Left it to the last minute or just been invited to an impromptu party and you haven't sorted your costume yet?

Here's my suggestions of a couple of quick-fix costumes using items you probably already have or can pick up today while avoiding the usual costume-hunting crowd.

Clark Kent

1. First, dig out your suit, white shirt and suitably conservative tie. 
2. Nip to Forbidden Planet and pick up a Superman tshirt - wear this under your shirt to be unbuttoned for a quick reveal.
3. Finish the look by grabbing some reading glasses - you can get these in Poundland and even most petrol stations. 
4. Clark is the epitome of geek, a Kryptonian pastiche of mankind, so ensure your hair is suitably parted. You can rework the trademark S curl when you unveil your superhero identity.

• If you happen to have the physique of a god, all the better but this is optional...

Although I could be accused of doing this quite often, in this post I really will be talking a load of balls.

Male grooming encompasses many things but rarely do companies mention, or actually cater for, the biological accompaniments of manhood.

Below the Belt Grooming is a company that does just that.

I recently won 2 of their products in a twitter giveaway so thought it only appropriate to give them a good going over. Don't worry, my pictures have a U rating!




The skin on different parts of your body needs different care; moisturiser, cleanser and deodorant. When it comes to keeping yourself at your best, Fresh & Dry Balls is the obvious choice for the area in question. The deodorant is like a liquid talc, it absorbs moisture and has a clean scent, leaving you confident all day.



Men sweat. It's nature. The thing is that not everything in nature is always pleasant smelling. Now I don't think I need to advocate the need for a shower but when we don't have time or are not in the locality, the Waterless Shower is a handy alternative. A small palm-ful of the gel applied between me down there will get rid of any musky smell. The gel is quick drying and leaves the boys feeling cool and clean.



We tend to pay this area a lot of attention, but perhaps not the kind of attention it deserves. Treat the team to some TLC and feel a lot better for it.

I am a bit of a late-comer to coffee. I remember as a kid, dunking ginger nut biscuits in my mum's scalding hot, jet black coffee. This was as close to it as I got for many years. I always liked the smell, but couldn't get over the bitter taste.

This has fortunately changed over the past few years. I've worked my way up the scale from light lattes to double espressos when the need arises. (BTW, it puts my grammatical teeth on edge to see - or hear- them called expressos)

I've visited many a coffee shop in Belfast over the years but have only really fallen for Ground in the past 6 months. I stumbled into the Waterstone's branch almost by accident, waiting for my barbers to open one Saturday morning. This serendipitous discovery has cemented their place as one of my favourite haunts.

After a rousing Twitter exchange with my friend Sera (in which we praised the virtues of their Nutella cake and cappuccinos) the team at Ground kindly surprised me with a basket of goodies to celebrate the launch of their bespoke coffee blend Purple Dragon.


Their unique blend is triple certified by the Fairtrade Foundation, Rainforest Alliance and Organic Coffee Federation and is the culmination of months of research and testing, combining beans from Honduras, Ethiopia and Sumatra.

I got stuck in to the pack yesterday and this is the kind of coffee Sunday mornings were made for; smooth and flavourful. (The fact that I happen to have a purple Bodum cafetiere is just kismet)



The blend is now available in all 13 of Ground's locations & I am determined to make a pilgrimage to them all. They have just announced plans to open their first store in Dublin with further locations across the province  in 2015 so there's no excuse not to chase the dragon now!

The second instalment in my If I Were A Boy... series welcomes Sera from The Agoraphobic Fashionista. I was introduced to her blog through my work and we've gone from contacts to friends. Despite the fact we've never actually met, she's one of my best blogging buds. I'm delighted she has taken part in the series, her fun and honest writing, her sense of style and her overall loveliness makes her blog a must read! Over to you Sera!

Sera McDaid

I had a little brainwave this morning as I got ready. As I got dressed I looked into my wardrobe and thought, I have some really good clobber in there and I don't wear it often enough. What prevents me from trying that little bit harder in the mornings? 

Last Friday I attended the VIP launch of the new Dr Marten's store in Belfast.


I remember getting my first pair of docs at 11. My sister and I asked for a pair each for Christmas; she wanted plain old black but I had to have oxblood. Unfortunately, announcing my request a few days before Christmas left Santa with few options and I got an amazing pair of 18(!) hole oxblood boots. I've been smitten ever since.


I met up with my blogging better-half Ruth of Willow Lane and a few more of the lovely FABB ladies Rosanna and Carolyn and we made our way to the brand new shop. The entire store was crammed with local bloggers, stylists and personalities, enjoying food laid on by Love & Death Inc, artisan beer by Farmageddon and some rock from local band The Groundlings.

me and the missus

Docs have had long connections with underground style and what better way to celebrate this link than a DJ set by the legendary Terri Hooley, founder of Good Vibrations record shop and pioneer of Belfast's punk scene. While the classic boots are as popular as ever, Dr Marten's offer so much more in styles like penny loafers, brogues and chukkas - all with the famous AirWair soles and unrivalled quality and craftsmanship.





I was kindly gifted with the Jules double monk shoes - I chose them as they were that little bit different but still me. I'm breaking many, MANY cardinal rules here wearing them with black jeans but feck it, I was punk for one night (as punk as I will ever be). My entire outfit (shoes aside) is from Primark. I think this tartan shirt is my new favourite.

I had my eye on the oxblood zip wallet but logic prevailed when I realised I couldn't fit all my cards in it

all the tartan scarves a boy could ever want...

leather braces - pair with a short sleeve shirt, rolled skinny jeans and a classic pair of docs for instant punk

I've fallen for this shirt and bomber combo - classic Brit style

more oxblood - seeing a pattern here?

ruth & i go toe-to-toe (Ruth in her Jessyca brogue heels)

To celebrate the launch of the new store and that I've just passed 2000 followers on Twitter, I thought I'd do a wee giveaway.



To win a Dr Marten's triangular change wallet, complete the rafflecopter widget below. Good luck!
a Rafflecopter giveaway