Tips/ideas to kick start the new year!

Hey Everyone! 

I  wanted to wish you all a HAPPY New Year! 

WOW 2016... how did that happen? 2015 just flew by!!!

I had a really great 2015! I couldn't really have asked for more! and I hope 2016 will out do it ;) I truly had an endless amount of highlights professionally and I met (&/or worked with) so many inspirational people who I look up to: that I feel I would be bragging too much to write them all down;) lol: but some personal highlights of mine include:

• Joining the Screen Actors Guild (SAG) - this means that I can now compete at a professional level for roles/auditions and I'm generally a lot more protected with regards to my rate of pay, conditions etc.. 

• Featuring in large international press such as Cosmopolitan, Grazia and Now! (etc) I had featured in press outside of Ireland and the UK before but this was the first year to such a degree with some of the largest names in our media-ran world. 

• Landing the lead (& most importantly speaking, lol) role in a commercial (out soon). 
• Meeting some genuine people and becoming a lot stronger in myself! when I first moved to LA I thought every single person was great.. obviously this is unrealistic and quite frankly a little dangerous! lets just say I learnt my lesson by being thrown in the deep end and now I select the people I give my time and energy to more wisely! I used to trust right off the bat until given a reason not to but now I've learnt that trust is something earned not given freely. (makes you think in a different way doesn't it.. mind blowing! ha) 

My new years resolutions include 

1. Drinking more water!
2. Going to sleep and getting up earlier (even on the days when I'm free) 
3. Reading a book daily even if it's only for a few minutes!
4. Making my blog and YouTube videos more regular (I have to fix my camera 1st for the videos). 
5. Give up the junk "crafty" on set. Crafty is a table/area on every set filled with snacks to keep you going in-between meals. It usually consists of tea/coffee, fruit and then an endless amount of sugar in the form of donuts, sweets (twizzlers go'leor!), chocolate, crisps etc.. now my philosophy has always been I don't buy junk food for myself but if it's given to me I allow myself to have it and I enjoy it! that is fine as a general rule as it used to mean the times when sweets etc.. would be on offer might come-up perhaps once a month! but now that I am on set all the time this idea of it "being given to me" (through the power of "crafty") has become an every day thing which means I have been eating very badly on a daily basis - this stops now! bye crafty!!! lol 

Tips/ideas to kick start the new year!

1. Keep a planner! I have both a journal/planner and a wall hanging calendar/planner and I find it makes being organised and staying on track a lot easier! I used to be very good at keeping a planner when I was in the education system but then it stopped once I left! however since my move to LA the use of my planner has picked back up (slowly) and I am very happy about this! Whether you have a tone to do or not much going on at all..it really helps to write down what needs to be done that day/week and tick them off one by one! It doesn't matter if the goal is as simple as "clean my room" it makes you feel like your day went to some use! and you're brain is less cluttered! It also makes sure you're in the right place at the right time for any appointments etc.. 
2. Write down your goals for the year or even just for the month ahead! this keeps you on track and gives you a sense of accomplishment when you achieve/finish them! Did you know you are 42% more likely to stick to a goal if you write it down! make your goals realistic and specific! also give yourself deadlines for when you want to achieve them. For example if a goal is fitness related don't just write "i want to work out" write "work out x times per week" reach x ideal weight etc but x date!. 
3. Wake up early: this is difficult (cough it's one of my resolutions) but remember the saying "loose an hour in the morning and you'll spend all day looking for it". I think that is very true! I watched a video lately about how "successful people" always get up early to cease the day! 
4. Seek happiness outside yourself: try to find something that makes YOU happy! if you've always wanted to try painting/singing/dancing/yoga whatever it may be just start! whether it's by signing up to a class or just taking it upon yourself to dedicate the time to doing it alone! (with the help of the internet etc.. we can learn how to do a lot of things online if you have not got the funds to start a new class for eg.. just give yourself the time to practice/do what makes you happy!) 
5. Let go of the things that don't serve you! if something negative happened to you in 2015 now is the time to let it go and to move forward with having the wonderful life you deserve! It can be anything from holding on to a petty grudge to forgiving yourself or others! it's important to start the new year fresh and not drag negative feelings or drama from the past into your future..2016! 
6. Be grateful: gratitude changes everything! a good idea is every day to write down something you are grateful for! (you can also do this with good memories etc) and fill a jar with your notes! read them whenever you're having a bad day or to reflect at the end of the month/year! 
7. Make a bucket list for the year: this is a list of activities or fun things you really want to do before the end of the year(you could make this with your friends) and go out of your way to do everything on the list during the course of the year! 
8. Write a letter to yourself: it's a cool thing to read back on at the start of the following year to reflect back on where you were when you wrote it and how far you've come! we often don't give ourselves enough credit for how far we've progressed! a lot happens in a year!
9. Cleaning out your closet/drawers or re-arranging your room is a good way to give yourself a "fresh-perspective" feeling: everything feels new and exciting and clearing your living space is a known way to also clear your mind! 
10. Increase your awareness of your thoughts I really believe that this is important! our thoughts are the most powerful thing we have! they help us to move with momentum and purpose towards our vision! Choose thoughts and language that inspires. Think solutions and possibilities rather than limitations and problems!

Whether you had a great time or a tough time in 2015 (or a mixture of both) right now, this second, this day and every single day to come is the day to change a negative into a positive! and to be the best you that you can be! you can do it!

 

Make this YOUR YEAR!x! 

If you're not following me on instagram yet it would be great if you did :) I'm @ShahiraBarry 

Lots of Love, 

Shahira Xo 

If your company would like a review or specific blog-post on a product, treatment, service or any other item to appear on www.shahirabarry.com email info@shahirabarry.com with the details.

New Purchases - clothing :)

Hey Everyone!

SO I posted my first ever fashion haul video to YouTube! if you missed it check it out below!

I had lots of fun doing this type of video so I definitely plan on doing some more very soon!
On the video I shared mainly dresses that I collected over a number of months and I have written about and shared pictures of most of them on my blog in the past (links will be at the end of this post) However I have yet to share my purchases from Yoins.com here on the blog so I thought I would do that in todays post!

Let me correct myself as I now believe that I was in fact pronouncing yoins wrongly in the video (cringe) but I guess you get the drift! TomAto -Tomato!haha
ANYHOW, Yoins.com is the absolute bomb! They have really fashionable items at super affordable prices!

Let me start with my favourite find this STUNNING white lace long sleeved dress! This dress retails on Yoins.com for $21.95!! not outing any other stores but I have seen this same dress on other sites for a hefty some more! so what an absolute bargain!

 

As I explain in the video I love the lace/crochet detailing, along with the high laced collar and scalloped hem!

I am so in love with this dress! it is one of my new favorites in my closet! the only thing I would say is to check the sizing as I am regular medium height (5'6) and this is a bit short on me. I will need to invest in a white or skin toned slip to place underneath before I can wear it out in public but no biggie!

My styling tips for this dress would be to definitely wear a white or nude coloured bra(riskay!), a simple heel so as not to distract from the dress would be best and also for the long haired girls I think a classy upstyle would show this dress off to its full potential!

Product Details: 

- Sheer lace on body and sleeves

- High neck

- Long sleeves

- Scalloped hem

- Back Zip closure

- Bodycon fit

- Main: 90% Polyester, 10% Elastane

- Hand Wash (don't forget this!)

I have yet to wear this dress to an event (can't wait to) but I tried it on for you in the haul video and took some pictures..

Shop this beautiful white lace long sleeved dress here!x!

Next up I have this casual high neck grey sweater mini dress that can be dressed up or dressed down for day or evening wear! It currently retails on Yoins.com for $23.95 which is 30% off!!

  


I love ribbed detail jumpers and polo-necks so I'd been looking for something similar for awhile and was delighted when I found this one!

Again check the size as I planned to wear this with bare legs (I live in LA) as shown on the model but it's a bit too short for this. It could, however, be done with a pair of shorts or a little black skirt underneath for an added bit of length.

My styling tips for this jumper-dress would be to pair with leggings and over the knee boots.. also some statement earrings, perhaps hoops like I wore, or a nice long delicate necklace would also be fab!

I love it's bodycon fit and curved hem! it is very flattering on!

Product Details: 

- Knitted fabric

- High neck

- Long sleeves

- Curved hem

- Bodycon fit

- Hand wash

- Main: 65% Cotton, 35% Polyester

Shop this High Neck Grey Sweater Mini Dress here! 

Check out my Instagram to see me style both of these pieces for upcoming events! 

Also THANK YOU for over 12,000 likes on facebook!x! wohoo!

I hope you enjoyed this blog!x! and remember to subscribe to my YouTube channel for future videos!x! 

Other posts on items in the haul, more to come!
What i wore-black cutout dress 
Perfect Purple Bandage Dress

Side note: to conclude: I don't feel like I can write a blog today without mentioning that my thoughts and prayers are with the people of Paris and everyone effected by the tragic events that unfolded in the city this evening.

 

Lots of Love, 

Shahira Xo 

If your company would like a review or specific blog-post on a product, treatment, service or any other item to appear on www.shahirabarry.com email info@shahirabarry.com with the details.

When you lose your mojo... (Desire, Passion or Motivation!)

Hey Blog Readers!

Sorry for the lack of posts over the past while but this one is for me (to take my own advice) as much as it is for anyone else reading this who might need it!

Over the past couple of weeks I've really lacked energy, found myself beating myself up so to speak and just in general being a bit of a depressed head and lacking my mojo!

Why you ask? well to be honest I'm not entirely sure! As someone pursuing a career in entertainment the press coverage I had in the month of August could not have been any better - I was in everything from Cosmopolitan magazine to NOW!, Elite Daily and many more as well as multiple radio interviews even as far as Melbourne Australia! and opportunities coming in from Germany and India!(i did feel a bit overwhelmed to tell the truth) From the outside looking in you'd think my August was amazing and from that angle I guess it was! but I don't know what it was..maybe everyone has to crash at some stage but I definitely found myself crashing.. energy wise and positivity wise! both mentally and physically! SO I am trying to change it around starting fresh for the month of September!

I always saw September as a fake beginning of the year because it's not the new year but it is a time when we've been trained to start a new - start a new year in school/college, a new course, get back to work etc.. and even though we all complain about the summer being over I think there is a secret sense of happiness because as humans we need a routine and some organisation in our lives and I think many of us associate September with that (even if we change our minds and wish for summer in the months following).

First things first - It's important to assess why it is that you feel you've lost your mojo?!
For me I think it can simply be put down to my full steam a head, adrenaline filled, hectic year - moving country is not easy!! and there are daily challenges that you have to over come in order to survive! I have had a blessed year to say the least but it has also been one of the most challenging, draining and difficult obstacles I have ever faced. and I have faced it alone. It's been quite a while since I've seen my family now and there are no immediate plans for visits so that is very tough! Also living in LA and working in entertainment offers extreme highs but what goes up must come down and it cannot stay that way all of the time - regular life must commence!

I have suffered with anxiety for many years now and while initially my anxiety was high upon moving and the scariness that that offered..once I settled in it soon subsided and I almost felt I had cured myself of my anxiousness (I think I wrote a blog on it?) Anyway then Que the entrance of a psychotic nutter into my life and my anxiety reached the worst it's ever been... I finally removed myself from that situation a couple of months ago and to be honest I feel I've been suffering from perhaps a less extreme version of post traumatic stress ever since! There is no reason for it anymore - I'm away from the situation and life is good but I guess it's waves of anxiousness and it was so high it's taken a while to come back down! Hopefully now that I've assessed what may have been bothering me and what might have been going on I can now try to pick myself back up, grab my mojo back with both hands and get back in the race of life!

🙌🏻 only ever compete with yourself 🙌🏻 #motivation #life good night✨ 🌝✨

A video posted by Shahira (@shahirabarry) on Sep 5, 2015 at 12:59am PDT

Ask your self... why do you feel you've lost your mojo?
Is it because you were gong full steam ahead for too long? and not giving yourself a break?!
are you still interested in what it is your pursuing? or do you need to change it up?
are you bored? do you need to try something new?
are there legitimate reasons that have made you feel down and perhaps you haven't faced or over come them just yet?
Once you assess why it is you've been feeling the way you've been feeling you can work on putting it back together and starting again! regaining your positivity and your strive!

The Secret!
I very much believe in the secret aka the law of attraction! anyone who reads my blog regularly, keeps up with me on social media or knows me personally would know that! However-no matter how much you believe in submitting good energy and being positive we are all human and we are flawed! there are times when life for whatever reason, even a reason that doesn't make sense to others, can knock us down and we can get stuck in a rut and begin to work the secret against us.

So YEAH BABY here are my tips for those times in life when you feel you've lost your Mojo!

1) Re-evaluate, assess and get organised! As mentioned above once you figure out why you've lost your mojo you can begin to make moves to either get it back or change it! If you change it make sure you are definite that you no longer have a passion for what ever IT is and not that you are giving up when things get tough - everything worth achieving will have obstacles in the way - don't give up at the hurdle! Now it's time to get organised and put a plan in place! Having a daily routine is so important - it doesn't matter how much or little it is you have to do. Having a generally steady daily routine makes your mind so much clearer therefore giving you the space you need to concentrate and progress once again!

2) Get outside/change your environment! staring at concrete walls all the time won't help you to come up with new ideas or to become motivated once again - get outside! go for a walk, breath some fresh air! try something new! Your creativity will thank you for it!

3) Change Your Patterns Be brave! try out the for the weird class around the corner – give it a whirl. Go to the gym after work? Try pumping some iron before you get to the office. If you eat at the same restaurant for lunch all the time, walk a bit further to check out a new spot. See what happens by just sitting on the other side of your desk, looking at a different wall or out a window, bring your work outside-change up your perspective. It’s a variety of small improvements that will declutter your mind dramatically.

4) Change your attitude! If you'll believe it, you'll see it! if you can feel it you can achieve it! envision your finish line! imagine you already have it/you've reached your goal(whatever it may be) and then begin to work backwards to determine what you need to do to make that your reality! but always believe it is! Make lists, set a side some time in the day and make small goals for each stage! don't overwhelm your brain with too many tasks/goals at one time - simply start climbing the stairs, ticking off the tasks one step at a time!

5) To do list: Keep a list and change some priorities! (I'm not saying that if you have kids/wife/husband not to have them as your #1 priority) I'm talking about things/jobs/habits etc.. not necessarily relationships (although we'll get to that further down). If you have fitness goals and you find no time for them and yet seem to find time to sit down and watch coronation street every day at 7.30pm and get no personal gain or even enjoyment from watching but it's simply become a habit then change that!! leave Corry to the side and take that time to get some exercise in instead! Keep a calendar.. because your calendar does not lie about where your focus and priorities are, so make it clear that you value your own time for the categories you want to focus on.  Block out time for activities requiring your attention and adjust the rest of your day accordingly! Make time for what you need to do! 

6) Remember The people you surround yourself with heavily influence you. If you’re lacking motivation and feeling down on everything, it might be time to upgrade your sphere of influence. Negativity breeds negativity, but likewise with positivity, which is the good news!! Those closest to you should be the same people who bring out your best qualities, including your mojo for life’s adventures. You should lift each other higher rather than bring one another down! 

7) Change Your Thoughts:  “You are what you think about.”  Instead of thinking you “can’t do X” or “won’t be able to do Y,” think about your ability to do them: you could do X if…  Fill in the blank and then make it actionable. For example, thinking you’re “fat” doesn’t accomplish anything – even if it’s true. Instead, think, “my ideal body image would be…” and fill in the blank then work your butt off to get there! 

8) Give your body the fuel it needs! Eat healthy: fuel your bod with nutrients and get enough sleep!ZzZ! for our brain to be clear and functioning at it's best, our body needs to feel awake and at it's best! how can we expect to get things done and to have a clear mind if we are physically exhausted! On a personal level and note I'm over alcohol and have been for the longest time! It can be ok in moderation but personally I don't get any gain from drinking alcohol-all I get is a blurred mind and days of feeling sick, unmotivated and feeling sorry for myself...give me a hike and some outdoor activities any day! 

These changes aren't easy! but as Einstein said best... 

Finally..I often turn to THE Tube! (YouTube) - YouTube is great for helping you on just about anything! Need to know how to do a certain hairstyle - youtube it, need to know how to bake a cake - youtube it, need some tips on getting motivated... youtube it!! Below is one of my favorites! ENJOY!x!

Please Share/Let me know if you have any tips/tricks on getting your mojo back ;) 

As always you can follow me on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter and YouTube!x!

BTW if you missed my most recent YouTube video catch it below :) 

Lots of Love, 

Shahira Xo

If your company would like a review or specific blog-post on a product, treatment, service or any other item to appear on www.shahirabarry.com email info@shahirabarry.com with the details.

TODAY August 4th...I have been living in LA 1 YEAR!

Hey Blog Readers, 

TODAY August 4th marks my 1 YEAR anniversary since my move to Los Angeles!!! 

A year ago I wondered what life would be like today! would I still be here in the city of angels and how would the past 365 days have gone! So I thought I would reflect!

I did write about my move to LA with a post that was very popular back in March! So click here to give that a read if you missed it because I'll try not to repeat myself in this blog post! 

I don't really know where to begin... what a year! in one way it feels like I've done so much and been living here for so long but in another way it still feels so new and like I've only been here for a month or 2 max!!! I remember when I first arrived seriously questioning if I could in fact stay & live in this scary place??! I'd been in LA before so I had a very rose tinted view on it but now suddenly I was jumping when someone would walk up behind me on the street... Now with the prospect of living here it was a much more dangerous, big & scary place than I had remembered!! But somehow I overcame my fear & I did it! I've been here 1 year!!

I've definitely learnt an awful lot about life and I'm proud of myself! you don't even realise all the new information that's about to be thrown on you when you move country! every little thing is different! you have to get your social security card, your id, your new driving license(learn to drive automatic and on the other side of the road as well as navigating scary freeways), find somewhere to live without having credit history (extremely difficult), learn about doing your taxes and the new currency! as a budding actress learn all about SAG(screen actors guild) what it is, how to become eligible and how to join(had no clue coming from Ireland), buy furniture (every rental is unfurnished in LA=crazy!), move, decorate, buy/sell cars, deal with mechanics on your own! as well as the simple things...learn to cook(I'm getting there), do your laundry, find your way around!, socialize, meet new people every day, earn a living, learn the new culture(there is a difference!) and most importantly stay safe! It's all been a challenge!

 

With all that said it has been the best year of my life!!! However it hasn't been without it's difficulties so I would be lying if I didn't share them...

The hardest part.. 

• Buying my first car here: having had a second hand car for years at home I didn't think getting one in LA would be too difficult (they say "everyone" in LA drives (hence the traffic!) so there must be millions of good second hand cars right?).. how wrong I was! I brought a 2008 Chrysler (yup everyone told me not to buy an American brand car and to go with something Japanese but I didn't listen). I paid for it out rightly in cash from a dodgy dealer and immediately there were electrical problems with it (immediately as in the first day I drove it off the lot!) within a week the car started to break down and that led to months of constant car trouble! I was so afraid to drive it as it would cut out even on the freeway! luckily in January I managed to get myself a brand new car-which is beautiful and safe! but thousands of $$$ were wasted on that stupid Chrysler both between the purchase of the car and the money shoved into it for various repairs that didn't work! Lesson learned! 
• A bad roommate situation for a period of time: I won't delve into it because frankly it's not worth it and I don't want to dwell on such negativity! It was a difficult time: I would go to work happy and find myself in floods of tears on the way home. Never the less I got out of the situation, learnt some harsh lessons from it and things are now better than ever! 
• Home sickness! Being that all I wanted since my very first visit (2012) and my 3 month visit (in 2013) was to be living and working in LA it was a shock to me that homesickness hit me at all! It was very tough at the beginning and it can still be tough from time to time! anyone who know's me knows that me, my sister and mum are incredibly close and I've spoken on here numerous times about how much it physically pains me to be away from them! I also miss my pets and wish they were here with me but it would simply be too difficult for me to have them in LA at this point... maybe in the future.. you never know! 

• Loneliness at times: the majority of the time I'm incredibly busy with work but at times it can be lonely here! while I have met some great people here everyone is still a relatively new friend! It's not really the same as people you've known for years or have a million mutual friends in common if they're a new friend like it would be at home in Ireland. Also 99.9% of people I make friends with here live the #setlife and with that comes a difficulty to plan as you have to be able to drop everything at a moments notice for a booking or an audition-at least there's a mutual understanding but it can be hard to keep in touch! 

The good side! 

• I feel my career and dreams are going in the right direction! after all that's what I came here for and I have had a ridiculous amount of highs and been incredibly lucky so far! Sometimes I literally feel magic (I know that sounds silly) but the life I live today is chalk and cheese compared to the life I came from. Not that there was anything particularly wrong with my life at home in Ireland but sometimes I pinch myself at the amazing experiences I have had so far! I simply can't believe I'm experiencing them, if that makes sense! I'm not where I want to be just yet I haven't landed "the big role" or reached my goals but I definitely feel I am on the right track! This year has been about learning the ropes and I'm excited to see what this next year will bring!
• I became SAG eligible really fast-which was amazing as I worked very hard and even today I meet people all the time who have been here longer than me but haven't managed to become eligible yet so I definitely got lucky with that one which is great considering I didn't even know what it was when I arrived this time last year.
• The sunshine! though I haven't gotten to enjoy it as much as you might think (I spend a lot of my time inside freezing studios... why they feel a need to keep studios ice bucket cold I'll never know!). It's true it makes a difference to your mood waking up and there being good weather all the time! I've also developed a little beauty mark on my cheek that I don't think I had before.. if I did it's more noticeable now! Anyway developing a mark on your skin can be dangerous and I don't want anymore but I've always thought that they're cute! lol! so I don't mind it! 
• The house parties are incredible and on another level! From student accommodation at home to mansions up to the value of $85million here!! I feel so lucky just being there and it definitely makes you set higher ambitions for your own life! There's something to be said for seeing success with your own eyes! you become inspired!
• I'm definitely an outdoorsy person at heart and the weather here makes that very easy - along with the beautiful hikes, beaches and so much more to explore! 
• There's an endless amount of things to do here! 
• Living the set life can have its lows but it's also full of Adrenalin.. you never know what call is going to change your day or your life for that matter!

So to conclude this dramatic change of scenery hasn't been without it's challenges and I have certainly had days when I've thought "what the frig'am I doing!! where is my life going!!". It can be difficult getting on your feet: not only in the entertainment industry but also in your personal life and discovering both a new city and a new country! It can knock you down time and time again! However, when I realise that this time last year I prayed and wished for everything I have right now! and when I see proof that I am making progress and getting somewhere, when I meet people who I once could only look up to and realise success is attainable for me as well then it makes any of the bad times 100% worth it!! 

In 365 days I have accomplished things I once only dreamed! and I am confident in the fact that I am a much stronger, capable, happy and a more driven person than I ever realised! 

Fear of regret always outweighs fear of failure so if you're thinking of moving abroad or starting fresh with something - I say go for it! Chase your dreams whatever they may be!x! 

I am 1 year living in LA TODAY!!✨ just posted a blog on my experience so far! Check it out at www.shahirabarry.com (blog section) 😘🇺🇸🎉

A video posted by Shahira (@shahirabarry) on Aug 4, 2015 at 1:15am PDT

Follow me @ShahiraBarry on Instagram/twitter/facebook :* 

And subscribe to my YouTube channel if you haven't already! 

Lots of Love, 

Shahira Xo

If your company would like a review or specific blog-post on a product, treatment, service or any other item to appear on www.shahirabarry.com email info@shahirabarry.com with the details.