Hold The Match

Confession time: I've had a secret blog for years. Buried in pagination lies words strung together from a part of me I barely knew existed. 

So, over the years I've revisited this place time and time again, to create something I too barely understand. Sometimes, you don't need to comprehend the words, you simply feel them and in return, they too, feel you.

The Decision

Life, decisions and adulthood: I hereby declare they are as much of a grey area as ever. If this token of abysmal enlightenment isn't enough, then I implore you to keep reading.

Rhubarb & Ginger Crumble

Rhubarb loses its bitter reputation with the aid of fiery ginger, crunchy oats, and coconut sugar. Not only does the red stuff pack a nutritional punch, it tastes heavenly when heated and served with lashings of coconut cream.

The real question is: why wouldn't you want this for breakfast?

Girls' Weekend in London

Bustling, chaotic, loud, vibrant and beautiful (if a little crazy) - London is not a sleepy affair.

While wind bites and breath catches, we set afoot with childlike glee, ready to explore.

Should You Trust Me?

It's the treasure at the end of most wireless devices. Portable, almost infinite and truly extraordinary: the internet allows us to do so much, learn so much, see so much and also, to become oh so much.

The bizarre fact remains: we gain friends and form communities online with people we've never even seen, or met. It's awesome, and I actually adore it but the burning question still rages on: who do you trust, and who don't you trust?

Salted Caramel & Peanut Fudge Slices

A bold statement shall ensue: every fibre of my body, soul and being craves this wildly decadent, moreish and indulgent treat.

Please be warned, you may eat the entire tray and transcend into a state of utter bliss. Guilt free, wonderfully natural and wholly delicious - would you like to try it?

Beauty Buys To Repurchase Over & Over Again

It doesn't get anymore purchasable than this.

Hmph. Is that even a grammatical thing?! It is now.

15 Things I'd Tell My 18 Year Old Self

Nostalgia and wisdom, closer than ever.

As I step further away from my days of discovery, naivety and youth I move into a different part of my life, and I kind of like it.

We Must Be Happy In The 'Now'

It's the relentless pursuit of wanting, craving and longing for something that lurks in the murky waters of our desired future.

It isn't tangible, often indescribable yet this feeling pulls us like the ocean waves: lapping over each other, crashing, spilling and suddenly, strongly retreating back out to sea.

Is there a way to live in the now, but also for the future? Yes.

Vlog: A weekend in Dubai, Fairmont The Palm

Oh, Dubai. With your crystal blue waters, plethora of shops and wonderful rays of sunshine: you really do feel like a lifetime ago.

Thankfully - we have YouTube to relive memories over, and over. YAY! Would you like to come join?

The Best Crunchy Granola EVER

WOW. This is simply my favourite creation so far, not only is it incredibly crunchy, sweet and worryingly moreish, it is completely natural.

Natural? It's gluten free, sugar free and packed full of nutrients.

One Day In London

There are great cities and then there are the ones so remarkable that they become permanently etched in your sensory memory.

So when Gareth pulled me aside last week with the crazy proposition of going to London for the day I all too naturally responded with an enthusiastic, heck yeah!

Why & How I Want To Be Wonder Woman

The bloggers credo: slow and steady wins the race. One of my most asked questions lately is a lengthly one: how do you continuously blog, cook fresh food from scratch, update social media, exercise, work a full time job, have a life and hug your cat?

Ok, so I slipped the last bit in for giggles. I do hug him. Lots. 

The enigmatic question actually holds a few key but simple answers I want to share with you because I'm learning we all have the ability to push ourselves to do it all.

My Hotel Experience: Fairmont The Palm, Dubai

What does an outstanding luxury hotel and a desert have in common?

More than meets the eye, trust me.

Vlog: 24 Hours in Sydney

I write this on such a bittersweet note as I look back at some fantastic memories made in such a beautiful country. They say all good things come to an end, but I'm all too ready to cherish endings and anticipate new beginnings!

My Powerhouse Chia Pudding

Prepare to be bright-eyed, bushy-tailed and suitably nourished with this powerhouse pot of antioxidants. Often the butt of many a joke, chai seeds are sadly dubbed the frogspawn of the breakfast menu.

But before you pass on this ancient dietary staple, let me tell you why you need it in your cupboard and ultimately, your stomach.

How I Afford To Travel The World

Like all great feats of magic, travel inspires a wave of emotions like no other: for without exploring, we are nothing. Oh woe to the one who mistakes travel as superfluous!

My Italian Au Pair Experience

I'll never forget the distinct feeling of adventure that washed over my body that summer's day.

There I sat in Stanstead airport wondering what on earth I was doing, where I was going to, who I would be living with and what kind of journey lay ahead.

I was experiencing a bizarre yet poetically pure mix of fear and excitement. You see I believe when you're so immensely excited about something yet equally petrified then VOILA, you my friend are doing something of true value.

So I say to you, do it just like I did.

My Hotel Experience: Pier One Hotel, Sydney Harbour

Sydney. So beautiful, powerfully iconic and mesmerising in her own right: the city itself is a true sight to behold. Approximately 11,000 miles of vast oceans and land separates the sunshine city with my Emerald Isle making it almost incomprehensible to imagine for us poor rain trodden Irish.

And as that very same rain pours on one side of the Atlantic, on the other it shines brightly and proudly for all to see her glory.

It's time I tell you a little more.

Vlog: The Real Australia

Beaches, lakes, mountains, rivers and forests; these are a few of my favourite (Australian things).

Oh, pleaaaase come.

Let me show you how spine tinglingly awesome this country is.

Caramelised Pear, Pecan & Date Porridge

Porridge. My weakness, my hearty friend and trusty breakfast ally. 

Before I divulge how and why you simply must make this breakfast, I need to tell you how ridiculously powerful porridge oats are and why you need to be eating them.

Mini Sephora Haul

I never wanted to be one of those girls with storage crates jammed full of makeup. 

Yet somehow, one day I was. 

Five Fabulously Priced Airbnb's

Packed with history, art, diverse culture and natural beauty, Europe challenges the traveler with its density of riches. Unfortunately, it often comes at a hefty price.

How I Lost Almost Two Stone

Applying discipline to our diets is only the first step: the real test is the daily diligence that's required of permanent weight-loss. After years of drastically yo-yoing, how do you go from daily disaster to lasting lightness?

I did it, and so can you!

Vlog: Surprise Trip to Sydney

Diverse, vibrant and simply stunning - it comes as no surprise to admit my almost worrying fondness for this city of sheer beauty. And now, it's time for me to properly show you!

Coconut Cream Porridge & Raspberry Compote

Indulgent, rich and undeniably creamy: it's the epitome of a soul satisfying breakfast that warms you to your very bones.

Heck, it's even that good I enjoy it as a lavish supper!

My Hotel Experience: Gran Bahia del Duque, Tenerife

The sun rises showing her face against the backdrop of the warm-hued Canarian buildings. Birds chirp, children play and adults blissfully relax: holidaying, as it should be. Here I am, smiling at the fact this resort holds over ten years of memories in my heart.

Ultimate Vegan Cheese & Avocado Sandwick

The magic of avocados is intrinsic. Replete with nearly twenty vitamins, minerals, and nutrients per 1oz serving: I like to think they make me healthy and my rumbling tummy very, very happy.

I'm Waving Goodbye to Negativity

Knowing yourself can be tough, but being honest with yourself - really, truly and deeply honest - is a true skill.

Why Buy Organic Deodorant?

Armpits, deodorant and sweat: an excerpt of things I hadn't planned to blog, let alone passionately extol but here I am, getting nitty and gritty.

Let me cut to the chase, surprised and pleasantly proud I have found something I really encourage you to try.

The Spring Lace-ups You Need

In my world, the word shoe has never sparked an influx of cupidity. In fact, I would go as far as to classify myself as the opposite of a hoarder of footwear.

However, when all is said and done, it's incredibly hard to resist a pair of on-trend shoes at an irresistible price point. Yeah - I think you know where this is going.

My Vegan Story

I've always wanted my blog to be an extension of my personality by simply allowing my thoughts and feelings to flow from each post I type, image I edit and from each video I record.

So, it seems only fitting that I don't overlook such a key point in my day-to-day life. Food is a huge part of me. It's something I'm massively 'into', am enthusiastic about and enjoy delving into. To not include it in my blog feels like a huge omission.

Wanna watch? Oh, go on then.

The Best Coffee Date in Belfast

It all began with a lie: coffee is a necessity to be endured, not enjoyed. They say it specifically serves a purpose during our first few weary hours of the day, but 'they' are indeed wrong.

The Personality Behind The Outfits

I honestly believe Instagram captions, brief tweets and filtered images sometimes aren't enough to allow us to truly get to know one another.

Grab a cup of something tasty, perch yourself comfortably and let's talk as if we're together in a quaint coffee shop!

One coat, Two Colours

There is an infrequent yet familiar brand of magic that happens every so often in fashion - when a savvy designer aptly decides to create two coats within the canvas of one.

Ahem. Dear designer, I really must meet you and heartily shake your hand. You must also create an entire range of custom-made coats for us colour conscious ladies, pronto.

Vichy Normaderm Cleansing Gel

Luxurious, silky smooth and utterly aromatic - cleansing balms are my absolute jam when it comes to removing the day, so it may come as a surprise when I say I have switched up my routine.

In This Life, I Choose Growth

I want to open up to you in a way I haven't before.

I started The Small Town Girl with the goal of reviewing and sharing products for girls who want to curate a collection of cosmetics or clothes that maybe cost a little bit more, but work and 'do' as they say. The idea behind the words is to promote a habit of shopping strategically so we don't buy more and more on a whim, find ourselves out of pocket and then inundated with products and clothes that are essentially useless.

Today, I'm letting you in on my entire lifestyle. My thoughts, and my approach to this crazy thing called life. It's immensely important for me to let you know who I am as an overall person, beyond the mascara and bags. I speak from my heart when I say I really and truly aim for you to come here to feel uplifted, encouraged and incredibly inspired on a personal level. The Small Town Girl is evolving, and the blog itself now goes beyond me as I feel you as a reader deserve a platform promoting positivity, self-belief, true happiness and inspiration.

Are you ready?

May I Introduce You To..

I'm a firm believer in the proverb: good things come to those who wait. Seeing as I've waited approximately 152 days and then some more, it's safe to say I am typing this on a note of absolute elation. 

My Guilty Jo Malone Pleasure

There's something incredibly nostalgic about a scent - it has the ability to transform our mood whilst simultaneously evoking a multitude of memories and emotions.

Naturally, I seem to collect scents like I do memories..

4 alternative ways to boost your creativity

Distractions. Lack of sleep. Writers block. Oh hey, my phone just lit up! Sorry, where were we? In the midst of so much routine related chaos it's hard to find the motivation to meet bog standard goals let alone blogging extraordinarily.

What's the key? How can we ultimately 'do it all' whilst creating high quality content we're genuinely proud of? Ah ha. Let me tell you..

5 Awesome things to do in NYC

New York; noisy, colorful, vibrant and bursting with culture. It's the original city that never sleeps, its inhabitants never stop dreaming and the spirit of unity will never dissipate from the hearts of New Yorkers.

So, you've bought the flights and now you're in hot pursuit of something a little different. Ta-dah. You've arrived. Fancy something a little different perhaps? Kerchiiiing well - you're in luck, let me enlighten you.. 

24 hours in Seville

Given the current flurry of snow, it's feels rather fitting to relive sunnier days spent in the Andalusian city of Seville. Many overlook this hidden gem opting for Barcelona or Madrid but trust me when I say 'Sevilla' deserves infinite appreciation..

Home to mouthwatering (and budget friendly) tapas, souring temperatures and a bucket load of culture; why wouldn't you want to visit?!

Your Beauty Sleep In A Jar

They say there's nothing worse than feeling lethargic, slugging around for the entire day despite consuming countless coffees and inevitably inducing the ole caffeine shakes. It's true. It's awful. However, looking as bad as you feel is definitely a heck of a lot worse.

I think it's time we compare bedtime products, not stories..

My Hotel experience: The Corinthia London

I've genuinely been itching to write a hotel series for quite some time but have always felt a little worried about how to approach it. Time has passed and I now appreciate the fact I work hard and enjoy traveling so why shouldn't I stay where I want?

I completely understand hotels are a lot of money, but this only makes me more eager to honestly and genuinely write about my experiences before you part with your money. 

Now, come see it through my eyes..

Bronzed & beautiful in 3 drops

Cold, miserable and pale. Three things unfortunately that come hand in hand with winter on this side of the hemisphere.

As the rain relentlessly bashed my window, I remember flicking through the pages of Porter with a hot cup of tea in hand, longingly ogling at the Spring focused ad campaigns wondering how I too could obtain dewy 'just in from the beach' skin.....minus the sun.