I had the loveliest Easter weekend, spent in Ireland, celebrating with family. My cousin, Danny, married his fiancée Sarah at the picturesque Redcastle Hotel in Co. Donegal, and it was the most perfect wedding weekend. We were blessed with sunshine, and spent the weekend laughing, dancing and watching the waves of Lough Foyle crashing against the shore.
Thanks to the clocks jumping forward, and a bright and sunny weekend, it truly feels like spring has sprung, and I am so thankful. This time of year, when the evenings begin to lengthen, and the natural world seems to just come back to life, is my favourite time of year, and I can’t wait to get back into my summer dresses and cardigans, and get out exploring the beautiful countryside again.
WHAT’S INSPIRED ME THIS WEEK
As a fashion designer, and general creative type, I am constantly seeking inspiration wherever I am, and these posts are a way to document what has ignited something within me this past week. Whether its artwork I’ve seen online, photography that moved me, or a collection of colour in nature that kick-started a creative idea in my head, I’ll be sharing four ideas that have brought me joy in the past seven days.
R. READING
On the plane ride over to Belfast I read Lemon by Kwon Yeo-Sun, the first novella from the Korean author to be published in English.
It took me a little while to get used to the author’s writing style, but once I did I was hooked. So much of the story is shown through suggestion and implications, so you are left being able to make your own sense of the plot, which I really liked. If I was more knowledgeable on Korean culture I feel I definitely would have picked up on many more subtleties, as these seem to be Yeo-Sun’s specialty, and this is a book I would love to discuss in a book club as I feel like there’s so much to be said.
E. EDUCATING
I took some time off from studying for the holiday weekend, but I’m looking forward to getting back into my course from Pinterest Academy over the next few days.
P. PLAYING
I’ve been obsessed with Hozier’s latest EP, especially Too Sweet, which I had playing on repeat as we flew to Ireland.
Hozier has such a way with words, it truly sounds like listening to poetry, and my other favourites of his include Would That I, Work Song and Jackie and Wilson. His cover of Humours of Whiskey, an old Irish folk song, is also absolutely majestic.
O. OBSESSING OVER
I’m not usually a fake tan girlie, but I decided to look a bit bronzed for the wedding, which meant using some of my sister’s make-up, to colour-match, and boy am I obsessed.
I used the e.l.f Hydrating Concealer, and the e.l.f Glow Contour Beauty Wand, a liquid contour stick. Both elevated my make-up, which is usually quite subtle, into something ultra glam, and perfectly wedding-ready. I’m definitely going to be getting both of these (in my regular shade!) to add to my make-up collection for more glamorous, full-coverage looks.
R. RECOMMENDING
I’ll be sharing more about our stay in Donegal in this Friday’s blog post, covering everything from where we stayed to what we ate and what I wore, but for now I have got to recommend the wedding venue that we stayed at: Redcastle Hotel.
The hotel has panoramic views across the Inishowen Peninsula, and we were lucky enough to be staying in a sea-view room! This stunning hotel, nestled away on the north coast of Donegal, would make for the perfect Irish getaway.
T. TREATING MYSELF TO
It was Easter weekend after all, so I think it would be wrong to not treat myself to an Easter egg or two!
Life is too short to not indulge in a chocolatey treat, and I’ve definitely not held myself back. Bring on the Mini Eggs!
Happy Easter everybody!
Love Chloe x
