Exams aside, where to next?!

RAG week has rolled around once again and like every year it's a great chance for everyone to go into denial about up coming deadlines and the ever dreaded final exams in May. So I've decided to get into the spirit of things and focus my attention on what I'm going to do for the summer!  I'm not too sure whether I will end up going away travelling for a month or so but one thing that is definitely for sure is that I'm going to a festival of some sort!

EP mainstage

Without fail festivals are the best fun. On top of seeing some unbelievable performances, the most random of things can happen and the best friends that you will never remember will be made. Constantly tripping over guide ropes; drinking ridiculous amounts of alcohol (and that's just for breakfast); almost transforming myself into a human glow stick;  and  dancing it up at raves in the woods helped me say a big goodbye to my summer of work last year. When the final day came I nearly threw a strop, it never feels like there's enough time!

Raves in the woods!

My only issue is I'm at a loss as to which one to go to! Especially with flights around Europe being relatively cheap. So here are some of the options, feedback on what some of them are like or which one to go to would be much appreciated!

Electric Picnic - Last year was ridiculous and I wish I could live in the land of Electric picnic! I mean pirate ships for stages and a reggae town for "down time". Plenty of chill out spaces to cure a hangover in the body and soul area and some amazing steak sandwiches to be had on double decker buses. Definitely worth a return trip or several. Line up pending.

Body&Soul stage at EP.

Body & Soul - It is a celebration of the summer Solstice. It continues the tradition of thousands of years whereby people light fires and stay up all night to greet the sun on the longest day of the year.While there is great music, it's not just a music festival - there is amazing art, inspiring speakers and roaming performers. It's about the overall experience and transports people into a completely different world. Culturally it's the anti-Oxegen.

Camping fun

Sziget Festival- Situated on Obudai Island off Budapest. It lasts roughly for a week and apparently has a water park nearby (?!) This festival already has the likes of Stone Roses, Placebo,Crystal Fighters and Noah & the Wale on board. Has anyone actually been??!

The crowd at Sziget last year.

Benicassim - Went here as part of a 6th year holiday way back when. It made Oxegen look like miserable in comparison, though that could be said about any outdoors activity in Ireland versus sunny Spain! It's near a beach...(depending on which campsite you are in-the longest walk in the world if you stay in the one we were.) and also a water park to cool off and avoid sitting in the sauna like tents!  Amazing fun and not too far a trip to Barcelona. The line up is usually pretty cool as there's usually something for everyone and the nocturnal music schedule is always a bonus if you're  pasty and Irish, of which I am both!

Tomorrowland- 3 day long music festival in Belgium. The lineup has big names such as Fatboy Slim, Calvin Harris, David Guetta and Skrillex  so far... oh and a really pretty website! Anyone know much about it?!

Tomorrowland

So that's only a few that are in consideration, anyone have ideas on which one would be the best one to go to? Or is there any even better ones that I have not mentioned?! 

One minute, just let me put on my face...

Make- Up means something to almost all females. Some cannot leave the house without it, others save it for special occasions, most use it to cover up lack of sleep and the mother of all hangovers. One thing is for sure no one can deny the transformation that it can give us. It helps hide our least favourite parts and highlight our best. It's a girl's best friends (most of the time) and I'm pretty sure if guyliner and all other male make-up products were widely accepted the majority of men would jump on board and use it just as much too, if not more.

Bye bye hangover!

Many misconceptions have been formed by many judgmental individuals about females who wear make up on a regular basis. Murmurs of low self-esteem and references to them not being comfortable in their own skin have been made time and time again. However, couldn't that be said about anything? Why not judge someone's self esteem and confidence by the way one dresses; whether they have tattoos or piercings; if they use hair dye or their style haircut as well?  Really though these are all ways that we define ourselves, how we express who we are to the outside world and make that first impression we want to make.
It seems we cannot win because even by not doing these things we are saying something. Like it or not we are making a statement by projecting this image to the world. Women with no make-up are showing that they are naturally fresh faced and actually don't need it, maybe screaming to the world: Look at my really great genes (or maybe they bought a new pair of really great jeans and want all the focus on that, who knows!). Maybe subconsciously some want to portray to everyone that they are too busy (Exam face anyone?) or too serious to have time to put on makeup.

Serious case of exam face!

In first and second year of college we learnt about the human race's quest to achieve their aspirational self. We were taught that they try to bridge the gap between their actual self and their aspirational self through their hobbies, maybe they paint or play instruments; the sports they play, are you a strong rugby manly man or a graceful swimmer? The course they attend; the job they work; their career, or lack of; the place they live in or they car the drive; the people they hang out with or avoid and mock; or the charity work they do- the list is long. All of these things are seen as acceptable and standard ways that we all define ourselves by. Yet young women are criticised, mostly by the elders and sometimes their peers, for wearing make-up. They are told they look like a slapper, a clown or a Goth. That they look much nicer without that "awful stuff caked on their face" and that "people will know that they are lacking in self-confidence." Because being told that you look rubbish is going to do wonders for your self-belief.

A Girl's Best friend?

Is this not another form of self-expression, a way of finding yourself by experimenting with looks? Granted NOBODYS make up when they begin is perfect but that is how we learn. We make mistakes, we practice and 90% of the time we improve...maybe after several years. Also don't worry, the shameful photographs of the past that lurk in the darkness of our sock drawer will remind us if we are to forget!

Yup, pretty much sums it up...

Sure it is said that we have to love ourselves if we are to expect anyone to love us. I do believe that this is true. However, in my experience I find that make-up allows a lot of people to be more themself than when they go shiny barefaced. Some might call it wearing a mask, that those that do this are just hiding their true self from the world. That's fine, you're entitled to your opinion I actually find it allows me to match my inside self to my outside self and in fact I am a lot more forthright when I "have my face on" as some say. It's more about accepting yourself on the inside and then expressing this wonderful person you are on the outside. Does anyone else feel like this? Or am I just a little crazy.


I think Make-up is fantastic. It's great to be able to have a creative outlet every day. Ever since I picked up an eyeliner pencil age 11 and drew those fantastically grungy panda circles, that stayed with me until age 16 , I knew I had found a new canvas that I could take with me everywhere -how fun!(Embarrassing photos remain on Bebo...) I'm sure I'm not alone in this, great satisfaction can be had trying out or perfecting new looks or teaming up with your friends to transform your surprisingly willing male flatmate into a drag queen. (Note: Photos of said incident are available on Facebook for those interested!) Endless opportunities are to be had!

I'm of the opinion that once you are happy with yourself on the inside and have the self-confidence to be the best you that you can be then it does not matter what you look like on the outside. Okay I'm aware that this may sound a little like an "after school special" but it has been playing on my mind ever since I witnessed a mother chastise and almost sneer at her very impressionable young teenage daughter for wearing make-up saying she'll "NEVER get a man looking like that with all that crap on her face!" Ironically the mother had make-up on. So I guess in conclusion what I am saying is maybe the answer is to guide people and not put them down or failing that actually leave them to their own devices because like opinions, bodies and lives it's theirs and so it's that persons choice and only theirs.

Failing that or for some light relief, take some tips from this girl on how to trick people into thinking you're really good looking!

What kind of Social Network are you?

How many of you sign into facebook automatically as soon as you go online, sometimes without realising it?
Some of you will admit it; some of you will deny it, which we both know is a down right lie; and the rest of you have unbelievable self restraint and will probably rule the world while the rest of us while away the hours procrastinating online trying to choose a new profile picture or write an amusing comment.

With the advent of Smartphones FB seems to be part of everyday life.

A lot of changes have occured with Social Media in recent years with many big main Social Networking players biting the dust (R.I.P. BEBO) and others such as MySpace having to re-emphasise their niche of being a platform for emerging talent to have any chance in surviving. More and more people are going online or feel the pressure to have some sort of presence on these "Online Communities" as the view that there's something wrong or dodgy about a person if there's no profile of them whatsoever on any site (not that we were searching that much or anything!) has infiltrated our brains.

Pressure to join...incase people might talk about us and we can't see because their page is private!

Midway through 2011 Google challenged the current "Ruler" of Social Media, Facebook, by introducing their Google + site and continues to challenge it by the introduction of Google Plus Your World at the beginning of his year.Still relatively unaffected by new kids on the scene Facebook seems to have become the standard platform where people let their voices be heard on the Internet. Even with the much talked about new layout that has been introduced with coverphotos for people profiles that makes it look "more like BEBO's hot older sister" and its "stalker friendly " timelines, Facebook's grip on us appears to be holding strong. We use it to connect,share, make plans, RSVP, shop, complain, praise, with or about everybody and everything.

So if Facebook is for everybody and their dog Im going to talk about a small few of the rest of the Social Network sites, the ones where we join to really "express who we are" that I have had some experience with.

There's  Twitter which allows us to update everything we do as we do it and is brilliant for people who are always on the go, doing something, promoting something or want to know what their favourite celeb is doing right.at.that.moment. I've recently blown the cobwebs off my account and started tweeting again only to realise that just like last summer I still do not do a lot of extremely interesting things during my day. I'm still as much of a broke student as I was then! #ifonlythedolepaidustogotocollege

Tumblr is great for sharing beautiful pictures you have taken or more often than not that other people have taken, doing a spot of writing if you don't want the pressure of a regular blog and after time it almost sets a mood board of the persons over all personality or funnily enough their mood for that day. It's dare I say it a little artsy,alternative and maybe a smidge hipster or very "Landan" chic, great for expressing the aul' creativity without actually having to do a whole lot. In fact one can spend a whole day reblogging without meaning to, even  especially when there's an assignment deadline the next day. (Before I get any backlash for the hipster comment I have an account myself and reblog the s...ugar out of other peoples pictures also.)

So many pretty pictures to brighten up an otherwise dull day!

LinkedIn is everybody's best foot forward Online and the site we pray will come up first when our future employers google our names. It's great for networking and connecting with former bosses and people in industry. Also, it's a way of repenting for all those shameful BEBO photo's that refuse to disappear from google search long after our accounts are deleted.

Blogs. This is where we rant, use personal stories to make a point or ramble about everything and nothing in general. It's a great way to express yourself whether you want to be a writer or not. It's an online space that can expose you the most to the most amount of people, which can be a very good or very bad thing depending on what you have written or who you have ticked off by it.

As for Myspace holding the title for the place to be found or newtork for music talent, I fear it seems to be struggling, especially with three music sites that are growing on the scene that have come to my attention: One is Bandhappy which while it is not quite a social networking site it has the potential to expand into this, I mean come on it allows people to get one-on-one live lessons from their idols through skype(or a system similar) and also Lastfm or more Apple's Ping which is on track to become the two main places for serious musicians to network.

It's amazing to think that by being on each of these sites it almost defines us to everyone else. So what are all of your predictions for the next Skynet...I mean market leader? Will Facebook remain up on top with their Facebook music due out in the next few months or will Google+  and Twitter's increasing popularity completely swipe the rug from under its feet?  Or will it be a complete underdog to capture our laptops, smartphones and ipads hearts?

This year a smart resolution perhaps!

Happy New Year everyone!

Well I cannot lie and pretend that the cliche is not true because last year flew by too quickly! I can't believe that on top of being in my final year, I am already in the second half of the college calendar!

2012 arrived in the blink of an eye!

It is safe to say that the majority of my very vague yet ambitious resolutions made last year were far from achieved. Ambiguous aspirations that I would "get better" at the piano, become "more"  healthy and draw "regularly" (I even looked up the price of a sketch diary on amazon for this one, oh the enthusiasm!) were vowed. Unfortunately,apart from random bursts of gusto dotted throughout the year none of my goals appeared to take shape or come close to being successful. I did, however, manage to improve my procrastination skills and ability to be a lazy bones to no end.

Me, a picture of motivation and zeal.

"A New Year's resolution is something that goes in one Year and out the other."

 While this is a rather terrible pun I have to agree that it pretty much sums up my previous New Yearly attempts at self improvement! Even the few goals I have managed to maintain for a while are pretty much forgotten about by the next year regardless of whether or not they are accomplished. This year is going to be different though! Yes, I have said this every other year as well but now I have a plan. 

From now on I am just going to have to be smart about my resolutions!

Each of them will have to be:

Specific

Measurable

Attainable

Realistic

Timely

Yes, this is from a management book but who better to listen to when trying to organize myself! If this framework is a proven success within a business then it will definitely enable me to succeed in my personal goals!

The key to success?

Hopefully this will be the key to actually getting me motivated enough to go through with all my plans. I might even go all out and nerd it up by keeping a journal on my progress... Stay tuned!

The Ghosts of un-Christmas past

So today I finally received my much anticipated reimbursement letter from a certain Irish airline. I can honestly say it was quite the let down. I don't even know why I was even surprised by this as this was not the first time, or the worst thing, that they had failed to deliver as promised. Two words: Last Christmas.

Just about sums me up last year...

I nearly shudder at the thought of what an utter let down and disappointment it was. There I was unbelievably excited, actually excited couldn't even cover it, at the thought of coming home from New York to Cork for Christmas. And before you even think it: No, I am not being sarcastic. I was genuinely ecstatic to see my loved ones...and do Christmassy things with everyone- like making mince pies, eating tins of roses while sharing stories on Christmas eve about our hilarious tall tales made up when we were children about spotting Santa and of course naturally go to the pub. So anyway, on the 23rd of December I packed my bags, gave back my dorm room key and set off ridiculously early to JFK Airport. Like six hours early.

Away I went!

So I arrive up to the check in desk only to be referred to another queue. That's when they tell me our flight was cancelled due to "unfavourable" conditions. Stunned, I rang my friend due to fly on the same flight to deliver the news. After hanging around for what seemed like forever we were all packed off to an airport hotel with the promise that we would be flying out the same time the next day and arrive in Christmas morning. I held onto that hope that we would make it home in time.

The thought of Christmas at home made even this view seem almost redundant by the 23rd!

So the next day we hauled our bedraggled selves to the airport once more and queued  for a good hour with the only agreed acceptable reason for leaving it again was by getting on a plane. The staff were about as useful as a chocolate teapot with regards any sort of updates or basic information on our flight. Some were downright rude and ridiculous to us, one member of staff even claimed to the more hotheaded of our group that he didn't care, could take them all on. Not exactly the Christmas cheer or empathy we were looking for in an airport on Christmas Eve. Among-st all the confusion and raised voices the screen above us flashed: Flight Cancelled.That was it. Game over. The Grinch stole Christmas.

No Christmas for Sandra last year!

 I'd like to add before anyone thinks I'm being unreasonable and a complete brat, as there was a lot of snow in Ireland at that time, that two of my friends flew out from New York on the 23rd into Ireland without much hassle. It's safe to say I handled the disappointment extremely well. I bought myself a bottle of rum as a miserable consolation present and headed to the hotel bar with a large motley crew of Irish expats.

Stranded...but not even in the wonderful city!

So that's the story of last Christmas, the non-event that still haunts me the Christmas enthusiast or nut if you will. This year, it's safe to say that I am making up for it. I made the family traipse around after me for five  freezing hours to look for the perfect tree. I, almost to a point of obsession, make sure that Christmas songs and movies are played at least once throughout the days on the lead up. I think at this stage I may know all the words to both Home Alone movies...I even let my boyfriend convince me to go ice skating to get as much Christmas Cheer as I could . (Along with spiders it is one of the few things that truly instills fear into me, ice skating that is!)

Pretty much perfect portrayal of my ice skating ability.

Even better, on top of this there are plenty more batches of Christmas cookies to devour; a chocolate Rice Krispie Tree to build; 12 pubs of Christmas; lots of mulled wine sessions; and Christmas eve still to come.

This year is full of Christmas cheer!

Anyway, have a great Christmas everybody! I know I will! :)

Weighing up the issues

The reoccurring trends in the debate of using "real models" have always sparked much controversy throughout the fashion world and has also become a repeat theme for women's magazines when they grow weary of taunting famous people for any imperfections they may have. The magazines sudden ethical argument are that models are not "realistic" and normal women cannot relate to them seems to become more and more prevalent. I agree that unhealthily underweight models are certainly not good role models to girls and are completely unrealistic. However, I also found their sudden concern over accepting people for who they are to be disgustingly ironic due to the fact that these are the same  magazines that pad their dull as dishwater Jeremy Kyle reject stories with "scandalous" pictures of stars that they have either deemed too fat or too thin and sometimes to shake things up add in the cellulite factor. On top of this they add smug and catty slogans to these expose pictures. Sure they probably argue that they are reassuring women that even stars are human, but in reality are they not just creating new problems to worry about?

So called fighters for real women

How can the fashion world be expected to show what is dubbed real women when all these women's magazines do is critique and almost take glee in pointing out any little imperfection those in the lime light have?My issue is that  these magazines have been developing unhealthy obsessions with weight within the masses. Their quotes such as "real women have curves" are putting down women who have naturally boyish or athletic figures. So if they don't have what is deemed the right feminine form are they not real women? what are they then, Unicorns? Sometimes even in the same magazine they will push the newest super effective diet techniques that promise to "shed that ugly flab". Again, if a woman is over a certain weight are they ugly? Why can't they be attractive? These magazines are not selling stories anymore but fear. Fear that if one does not fit into what the media deem perfect at that point in time that they are just not good enough. It truly disgusts me. They cannot even seem to make up their mind as to what in their opinion  is the epitome of perfection, they constantly change it just like fashion trends. It seems the ideal body form correlates with which ever new female star is the darling of the press at that moment. This puts us plebs under too much pressure.

Peddlers of fear. 

In my opinion a real woman is not a certain size or shape. She is happy and confident in her own body. She does not bend to conformity or pressure. She is sure of who she is and does not care of what anyone thinks of her. That is the difference between being a woman and a girl, of being a real woman and not just a fad.

But what if I forget my house keys??

To use the famous and vastly used quote "When you look back on your life, you'll regret the things you didn't do more than the ones you did." As of late I have been taking this completely on board in many aspects of my life that I have previously been too scared to even attempt. Certain things like even trying out modelling which I used to scoff at when people suggested it to me and not because I thought it stupid or a vapid activity to take part in but because I guess I didn't take myself seriously and was really too much of a chicken to take a risk and be judged.



Now before anyone thinks I'm about to go on a big long ramble about how great I am now that I'm taking chances on myself I will tackle the main issue at hand: While I'm certainly trying more things than ever before and woo hoo for that - this year has got me slightly petrified. It's not the final year workload, which is almost a full time job in itself, but the fact that not only do I have to do that but I also have to plan the rest of my life (well next year at the very least) while I'm at it!

More and more Curious as to what lies ahead 

Which is ridiculous as I have been looking forward to independence and freedom for as long as I can remember. Nothing excited me more than the prospect that in a short few years I could be working and living in one of the many exciting and vibrant cities in the world! I spent hours day dreaming about all the new things I would experience. However, now that I have mountains of lots of little yet significant decisions pending and applications to fill in I find myself suddenly appreciating how jammy I have it living at home as a college student.



Before anyone thinks I am some sort of spoiled over-mothered brat, I am extremely self sufficient and have dreamed about my own place since I was little: Call it middle child syndrome if you will! However, more and more as of late irrational fears about moving away are randomly creeping into my mind. Over dramatic thoughts such as what if I forget my keys and end up being locked out of my house forever?? What if the neighbours cat sneaks into my place and smothers me??

My hypothetical neighbour's cat is clearly out to get me

.
I've drawn the conclusion that this part of my brain must be a close cousin to the one that like to play tricks on me when I'm either home alone or after watching a scary movie, and about as much good to myself and my big plans as a chocolate tea pot: Very amusing but in no way helps me achieve my goal.