Vegan Lunch Ideas + Why You Should Go Vegan

Hey everyone! 

It's been a while since I posted on here but today I just thought I'd share with you my most recent video which includes some easy vegan recipes:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rZqNqZp6zAU

Whilst I have had pretty much a vegan diet for the last 2/3 months, I have only been completely vegan (with my diet) for about 2 weeks without any mistakes, so I don't feel like I should be referring to myself as a complete vegan. My diet is the first step, and then I want to move onto wearing only vegan clothing, and using vegan beauty/body products (one step at a time!)

Even if I don't progress with veganism, I am still very proud of what I have achieved as anything is a beneficial difference, whether you don't eat meat or you are completely vegan - you are still helping out in some way.

I had been interested in veganism for a very long time, but wasn't too sure what it all meant, so that's when I took my curiosity over to youtube and watched a couple videos on it. After watching a few more documentaries, I couldn't believe how veganism is so beneficial for ethical, health and environmental reasons. Here are a few of the documentaries/videos I watched:

• 101 reasons to go vegan - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W4HJcq8qHAY
• How to go vegan - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U0QIu_m5eIs
• Earthlings (this is the video that swore me off meat for good) - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZPj4aPU-kuw
• Cowspiracy (on Netflix)

If you're even slightly interested in vegetarianism/veganism, I would definitely at least try it out because you don't know what it could lead to! I would recommend taking it step by step eg. eat only vegan breakfast for a week, then add on vegan lunch for a week, then dinner and so on, so by the end of the month you're eating a fully plant-based diet.

Here are some of my other videos if you need to catch up!
Channel Trailer - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6p3jEBr54nw
Ways to style mom jeans - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NuAA7TPiE88
Clothing haul - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NztE9v0uobQ
Holiday lookbook - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iFXGR2mXFh4
Back to school advice - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9nJxKAz_o8g

Trip to Majorca

A couple of weeks ago my parents and I went on a week's trip to Majorca and I had such a good time relaxing and stepping away from reality for a short while. I took loads of pictures so it was hard not to put them all in this post! But I just wanted to make this quick post so I could have it to look back on and remember the holiday. 

We stayed in a resort called Cala D'or which we had never been to before and it was stunning. With loads of restaurants, shops, markets and three beautiful cove beaches (one of them called Cala Gran beach was just a five minute walk from our hotel), it was definitely my favourite place I've been on holiday. 

(Cala Gran beach)

On the first day we went to a restaurant that we had looked up before going on holiday called Restaurant Diferent as it had really good reviews, and the food was sooo good, so if you're going to Cala D'or I would highly recommend this restaurant as we actually ate here twice.

We went down to the marina a few nights which is about a 10 minute walk from the main area of Cala D'or. All the restaurants are lined along the marina so there's a beautful view no matter what restaurant you eat in. 

                                                                                        (view of Cala D'or beach)

(Food at asian restuarant called Noa: Vegetable spring rolls and Thai green curry)

We decided to do something touristy during the holiday and went to the Caves of Drach in Porto Cristo. They were sort of dark and eerie but absolutely stunning inside.

Hope you enjoyed looking at these pictures!

xo, Orlagh

The Next Chapter...

I've been a bit AWOL when it comes to blogging recently, but I have a reason - I finally started my youtube channel!

I remember when being 11 or 12 and discovering one of Michelle Phan's transformation videos on youtube (I think it might've been Barbie) and was just in awe of how talented she was and how fun the video was to watch. With suggestions for other videos popping up along the sidebar, I slowly got drawn into the wonderful vortex of youtube, discovering so many more people making great videos. 

I fell in love with it so quickly, discovering people like Zoella and Sprinkle of Glitter, getting really excited when a new video had been uploaded. I admired the confidence and positivity these people had, when the thought crossed my mind of 'what if I could do that?' but quickly put it out of my mind as it was a stupid idea.

4 years on from that, I still wanted to badly to share my creativity, tips and ideas but never had enough confidence to open my laptop and start typing. That was until I ended up in hospital being quite ill. I was lucky however, and I'm sort of glad of it in a way as reality check to stop waiting for something and just do it. Being housebound for a couple of months to heal and rest gave me the perfect opportunity to start blogging.

I was never really a confident, fully happy person, so by posting reviews or get the looks, a comment really brightened up my day and put me in such a better mood. That's why I know realize how important it is to pursue what you're passionate about, as it can have such a positive impact on your life.

This blog has been so fun for me the past year, but for me it was always something  I wanted to do to help me build up the confidence to start youtube - and now it has! I'm so excited for this new chapter and while it may not amount to anything (I might hate it for all I know) I can at least say that I gave it a go and followed my heart.

In terms of content, I want to focus a lot more on fashion and lifestyle as opposed to beauty, as I always struggled to post good fashion blog posts and I feel that the ideas I have in my head will be portrayed a lot better through video. I will still post here from time to time as sometimes there's nothing I love more than writing a spontaneous blog post.

So without making you read my boring, rambly thoughts any longer, here is my first video.

It would really mean a lot to me if you subscribed as there will be many more fun videos to come!

https://youtu.be/6p3jEBr54nw

xo, Orlagh

Relax... It's Summer!

For most people, exams are over and it's officially summer, so just relax, take a deep breath, and smile - you have two whole months to do whatever the fuck u want!!

One thing I want to stress is that you shouldn't overthink how your exams went. I know that it's natural instinct to go back over what you wrote in the exam and check if you done the right thing, but sometimes that does more harm than good - just forget about them rather than making yourself feel like crap about writing the wrong answer because at the end of the day, it isn't going to affect/change your grade.

Instead of worrying about results, just go out and enjoy summer, do the things you love, and most importantly relax! Your brain's probably been on overdrive for the last 2 months so it's important to take a breather. Do something or go somewhere that puts your mind at ease. I went to the waterfall near my house because I find it so peaceful, and then went to my caravan for the weekend to chill out and get a bit of an internet detox.

While I don't think it's a good idea to overthink your exams, I still think it's important to reflect and put things into perspective. It's important to realize that if you get bad grades, it really isn't the end of the world! The pressure put on students these days is ridiculous and we're made to think that these exams are a test of our intelligence and that they determine our future, but as long as you have tried your very best it shouldn't matter because a bad grade does not mean you are stupid.

Instead of worrying about what you should've done, reward yourself for all your hard work and have the best summer ever!! Take it as an opportunity to spend more time with your friends and family, or maybe even start a new hobby. Always wanted to learn how to play the guitar or maybe how to paint? Do it! You have nothing to lose and it'll help pass the time during summer.

I know sometimes doing fun things in summer can be expensive, but there are so many things you can do that are cheap/free and you can still have an amazing time. I think the best thing to do is take advantage of where you live; If you live near a beach, go there all the time; if there are nice scenic walks where you live, go for a walk; if you live near/in a city, act like a tourist for the day, visiting parts of the city you wouldn't usually go to. Here are some articles I've found which have great ideas of what do in summer that wont break the bank:

http://www.popsugar.com/smart-living/Cheap-Things-Do-Summer-37421848

http://www.apartmenttherapy.com/40-free-fun-things-to-do-this-summer-220963

http://www.canadianliving.com/life-and-relationships/family/article/50-free-things-to-do-this-summer

I hope you have an amazing summer!

xo, Orlagh

OOTD // Parisian Inspired

 Hi! Sorry I haven't been posting a lot lately, I'm trying to focus more on revising for exams but expect a lot more posts when they're out of the way. I was going out for dinner and it was such a nice day so I thought I might as well take advantage and get use out of my summer clothes that I never get to wear. I kept it casual so this outfit would be perfect for wherever you're going, and could easily be dressed up with heels.  

Top // Vintage

Skirt // Zara (I've linked a similar one)

Shoes // Converse

Earrings // ASOS

xo, Orlagh