Sea What I Did There?

For as long as I can remember, I've loved the ocean. I'll always swim if I get the chance - no matter how cold the water. I'm the first one in, last one out. I never hesitate to dunk my head under. Just seeing the ocean, being near it makes me happier, adds a spring to my step. I don't know why this is exactly. Certainly, childhood nostalgia and fondness play their part. But there's something else there. The active feeling of being surrounded by something so much bigger and more powerful than yourself, that could easily crush you but instead lets you float, splash, have fun, is comforting and terrifying and humbling all at the same time. And, of course, it's beautiful. Throat-catching, eye-watering, life-affirmingly beautiful. I could stare at it for hours and photographing it is always a delight. 

So, as I spent an evening by the sea with my parents - two of the best people I will surely ever know - and thought about how pointless most of my worries were in the grand, beautiful, pointless scheme of things I realised that nothing needs meaning. It just is. And we can spend our lives being grateful for every gorgeous thing around us rather than searching for something more. I'd rather enjoy it while I'm here than look past it.

Wow, this ootd got way out of hand. 

My point is, here's an ootd. It's uber-pointless. But with the surroundings and the light, it looks nice and it makes me happy and my eyes crinkle with fondness for my parents and that day. And, surely, that's more than enough.

Photos of me by Daddy - all else by me.

Jumper - Vila - Parka - Pimkie - Trousers - DECK- Shoes - Next - Sunglasses - Topshop 

Weekend wandering and outfits.

Home again this weekend - it's rare for me to go back so often but I've been needing the familial bonding. Yesterday we took in a nearby house and gardens (Duckett's Grove) and today we went to Dunmore East in Waterford and hit up the beach there as well as three others. It's been a weekend of wandering the countryside, eating and exploring places you're probably not meant to.

Today I was a wee bit of a hippy in a billowing Savida peasant blouse and crochet kimono-style jacket over black River Island leggings with brown Clark's gladiator sandals. Later, as the evening became cool, I swapped out the crochet for a more solid oversized black Savida cardigan. Yesterday, I wore a draped navy Primark blazer over my Isabel Marant x H&M top with white Paul Smith jeans and my Next skate shoes. Both days I had my trusty Topshop shades and vintage navy leather bag.

The funny thing is, I thought I was finally old and mature enough to wear white pants yesterday...I ended up climbing a grassy tower of a castle...obvs...and now they're covered in stains.

What is my life?

 

Into the West

I spent the weekend in the West of Ireland with 12 of my closest friends. The scenery was just beautiful and it was pretty intense to be all together for what may be one of the last times ever. Damn end of college. 

Exams are over and now I just have to figure out what to do with my life. No big. 

But, hey, at least I can be comforted by the fact that I have some damn good taste in friends. Too bad The Beatles were exaggerating somewhat when they told us that all we needed was love.

Life's often a beach but sometimes you have a whale of a time.

Sea Tam (geddit?)

Spent the day with anime and hanging with Belle in the garden. It was a largely quiet and lazy day. The outfit du jour is part River Tam, part beach bum. I love this dress. It's entirely sheer but putting a slip under it ruins the aesthetic so I threw it on over tiny shorts (which are so close to knickers, I'd be ashamed to wear them without something on top), a crop top and tights. The loose H&M jumper added another layer of modesty on top of the dress and, with the vintage biker boots, gave it that romantic twist on grunge that I love and a certain beloved Joss Whedon character was wont to don. The beach bum aspect of the outfit comes from the sea salt spray I doused my hair in to give it that sun-dried look and the tanning moisturiser I blended in with my sun tan lotion this morning to get a kind of glowing, healthy look as seen at Rodarte A/W 2012 - sun safe and sun kissed! I'm really longing some sun and sea right now, so this probably a reflection of that. It's nice to be home but being in Italy last summer sure was a treat in comparison to the rain-soaked misery that is Ireland right now. The mammy is on the case, searching for holidays, so maybe there'll be some of that sea I'm missing and a change of scenery in my life sometime soon.  

Beachy, Summery hair!

Hangin' with Belle.

Proud Belle.

Fat Mess Belle.