when I saw it in the store, I really liked the look of it. The palette contains a variety of warm shades which are extremely pigmented and complimentary to all skin tones. This palette cost $42 and I definitely think that it's worth the money as the quality is excellent and you can create so many looks, for day or night, using these shades. (Even though I mostly end up wearing the same look every day!)

 

Check it out here: http://www.sephora.com/modern-renaissance-eye-shadow-palette-P409118?skuId=1820406&icid2=products

•  Anastasia Beverly Hills DIPBROW Pomade

 

This is a product that I had wanted to try for ages as my friends had been raving about it. In Ireland, Anastasia Beverly Hills is only available to buy online and I was unsure what shade to go for judging by the colour samples provided. There were so many different ones and I knew that if I chose one myself I'd probably end up looking like Groucho Marx. I decided to wait until I was in Sephora so I could try out the tester shades and get advice from one of the makeup artists. In the end, I went for the shade 'soft brown' as my natural eyebrows are quite dark so I didn't want anything too harsh. I've been using this every day since I bought it and I'm really liking it so far. It has a lovely creamy consistency and is very easy to apply. When it comes to this product, a little goes a long way and you only need to use a small amount when filling in your brows. This cost $18 and, I've been told, it takes a long time to use up so it's well worth the money!

 

Check it out here: http://www.sephora.com/dipbrow-pomade-P384060

 

• Kat Von D Lock-It Tattoo Foundation

 

 

This is another product which I had been wanting to try for a long time. Recently, Kat Von D's makeup line became available to buy online from Debenhams in Ireland but I was unsure what shade to go for as there are so many to choose from. This foundation is $35 which is on the pricey side so I wanted to be sure that I was getting the right colour before buying it. One of the makeup artists in Sephora tested a few shades on me and in the end I went for '44 Cool'. I've used this foundation a few times since I bought it and it's definitely one of the best foundations I've used. It matches really well with my natural skin tone and gives excellent coverage without feeling too cakey. I've been wearing this with the Kat Von D Lock-It Setting Powder which works really well and makes my makeup last a lot longer than it normally would.

 

Check out both products here: http://www.sephora.com/lock-it-tattoo-foundation-P311138

 

http://www.sephora.com/lock-it-setting-powder-P409988

• Kat Von D Tattoo Liner

 

 



One of the cult products from the Kat Von D range, this liner is well worth the hype. I bought this eyeliner for the first time back in September and it's still going strong. While I was in New York, I picked up another one as I accidently (conveniently) forgot to pack old one. I am the absolute worst when it comes to applying eyeliner but this is very easy to use and gives a really neat, precise line. For some unknown reason, my left eye always gets really watery and my eyeliner usually starts to smudge as soon as I leave the house. However, this liner really has stood the test of time when it comes to my leaky eye! At $20, its not the cheapest on the market but I would highly recommend this for anyone who struggles with eyeliner and wants a long lasting, easy to use product.

 

Check it out here: http://www.sephora.com/tattoo-liner-P245205

 

• Benefit CORALista Blush

 

 

This was another product that I was re-purchasing for the second time. It's a cult classic from Benefit and the subtle coral shade looks great on so many different skin tones. In this world of extreme contouring, blush is something that is often forgotten or deemed a bit grannyish. I'll admit that there was a long period of time where I wasn't bothered about wearing blush at all but I'm very glad that I bought this again. It comes with a handy brush and by sweeping a small amount across the apples of your cheeks, gives the skin a healthy boost of colour.

 

Check it out here: http://www.sephora.com/coralista-box-o-powder-blush-P229206



•  Too Faced Better Than Sex Mascara



 

When it comes to makeup, I am a shameful culprit of keeping things for way longer than I should. They said that you should change your mascara every three months but I genuinely couldn't remember when I had bought thelast mascara that I was using. I decided it was time to do myself a favour and pick up a new one while in New York. There are so many different mascaras on the market, both drugstore and high end, but one that I had heard a lot of good things about was the Too Faced Better Than Sex Mascara. This was $23 which is probably the most I've ever spent on a mascara. I can't even give a proper review of this as I haven't used it yet. I had eyelash extensions done the day before I went away so I'm still clinging to the last of the remaining lashes. I'm hoping that this mascara  this will give my stubby natural eyelashes a well needed boost when the lash extensions eventually wither away.

Check it out here: http://www.sephora.com/better-than-sex-mascara-P381000

Mac

• Velvet Teddy & Brave



I had not intended to shop at Mac while in New York as, unlike Sephora, the same products are available in Ireland for basically the same price. However, there was a Mac shop right next door to our hotel so it would have been rude not to go in for a look! Even though I had swore I wasn't going to buy anything, I did end up picking up two of my old reliable favourites, Velvet Teddy (left) and Brave (right). Velvet Teddy was bought as a gift for my sister but I got Brave for myself as I was literally trying to scrape the last bit out of my old one. Brave is a lovely, wearable nude which is moisturising on the lips and great for everyday wear (hence why it looks so grubby in the photo). These lipsticks cost $17 each as well as a $3 tax.

Check them out here: http://www.maccosmetics.com/product/13854/310/products/makeup/lips/lipstick/lipstick#/shade/Velvet_Teddy

http://www.maccosmetics.com/product/13854/310/products/makeup/lips/lipstick/lipstick#/shade/Brave

Tiffany & Co

 

 

This was one of my most expensive purchases in New York. I had always admired Tiffany jewellery and really wanted a nice keepsake from New York. Including tax, this necklace cost about $170 (I can't remember the exact amount and I think I deliberately 'lost' the receipt so I wouldn't have to remember my shame). Its a really nice, simple piece which I keep trying to justify by telling myself that it will go with everything!

Check it out here: http://www.tiffany.com/gifts/gifts-for-her/return-to-tiffany-heart-tag-pendant-GRP01461

Kate Spade

 

 

Kate Spade was not a designer that I had heard much about before but when I was in Macys, I completely fell in love with her designs. Her range of jewellery and accessories offers a quirky take on classic pieces which really stood out to me. This watch was part of a 25% off offer that day but it still worked out at about $160 which certainly isn't a bargain. I had originally planned on getting a Fitbit watch but, as usual, I chose style over sense!

 

Check it out here: https://www.katespade.com/products/leading-lady-metro-watch/KSW1210.html

Alex and Ani

 



Another impulse buy, as we just happened to stumble across an Alex and Ani shop one day when we got lost! This Frog Prince charm bracelet is part of their Valentine's Day collection and I just thought it was so cute. This is definitely one of my favourite things that I picked up in New York and I've been wearing it ever since. This little guy cost about $38 and is a nice addition to any Alex and Ani collection.

 

Check it out here: http://www.alexandani.com/frog-prince-charm-bangle.html

 

Alex and Ani also have a new range called the Liberty Copper Collection which, they claim, contains genuine copper from the Statue of Liberty. I saw some of these pieces while in New York and wasn't really mad about the design but they may be of interest to those looking for a nice gift or keepsake from New York.

 

Check it out here: http://www.alexandani.com/collections/liberty-copper.html

 

Pandora

 

 

 

 

This charm was bought as a gift for my mother to add to her Pandora bracelet as something special from 'The Big Apple'. This is actually Snow White's apple from the Disney Collection but there are a range of charms which are exclusive to New York City and available in all Pandora stores in New York. Including tax, this worked out at about $72 ,which is frankly a ridiculous amount of money to pay for something the size of a toenail, but it is a really pretty piece for Pandora collectors.

 

Check it out here: http://www.pandora.net/en-au/products/charms/791572en73

 

Urban Outfitters

 

 

I bought this in Urban Outfitters, completely unaware that it was a Stone Cold Steve Austin t-shirt. I know very little about wrestling and, despite the dead giveaways, I just thought it was a t-shirt with a cool skull design! This is from the brand Junk Food and it was $39. (A ridiculous price to pay considering they probably sold these t-shirts in the market for about a fiver in 1999!)

 

Check it out here: http://www.urbanoutfitters.com/urban/catalog/productdetail.jsp?id=41530114&category=BRANDS

 

 

 

 

Although it's one of my most boring buys from New York, this belt is probably one of my favourites. I had wanted a Western style belt for so long and genuinely just never got around to buying one. This belt was $28 and I have gotten so much wear out of it since I bought it. It looks great with jeans, dresses and adds a nice detail to any outfit that's a bit plain or boring.



Check it out here: http://www.urbanoutfitters.com/uk/catalog/productdetail.jsp?id=5772316701002&category=WOMENS-BELTS-EU

 

Sketchers

 



Definitely something that's not for everyone. I know that some people refuse to wear Sketchers because they think they're ugly but, trust me, you are missing out on the joy of sheer comfort and bliss. For a long time, I had considered getting a pair of Sketchers to wear to work as I spend the day on my feet and I genuinely have the knees of an 85 year old. I had somehow always put off buying a pair as I thought they were very expensive but while I was in New York I decided that I may as well invest in a decent pair of shoes considering I'd already spent an extortionate amount on makeup and jewellery. These were $65, which is expensive, but they are worth every penny as they are so lightweight and comfortable.

Check them out here: https://www.skechers.com/en-us/style/14901/skechers-gowalk-4-all-day-comfort/bkgy

The Disney Store

If you are visiting Times Square, the Disney Store is a must-see. The store is absolutely fantastic, for young and old, and offers a wide range of toys, clothes and other Disney memorabilia. One of the most popular collections in the Disney Store is the Tsum Tsum collection. This design is of Japanese origin and interprets traditional Disney characters as cute, cylindrical shaped blobs (that's the best description I could come up with). My boyfriend bought this medium sized Minnie Mouse Statue of Liberty plush as a gift for his sister and it worked out at about $25. There are three different sizes, small medium and large, and this particular Tsum Tsum is available exclusively at the Times Square Disney Store.

Check it out here: http://disneytsumtsum.com/i-love-new-york-mickey-and-statue-of-liberty-minnie-tsum-tsums-released-online/

While we were there, there was also a deal running on the Tsum Tsum plush toys where you could buy one and get a selected one for $5. Unfortuntely, the New York Tsum Tsums were not included in this deal but there were many others which would make a nice gift for any Disney lover in your life.

 

 

Of course, it would be physically impossible for me to leave the Disney Store without getting something for myself. After much deliberation, and I mean about an hour inspecting every Tsum Tsum and plush toy in the place, I eventually decided on this little angel, Flower the skunk from Bambi. Although I will probably end up on 'Extreme Hoarders' some day, consumed by a pile of Disney toys, I just couldn't resist!

 

Check it out here: https://www.disneystore.com/plush-toys-flower-plush-bambi-small-9-12/mp/1421543/1000267/

 

Souvenirs

 

 

I love a good tacky souvenir and New York is full to the brim of all the cheesy shops that you could possibly need. No holiday would be complete without some fridge magnets and key rings to take home and these are just a few of what I have left as I have already given some as gifts to family and friends. One thing I will say is that souvenirs can be an absolute rip off so it's often better to purchase them from shops outside of the centre of Times Square as these are usually the most expensive. I made the mistake of buying key rings from one of the larger souvenir shops, which cost me about 3.99 each but then came across the same ones for 99c in a smaller shop down the street!  

 

 

 

 

And of course, I couldn't come home without a present for Chilli. This NYPD vest was $14.99, an expensive price to pay for a dog outfit but worth every penny just to see how bloody cute he looked!

 

 











Things In Life That Don't Bother Me

I am not a perfectionist in any sense of the word. For the most part, I consider myself a fairly laid back and easy going person who takes things as they come. Often, I find myself looking at other people and thinking 'Wow, they really seem to have their life together. They always look so stylish and neat and I bet they smell good all the time' In the age of social media, I suppose it's inevitable that we will end up comparing ourselves to others at some stage. Whether it be fashion, fitness, makeup, you wonder how some people manage to get it so right all the time and you always just seem to end up getting it wrong. Despite the occasional existential crisis which leads me to believe that I am the human embodiment of shite, I feel that I have managed to come to terms with the fact that I will never be perfect and there are some things in life that I just do not care about...

Uneven eyeliner

I am aware that this is something that drives other people crazy but eyeliner is not something that I have any passion for at all. I have nothing but admiration for you talented individuals out there that can create eye makeup akin to the frescoes in the Sistine Chapel, but my own skills are severely lacking in this department. Don't get me wrong, I have tried so hard. I've used so many different eyeliners and watched an infinite amount of tutorials but I just cannot seem to master the art of the eyeliner flick. In the past, this is something which would have sent me into a furious rage while doing my makeup, with me throwing myself on the bed and refusing to leave the house, but nowadays I've become more accepting of my wonky flicks. Anything that remotely resembles a line is good enough for me.

Dog hair on my clothes

Perhaps I have been so blinded by love for my dogs that their hair has become invisible to my naked eye. Yes I know that they shed and I am aware that I leave the house most days looking like Bigfoot but it just doesn't bother me anymore. Some may read this with complete disgust but if you have a pet that sheds then you'll know that being covered in hair is simply unavoidable. I know that there are ways of getting rid of it (I do own a lint roller, I'm not a complete savage) but sometimes I just cannot be arsed. Unless I'm going 'out out', a quick brush over with my hands is about as much effort as I can muster. I know people probably look at me in public and think that I'm a filthy animal but when I see another person with pet hair on their leggings I have nothing but understanding towards those who bear the emblem of their furry children.

Broken nails

In the past year or so, I have found myself caught in the vicious cycle of acrylic nails. You know, when you decide to get your nails done once and then your natural nails become so damaged and revolting that you are forced to continue getting acrylics again and again. I love having my nails done. It may sound stupid but when you have your nails done you feel like you have at least one area of your life in order. When you have your nails done, it gives you an undeniable confidence that allows you to live your life without having to worry about hiding your nail-bitten sausage fingers away from the world. I have my nails done fairly regularly but, as I work in a shop, I usually end up breaking at least one within a few days. I know that I could go back to the salon and have them repair the broken nail but jaysus, the effort... This is something that other people probably can't stand but I have grown to accept my broken nails and view them not as an inconvenience but more so a useful tool which provides easy access to pressing buttons and picking my nose. The same goes for toenails. Often, I forget I even have toenails. During the winter months my neglected  trotters are hidden away in boots and runners and it isn't until I want to wear an open toed shoe that I realise my toenails are so long I could probably climb trees with those bad boys.

Wearing the same pair of jeans for an unhygienic length of time

If you are a person who's body parts require a different array of sizes, then you will know that finding a pair of jeans that actually fits you properly is like finding Willy Wonka's Golden Ticket. Everyone's body shape is different and despite the wide variety of jeans that are on the market these days, (seriously, does anyone really understand what 'boyfriend jeans' are?) it can be a strenuous task to find a pair of jeans that fits you just right. When you do manage to hit the jackpot and discover the jeans that are right for you, they become your go-to fashion item for every occasion. I suppose I am a bit of a hoarder when it comes to clothes and I will wear things until they are threadbare rags. If I find clothes that I like, I will keep them for years and will continue to wear them despite looking like an extra in Angela's Ashes. A good pair of jeans become your saviour when you can't find anything to wear. You know that your old reliable jeans will always be there to be paired with a 'nice top' on those nights when you have half a bottle of wine in you and decide on a last minute trip to the pub. I have no shame in admitting that I have worn the same pair of jeans for days, sometimes weeks, without washing them. Putting your good jeans in the wash is like Russian roulette as you might not need them but could find yourself in a desperate situation, such as the one mentioned above, with absolutely nothing to wear except some leggings that are covered in dog hair. For this reason, I feel that I am doing myself a favour by not washing my jeans. I don't care if I've been wearing them for two weeks straight, sure spraying deodorant on them is basically like dry shampoo for clothes right?

'Missing out'

I can safely say that I am not a person who suffers from FOMO (Fear of Missing Out). Perhaps when I was younger this was something that bothered me a lot more like when I couldn't bear to miss out on walking aimlessly around town with my friends on a Saturday in case I wasn't there when someone made a joke that would be repeated in school for weeks afterwards.

As I've gotten older, and my interest in social events has dwindled, I realise that going out is not something that is an integral part of my life. When I see photos on Facebook of people my age going on nights out, I don't feel like I desperately NEED to be doing that too in order to feel like I'm enjoying myself. Sometimes it can feel like everyone else is moving ahead of you while you're still stuck in the same place. Social media can make us feel inadequate when we see our peers going backpacking around the world or starting their dream job and you begin to wonder what the hell you're going to do with your life. You have to remember that everyone's life moves at a different pace and someone else's goals and ambitions may not necessarily be the same as yours. When I see others making great achievements, I try not to look at it in a way which makes me feel like I'm missing out but more so as inspiration to get where I want to be (wherever that may be). You are bound to feel like a sack of shite at times, we all have our bad days, but just remember that you don't have to have everything figured out right now and you will get there in the end.