#WerkItWednesday How to set and achieve a goal

Hi Everybody! 

Can you believe that tomorrow is the 1st of October? September went so fast don't you think?  By this stage everyone will be settled back into school or college or for some just getting back into work. Two weeks ago I posted my first #WerkItWednesday post which went down a treat and really related to a lot of people. I think that no matter what career or stage of life you are in, we all want to do the very best we can to better ourselves. I love reading business blogs and feel that I learn so much from them. Since we are starting a new month tomorrow I thought it would be a good idea to set some goals and see how much we can achieve. 

1. What goal do you really want to achieve? 

What do you really want? What goal do you want to achieve? Is it a personal goal such as being more confident? Is it a health goal such as losing weight? Or is it career or business related such as getting that promotion reaching a target or launching a new product? Decide what you want and write it down. If you are unsure of what you want look for inspiration in magazines, online or on Pinterest . 

2. Create it! 

Now that you have decided what you want to achieve write it down in a notebook or a dairy, or make a vision board and place the list there too. Surround it with images of what ever it is that you want and look at the list daily Take it in every detail. Set a time frame for achieving that goal. 

3. Baby steps. 

Now that you have created your list or vision board. Start deciding how you are going to make those dreams a reality step by step. What do you need to change about what you are doing or how you are behaving in order to achieve that goal. If you want to lose ten pounds but are stuffing you face with chocolate all day everyday you are not going to lose weight so what must change. Take baby steps, this week cut out chocolate and start walking next week join a gym. Be realistic and really think about what you need to do.

4. Work your booty off! 

If you are really serious about achieving your goal you are going to have to work for it. It wont just happen without hard work and dedication. No one successful got to where they are today without putting in the hours. They have done what ever it takes in order to make it happen. They've worked early mornings, late nights, traveled and have never stopped learning. 

5. Being positive is key! 

Believe in yourself and believe you can make your dreams happen. Do what makes you happy, visualize your goals as if you have already achieved them. Surround yourself with like minded and good people. Stay grounded! Just do it! 

What are your goals for October? 

Until next time...

Your stylishly 

Kerrie x 

   

Glenlo Abbey Hotel Galway 5* Review

Hi Everyone! 

On Sunday I was lucky enough to be invited to attend an Into The West Blogger Network event in Glenlo Abbey Hotel. Where we had 'afternoon tea' with Erika Fox who is the blogger behind Retro Flame. Glenlo Abbey is situated in Kentfield, Bushypark which is only 2 miles outside of Galway city. It is overlooking the River Corrib. The hotel itself is breathtaking. From the drive in you can get a really sense of luxury countryside chic. Glenlo Abbey is a 5* hotel. Surrounded with the most beautiful country landscape, 140 acre lake-side golf course.  It is a golfers dream come true! There is also a whole range of activities available such as falconry and fishing, horse riding, boating, water sports, tennis and hiking. This location is perfect for exploring Connemara and the West of Ireland - set mid-way off the famous Wild Atlantic Way. There is something for all the family - young and old!

With three elegant and opulent reception rooms, the French Room, the Kentfield and the Palmer Bar. Guests can sit back and relax beside the log fires enjoying a drink, reading the news paper (Vogue in my case), or have signature  afternoon tea. The infamous award winning Pullman Restaurant offers a unique dinning experience like no other. The train seats 66 quests with two compartments which seat 6 each, perfect for private dinning. 

The Oak Cellar Bar is situated in the main hotel. It is super cosy with a lively atmosphere, perfect for a casual meal. The River Room Restaurant is elegant and has an old world charm. The Abbey is a graceful gothic 18th Century Abbey and offers quests bespoke dining options, scrumptious food and special attention from their wonderful staff. Seriously their staff are amazing. One of the waiters overheard one of the girls at the event talking about looking at the menu and he brought it down to our table without us even asking! 

Each bedroom in Glenlo Abbey has been beautifully refurbished in 2015. Contemporary interiors yet in keeping with the timeless elegance have been the mainstay of the refurbishment. Guests can relax in luxurious surroundings with plush bedroom furnishings and features, en suite marble bathroom with power shower, free Wi-Fi, luxury toiletries, bathrobes and slippers (the way to my heart), and a flat - screen TV. Many with river and lake views. Upgrade to the luxury of a Grande Suite with four poster beds and complete with separate living and dining areas, these spacious, elegantly furnished suites reflect the true character of this enchanting property. 

Everything about Glenlo Abbey is out of this world. From the moment you walk through the doors you feel so much at home. I arrived to the hotel on my own an went straight into the first reception, I felt like I was sitting in my Grannies sitting room. In a good way that is. It really is as cosy as the pictures. The staff were so friendly and couldn't do enough for us. They were chatty and made us feel so welcome and at ease. We were served delicious fruit punch on arrival and then on to afternoon tea with yummy desserts. I will go into more detail about this in my event post but you really are in for a treat! 

I really hope you enjoyed this review. I always read reviews before I visit restaurants and hotels before visiting them I think they give a true quests view. That is why I wanted to share this with all of my readers so that maybe it will help you next time your visiting Galway or maybe you live in Galway and haven't been before. I hope this helps.

I just want to say a massive Thank you to all the amazing staff at Glenlo Abbey Hotel and I can't wait to return again! 

Until next time! 

Your Stylishly

Kerrie x 

Outfit Locator | Fashion At Your Fingertips

Hi Girls! 

I hope you had a brilliant weekend. Yesterday I was at the most amazing event having 'Afternoon Tea' with none other than Erika Fox who is the blogger behind Retro Flame  So today I am back with a new post.

Outfit Locator  is a new online  fashion boutique and the very first to focus exclusively on available fashion within Ireland. Inspired by Eimear, Martha and Graham their mission is to help you find the perfect outfit to reach your needs, personal taste, body shape and colouring. To bring out and highlight you very best features.

Outfit Locator focuses both on styling and keeping up with all the latest trends. It portrays all the current trends, labels and styles throughout Ireland using simple terminology that everyone can relate to with just one click of a button you can browse all your favourite Irish boutiques 'must haves' of the season. All on one website. Say Goodbye to having hundreds of taps open or a having to scroll through a million different online stores. Once Outfit Locators launch their brand new website you will be able to find Irish fashion at your fingertips. 

I think Outfit Locator is such a brilliant idea, there is definitely a gap in the market here in Ireland. The struggle has been real trying to find that perfect outfit for a wedding or that very special occasion. Supporting local brands is an added plus. There are so many amazing boutiques around Ireland that are going unnoticed but I think Outfit Locator is the way forward and will give them that extra boost. Think of it as our Irish asos or liketoknow.it. 

Here are some of my favourite looks so far...

Ladies Day at The Curragh Racecourse 

Caris Closet Dublin 

How gorgeous are the two dresses pictured above. So girly and fun. Memories Boutique is the place to go for duster coats. They have an amazing selection which I'm sure will all feature on Outfit Locator's  new website.

Until next time...

Yours Stylishly 

Kerrie x    

Get Healthy: Buddha Teas Review

Hi Guys! 

Happy Friday! For a couple of months I have been trying out Buddha Teas in two different flavours. The first Solar Plexus Chakra Tea and the second Marshmallow Tea. Buddha Teas is an American tea brand raising the bar throughout the U.S.A. Based in Carlsbad, California the company have worked extremely hard to create the best quality teas available. With a wide variety of classic teas, herbal teas and custom blends. Buddha teas strive to create the best quality and variety. Brought to life by the idea of John Boyd. 

Solar Plexus Chakra Tea 

The Solar Plexus Chakra Tea was my favourite out of the the two but not for the taste as both teas taste amazing and both contain Marshmallow. The name drew me to this tea first as most of you will know I studied Beauty & Complementary Therapy in college and am qualified in Indian Head Massage. During my training we learnt about chakras and balancing the body. As mentioned before I suffer with anxiety. I knew this tea would be perfect for helping me cope with this if it did as the name suggests. Thankfully it did! Firstly what is a chakra I hear you ask? Chakra's are basically wheels of energy used in Ayurvedic medicine. The Solar Plexus is the third chakra named Manipura. Manipura defines self-esteem and acceptance o one's self. This tea was created to balance the Solar Plexus - just what I needed! This tea is also so delicious. It is 100% organic containing rosemary, lemongrass, ginger root, orange peel and marshmallow. This tea is so warming and completely relaxes and calms the mind. You can shop this tea here I would definitely recommend this tea to anyone who suffers with anxiety or low self-esteem. As you are drinking it you can feel it warming from within. No joke! As crazy as it sounds. The quote pictured below is the truest words spoken when it comes to this tea. Try it and you'll see! 

Marshmallow Tea 

I picked this tea because of the name to be honest. The word marshmallow conjures up the thought of a sugary white treat. For me it still seems like a treat but a healthy one. It is yummy! It is fresh and mildly sweet. Lately there has been so many "sweet' teas appearing on the market such as salted caramel and vanilla chai. Yes these are a great alternatives to coffee with milk and sugar but some of them aren't 100% organic like Buddha Teas. Buddha Teas are 100% organic, they do not contain any artificial flavours, colours or preservatives. You can shop the Marshmallow Tea here. This tea has so many natural positive qualities including vitamins, minerals and antioxidants. This is the perfect reason to discover Marshmallow Tea for yourself! 

Until next time...

Yours stylishly 

Kerrie x 

56 Central | The most stylish restaurant in town

Hi Everyone! 

As most of you will know I was lucky enough to be invited to one of the most exciting blogger events in Galway with the most amazing blogging network - Into The West Blogger Network . I have attended loads of events since joining this network and have loved every single one of them. I always leave feeling so inspired and feel like I can take on the world. I'm sure I'm not the only blogger from this network that feels this way! 

As soon as I got the invite for this event I was so excited but also a little nervous as this event seemed different to any other. The event was last Friday night in 'the most stylish restaurant in town' -  Yes! You guessed it - 56 Central . I knew we were in for a big treat, not only from all of the outstanding reviews I've heard about this restaurant but because I was so lucky to have won a voucher during an #ITWBN Twitter Party earlier this year for 37 West. 37 West is 56 Central's sister restaurant. You can read my review from my fabulous lunch at 37 West here. Thank you so much again guys! :)

56 Central  and 37 West  are both owned by a wonderful lady called Gill Carroll. 37 West was Gill's first baby and it is located in Newcastle. 56 Central is located in the heart of Galway city center. I was running a few minutes late for this event so I was a little panicked running up Shop St. I hate being late but as soon as I arrived I was but at ease and felt so welcome. I had to stop to take a photo of this sign which was out side the restaurant, welcoming the #itwbn family. 

To Cute! 

As I was walking up the stairs I could hear all the chatter from the 'Into The West Bloggers' and knew they were having a good time. I was greeted by a lovely member of staff who immediately brought me over to Saibh from Wild Cosmia and one of the leading ladies of Into The West Blogger Network. The staff are just one of the reasons why 56 Central is so amazing. They are so friendly and super helpful. Their standards are 10/10! The evening started with a cocktail reception, where Elderflower Prosecco was served along with jugs of water which contained slices of oranges and mint - so refreshing! Gill welcomed us and talked about the design and decor and her inspirations behind 56 Central.

Photo credit: Julia Puchovska Love Joules

I can honestly say this place is so stylish. So much thought and effort as gone into every aspect of the business. As you enter 56 Central you will see a giant heart which has two pumps each pump sends blood around our body the blood line is represented by a continuous line around the building into all the rooms reflecting: 

1. The Garden - nature 

2. The Site - food 

3. The Art Room - Art & Culture

4. The Vault - people love & connection

We were in 'The Art Room' which was perfect for a bunch of creative bloggers! 

Photo Credit: Julia Puchovska Love Joules 

A Taste of 56 Central & Bubbles 

Menu

Elderflower Processo Cocktail on arrival.

Collerans mince beef burgers on Jeremy Les Petit Doucher mini brioche buns with ballymaloe relish.

56 Central homemade gluten free bread, 56 Central baked ham from Castlemine butcher Lizzi's piccalilli.

Sausage sliders made from Castlemaine Meat with Loughrea honey and The Lodge Barna's Prosecco and Tarragon Mustard.

56 Central Cuinneog buttermilk Chicken.

Spicy Potato Bravas.

Galway Goat Farm Goatscheese with beetroot piccalilli and garnishes.

Mini fish cakes tartare and caper made with Alis Fish Market Fish.

Naturally Gluten Free Nacho canapes from Blanco Nino (Little Ass Buritto). 

Sweet selection from Sugar & Spice - Mini mint areo, mini Oreo, caramel, mini brownie & mallows. 

The food was to die for and we couldn't pick our favourite dish. Every dish that we tried was nicer than the next. We were truly spoiled.  

The crew wear t-shirts saying 'Grateful' as they are truly grateful for having 56 Central! I loved this idea! Gratitude is the only thing that will bring more into your life and as I sat there in these amazing surroundings with the most amazing bloggers. It got me thinking of how grateful I am that I started blogging, I have met the nicest genuine people and been given a lot of cool opportunities as well as getting invited to events like these! I still can't believe how lucky I am! 

56 Central has become known as the breeding ground for successful entrepreneurs like Gill, who come in and work on creative projects and soak up the energy of the art on the walls and the energy from the old Galway wall which holds up the central Processo bar. I can completely see why they would do that. There is really something so special about this place and I really can't wait to return. 

I really hope you enjoyed this post and if you pop in to 56 Central or 37 West I'd love to hear what you thought. Feel free to contact me on facebook at Bella and Vogue-Blog, instagram at bellaandvogue or twitter at KerrieAnne_ox

Until next time 

Stylishly Yours

Kerrie  x 

#WerkItWednesday Top tips for being a successful GirlBoss

Hi Girls! 

I hope you had a good day. I love reading inspirational and business books and blogs about successful women and finding out about their daily habits that have helped the process to achieving their goals and how they got to where they are today. I have thought about doing a series featuring some of the things that I've learnt a few times but I think now is the perfect time to start it. September is a busy  time of year for most people, with new schedules, maybe transitioning from school to college or even starting a new career. These tips have been tried and tested by the most successful girlbosses in the business. Lets see what we can achieve by following in their Louboutin footsteps...

1. Rise and shine

Wake up early! Studies have shown that early risers are happier all round people. They wake up meditate, exercise and get in some personal time all before some people even wake up. Early risers and more productive and love to keep busy. 

2. Meditate  

Each morning as you wake spend a few minutes meditating, it will make such a big difference to every area of your life. They say for beginners to meditate for 3 to 5 minutes to start with. Close your eyes and breathe deeply, focusing your mind on what you are grateful for and what you want to achieve. This will put you in a positive mind set and give you a vision of what you are working towards. 

3. Eat yourself beautiful

If you want your mind to function properly, you must treat your body right. Looking after you body is key. Make sure to eat right, take time to get your workouts in and get enough sleep! Your work will suffer if you don't. 

4. Organisation 

Organisation is key for setting your day up for success. Wake up and make your bed, a clear, clean space makes for a clear, clean mind. Have a filling system. If you work at a computer having a special filling system for the way you organize your files and documents will make them easier to find later on.

5. Make a to-do list! 

Every night before you go to bed make a to-do list for the next day. As you complete each task during the day tick it of. This is very therapeutic and a really since of accomplishment. 

6. Time - management 

Be on time! Whether it's for work, a meeting or even lunch with your friends, being punctual is a sign of respect. Its also a good habit for every aspect of your life. Schedule your day in advance. 

7. Keep learning

Successful people are always learning and pushing themselves out of their comfort zones, they attend seminars and conferences. They read books and articles. They make sure to always learn new skills to ensure they stay on top in their industry. 

8. Goal setting 

Goal setting is so important. Think of your long term goals and write them down or print out pictures and sick them on your vision board. Look at them daily as a reminder to what you intentions are. Write down the steps you need to make to reach that goal and be very grateful. 

9. Be kind

You don't need you be an evil boss like in The Devil Wears Prada to be successful. In fact the people who are really successful have gotten to where they are because of how kind and genuine they are. They build the people around them up and motivate them to make their dreams come true. 

10. Happy hour 

You don't need to be chained to your desk 24/7 in order to be successful. Take time out and enjoy coffee with your coworkers or happy hour with an industry colleague you will return to your desk refreshed and inspired and therefore work a whole lot better. After a day in the office or at the weekend treat yourself to a little retail therapy or a manicure. You will feel a true sense of accomplishment for all of the hard work you've done and that treat will be so much more meaningful. 

Dream big and you will achieve big things!

Yours stylishly 

xoxo

Kerrie 

Bella and Vogue 

Tone It Up! Fit For Fall - #charitychallenge

Hi Girls! 

How are you all? Ever since I did my 'Fit and Fabulous Series' it has been highly requested that I do an other. Truth be told I do miss writing fitness posts, as I feel that it keeps me on my toes and that I'm working towards a goal. I have followed the girls from ToneItUp.com for as long as I can remember. They are life coaches, nutritionist and personal trainers. They are so inspiring and really motivate you to reach your goals and make your dreams come true. They do a number of fitness series throughout the year, normally about 8 weeks up to a certain occasion. Be that Valentines Day, Christmas etc. I thought it would be a really good idea if we all join together!! It will be so much fun!

"Fit For Fall - #charitychallenge" is the name of this series. All you need to do is sign up for the challenge here. The girls will explain all aspects of the challenge in a starter pack that you will be sent by email once you sign up. The challenge is free of charge and you can do the workouts any where. You will be sent weekly schedules and daily workouts to complete by email or you can download the app like me as I find it easier for on the go.

 The girls recommend that you sweat first thing in the morning so that can be any cardio you enjoy doing such as walking, jogging, running or even dancing and spinning what ever you enjoy get it in. It is recommended to do about 30 minutes of cardio in the morning so that is about 2 miles a day. If you complete this everyday it will add up to #100charitymiles.  They also send you toning and weight exercises along with stretches for later on in the day, so two workouts everyday. You must check in online, on twitter, instagram, facebook or even in the "Tone It Up Community".

 They have a list of charities that you can pick one to support, you put the link of your chosen charity in your bio on your social media channels so the girls know who you are supporting. Then as you check in during the week the girls will be watching and they pick 5 winners and donate $200 in your name as well as winning prizes for yourself. How cool is that? You must tag +Tone It Up  on all social media accounts when checking in as well as using the hashtags #TIUTeam and #CharityChallenge. 

You can also download the app 'Charity Miles' and use that to track how far you've come. You can also join the "Tone It Up Team" on this app. Every mile you run 25 cents goes to a charity of your choice. This is motivation to run with a purpose not just a goal!  

I have just signed up and am so excited to get started. I think it will be so much fun to do this all together. We can motivate each other and if we are struggling we have someone to reach out too and support. I feel really good about this series and am so much more motivated knowing that  we will be helping people out along the way. I work better when working towards a goal and when I know that people are relying on me I work that much more harder.

The charity that I have decided to support is GirlUp. I feel so passionate about this charity. I really want to help to motivate and inspire other women to make their dreams come true! 

So girls, are you in? Lets do this!! I will be tracking my progress on my blog, on instagram, on twitter and on facebook so make sure to follow me and we can track our progress together! I would be more than happy to hear from you! Once you've signed up let me know!  

"I've always believed that one woman's success can help an other woman's success!" - Gloria Vanderbilt 

Yours Stylishly 

Kerrie x 

Bella and Vogue 

Vogue Favorites No. 1

Happy Friday guys! 

The weekend is finally here and what a busy week it has been. Where are these weeks going? I apologies for the lack of posts this week but I promise to get back on top of regular blogging from now on. I've really missed it. The more I blog the more I love it. Sometimes it takes missing a few days to realize how much you love something. 

This brings me to my next bit of news that I really have you my dear readers to 'Thank' as it would not have been possible without you all. I got an email a few months ago informing me that I was nominated in 'The Blog Awards Ireland' by a few of my readers. I was so happy and grateful to be nominated and could not believe how kind and supportive my readers were to have done that without me even knowing. A couple of weeks later I got an other email telling me that I had been long listed for the awards and that I had to pick two categories to be judged in. I was over the moon. It is such an achievement to be nominated never mind getting any further. I was getting judged in 'The Best Lifestyle Blog' and 'Best Fashion Blog' . I honestly thought that this is as far as I would go but I remained positive and was very grateful for this recognition. My little blog isn't even a year old yet! 

So last week I got an other email telling me that I have been SHORTLISTED for 'Best Fashion Blog'. I couldn't be happier and am so excited for the awards! I would love if you would vote for me. All you need to do is click the link here and select 'Bella and Vogue' and follow the instructions. I promise it only takes a minute. I just want to Thank you all so much for nominating me, I really appreciate it! 

So now since it's Friday evening I just wanted to do a little post to share with you all of the things I'm loving this week.

• This quote - The secret to having it all is knowing that you already do! 

I have been reading The Secret series lately, if you haven't read it yet I highly recommend that you do. When I saw this quote it instantly brought me back to the book. It is the message portrayed throughout the series. Summed up in one simple sentence. Read it and you'll understand! :) 

•  Eat yourself Beautiful by Rosanna Davison 

Last weekend I was in Dublin shopping and picked up Rosanna Davison's book Eat yourself Beautiful. It only launched a few weeks ago and has already made it to the best seller list. I haven't read it fully yet but it is full of recipes, nutritional advice, yummy desserts, skin care and beauty secrets! 

• Circuits and sprints 

In my last couple of post's of my 'Fit and Fabulous Series' , I mentioned that I really wasn't enjoying running and found it really hard to push myself to just go out for a run. This week, during our circuit classes we did a lot of sprints and I loved it and really enjoyed myself. So I definitely know now that my dislike to running is all in my head and I'm definitely going to make more of a effort to do it. 

• Oversized waterfall coats! 

I just love them. So cozy and warm. They are super stylish and are perfect for layering knits underneath for when it gets colder. This one is from prettylittlething. It is available in a whole range of colors and is only 38 Eur. It is also free shipping when you spend over 30 Eur. That's crazy! Happy shopping girls!

•  Obsessing over over the knee boots

I love over the knee boots. They look so cool with super skinny jeans or with skirts and dresses. I think they are perfect with the lower heel as it makes them more wearable. I bought these in Penney's/ Primark a few weeks ago. They are also available in black. 

•  Dublin Fashion Festival

Although I was unable to attend Dublin Fashion Festival this year, I spent every spare minute I had this week on snap chat, instagram and facebook checking out all the recent updates from all the events and fashion shows. It looked so fun and brought such a good buzz to the city. I am so glad it was such a huge success and I'm looking forward to next year already. 

• Hello Boston 

Primark opening in Boston! Primania was definitely world wide excitement!  Did you follow them on snapchat for the launch? Username: primarksnap If not, checkout my facebook page Bella and Vogue-Blog for the store preview = Breathtaking! 

Photos: Steve Erle for Kohl's

• LC Runway Kohl's Collection

I have been following Lauren Conrad since her days in Laguna Beach. She has always been an inspiration to me and someone who I would look up to. I love her style and was so glad when I first heard she was bringing out her own collection. This year her collection with Kohl's appeared in New York Fashion Week. If you miss it you can check it out here

Happy Friday Evening! 

Yours Stylishly!

Kerrie x 

Bella and Vogue