BallyGarry House Hotel and Spa Review Part 1

Looking out on to the backdrop of rolling hills, tall grass, trees and mountains, I sit in a white pod, engulfed in cushions, courted by the sweet melody of classical music and utterly content.  Living in London, one of the busiest cities in the world, 'content' is not a feeling that I regularly experience. London is all about the next, the hustle, getting there- being first. It is a place where 'room for improvement' is the constant grade and for the most part I love it- yet ever so often I have to escape. So here I am, in Tralee Kerry Ireland at the BallyGarry Hotel and Spa. 

After last nights partying till 4 am during the annual Listowel Races Ladies day, Kieran and I opted against round two of madness in Dublin for the All Ireland Final and instead opted to recharge. We booked easily online in minutes via the BallyGarry House website: http://www.ballygarryhouse.com . Choosing their overnight spa deal we received  2 nights for 2 people, with Breakfast, Dinner and 50 euro off a spa treatment each included for only £211.

I know - what the heck?! Almost too good to be true, but when we reached the lobby of the 4 star hotel and were were greeted by really warm staff I realised that today, we had booked well. 

                               

Decorated in soothing neutral tones our room boasted A king sized bed, 4 chair seating area, large modern stone bathroom with a bath and separate shower and a real coffee machine (this sealed the deal for me). 

After getting settled we headed to the spa to book a treatment for the next day with the beautiful, friendly and so helpful spa host Bonnie. Treatments range from beauty (tanning, nails, facials) to Aromatherapy, massages and detoxing wraps. My back has been at me so I booked a hot stone back massage for 45 minutes this was £70 but with our voucher it was £20 difference to pay.  

Once booked we were then free to head to the facilities - which are breath taking. An in ground out door hot tub over looks the Kerry hills, a shower with 3 settings - including 'mist' preps you for the " Herbal Glass Sauna,  a dry sauna described as "a traditional dry sauna experience with intensifying dry heat, infused with herbal essences to induce a deep state of relaxation". I found that the dry heat soothed my muscle aches. The view of the hot tub and hills are visible from the dry sauna, and I soaked in the back drop as the stress left my body. Next: "The Crystal Steam Room", where Humid heat and colour therapy is enhanced with eucalyptus essence to improve restoration  and detoxify the body". The Crystal Steamroom is a refreshing change after the dry heat, this room and I definitely noticed that the infused humid air was great for my breathing.

Top tip:  I usually use saunas as a chance to deep condition my hair. The heat is great for penetrating hair follicles. As this was a last minute trip I didn't have my conditioning stuff so regrettably missed out on this hair treat experience but it's a great tip for next time you're at a spa ;) 

After some time in the wet sauna  we headed to the relaxation room which over looks a beautiful garden, set In front of the famous Kerry mountains. Here there are large pods, water, ice, berry juice and magazines. As spa music plays my body finally switched gear into relaxation mode. And here my loves I must leave you, sleep is calling.

Stay tuned for my part 2 , on my treatment, dinner and breakfast.

Loves and Finds: Olivia Von Halle Sleepwear

This is an ode to pyjamas, real pyjama's I mean.  Not oversized t-shirts or your old school gym kit. I am talking real stylish, silky, luxurious pyjamas. Night suits they should be called, for those who like to powerdress from board room to bedroom. Speaking of style champions of sleepwear, who better to than British designer Oliva Von Halle. A favourite of Harpers Bazaar and Vogue, her eclectic prints, bold colours and tailored pj's are number one on my Autumn wishlist.

After all, with the days turning a little more gloomy, nothing makes me smile more than the thought of a good September issue, a cup of Baileys Irish cream coffee and luxury silk on my skin.

You can buy Oliva Von Halle at Net-A-Porter 

A favourite from the new Zodiac collection, these adorable illustrated silk satin eye masks! 

Prabal Gurung NYFW Ready To Wear

The show began with the sombre sound of 30 monks, clad in vibrant burnt orange with their hands held in prayer. An unusual reverent start to a typical bustling NYFW show, however this wasn't just any show, this was the start of Prabal Gurungs show the Kathmandu, Napal raised fashion designer who this past year, followin the Nepal earthquake crisis used his social media platform to spread awareness and raise over 1 million for the people of Napal. Prabal remarked, that he is grateful to the fashion industry which granted him the platform to change so many lives.

Against this backdrop perhaps the monks were perfectly placed, the juxtaposition of prayer and fashion a reminder of how fashion and the people can united to change the lives of many.

Themes:

Burnt Orange:
Nepal was a great theme through out the collection evidenced through burnt orange that featured more than a few times: a strong yet beautiful colour perhaps alluding to the fierce resilience of people to overcome tragedy.

Movement: If burnt orange symbolises strength, the light airy fabric alludes to the delicacy of humanity. Movement is beautiful for SS.


My favourite pieces:

This bronze glitter and low v-neck dress was a show stopper for me. I also love the ethic models. It is great to see some colour on this runway.

Stunning open shoulder design and silk fabric over lay is a delicate yet bold look for summer. The shoes make the over all look cool and urban

The jagged hem and openings are a SS16 trend which can also be seen during the NYFW opening show. 

  Elegant. Simple. Stunning.

 Kathmandu

Cocktails at 45 Park Lane Hotel

Cocktails in a hotel lobby are a great way to get the tourist experience in London without actually spending half your rent in a hotel in London. I actually prefer hotel bars to the actual hotel room. The hotel bar is like dating before the relationship, the hotel is on its best sparkly behaviour, it's guests are at their most interesting and no matter what your budget, the decor is the same for the prince as it is for the pauper. That and the fact that when you stay in a hotel room, all you is sleep and shower- the essential boring stuff. In a hotel bar you talk, laugh, drink and drink some more.

So long as we are evaluating hotel bars the 45 Park Lane, is a great place to go. Set on actual park lane, we now enter premium Monopoly board territory.

I had always seen its impressive artists Art Deco exterior and wanted to go in, and so the other day, I decided I would.

The bar is upstairs, the seating is comfy, the colours warm and the art engaging.

The staff are friendly and come around with bowls and bowls of delicious butter salt garlic popcorn as well as offering great service.

I ordered my signature Margharita love, and being a tequila fanatic found it to be exquisite.

It had soft jazz playing in the lobby, and all in all - if this was a date with 45 Park Lane, I would certainly be up for a second, and perhaps even up for a hotel room...

         

Afternoon Tea At The Ham Yard Hotel

I have a friend called Maya who since I have known her has always been up to fancy things. Maybe I have become jaded from the city- I am too busy ushering tourists out of the way to stop and see what they may be looking at. My friend Maya on the other hand is the type who takes the effort to plan research and enjoy her city like she is on holiday. After growing a tad jealous of hearing of her fabulous excersions with other friends ( I mean she takes them to tea at the Ritz whilst we meet at Westfields) I insisted that I be included in her fabulous plans.

We decided on tea (how British) at the Ham Yard Hotel in Picadilly.

Tea in London can be quite expensive when we start to talk about the Ritz and so on. The Ham Yard Hotel is very affordable, if you want a civilised Saturday with friends this is your option. We both enjoyed nattering over scones and the best tea I have ever tasted (and I am an avid coffee drinker) £19.50. for Tea.

What was on offer:

Sandwiches, scones, cakes and desserts. It all tasted heavenly and the servers were so nice!

The Ham Yard Hotel:

A stunning hotel tucked away behind the heart of London's Piccadilly, the Ham Yard Hotel boasts a rare combination of being central yet refreshingly secluded. Down a cobbled street, in a mews you will find the entrance of the modern, artistic yet some how traditional hotel. It boasts a spa, bowling alley, fine dining, and of course a tea room.

Sight-skating Around Paris

My love and I had the pleasure of visiting Paris after a wedding in Chantilly. We were lucky enough to arrive on the day of the Fete De La Musique, where the whole of Paris was in song. Every courner had a block party, from early in the day to late at night. Being the wannabe hipsters that we apparently are, Kieran and I elected to bring our wheels (his Penney, my Micro Scooter) and see the most of Paris, with the freedom to stop as we wanted. It was a perfect day.

Kieran looking suave

So many beautiful details in Paris

The Louvre

We chose scooter and skateboards as main mode of transport. No better way to travel around a city

Portugal Summer Destination SS15

If you have't made plans to go to Portugal this summer I suggest you get to it pronto. This year, I have the pleasure of going to Portugal for a hen do of my girl Wendy. It was only a 3 day trip so I packed light and still felt like it was too much. Flying into Faro we stayed in Portimão which is a lovely beach town with beach side bars and lounges.

The accommodation was an apartment instead of a hotel which was a much better option it was so roomy and plush. We got up to paddle boarding, late brunches by the beach side (the food over there is amazing & cheap) cheeky afternoon drinks by the pool, and more than a few Irish bars (they are everywhere).

Margarita's by the sea, obviously

This is the hair I chose to install for this holiday. It is kinky straight hair from my hair company Law + Miaw and it was perfect for abroad as it matched my natural texture in humidity. I ombre'd the ends with 20 vol developer and bleach for that sun kissed look. Contact www.lawandmiaw.com to buy and customise

The group went paddle boarding. At first I was like hell naw (because of my weave) but it looked like they were having so much fun I had to join in. Plus no one fell off or got wet. Imagine a water activity which you can stay dry during. I think I have found my perfect sport!

I found this contrast colour block bra whilst over in Portugal. It was great because it kept my boobs under control which made me feel slimmer. You can get the same one from New Look : 

The Bank of You: How to build inner confidence.

So how does one get as confident as hair flipping Beyonce, or as powerful as billionaire Oprah or as strong as Jennifer Anniston? (Who I think is one of the most commendable and classy women on the planet, who despite how the media tears into her, still keeps her head high).

How does one manage to build that unshakable confidence? Well for one, confidence is never unshakable, there will always come moments that have you questioning yourself- the difference with these people (and now with you) is that they will not last long- because they have a system and a mindset for managing their internal well being.

All the powerful women I admire Beyonce, Oprah and Victoria Beckham (yes, her, she went from a one of the spice girls and a footballers wife to an independent business powerhouse, recognised in her own right), all these woman have one thing in common- they see themselves as bigger than just a person- they treat themselves like a corporation.

The way our society is set up is that people are the little men and corporations call the shots. The banks and even the company you work for, has their contracts and agreements sewn up with you so that they are on the winning side. My point is it is time for individuals to start thinking the same.

This is where I introduce my concept of a bank. The Bank Of YOU.

Picture your self as a bank. Banks operate in their own interest. Here is how it works.

Basic principals:

Your Balance or capital:

Your balance is the most important thing and is made up of your time, energy and good feelings.
Any time you invest any of the above in someone else, you are investing for a return, of either time energy or good feelings.

Deposits:

Deposits are something anyone, including you can make. If you meet someone and they invest in you constantly, it may be worth opening an account with that person, where you too invest in them, under the understanding of mutual gain.

As banks invest their capital for their own benefit, so should you

Spend some time and energy investing in yourself, to generate good feelings. Feelings of confidence, feelings of self worth- which can be built up via meditation, time alone or gaining further skills. This will build up your balance further, and make you better prepared for rainy days. If you do not invest in yourself, ultimately your bank will not be viable.

Managing relationships.

Withdrawals: Withdrawals are things that people in your life may do, within the privilege of having a relationship with you. A withdrawal is any thing that consumes your time, energy or good feelings. You allow your friends to make these withdrawals, under the condition that they invest the same or more overall. For example, you may let your friend tell you all about their problems, and you may invest your energy in helping. However if it comes to the point where they withdraw far more than they have ever invested, the relationship makes no business sense and it is time to close their account. This is how you monitor your balance and ensure you do not crash. You cannot have emotional free-loaders.

Your friendships and relationships should work like a savings account, in which you invest a certain amount or your time, energy and good feelings over a length of time, and the friend or partner invests theirs. If someone is just gathering interest, and always withdrawing you need to move on from them.

Looking after the pennies

Far to often we hold on to the experiences that are negative on our emotional bank balance (being hurt or making mistakes) and we do not hold on to the good things that can boost our balance. They may just be little things, like someone saying your beautiful, talented funny or doing extra well at work one day, but they matter. And you need to be sure that you invest these good things to increase your balance and refer to whenever you are in self doubt.

Monitoring your balance

If you are particularly low in time, energy or good feelings- then do not invest them in others. Take time to rebuild your balance, so that you do not find yourself emotionally bankrupt. Keep your cup full so that negative things just slide off you, or so that you are emotionally prepared to deal with anything at all times.

Why is this principal so important?

The bank principal, enables you to keep in control of your emotional wellbeing, and ultimately builds confidence. It also helps you to keep a tab on who in your life is taking but not giving. This means that you will not be taken for granted as much, and find yourself emotionally bankrupt when you need to strong. By using this method of reasoning you will always ensure you have a minimum balance of what you need to continue. So as life happens you can always be ready. No one can take you down. You have invested in the bank of you.

One does not become confident by accident. It is a choice and it starts with conscientiously managing your relationships, your time and your energy. It is time to be the boss of your own life and steer your future to more happiness, fulfilment and inner peace.

You can do it! If you have any questions you would like me to answer, then please email me. info@lifebylois.com

Life By Lois

6 things to stop apologising for. Now.

If you are anything like me, you fall into an apology before you have even noticed one stumbling out your mouth. Whilst I am a big fan of apologies when they are genuinely due, if you over apologise for things- it just makes you look weak, and the other person assume it is OK to treat you that way. So for all of you self deprecating sweet hearts, here are 6 times its totally ok to not be sorry.

1. Feeling like you are not in the right place despite it looking like a great path to others.

This one applies to work and relationships, and stems from caring what others think, to your detriment. If you find yourself in a relationship that just doesn't feel right for no other reason other than you know its not for you- or a job which would be perfect for millions of other people but it just doesn't feel right to you- stop apologising, and devaluing your feelings. I read a great quote off of an Instagram picture yesterday, it said " Your fear of looking stupid is holding you back". This is so true for so many people and is the main reason we apologise and look to others to validate our core feelings about life. But I say stop that right now. You are an individual and whilst taking girlfriends to the loo together for moral support is a childhood habit many of us still practice, needing to validate our core feelings past every friend, and then disregarding them if no one agrees needs to stop. Take your feelings seriously, it is your life.

2. Wanting your space.

This one is a common one. Your friends or even your partner wants to hang out and you just want your space, but you feel awful for it. Well I say don't. In this life what I am realising increasingly is that the only thing that can keep you going, is the strength you build up from within. So invest in yourself. Invest in thinking positively, being alone and getting to know yourself. Alone time and wanting your space is not anti social it is actually pro social because you can only be the best friend, girlfriend, sister, brother, boyfriend, husband or wife if you are the best you.  So take that time. And stop apologising.

3. Out growing people.

This is a toughie. You have a set of friends or a certain friend that you have known for a while, and as the time moves on you realise that you have outgrown them. It is awkward because you may feel bad but the more you hang out the things that used to seem ok to you just aren't anymore. Well in my opinion this is perfectly natural, we are all on a different path and it is inevitable that you will out grow some people- in fact it's healthy! Instead of trying to change them accept things have changed and move on before things get ugly. 

4. Not putting up with others mess.

Since we were kids we were told to be long suffering, that patience was a virtue. One look at your mother or grandmother probably reminds you of a lifetime of prayer & disappointment that putting up with others mess will bring. Now I come from the new school of life. That is you only get one life (that you know of) so stop martyring your self for others. Stop putting up with those who put you down, walk all over you and take but never give. Stop putting up with those who embarrass you in public. Some people will treat you badly, and then somehow get mad at you for calling it out. I say stop apologising and tell it like it is. Oh and if this is a reoccurring event, refer to point 3, you have out grown them.

5. Feeling demotivated.

Why should you not apologise for this one? Because it happens that's why. Rather than constantly apologise, I say look at the root of what is causing your demotivation. Is it energy related? If so go to the docs and check your hormone & vitamin levels. If it is work related- take a look at why you feel that way. Is this really what you want to do? It is never too late to reevaluate your life.

6. Not having it all figured out.

It is ok not to have an answer for everything in life, be it religion, work, relationships. Life is a journey and if you keep positive and open to it, you can make some wonderful discoveries. The most important thing is that you stay honest about what you like and what you don't like, without fear- as these are the indicators to what will make you happy in life. For example, if you feel you should marry for love & money is not your main priority in life - don't settle for a rich man you don't love because others feel you should. Take your own priorities seriously and let them guide you to the right thing in life. Remember - you can have anything you want in life, if you only have the courage to admit it to yourself. So take time getting to know yourself, and admit what YOU want and need without fear. Then go get it. And don't worry if you don't have it all figured out on paper to show others. True growth happens from within and just because it is not yet externally visible does not mean it doesn't count.