'Makeovers for Free'

And so here are the rest of the photos from the Makeovers for Free shoot at Vince Tully's studio!

To check out the full blog and all the details of the shoot, go to www.onoffer.ie/blog. Be sure to visit http://www.tully.ie/ and the new look Makeovers for Free website - http://www.makeoversforfree.com/. You might recognise some pictures!! :)

Vince Tully's 'Makeovers for Free' Results

Whilst researching an article online recently I came across Vince Tully Photographers and his ‘makeovers for free’ sessions he hosts at his studio in Cootehill, Co. Cavan. So I set off, wardrobe in tow, to Cavan at the weekend to meet Vince and his camera and suss it all out for my blog on Onoffer.


After his lovely sidekick Gina gave my face a complete overhaul, I pulled some of my best America’s Next Top Model poses, had a blast and think Tyra Banks would be well impressed with the results...!!

I’ll post a link up to the full blog once it’s up but for now, here’s a sneak preview…

Check out http://www.tully.ie/ for more info!!

I've caved...

I'm always slow to start new social networks and felt slightly guilty and sentimental when I moved from Bebo to Facebook. So even though I'm several months too late, I thought I'd try my hand on Twittering and see what all the fuss is about... so follow me!

http://twitter.com/burkenatalie

:)

Why I'm avoiding the January Sales

I love the month of January! I’m not sure if it’s because it’s the start to a brand new year or because it’s my birthday month (therefore obviously associated with happiness and presents) or is it just because it’s such a nice word to look at? (Not sure why, but this makes a difference to me.)


The only thing affecting this month being so great is those wretched post-festive sales. Am I weird for loving fashion and being addicted to shopping yet hating the January sales with an absolute passion? It’s not that I couldn’t do with a good bargain, in fact finding one makes a days shopping completely worthwhile especially when you’re broke and trying to save and can only revert to window shopping to ease your retail cravings… But I can honestly say I’ve never found something in the sales that I’ve truly loved and thought getting up early and beating the fashion queues was worth it!

Am I shopping in the wrong place or am I just simply leaving it too late? I used to work in retail so know first hand that sometimes when the sales come along, so do the resurrections from that sale we had four years ago which, at full price, were about €55 to begin with and by this stage are worth approximately €1.50. And that’s being kind. So I’m pretty sure all stores are the same and drag the rags and remnants out from behind the scenes and onto the shop floor. And even though I try the odd time to root through the railings, I usually come out with the only item that is actually full price – just left in the wrong place by another customer. Cruel. :(

Now I’m sure there are some items that have been reduced from just before Christmas, I reckon I’m just shopping too late to find them. The thought, however, of getting up at 7am on St. Stephen’s day morning and lining up outside the nearest shopping centre just to be sure I get that jacket for 30% off is something I’m pretty sure I will never cave and do!

I saw a sign for ‘further reductions’ on a shop window today which I’m hoping signifies the end of the sale period coming fast. Let’s hope so!!

Style for the Snow!

It baffles me that as a country, we seem to cope amazingly with the usual miserable clouds that hang over us 11 months of the year. We resigned ourselves long ago to the fact that we jinx ourselves if we leave the house without an umbrella, and we’ve adapted fashion wise by coordinating our little bag-sized brollies with our outfits and jazzing them up with cute frills and polka-dot trends. We’ve just about mastered jumping (in a very lady like way) over puddles in our black peep toe heels too. Yep, we’ve adapted to our climate in a very stylish way indeed.

How is it then that as the first little snowflake falls from the sky, the whole country stops functioning. Nobody makes it into work or school, traffic chaos is worse than a regular Monday morning and people stock up on food as if they’re settling into winter hibernation. Other countries seem to cope with the white weather just fine but as a nation we seem to panic at the first falling flake!

Now at first we do all get a little over excited – putting up our Christmas trees and sculpting snowmen whilst humming Bing Crosby’s ‘White Christmas’ to ourselves, weeks ahead of the festive schedule. But it’s only after the joy of building snow people wears off and the cabin fever sets in that we realise we actually can go about our daily business after all!

It’s what to wear that is my biggest conundrum in this weather. I’ve tried work wear boots and whilst they look the part, they’ve less grip than an old sleigh. Boots with good grips just don’t go well with skinny jeans and woolly hats and scarves just don’t do anything for my little leather jacket. So what can we wear that will keep us warm, safe from the ice and free from fashion malfunctions?

Taking this season’s faux fur, rock chick trends on board, here are some of my favourite snow-friendly items from the winter collections: 

Faux fur hat from New Look

Faux Fur from Republic

Cream Headband from Oasis

Long Grey dress with black frill River Island

Longline Cream Cardigan from Penneys

Black Leather gloves New Look

Christmas Shopping at Brown Thomas!

I'm not sure if it's because I had a tradition as a kid to go and visit Brown Thomas on Christmas Eve, with their magical window displays and the last minute shopping buzz, but Christmas shopping just wouldn't be the same for me today, if I didn't take a little visit into the Grafton Street store!

So if you haven't managed to start your Christmas shopping yet, thanks to the lovely white stuff hanging outside our homes for the last week and a half, then maybe this weekend will be the time to start it as Brown Thomas are celebrating the festive season with a 20% off (almost everything*) sale.

If you are a Brown Thomas Black loyalty card holder or have a Brown Thomas Platinum or Mastercard, you can avail of 20% off most of the store from tomorrow, Thursday 9th December until close of business Sunday, 12th December. And if you're not already a loyalty card holder, you can sign up for one when you visit the store!

Now although it says 'almost everything', a little * appears after the 20% off which means there are exclusions to the offer. The sale doesn't include Spring or Summer 2011 merchandise, beauty products, items from The Marvel Room, luxury accessories or jewellery boutiques. It doesn't include Stella McCartney or Burberry accesories, Christian Louboutin or some selected designer footwear. It also excludes the restaurants instore, Laduree and Nespresso.

So what does it include?? Everything in BT2 (yay!) with the exception of Ugg boots, most of the second floor at Brown Thomas including selected footwear and clothing lines.

There is also 10% off watches, Links of London, Alessi and the Electrical and Coffee Emporium. Some cosmetic counters and designer brands may also have their own special offers on over the weekend so keep an eye out!

5 Reasons why I love Rockstar Tan!

1. It’s made with organic ingredients and is animal-testing free!

2. It adjusts to your skin tone so the result is a natural, unique sun-kissed glow!

3. With Aloe Vera in purified water and vitamin ingredients, it allows for even, gradual fading, so no patchy tan marks!

4. After one year of trading they have over 400 stockists and have won 2 highly regarded beauty awards - they must be doing something right!

5. With all the products in the range under €30, the price is great and not only is the colour long lasting, but the bottles too!  

To read about the whole range - tried & tested, see http://www.onoffer.ie/blog/post.aspx?contentid=21668