Ok so it's been a while but I'm back and definitely going to be much more proactive in updating this blog as I have so much to write about!

I have done a lot since my last update - joined back into the gym - got addicted and fell off the wagon again. But I am slowly trying to motivate myself to get back in there 5 days a week as I am determined to lose a stone before the end of the summer! I find that looking at pictures of Victoria Secrets models in bikinis on the Daily Mail is a good motivation to put the Doritos down!

It was easy to do it from March until the end of May as I had a holiday in Portugal planned - so that was my end 'goal'. Once holiday is over, it is very hard to get back into the zone. I became so addicted to the feeling I got from working out that I sometimes went twice in the same day!

10 days abroad and two months later - that girl is a distant memory. Although I am a sun-worshiper, the 30 degree Irish heatwave has done nothing to encourage my fitness as it is very hard to work out when it is so hot, plus I have found that ice-cream appeals to my addictive personality. First it was Snickers, then Cornetto Mint, and the latest addiction - Bounty ice-cream! I had 2 last Friday and another 2 on Sunday (as dessert after my full goats cheese pizza) *hangs head in shame*

 Last week was a write-off as I had all 4 wisdom teeth out, and had to undergo general anesthetic, the perfect excuse not to exercise for the week! So, a week and a half later I finally mustered up the courage to go to an X-fit class last night - consisting of press-ups, kettlebell swings and squats with barbells. After 30 minutes in the class I was on the verge of tears, today I could barely lift my arms for the entire day and I actually think I sprained a muscle trying to open a tuna can at lunchtime.

But, excuses won't get me anywhere and although I didn't quite make bootcamp this evening (it was raining and I really didn't fancy having to wash my hair tonight!) I grabbed one of the girls and power-walked for 40 minutes. During this walk we talked about 'how much we wish we still had the same figures as when we were 14 and do most female celebrities really weigh under 100 pounds like it says in magazines?!' I then came home and did 50 squats with dumbbells in the hope that I will become addicted to exercise again. It might be an Instagram cliché, but I have taken a 'before' picture as an inspiration to get to my goal weight so that I can be proud to show it off with 'after' picture, so watch this (hopefully short and skinny!) space...

   

I can't believe that the long anticipated Rihanna for River Island collection is finally being launched on the 5th of March! When I heard about this I got a strange feeling of excitement - my favourite singer/girl crush collaborating with my obsessively favourite high street shop, it should be a match made in retail pop heaven! 

But then I saw the collection preview and as I scrolled through the RiRi-tastic clothes items it didn't leave me thinking 'WOW!!' just more of a 'meh'... It all just looks a bit plain and unexciting, not what you would expect from a rebellious, weed-smoking, Chris Brown loving wild child like Rihanna!

Apart from a few thigh-split skirts and dresses (which i love!) a leather baseball cap, and a couple of crop tops - hardly any of the pieces got me remotely excited! I can nearly hear the sound of my visa card breathing a sigh of relief! 

Maybe I'm just being hasty - with any first first collection it's going to be a trial to see what works within the target market. 

But for now, what do you think... Rihanna for River Island Chic or CHAV?

So.... a lot of people have been asking me to write about 'how to dress when you're pregnant' and make the most out of your pregnancy bump. I agree it is hard to adapt to your changing body when you are pregnant and come to terms with the sudden lack of waist definition. I believe that women should make the most of your bump and embrace it - rather than swamp it in baggy tent-like dresses! Skinny jeggings are great as they are still stylish and comfortable - but don't be afraid to still wear tight dresses or sequins for special occasions - it's still important to feel good! I think babydoll-style dresses look great as they are cut from under the bust so they look girly and pretty but don't restrict your growing tum!

However, if you are at a loss as to where to buy nice maternity clothes at affordable prices (because let's face it, once the baby comes you will never want to see them again!) then here are a few places I would recommend.

1. Topshop 

Trendy yet budget-friendly - you can still feel like yourself in Topshop maternity clothes, offering mums-to-be wet-look leggings, stylish dresses and tops that you definitely won't look or feel frumpy in!

                                     

2. H&M

It might not be as on-trend as Topshop but H&M's 'Mama' maternity wear is definitely more affordable. I know a few pregnant ladies at the moment who absolutely swear by this range as it apparently provides probably the most important quality you look for when expecting - comfort! See the full range here.

3. ASOS

Love, love, love this range! I wish I had known about this when I was pregnant because ASOS definitely seems to have one of the largest ranges of maternity wear available. ASOS Maternity ticks all the boxes - it's stylish, reasonably-priced and looks comfortable! Plus the delivery is always really efficient with this website so you don't have to wait too long to receive your purchases!

                                     

                                     

                                     

Celebrity Maternity Wear

Most of us look to celebrities for fashion inspiration on a daily basis and we need guidance more than ever when pregnant. Many women still want to feel attractive and somewhat glamorous - even with a growing bump. But even millionaire celebrities can get it wrong sometimes - proving that money can't buy style!

Celebrities who got it right...

Victoria Beckham

Peaches Geldof

Fearne Cotton 

                                                

Rochelle Humes 

  

Amanda Holden 

Sienna Miller 

And... Celebrities who got it wrong (Katie Price being the worst offender ever!)

Katie Price - pink leather catsuit, really??

Katie Price - belts, and not much more

Katie Price - put the bump away!

Britney Spears - no surprises here 

J-Lo - blue highwaist bell bottoms are wrong whether you're pregnant or not!

Kim Kardashian - this leather dress does nothing
for her growing bump

Tori Spelling - in her baby brain absent mindedness obviously
forgot to take off her nightie before leaving the house

So.... today is one of my favourite days on the eating calender... Pancake Tuesday! But, it is also the start of something not quite as fun...My last time eating chocolate for 40 days and 40 nights.

As you can guess from the previous post on my shoe fetish, I have quite an addictive personality and I am completely and utterly, 100% addicted to chocolate. What usually starts as one square always leads to a whole family size bar and then another bar, and then me whining because I feel fat! But chocolate is definitely every woman's favourite frenemy, you eat it when you're feeling down, and then you're down because you can't stop eating it!

So on that note, I am going cold turkey - it will be hard but I'm going to keep looking at bikini pictures of Miranda Kerr to keep my hand out of the sweet jar. And replacing my chocolate addiction will be a gym addiction as I have decided to join again... well it's good to be optimistic isn't it?!

But, for today I am going to feast before the famine, and eat chocolate at every opportunity... KitKat Chunkys' at lunch and pancakes smothered with chocolate buttons and Nutella for dinner.

Please be warned... If there are any insane rants throughout the duration of the next month and a half, don't pay any attention, it's just the sugar withdrawal symptoms! On the up-side, all the money I save on chocolate I can use to put towards a new pair of shoes...

I'm loving Primark's home style at the moment, from cushions and cupcakes to Eiffel Tower print bed linen, I'm obsessed! And the best thing is, it won't break the bank!

                    

So, for years I have been told by my boyfriend, friends and family that I have too many shoes, and as with any accusation - it is human nature to immediately deny anything of the sort. I just keep telling myself when standing in the queue to pay, "I need these shoes, I'll wear them with everything," ignoring that nagging voice  of sense in the back of my head. I spent half my adult life watching Sex and the City, in which it was acceptable to have a heaving wardrobe and more shoes than sense. Plus, I am more than willing to live on beans on toast for a week if it means I can buy those new wedges that I am having a love affair with in my head.

But after much deliberation and two shoe racks later (not to mention the boxes of pumps, gladiator sandals and rows of boots stashed under my bed and in the wardrobe) I've come to the conclusion that perhaps I might have a problem. 

SO.... why is it when I put on a new outfit, the first thing that pops into my head is, "If only I had a pair of shoes that would match!"

I love my Forever 21 Tasseled Booties 

Shoe rack #1

Shoe rack #2

Classic Topshop over-the-knee boots

                       

I need  Victoria Beckham's Military style in my life....

LOVE this Crepe & Wool Flap Pocket Fitted Dress from her Fall 2012/2013 collection and the khaki jacket she was wearing out and about this week...

It's all about the arm candy lately, here is my own toned-down version of Kim Kardashian's blinged-up wrist... My bracelets are Miss Selfridge and the watch is Fossil...

Hi, I'm Jessica and I'm a London laydee living in Galway, Ireland. I am a fashion-aholic and have been meaning to set up a blog for quite a while now. I spend most of my free time searching for all things fashion online, trawling through shelves of fashion magazines and planning outfits to put together. I also have a 3 year old daughter Morgan, who is already shaping into quite the little fashionista. Not only is she already putting her own outfits together and demanding lipgloss before playschool, but is most heard saying when her daddy dresses her, "THAT DOESNT MATCH!!"

I work in Marketing and PR, but have also worked as a makeup artist for MAC and I was a fashion journalist for a number of years. I'm also a bit celebrity-obsessed so keep an eye out for my fashion updates coming soon... xxx Jessica