Travelling Thailand in 3 weeks

Hi everyone! Some of you might know, myself and a crew of my mates went travelling around Asia for five weeks. We started off in the Philippines for ten days and we went to Palawan Island where I was last year (link to read about Palawan: https://minimintnd.com/2017/09/17/palawan-the-philippines/ ) and we then met up with a couple more of our friends in Thailand which is where we spent the majority of our trip.

Below I’m just going to give a quick breakdown of where we went and for how many days and then I will go into more detail on what we did in each part of Thailand. I can honestly say it was one of the most fun and cultured holidays I was ever on. Everything from the food to the activities we did were just incredible and definitely a once in a lifetime experience.

Our itinerary:

Phuket – 2 nights (flew from Manila straight to Phuket via Singapore)
Phi Phi Island – 3 nights (2 hour ferry from Phuket to Phi Phi)
Koh Lanta – 3 nights (2 hour ferry from Phi Phi to Koh Lanta)
Koh Phangan -3 nights (drove across Thailand in a mini bus)
Chiang Mai -4 nights (flew from Koh Samui to Chiang Mai)
Bangkok- 2 nights (flew Chiang Mai to Bangkok)

Phuket

We landed in Phuket at around 8pm and met up with our friends who had already been there one night. There was 11 of us altogether so we booked a Villa on Air B&B which was ideal for a big group. The first night we landed we were so tired from travelling all day from the Philippines, we just threw on some clothes and headed out for the night. We headed towards the strip in Phuket located on Bangla Road just off of Patong Beach and let me tell you, it was an experience.. First of all it’s so packed with tourists and second of all I did not feel safe there. It was basically just pimps and strippers promoting sex shows and ping pong shows, it was kind of uncomfortable walking around so we went straight to a few bars for some buckets which is what we mostly drank while on holidays because they were such good value for money.

We went to the New Moon Party located on paradise beach, tuk-tuks are super cheap over there and they brought us directly there for a couple of euro. The following day there was such bad weather we split up between just chilling at the house and watching movies or going shopping down at the markets. We all met up that night then for dinner at the Hard Rock cafe. One of the great things about Thailand is when eating out with a group we didn’t have any issues with paying separately and the servers are all very accommodating.

IMG_4549[1] — New Moon Party on Paradise beach

New Moon Party on Paradise beach

The white room nightclub, phuket

New Moon Party

IMG_4529[1] — The white room nightclub, Phuket

The following morning we got a two hour ferry over to Phi Phi Island which we booked online at phuketferry.com the night before.

Phi Phi Island

When we landed in Phi Phi we could not get over how small it was. Everything is within walking distance so we got off the ferry and walked down the road to our resort which was called Phi Phi Charlie. We stayed here for three nights and had such a great time. The rooms are standard but very clean and the pool is located just in front of the beach. We ate in a cafe called Chorn Kham around the corner from the hotel two days in a row because it was so delicious. They do everything from breakfast, lunch and dinner. The hotel had a superb buffet breakfast included with everything from fruit to freshly made omelettes to pancakes.

We went out two nights there and we went to a couple of different bars such as one called Stockholm Syndrome, The Dubliner, Banana Bar and a few more down at the beach. The banana bar has a lovely rooftop bar and they show a film up there every night. They also do an unreal breakfast, Thai and Mexican menu. We did a day trip which is a must-do when on phi phi because you get to visit Monkey Island and Maya Beach. A morning hike to the phi phi lookout point is also a must do. (Pro tip: don’t attempt while hungover because it’s a pure workout lol)

I loved Phi Phi because it had a good mix of fun things to do, a great beach and pool to relax but also a fantastic nightlife. We then got a two hour ferry to Koh Lanta and organised the transportation to Koh Phangan while on the boat for the 11 of us.

Koh Lanta

When we arrived in Koh Lanta we quickly realised there were very few tourists around the place because it was off-season so we went straight to Lanta Resort where we stayed for three nights. We spent the days relaxing by the pool or the beach because we were pretty wrecked from the hectic going we had been doing all along so it was a nice break before we hit the madness of Koh Phangan. We went to the funky monkey bar for dinner one night and a couple of us stayed on because they whipped out a karaoke machine and we stayed on an extra few hours to sing and drink with a couple of fellow travellers.

The following day we hired a mini bus which took us all around the island. We hiked through the jungle to Khlong Chak waterfall which was actually pretty scary walking into a massive jungle without a guide surrounded by scorpions and pythons, definitely get a guide because if we got lost, we were pretty screwed lol. We then visited the Lanta Animal Welfare centre because it was the most highly recommended thing to do on trip adviser. You can volunteer to walk a few of their dogs and play with their cats for a small donation. We also went to a restaurant called the Salad House @ Lanta which was down the road from our hotel and got a lovely meal there. (it has a sign on the outside saying Happiness is in the food we serve)

IMG_4874[1] — Lanta Animal Welfare centre p.s this is scooby and he’s a very good boy

We then travelled across Mainland Thailand to Koh Phangan which is where we did most of our partying.

Koh Phangan

We got a ferry across to Koh Phangan and once we arrived it was crazy, the whole place was filled with backpackers all ready to go to the Full Moon Party. We stayed at Baan Kew Chaw which is across from the Space Cats hostel. We then went to the Jungle Party which is literally smack bang in the middle of a jungle and one of the craziest parties I have ever been to. The following day we just chilled at the pool and went for dinner in SOHO Bar which had a gorgeous mexican menu, it’s located across from the Pantip market. It was one of the nicest meals we had on holiday so definitely check it out if you’re paying a visit to Koh Phangan.

IMG_4907[1] — Getting decorated inside the Jungle party with some UV paint

IMG_4933[1] — Our finished work at the Jungle Party

That night was the Full Moon Party and it was very intense. Make sure not to get too drunk because there are so many dangers there between the ocean, skipping ropes lit on fire and people spiking drinks you really do need to have your wits about you and make sure not to separate from your group because there are tens of thousands of people attending.

It was still one of the best nights of my life, we watched the sunrise on the beach and had a full dinner at 6am lol. We spent the following day eating and relaxing before packing up our stuff and making the journey to Chiang Mai.

IMG_4965[1].JPG — Girlband reunion in matching dresses and bum bags? Check

IMG_4994[1] — Finishing off the Full Moon party with watching the sunrise and a full dinner.

Chiang Mai

Koh Phangan doesn’t have its own airport so we had to get a boat over to Koh Samui airport which is actually ranked as one of the most beautiful airports in the world! We flew from Koh Samui to Chiang Mai. We had organised to stay in an elephant sanctuary for two nights and they kindly organised transport to collect us from the airport and took us to the sanctuary which is about 2 hours outside Chiang Mai. The Chai Lai Orchid was definitely the highlight of my trip. We spent three days and two nights staying the jungle playing with elephants and going on jungle treks and bamboo rafting.

IMG_5084[1] — Our first day arriving at Chai Lai Orchid (I was clearly super excited)

Check out https://www.chailaiorchid.com/ for more info on their mission and how to book your own tour. I honestly cannot recommend this place enough.

IMG_5328[1] — Our second day we did a jungle trek and we were able to wash the baby elephants in the river

We then drove back into Chiang Mai city and stayed in an Air B&B for two nights which was so stunning. We spent those days doing our shopping in the markets which are so so good and cheap if you’re looking for fake designer bits and pieces. While we were in the city we came across a booking company promoting a cooking class so we said we would try it and it was so much fun! We cooked a five course dinner and had the best laugh while doing it and it only cost about 700 baht each.

Check out http://www.pranangcookeryschool.com/ for more info on Thai recipes and making a reservation.

We also hired a tuk tuk for 140 baht each to take us around to a couple of the gorgeous temples located around Chiang Mai city. Chiang Mai is deffo one of the most cultured cities I have ever been to and hands down one of the most beautiful. Check below to see for yourself.

Bangkok

We then flew from Chiang Mai to Bangkok to finish off our trip. In Bangkok we stayed two nights in Cloud on Saladaeng Hostel which was fab. It was one of the nicer hostels I’ve stayed in, it was very clean and the staff were so helpful. We went to the famous Kohsann road for a few drinks and dinner in the Macaroni Club. We then went to a late bar place called The One and it was all on a massive set of stairs, it kind of resembled a church and I genuinely did not want to leave the music was so good lol.

IMG_5461[1] — Cloud on Saladaeng Road Hostel (chinese oriental design inspired)

The following day it was torrential rain so we decided to go to the massive BMK shopping centre which is SEVEN stories high with a range of shops and market stalls. There was even a cinema inside there which we went to and it was deffo a completely different experience to going to an irish cinema. Firstly, you order your snacks and drinks and then they drop them into you in the screen so we felt like VIPs. Secondly, once you get inside you receive a glass of juice and a fleece blanket to get all cosied up and you have to stand for the National anthem before the movie plays.

We didn’t do too much touristy things in Bangkok because we were pretty wrecked by this stage and we still had another week in Dubai to go so we wanted to save our money for that. Overall, I loved Thailand a lot more than I expected to. Chiang Mai became one of my favourite places I’ve ever travelled to because of the mix of culture there is so diverse, and the elephants were the highlight of my entire trip.

If you’re thinking of travelling to Thailand, I hope you found this little itinerary some bit helpful and if you have any questions, don’t hesitate to send on a message to me via Facebook or Instagram and I’ll get back to you ASAP.

Mini Mint x

November 5, 2018 by minimintnd Categories: travelTags: backpacking, discoverthailand, girlstrip, inspiration, irishabroad, irishblogger, kohlanta, kohphangan, palawan, phiphi, thailand, travel, travellingthailand, vacation, wanderlust Leave a comment

Festival Outfit planning

Hi all,

I know it has been weeks since I last posted, (I feel I start every blog post with this line hahaha) but now that I have Sziget Festival coming up I’m starting to feel more inspired than I have the last few weeks with my outfit planning.

First up, my tip for getting ideas and inspiration always comes from looking at other bloggers especially on Pinterest where you can search and create your own board of what you like even if you think you would never wear it yourself. I have been creeping on this all summer and have a few ideas on what I want to wear for the festival, but I want all my outfits to be different so I have decided to go on Texture aka I would ideally like to have an outfit involving sequins, an outfit involving suede, an outfit involving lace etc so I have found some bits and pieces online to break into these categories and hopefully give some inspo on how to create a cute but in-depth outfit diary for all your festival needs!

Lace

I’m not going to lie, lace is my number one most searched term on pinterest between crop-tops, maxi skirts, mini dresses and even vintage wedding dresses…. I know it’s very early for that yet, should probably find a man first lol. Anyways, most of us girls probably want to incorporate some sort of lace outfit into our festival wardrobe cause it’s the ultimate definition of Boho Chic. Some examples included are below:

Here are some pieces online to help you achieve this look: all from @missguided.

Sequins

To add a bit of colour to your festival wardrobe always try incorporate sequins into at least one outfit because there are only a handful of times it’s acceptable to go all out. I plan on wearing a floor length multicoloured sequin dress which I wore new years eve, GO HARD OR GO HOME.

Some ideas on how to include some sequins in your outfit choices:

Here are some bits I found online to help achieve these looks: all from @missguided.

Crochet /Knitwear

If you’re like me and going to a festival in a hot country, you might want to give this one a miss. For anyone heading to Indie or Electric Picnic though I strongly advise including a bit of wool to your wardrobe because it is gonna be cold AF. Crochet can be anything froma slouchy jumper or full length maxi dress to even a bikini!

Here are some bits if you’re looking for inspo:

To achieve some of these looks: check out some bits from @missguided

While you try to get the perfect look PLEASE remember you are going to be running around outside for hours on end! Above all else make sure you’re comfortable so try go for flowy dresses and maxi skirts to provide freedom but also a bit of warmth.. and also try some baggy printed shirts either tied up or as a dress!

Finally remember to look after your friends cause festivals can get super crazy and it’s so easy to lose someone when drink is involved! ENJOY THE REST OF YOUR SUMMER XO

Mini Mint x

July 29, 2018July 29, 2018 by minimintnd Categories: fashionTags: babesofmissguided, bohostyle, budapestfestival, crochet, fashion, festival, festivalblog, festivalfashion, festivaloutfitplanning, inspiration, lace, missguidedinspo, sequins, style, szigetfestival, travel Leave a comment

Race Day outfit inspo

Hello Ladies and Gents! Yes, I did say Gents because this is my first ever mixed gender fashion post!!! Cant you tell I am excited with all the exclamation marks!!

So to start off I’m going to throw up some fab pieces I’ve seen online that would be perfect for any lady heading off to the races whether you want to wear a dress, jumpsuit or suit I will divide it up into categories to tailor to everyone’s needs.

Jumpsuits

A jumpsuit can be one of the most versatile pieces in your wardrobe. They can be dressed down with sandals or runners for a more casual look or in this case, dressed up with heels and a clutch bag for a day out. There are loads of styles and colours available online ranging from culotte leg, wide leg, backless just to name a few. I think a jumpsuit is a fab choice if you are on the taller side because they are SUPER flattering to long legs.

Suits

I LOVE women in suits! I am wearing one myself this year and I know a few others who are thinking of doing the same. A suit looks super classy and its an outfit you can wear over and over again by mixing and matching the pants and blazer. Pastel suits are a massive trend this season so make sure to pick one up.

Midi dress

A midi dress can come in so many different styles, colours, shapes. They are one of the most versatile types of dresses. Every woman can find a midi dress tailored to her specific preference.

Mini Dress

The mini dress is something us gals always tend to revert back to endlessly on nights out, whether is a simple LBD or a pop of colour, we all have that ONE mini dress that makes us feel absolutely A1. Here are a couple of fancy numbers that will take you straight from the race course into town after 😉

FOR THE BOYS……

Classic Suit

You cannot go wrong with a well-tailored suit, and I do need to emphasis WELL tailored. There’s nothing worse than seeing a young lad absolutely swimming in a blazer and suit pants because they didn’t bother going to a seamstress. Man up and get fitted pronto!

Printed Suit

If you’re looking to jazz up an old classic, try a printed suit. Most of the celebs have been spotted in colour blocked suits, floral, tartan and various exotic prints.

Jeans and a blazer

If you don’t have the funds to fork out for a new suit, maybe just purchase a new blazer and call it a day? Every lad should own at least one pair of skinny jeans/trousers and a white shirt. Polish your shoes and throw on a funky blazer and you’ll be turning heads left, right and centre.

Accessories

Last but not least, please do not forget to accessorise appropriately! It’s one of the few times you get to go all out so wear a fancy watch or maybe even try a pocket watch. If you aren’t brave enough to wear a floral suit or blazer, try a tie and pocket square set instead. Don’t forget cuff links if you’re wearing a suit jacket and clean the shoes.

April 2, 2018April 2, 2018 by minimintnd Categories: fashionTags: asos, fashion, fashionblogger, fblogger, inspiration, jumpsuits, menssuits, menswear, mididresses, occassionwear, raceday, style, weddingguestoutfit, womenssuits Leave a comment

R.A.G Week 2018

Hey everyone! I literally have not been able to bless myself lately between finishing up my FYP (one step closer to possibly graduating woo woo) and working through my internship. The last time I actually wrote a blog post was New Years.. So now that I am finally a free woman, I hope to start belting out more posts as often as I can!

So to kick start the new me, I have decided to put together a little list here in the spirit of Charity Week aka RAG week because let’s face it, we all end up bringing half of our wardrobe with us back to college and only end up wearing the same old reliables.

This list I have put together has been tricky as I have constantly added then removed then added items.. These are just the basic items to bring with you that are versatile to wear both day and night, (which is handy when you are going straight from stables to icon hehe)

Midi Skirt

Day: Pair with a t-shirt, jacket and ankle boots or runners.

Night: Change into heels/sock boots.

LINK: http://eu.boohoo.com/search?q=midi+skirt

Slogan T-Shirt

Day: Pair with jeans, denim skirt, midi skirt, tracksuit.

Night: Same as above, just throw on some heels.

*Tip* Raid your brothers and parents wardrobes for a vintage t-shirts, half of my Dad’s jumpers and T-shirts have “mysteriously” gone missing over the years….

LINK: http://eu.topshop.com/en/tseu/category/clothing-485092/t-shirts-6864662

Oversized Shirt

Day: Pair with mom jeans and boots/trainers over a t-shirt.

Night: Wear as a dress. (standard for me really lol)

LINK: https://www.missguided.eu/dresses/shirt-dresses

Denim Skirt

Day: Pair with tights and boots, with a jumper/tshirt/cardigan.

Night: Wear with a bodysuit and heels.

LINK: http://eu.topshop.com/en/tseu/category/clothing-485092/denim-485562

Bodysuit

Day: Wear under an oversized denim jacket and track pants/jeans.

Night: Wear with jeans and heels or a midi skirt.

Ankle boots

Day: Literally with everything, comfy shoes are a must this week especially ones you can dance in!!

Night: Five nights in heels is tough going, ankle boots are stylish yet comfy. These are from River Island, a bit pricey but I have not removed them from my feet since I bought them. #Obsessed

LINK: https://www.riverisland.ie/p/black-leather-studded-western-boots-711069

Statement Jacket

Due to the unpredictable Irish weather, a jacket is essential. Variations include a bomber, denim jacket, blazer, leather jacket.. why not try a duster or trench coat? Some of my faves are down below.

LINK: https://www.riverisland.ie/search?keyword=duster&f-division=women

LINK: http://eu.boohoo.com/search?q=Bomber

LINK: http://eu.topshop.com/en/tseu/category/clothing-485092/jackets-coats-2390890

A chunky cardigan

For days when it’s not raining and you don’t want to bring a coat, a big cardigan is ideal to still keep you warm.

LINK: https://www.riverisland.ie/search?keyword=cardigan&f-division=women

LINK: http://eu.boohoo.com/womens/knitwear?sz=80&start=80

Slip Dress

Day: Wear over a plain white t-shirt with tights, jacket and boots.

Night: Wear under a leather jacket and some heels.

LINK: http://eu.topshop.com/en/tseu/product/square-neck-mini-slip-dress-7433012?bi=0&ps=20&Ntt=slipdress

LINK: http://eu.boohoo.com/search?q=Satin+slip+dress

Mom Jeans

Day: Pair with a t-shirt/shirt/jumper

Night: Change into heels and a “nice top”

*Mom jeans are my favourite type of jeans because they’re so funky and I just genuinely think they look deadly with heels and a crop top compared to most girls in skinny jeans. Be different and all that..

LINK: http://eu.topshop.com/en/tseu/product/moto-bleach-mom-jeans-7295430?bi=0&ps=20&Ntt=mom%20jeans

LINK: http://www.newlook.com/row/womens/clothing/jeans/blue-side-stripe-tori-mom-jeans/p/572235940?comp=Search

Hope you all have a fab week ahead and make sure to stay safe,

Mini Mint x

February 18, 2018 by minimintnd Categories: fashionTags: bloggerlife, boohoo, charity, fashion, fashionblog, fashionblogger, influence, inspiration, irishblogger, newlook, ootd, outfitdiary, style, topshop, unique Leave a comment

Happy New Year !! 2018

Happy new year!

Hey guys so first of all I hope everyone is starting the new year off with a fresh head because I am definitely not

I just wanted to say a big massive cringey THANK YOU to every single person who has supported my blog. I know everyone and their mother is blogging these days but as your basic 21 year old college student I was actually blown away by how supportive everyone was towards me.

Every single direct message and comment genuinely means the world to me because as much as I love doing this, it’s very fucking scary (sorry mam for cursing) This has been one of the scariest things I’ve ever made myself do because behind it all I’m not that outgoing and all those likes and messages give me the drive to keep going and reassure me what I’m doing is not completely pointless.

To sum it all up really, thanks to every single person for their messages, (even the lads who don’t care about fashion, thanks for liking everything all the same

) if it has taught me anything definitely just go for your goals. It’s terrifying but you only have one life and who cares what other people think? As long as your family and besties support you and know when to tell you you’re acting the eejit, that’s all that matters in the grand scheme of things!

So now that I’m all done being emotional I’m gonna check myself into the gym for the next month like every other gobshite after December

To finish off with a great quote: “Don’t be afraid to shine, the sun doesn’t give a shit if it blinds you”

(Again, very sorry Mam for cursing)

Mini Mint x

p.s The dress I wore last night is from Zara

January 1, 2018January 1, 2018 by minimintnd Categories: lifestyleTags: 2018, fashion, happynewyear, inspiration, newyearcelebrations, newyearseve, newyearsresolutions, partywear, sequindress, style, zara Leave a comment

Redlane 16.12.17

Hey everyone! This little post is just showcasing some local fashion as well as supporting local business here in our very own Waterford. All of the items shown can be found in store in Redlane Boutique in Tramore or online at http://www.redlane.ie.

Now although I love to shop in my normal high street shops such as Penneys, River Island, Topshop etc, I do like to broaden my fashion horizons if I have a special occasion such as a wedding or our annual Race Day. The best thing about Redlane I felt was that firstly, the staff were so helpful that I felt like I was shopping with a couple of my friends but also the HUGE selection of clothes which you wouldn’t normally find in boutique shops. Take a look and see for yourself a mix between both casual and dressy.

(Video on this little tutorial on Instagram: @minimintndblog Facebook: Mini Mint ND)

For anyone looking for a day out, why not head to the races in Tramore on New Years Day? I know where I’ll be purchasing my outfit …..

Mini Mint x

December 17, 2017December 16, 2017 by minimintnd Categories: fashionTags: christmaspartywear, fashion, fblogger, inspiration, irishblog, irishblogger, irishfashion, localfashion, occasionwear, ootd, shoplocal, style Leave a comment

Waterford Vs. Web

Hey everyone! So some of you may already know I had been thinking of doing this post for a while. I have decided to showcase some Christmas party outfits available in shops in Waterford City from Penneys, Topshop, River Island and more! However, I know it can be an awful effort to drag yourself out of the house to go shopping so I have also compared them to similar outfits online, which gives you the option to shop from the comfort of your own bed xx

LOOK 1 – PENNEYS

I am obsessed with co-ords and suits (check my full blog post on co-ords) as ye all know, so I instantly went for this fab navy velvet suit in Penneys. I thought this cropped pyjama top was cute and looked fab under the blazer for a more “going-out” vibe.

Blazer- €23

Trousers- €16

PJ Top- €6

Versus WEB

Trousers- €32 BOOHOO (LINK: http://eu.boohoo.com/search?q=navy+velvet+trousers)

Blazer- €32 BOOHOO (LINK: http://eu.boohoo.com/search?q=navy+velvet+blazer)

LOOK 2 – PENNEYS

I love how the little silver details on this jumper tie into the silver metallic skirt. The jumper would be fab with jeans also,

Jumper- €15

Skirt- €14

Versus WEB

Skirt- €19 BOOHOO (LINK: http://eu.boohoo.com/search?q=silver+metallic+mini+skirt)

Jumper- €30 ZARA (LINK: https://www.zara.com/ie/en/sweater-with-bejewelled-appliqu%C3%A9s-p05755005.html?v1=5400009&v2=840002)

LOOK 3 – MISS SELFRIDGE

This dress would be so fab for Christmas Eve/Day. It’s simple but still festive with the subtle star pattern. (Belt is from penneys btw)

Dress- €49

Versus WEB

Dress- €38 MISSGUIDED (LINK: https://www.missguided.eu/red-star-ruffle-detail-tea-dress)

LOOK 4 – TOPSHOP

The second I saw this I absolutely HAD to try it on. I think cowl necks and spaghetti straps are so flattering and I feel I’m in a 90’s throwback.

Dress- €44

Versus WEB

Dress- €30 MISSY EMPIRE (LINK: https://www.missyempire.com/paris-silver-sequin-cowl-neck-mini-dress?___store=eur)

LOOK 5 – TOPSHOP

I love fur coats due to their ability to keep you nice and toasty but also to feel like a movie star. This body suit was in the sale also which is a plus.

Bodysuit: €35

Skirt: €52

Fur coat: €110

Versus WEB

Skirt- €22 FOREVER 21 (LINK: http://www.forever21.com/EU/Product/Product.aspx?Br=F21&Category=bottom_skirt&ProductID=2000110553&VariantID=02&lang=en-US&esvt=-&esvq=&esvadt=999999—1&esvcrea=182639295318&esvplace=&esvd=c&esvtg=pla-64640746511&esvaid=50184&gclid=CjwKCAiA07PRBRBJEiwAS20SINml8l9wSDS7qmNw2zlw9tXxi6Qdd0wwKTk-ocYfKrCC3gq292mTAhoCaaUQAvD_BwE)

Bodysuit- €48 BOOHOO (LINK: http://eu.boohoo.com/search?q=sequin+bodysuit)

Fur coat- €60 PRETTYLITTLETHING (LINK: https://ie.prettylittlething.com/cream-cropped-faux-fur-coat.html)

LOOK 6 – QUIZ

This velvet dress is so glam I actually bought it. It’s available in emerald green, ruby red, black, green glitter and black glitter.

Dress- €33

Versus WEB

Dress- €30 PRETTY LITTLE THING (LINK: https://www.prettylittlething.com/catalogsearch/result/?q=lauriell)

LOOK 7 – QUIZ

I am like a magpie to anything with sequins this time of year so I naturally picked up this fab mini dress in Quiz.

Dress- €52

Versus WEB

Dress- €26 MISS FOXY (LINK:http://www.missfoxy.co.uk/clothing-c1/sequin-long-sleeve-mini-dress-in-green-p27)

LOOK 8 – RIVER ISLAND

This skirt is so versatile over Silly Season. You could wear it to casual drinks or for a night out on the town. I paired it with this T shirt firstly but spotted this little black crop top also in the sale.

T shirt- €35

Skirt- €20

Crop top- €25

Versus WEB

Skirt- €16 PRETTYLITTLETHING (LINK:https://www.prettylittlething.com/gold-glitter-frill-hem-mini-skirt.html)

Tshirt- €13 PRETTYLITTLETHING (LINK: https://ie.prettylittlething.com/white-iconic-slogan-t-shirt.html)

Crop top- €11 MISSGUIDED (LINK: https://www.missguided.eu/black-ruffle-crop-bardot-cami-top)

LOOK 9 – RIVER ISLAND

You can not beat a crisp white shirt. It’s one of my fave things to wear, either with jeans or a cute little skirt. This one has a little bit of extra glam with the jewelled detailing.

Shirt- €50

Skirt- €40

Versus WEB

Shirt- €30 ZARA (LINK: https://www.zara.com/ie/en/pearly-shirt-p03564175.html?v1=5273048&v2=733890)

Skirt- €35 PRETTYLITTLETHING (LINK: https://ie.prettylittlething.com/black-embroidered-mini-skirt.html)

December 10, 2017December 10, 2017 by minimintnd Categories: fashionTags: christmas, christmaspartywear, fashion, highstreetstyle, inspiration, missselfridge, onlineshopping, partywear, penneys, red, riverisland, style, topshop Leave a comment

Copenhagen

Hey everyone! So as most of you know from following me on social media (Instagram @minimintndblog and Facebook : Mini Mint ND) I was recently on a weekend trip to Copenhagen, Denmark. I had such a magical experience there that I want to share and urge you all to consider it for a possible Christmas trip

Getting there

How often do we see airlines like are lingus and Ryanair having cheap seat sales and we are all too lazy to actually go and book something, even for a weekend! So I bit the bullet and booked a super cheap trip (€50 return) To be fair I had a good excuse for choosing Copenhagen because one of my best friends was on Erasmus there so it was a no brainer. I drove up Friday and flew out friday evening at 4 then flew home Sunday night. It was a two night- two day quick trip but we managed to pack a lot in.

Accomodation

I LIVE by booking.com for hotels and tripadvisor.com whenever I’m organising any accomodation and most of the time they don’t steer me too far wrong (apart from that time in El Nido, but we said we wouldn’t talk about it again lol) Copenhagen is extremely expensive and it took me ages to find a hotel that was decent and clean aswell as being central without having to sell my kidneys to afford it. For all the students reading I’m going to really recommend Cabinn Express hotel. It is located about a 10-15 minute walk from the centre and all the attractions, we walked the whole city because everything is actually very close to each other. The hotel was spotless and the room had a cruise ship theme which we loved.

What we did

Walked, literally everywhere. We explored the Christmas markets, the palace, Nyhavn, the Opera House and several parks.
Tivoli. We got the unlimited ride pass which is about €50 but you can go on all the amusements you want, as many times as you want. Hands down one of the most magical places I have ever seen. You can see more on : https://www.tivoli.dk/en/

Food

Overfor in Fredericksburg. This was beside our hotel and we went when we landed at about 10 at night simply cause it was the only place open. It doubles as a late bar though it can be expensive.
Mazzolis in Tivoli. Unreal. The restaurant can get very busy in evening time so make sure to book a reservation to avoid disappointment. It’s set up like an old carousel and the food is spectacular.
TGI Fridays. It’s located on the Main Street. Sunday we were shook from the night before and we just wanted comfort food we did a bit of shopping on the Main Street too such as Zara and H&M.

To be quite honest, Copenhagen is very expensive. You would want to be bringing a lot of spending money with you and if you’re a student I wouldn’t recommend going for longer than two nights. We fit everything in and still managed to have time to stroll and just soak up the atmosphere. I don’t know what it would be like in summer but as a winter weekend getaway I would 100% recommend for Tivoli alone.

Mini Mint xx

December 2, 2017 by minimintnd Categories: travelTags: adventure, christmas, christmasmarkets, copenhagen, denamrk, europe, explore, inspiration, irish, style, tivoli, travel, vacation, wanderlust, wintertravel Leave a comment

Black, White and Red all over

I APOLOGISE !! Lads I’m sorry I have been so MIA lately like hello last time I did a fashion post was in summer?? I’m chronic. I had my official last ever day of college last Wednesday and I’m all set for 9 months of my final year of nursing internship

So we all know red is the colour of the season but it can be hard to style up such a bold colour especially if you are used to wearing a lot of safe colours like black and grey. There are loads of red pieces availible and affordable in your high street shops like these boots from Stradivarious which were only €30!! I adore these and I love the Gold detail on the heel. Try motivate yourself to buy at least one red statement item this season.

DSCN1245[1] — Boots – Stradivarious, Coat – NewLook, Tshirt dress – H&M

Below are some different red pieces I styled into looks that can be worn Day or Night.

DSCN1250[1] — Boots – Stradivarious, Skirt – Topshop, Jumper – Calvin Klein

DSCN1257[1] — “Tearaway” shirt from Topshop

DSCN1253[1] — Heels – Shoerack, Skirt – Topshop, Coat – H&M

DSCN1254[1] — Coat – H&M, Jumper – Zara, Skirt – Topshop

Go Red or Go home this autumn! If you aren’t feeling like you can pull off a bright red shoe or coat, try add a little hint of red through your makeup. I wore Satin from Mac today which I have had for yearsss.

Mini Mint x

October 22, 2017 by minimintnd Categories: fashionTags: aw17, fashion, fashionblog, fashionblogger, fashioninspiration, fblogger, hm, inspiration, irish, minimint, ootd, red, redboots, redcoat, statement, stradivarious, style, styleinspiration, topshop, unique, zara Leave a comment

Vietnam: Halong Bay & Hanoi

About Vietnam

Vietnam is a southeast Asian country on the South China Sea known for its bustling cities, picturesque beaches and vivid history. Hanoi is the capital city and at its heart is the old quarter where the narrow streets are roughly arranged by trade amongst the french colonial architecture. Halong bay in northeast Vietnam is known for its emerald waters and thousands of towering limestone islands topped by rain forests. It was designated a World Heritage Site in 1994.

Getting there

You can fly from Dublin to Hanoi however we flew from Manila which was only a 3 hour flight. When we got to Hanoi we had organised a car to drive us straight to Halong Bay. We arrived at 5 am and absolutely fell into the bed in our hotel. We stayed in Halong Bay for 3 nights and got the same car back to Hanoi where we stayed for 3 nights before flying home.

Accommodation

Halong Bay is absolutely filled to the brim with hotels however there’s not much else there in the the city itself. Looking back, I would recommend anyone to just go down to do the boat tour and then leave again. We stayed in the Halong Palace Hotel and it was fab but the restaurants were expensive inside the hotel and there is not much around in Halong itself. We stayed a night on the Castaway boat tour which was great craic. Then in Hanoi we stayed in the Splendid Boutique Hotel in the old quarter it was very small but clean and in the perfect location.

What we did

The Halong Bay Castaway tour. We did the two day one night trip and to be honest it was enough. It includes kayaking and free alcohol so what’s not to love?
Visit Hoàn Kiêm Lake and Ngoc Son in Hanoi.
Explore the Old Quater.
Visit the Dong Xuan Market.
Hoan Kiem Bia Hoi. This is the street bar scene in the old quater where you can sit and drink some of the cheapest beer in the world. A bottle will cost about 15 cent.
See the Long Bien bridge over the red river.

DSCN1224[1] — The red bridge at Hoan Kiem Lake

Food

Halong Bay: Halong Palace Hotel

1958 restaurant

Café Nam Phong

Hon Gai restaurant

Hanoi: Hanoi Taco Bar

Marvellous hotel

Splendid boutique hotel

Giang Cafe (try the Vietnamese Egg Coffee)

Honestly, I wish we had more time in Vietnam to explore the rest of the country such as Sapa and Nha Trang but I guess that just means we will have to go back lol. It is such a beautiful country filled with an immense amount of culture and history so if you plan of travelling through Asia put Vietnam on your list!

Mini Mint x

September 29, 2017September 29, 2017 by minimintnd Categories: travelTags: adventure, backpackerstory, backpacking, discoverasia, discoverglobe, explore, halongbay, hanoi, irish, lifestyleblog, paradise, roadtrip, seetheworld, travel, travelblog, vacation, vietnam, visitvietnam, wanderlust Leave a comment