When was the last time you lied about your AGE? And WHY exactly did you lie about your age? We spend our entire youth LIVES lying about our age and trying to be older than we actually are… BUT when we get to the older age, we’re not happy with that either… so we pretend we’re younger than we are?! So are we actually ever content with our real age?

Why bother even having an age at all… because we never actually use it honestly. Age just makes us feel guilty at times. If we’re not engaged at 30 then there must be something wrong with us or perhaps people are questioning our sexuality. If you don’t have a kid by 35, you’re considered a spinster or a Simon Cowell. Nobody wants to highlight the 30th 40th 50th as that’s just depressing and your birthday becomes more painful and distressing as the years build.

So picture the situation, you’re out on a Sat night in a bar/club/social tennis club and you meet a member of the opposite sex. If they tend to appear a little older or younger than you, the conversation will naturally eventually turn to age. So how do we know when we meet a guy/girl that they’re telling us the truth about their age? WE DON’T. It’s so hard to put an exact age on a person you’ve just met. The only real way of finding out is checking their passport OR their birth cert which I doubt they’ll have to hand!

But does age REALLY matter? Well clearly it does if we’re all willing to lie about it in any given opportunity. There are definitely a few ways of testing out if somebody is lying about their age. Firstly YOU casually ask them their age… they should be calm and breezy and forthcoming with the RESPONSE. If they’re not… then they’re probably older than they say. Pretend you’re interested in their star sign, so ask them that. And then throw the pivotal question of… ‘ so what year were you born?’ and if they hesitate on this one, then you know they’re lying!

Women are the worst culprits when it comes to age. Women can get away with cutting more years off by dressing and acting a certain way and with BOTOX whereas men can’t really get away with it as much. Many men actually get better with age (Gary Barlow, George Clooney) so why do they feel the need to lie about age. If a man is 40, he’ll usually claim, he’s 38. Although it’s only two years, he’ll feel 38 sounds younger and more attractive than 40. A 40 year old man can’t let go of his 30′s so still feels the need to hang in there by two years and pretend that the 40′s are not happening!

They say age is nothing but a number but in this life age is everything.

The only thing in life that goes up but never comes down is AGE!

xXJCXx

Take up smoking for the night – I don’t encourage smoking but the banter craic always tends to happen in the smoking area so get yourself a pack of Marlboro’s or Vogue menthols if you want to be cooler! Even if you’re not partial to that social cigarillo. Not alone is the smoking area a great place to meet people, it’s also a great opportunity to use your new chat up line, ‘sorry could I borrow your lighter please’!! So simple but yet ..Oh so effective!

Invest in Coco or Jean – Coco Chanel is the most alluring smell since the creation of sliced bread along with Jean Paul. A man will be drawn to you purely because of your scent. They will flock to a sensual scent!

Embrace the props –With Halloween coming up. Time for dress up! Get invited to dress up parties especially if they’re in houses. House parties are the way forward. Maybe go as Cinderella and use you’re lost shoe as a conversational starter! Let’s not forget Christmas is coming and there will be plenty of mistletoe on sale! Keep a stash in your bag so you’re always prepared! Embrace the seasonal props!

Recite a few sporting sentences – Yes learn a few rugby/ golf/ cricket/ football players’ names. No need to go overboard and over exert yourself but just pretend you’re passionate about at least one of them!!  Maybe pick the most seasonal sport. I find the BBC the best website to glance at on Friday lunchtime ahead of after work drinks! Alternatively just ask the nearest male specie in the office about the sporting fixtures for the weekend ahead!

Always have a pipeline – I reiterate this point again and again but this is imperative people!. Pipelines give you the non availability factor. The non availability factor is more enticing than being readily available like a microwave meal. Don’t put your meals all in one basket, they may go stale!

Go forth and conquer!!!

XxJCxX

Some signs that may help you identify a phobe!

Shotgun- If they jump on the band wagon from the start.. coming on strong like something you know is not normal but you let it slide as it’s all new and still amazing. Too much too soon…run!! Like forest gump!

Track record – If they’ve never had a long relationship and have had a string of people that keep coming out of the wood work who are dubbed as ‘ppl they were seeing for a few weeks’! Yes typical sign of a phobe! Especially if they’re 30 plus!

Controllers – If you find the person in question making all the plans to suit themselves, not really considering your opinions in making any social arrangements, if they’re demanding and possessive, you need to jump ship!. Controllers are just not meant to be in relationships as they’re never willing to compromise on any situation. It’s either their way or the highway!

Turbulent – The early stages of a relationship 0-6months, well these should be bliss and amazing and everything should flow like a river! If you’re encountering situations where you’re having arguments in stage 0-3 months then it’s time to do your own 360′! Turbulence should be experienced on planes only!

Effort to lack of – If the man/women makes an unreal effort from the start and then suddenly a few weeks later, you’re wondering if it’s the same person. Classic sign of a commitment phobe, they go from giving 100% to 0 in a matter of days!

xx JC xx

I think there are different levels of the addiction and need for fake tan. I have identified 3 levels which I feel are quite apt!

The Ommpa Loompa

This is when the subject is like clearly spending way too much money on tan as they appear to be wearing the bottle of tan – all of it. When your face tone is 10 levels darker than your neck and hands and when this becomes obvious from a ‘tan’ mile radius, then you know you have real problem. Or you should!! This type of tan application is like so 1990! The Ommpa Loompa’s invest in dark bed sheets and dark towels as anything WHITE will not have a place in their lives. They will have banished white from every aspect perhaps even their vocab! If a guy breaks up with you over the amount of tan you wear, this should send a signal that perhaps you should assess your application levels!! The worst thing about the Oompa Loompa’s is that they know how much tan they have on…. and they love it!!

Thee Victim

This is when the subject jumps on the band wagon with tanning as all their friends appear to wear tan. These are the types that head and get a spray tan before an occasion like a wedding or a debs even though they have NEVER tried and tested. Result = Regret of the century. The spray tans are the real killers as they just won’t come off with a scrub.. oh no…these ones take time.. Time is something that’s not really on your side when you get a spray tan the night before a wedding. The good thing about the victim is that they’ll only succumb to being a victim once in their lives!!!

The Investors

These are the good ones, the pros that have perfected the art of application. They’re like the Leonardo da Vinci’s of the modern day. You can’t quite tell if they are rocking a real or a fake as they always have a lovely evenly spread tone with no streaks in sight. The investors will go into debt in order to maintain their deep dark or in this case… white secrets!!

I salute all you addicts out there! Stay away from sunbeds and embrace the bottled revolution! XXJCXX

The power of an X is really phenomenal as it gives that little zing at the end of a message and shows a little bitta flirting. Who does not love a good auld MEGA FLIRT, it makes the world go round. It warms the cockles of your heart!!  Flirting via text is mandatory especially when you’re in the early stages of meeting a member of the opposite sex. Lack of the X is really a reflection that the person in question is not a very flirty person.  Ah ah ah (windshield wiper movement). We cannot be dealing with non flirties in their thirties!!  We as women do not like un X message so if a guy puts 1 X in, you’re going the right way. Two kisses, we’re still loving that. Three kisses, hmm getting a bit uneven. Four kisses, oh dear this could
get weirrrddddd!!

Let’s say you’re in a relationship a few months/years and you always get a few X’s in your texts.
It’s all lovely! Well when you receive a text with no X then you know there is
trouble in paradise!! Lack of the X can send a very strong signal home to Daddy!!!!
We almost feel offended and insulted by the lack of an X. An X has a whole life
of it’s own, so powerful yet so small!

The night time texts are the most important and it’s imperative that the night texts contain some form of X. Lack of the X could send you’re other half into the biggest insomniac on the planet. We won’t tell you that we are disgusted with your lack of X but if it keeps on happening, you will know about it. It’s a MAJOR offence not to sprinkle a few winky X’s into a text.

If you don’t wanna be an Ex I would recommend an X!!!!

Word

XXJcXX

Irish people are definitely experiencing a whole new wave of GOBOPI. If they are not emigrating like 1920 with their good coat and purse in tow, then they are wallowing in a sea of monotonous activity. People see the ones who have emigrated moving on with their lives, setting up new ones and perhaps immersing and adapting into a new culture far removed from what they left behind. There are no winners in this situation apart from a generation gap and a sea dividing Romeo’s from their Juliet’s.

This brings me to my first point. Does absence really make the heart grow fonder? Or does distance   just evoke happy memories that we all think we want to revisit. So, if all the separated Romeo’s and Juliet’s were reunited would everything really be as perfect as your imagination leads you to believe it would be?

Relationships and distances never lead to a fusion of harmony, the physical and mental distance is often too wide to stand and sustain the test of time. But if it takes a certain long distance for a Romeo to realise that he just lost his Juliet, then was there really any love story to begin with? Distance forces these Romeo’s to make more of an effort with their Juliet and vice versa but the question is did Romeo ever show signs of natural genuine efforts when Juliet was in a 50 mile radius?

Some of us choose to be GOBOPI and some of us don’t but either way if Romeo was not showering his Juliet with professions of undying love before she set sail then why should Juliet give Romeo the time of day months or years later when he eventually plucks up the courage to tell her that she’s always been his Juliet? Is it because absence makes the heart grow fonder?​?? Does absence really make the heart grow fonder or does Romeo just want his Juliet when he can’t have her? The moral of the story is that the heart show be the fondest it has ever been and it should not need absence to make it fonder!

XxJCxX

If anyone reading this can relate to more than 2 points then you’ll know what you have to do by the time you read my last point.  Take action, get out of a situation that’s going nowhere, lose the losers as those ones are a totalzor waste of your sensational and precious time, now join me in the movement,  AH AH AH, I don’t think so!! (finger waving windshield wiper movement!!!)

AND THIS MY FRIENDS IS HOW IT’S DONE………………….

It’s not right and it’s defo not okay, Sing it to me Whitney, if you don’t feel like you’re living a scene from the BodyGuard 90% of the time then you need to ‘Walk out the door’ and make it swift cause they’re certainly not welcome at your door anymore.

Sometimes you may doubt yourself and feel like your being unrealistic expecting things to remain on an all time high but you’re not being unrealistic AT ALL because if a dude is really into you, you’ll never doubt or question yourself when it comes to little insignificant things. ‘Oh he just does not do texts/calls/ e-mails’, BULLSH1T, if you’re not on their mind or if you don’t feel like you’re ever on their mind then, ADIOS AMIGO! Es muy simple!

If you’re feeling doubtful, you’ll know that you’re 100% making the right decision ending things. If there is a little tic tac doubt in your mind, test it out, if you get more doubtful, then its time to dump them, in the recyclable wheelie bin, the one that’s used for compost.

If they make excuses for not wanting to make things official after approx SIX months, then they are a COMMITMENT PHOBE. If they say things like ‘sure we’re just having fun, if you want anything more from this then I can’t offer that to you’. Eh why would they mentally pre-think like this? If it’s not flowing like Niagara Falls, then it’s time to erect a mofo dam!

If it’s starting to become an effort with contacting one another, when correspondence is not effortless. If the dude is contacting you when it suits him, being inconsistent and you don’t actually know where you stand or if you’re genuinely oblivious where it’s going after four months then considering ending it is TOTALLY NOT abnormal.

When it comes to occasions like Valentines Day, if he makes out that he is not into it, that’s fine, we don’t expect for them to ask for our hand in marriage but a text/card/ any form of life or acknowledgment of such occasions really is a standard process. If you find yourself making excuses as to why your dude has made no effort, then it really is time to consider bailing.

If they make excuses that they are too tried, stressed, busy to meet then this is ultimate GET OUT clause. Are they actually for real here? Tiredness and stress is pathetic. They should see time spent with you as an absolute escapism from their stressful busy lives. You’re meant to be a breath of fresh air not someone who feels like we should be the grateful for their time????

Weigh up the pro’s and the con’s. If there are more con’s forming that con’s, don’t waste any more of your precious time on time cause life is way too short and the world has way too many other tasteful fish in the sea. Stick your rod it and pull out an exotic tropical fish! An exotic Antonio Banderas kinda one!

If they talk about their ex’s. OH PLEASE!!!! Bail there and then. They are ex for a reason, if they’re still harping on about them, they’re obviously not over them. Ex’s are ex for a reason! BLUNDER conversation starter! Save yourself!!

If it’s all on when you see them and you love it and then they ignore you for a few days, this is not on. Hot and cold, hot and cold, more than dinners, ALARM BELLS GIRLS!  They can’t just expect you to be available whenever they choose to see you. It takes two to tango and yes we also have lives. We are all about giving you our time but not at 7.30 on a Thursday evening or once a week whenever you can see a gap in your diary.

Watch out for the older ones, like the 30+ ones, they are the most dangerous ones, they want you there so they can have you on their arm when out socially but when it comes down to doing normal stuff like meeting their family, friends etc, they just don’t want to know. If you have not met their mates in the first 3 months then they either don’t have any (probable in many cases!)  Or they’re not taking it seriously.

Guys who make you feel insecure; turn situations around to make you feel bad and who constantly hack away at your personality and confidence have issues. If they make you feel bad about yourself even once, then its time to show em who’s boss. If you feel like you’re trying to be something you’re not then it’s time to press the DELETE button on your phone. Life is too short for mental torment!

When they call/text you like an insane person on a Friday and Sat night at 3am and are so adamant to see you then, well this my friends is when you defo know, its time to pull that plug.  Because there is only one thing that they are looking for here and it’s defo not a spoon!

xxLove JCxx

The are some many reasons why they moan but there are a few top reasons that spring to the forefront of my mind.

The MAN FLU – Every woman on earth can relate to this one. This one never seizes to blow my mind. Imagine a man had to go through child birth or all the other things that women have to go through. A sniffle from a man’s nose leads to them taking to the bed for a week or so. They decorate their bedroom and surround themselves with boxes of pills, just to make it that more dramatic!  Have you ever in your life come across such OTT behaviour?!? In extreme OTT cases they opt for an anti- biotic and yet they never really seem to lose their appetite, strange that!  When recovered from the MAN FLU they then tend to recite this to everyone they know for weeks after! If a woman took to the bed for a week, the world would fall apart. The below clip is extremely apt here….

They’re tired – For the love of God, there is nothing more unbelievable than a tired man. It’s 100% all about them when this happens and they need to speak with a moany droany tone to tell you that they are just SOOOO tired. What they really need to do is build a bridge and stop harping on about it because we females actually really don’t care about how much beauty sleep they have or have not had. We just find it annoying. I bet even Brad Pitt moans when he’s tired. But we can defo make exceptions for that one!

BHD (Bad Hair Day) – They moan when they are having a BAD HAIR DAY??. I never thought the day would come when a man moans more about his hair than any woman. If a man does not style his hair right,  you will often hear a moaning tutting sound coming from the mirror as they stand there,  perfecting their grass length hair, strand by strand! Oh sweet God, this issue is becoming more prevalent amongst 25-35 bracket.

Hunger – They say a best way to a man’s heart is through his stomach. They should rephrase this one to, ‘The best way to shut them up is to feed them’. A hungry moany man is really really annoying. They moan about being weak and tired if they have not eaten for two hours. Women need to be careful not to feed men all of the time when they moan. This is because they will get fat and then will moan about how they are putting on weight and then moan about the food that you feed them. It a vicious circle ladies!!

Losing – Men are the sorest looosers going. The will moan the head off the nearest person the minute they lose a bet, match, (a suit in some cases!) and money. They sink into an almighty depression the minute their pocket takes a hit. They just cannot take a hit!  They alose their minds and form an internal rage!.  Some men may also be reduced to tears especially when their team loses an important match!

Go on Robert!!

Getting Some – Men moan when they don’t get some action for quite a time. This needs no elaboration!!!

However as much as men moan, they also have their redeeming qualities even if these are far and few between!!

X x Jen x X

Doom and Gloom is usually the general consensual feeling of January. Well it won’t defeat me as I am going to nip that one in the bed pretty swiftly.Things that make me happy, things that are free, things that are most special are the non monetary things. These are the things that I think all people should do in January.

You should all invite your friends over to your house for tea and chats. You can NOT and will NOT beat tea and chats. They are so exciting. And such a great way to catch up with minimum effort. Maybe add in a scone or a slice of carrot cake or even a biscuit! Its an absolute winner. I am in love with tea and chats. Thanks to Barrys for being in my life, you make everything better!!

Ring someone that you love and tell them that you love them. They might already know that you love them but tell them anyways cause they will absolutely love it and it will make them smile and be happy. Phone them, text them, email them but either way tell someone that you love them and how much they mean to you.

Surround yourself with positive and inspiring people who have an addictive presence and who like to laugh. Being surrounded by great people makes me inspired by life in general. Laughter is the best drug going, everyone should get addicted and it’s free and you can get it at anytime, anywhere. Especially from your sister!!!

I think starting a blog is always a good thing to do and then you can document the interesting things that happen. Or start a diary or buy a notepad and write down interesting and fun things that you can look back on and reflect on. Or make a collage of pictures, this is a good one if you have a friends birthday coming up and can’t afford a decent enough present. Sentimental is always a winner!

 Cutting out booze makes you feel great, mentally and physically!! Hangovers are like totally evil, they force and make you eat everything in sight so cutting out the booze may be a good way to loose a few pounds! There is just no satisfying your cravings when you have a hangover so DEFO Switch gallons of wine for water this month!!

People always feel like they are stuck in a rut in January and feel like there is nothing to look forward to! Well walk into a HARIDRESSER and ask them for a CHANGE! Not an inch off your hair but like a different style or shade but definitely ask for something DIFFERENT AND NEW. This will put that spring back in your step cause ‘You’re worth it’ babzors!!

 Exercise is always something that people sign up for in January. It’s also something that they never stick to for any other month of the year. Go for a walk in a park or drive to the countryside and go for a walk there of a Sunday and get some fresh air. And THEN find a cafe that makes homemade food and hunt down some scones and carrot cake and it will be the best Sunday EVER!

The simple things in life really are the best and they’re FREE!! x x x x

I like people who inspire me and one person who never seizes to do this is the incredible Irish fashion designer, Emma Manley.  Passion, determination, belief and sheer talent are a few words that encapsulate Emma and what she is about.  She is one fiesty fashionista that is making her distinctive stamp on the fashion industry at home and abroad.  

From interning with the late Alexander McQueen and jetting all around the world at such a young age, Emma demonstrates how hard work and positivity really pays offf.  However, Emma didn’t pick her love for fashion up off the ground as her mum was also a creative fashion designer.  Now living back in the Emerald Isle, Emma is taking the Irish fashion industry by storm.  So I decided it was time to get up close and personal with the beautiful Miss. Manley…..…..

Where did it all begin for you?

My Mum was a designer so I was born straight into it and brought up around patterns, fittings and all the best fashion mags. I grew up, C.A.O time rolled around and I couldn’t imagine doing anything else. A year in a fashion and textile design foundation was my test to see if I was really cut out for the world of fashion. I walked away with the ‘Achiever of the Year’ award and I haven’t looked back since.

You don’t do things by halves! You jetted off to the Big Apple at 21. How did that happen?

I had just graduated and interning was what I wanted to gain more experience – it’s the greatest way to work for top brands. I set my sights on VPL, a label I adored. It’s a burgeoning brand, with a small team so I knew I would get far more opportunities to design. So off I went to New York. Before I knew it I was designing and sewing garments that walked in the VPL A/W 2009 show. I remember dressing models backstage and Fashion TV was there. They were interviewing a model and she signed off with the habitual “I love you Fashion TV” – too funny, so corny, so fashion. All I could think of was “jeez I used to watch that, now I’m part of it.”

Then there was London….You completed an internship with the late Alexander McQueen during your time in London. That must have been a pretty phenomenal yet tough experience.   Is it possible choose one highlight?

That’s a big ask! You know, when you work in a company like that you’re on the other side. Your not part of the glitz and glamour- you help create it. It’s tough, the days were long but walking out those big glass doors every day and seeing garments you created walk down the runway is something I was immensely proud of. What happened throughout the day really only gets processed when you leave and think … Yikes, I’ve just made a dress for Selma Hayek!

Not only did you work with many a great, you have also dressed an Oscar nominee…?

Indeed and one of our own too! It was Juanita Wilson for the Oscar Nominee’s luncheon. She was nominated for her short film, ‘The Door’. I had been a fan of her work before we were put in touch about the Oscar’s so it was a real honour dressing Juanita.

Congratulations on the growing success of Manley. I know how hard you have worked to get where you are today. Your pieces are really stunning and unique. What inspires your designs?

Its so many things brought together. From long before I begin sketching or even thinking about a new collection, I’m collecting ideas subconsciously. It’s art, its things I see in the street, it’s the way a song makes me feel. All of these things make a story that becomes my inspiration. It’s all in my head!

How would you describe the Manley aesthetic?

Manley is play on words- Manley being my surname and not a masculine aesthetic. It’s romantic femininity contrasted with urban modernity, representing frivolity and strength at once.

You have recently moved back to Ireland to concentrate more on Manley.  How has the transition been for you and how has Manley been received?

My time away was hugely inspirational. I had this great blank canvas to fill – everything was an unknown and that’s a great experience for the soul. I had two great honeymoon periods in two of the greatest cities in the world. Now it’s about making Manley work. Ireland’s wonderful and I think I’m only beginning to scratch at its surface. Since the early days of selling in Cow’s Lane Market and The Loft, Irish consumers have been very supportive. That’s our culture, we support our own wholeheartedly. Returning home just verified my desire to remain here. I want to be an Irish designer and proud of it. I also want to be able to bring Irish design to the rest of the world. Being based here was just another building block in the Manley story.

What item of clothing will you not live without this Winter?

The Manley cape. I’m in love with it and wear it almost everywhere. It’s not too dressy and equally not too casual. Being comfortable, cosy and stylish is what our winters demand.

From your priceless experiences and travelling all around the world, NY, London and Dublin. Which city tops the fashion stakes and why?

London. Londoners take risks, they’re edgy, and I truly love that. New Yorkers are more groomed and that’s cool too but I rather a little more makeshift and mismatch. Dublin is defiantly climbing the fashion ranks. I think as a nation we are learning how to be creative with our closets. I do feel we can be slaves to our climate and that is something that we need to steer clear of. We can make kicking through puddles glamorous by doing it in Kurt Geiger boots.

Is there any designer out there at the moment that fascinates or inspires you?

Too many to list, but more then anything its the emerging designers that inspire. Take Alexander Wang, only 26 and look at all he’s done… he won’t have a short career.

If you could design a dress for any celeb out there?

Roll-up, roll-up Mary-Kate Olsen.

You are going from strength to strength and it’s so inspiring to see somebody so talented doing what they love.  What should we expect from Manley in 2011?

Great things. New designs. Nothing less.

If you want to see anymore of the beautiful Manley designs, please log onto http://www.emmamanley.com/