Our Engagement Party

I'm not one for a fuss. I've never thrown a 'party' in my life except for the odd BBQ when the parents were away. But, when the dreamiest guy you've ever met gets down one one knee with an Emerald and asks you to be his wife, you know a fuss has to be made.

Within one week we got confirmation that Stephen would be finally coming home, after 5 years of long-distance relationship, as well as getting engaged! Life has a habit of doing that to me, giving me nothing for a while and then everything at once. 

Stephen and I agreed that we'd like to mark our engagement with a gathering of our nearest and dearest in our home town of Derry. Of course not everyone whom we hold so dearly to us could make it to the engagement party, but there'll be plenty of time for that when the Hen, Stag and actual wedding appear on the horizon.

We I decided quite quickly that we'd have a 'Cherry Blossom' themed party purely because they were in season and are my favourite flower. So, away I went onto the internet and googled everything party and cherry blossom related. That night I closed my eyes and all I could see were cherry blossoms. 

I sourced all the party-ware from AliExpress, Home Bargains in Derry and The Range in Derry. 

My friend Aisling of Dream Capture Photography was on hand with her photography skills, as was the ever so reliable Eimear who made the most beautiful Cherry Blossom cake as well as allowing me to go home and get ready whilst she finished decorating on the night of the party. Rois Davis, a dear friend and art teacher, painted me the most beautifully intricate cherry blossom backdrop for the selfies.

My Hair for the party

Setting up in Primrose on The Strand

White Chocolate & Passion Fruit cake tasted unreal.

Arriving

Holly (Cousin), Me and Pat (Godmother/Aunt)

My soul sister, Aisling of Dream Capture Photography

Bride Tribe
Left to Right: Pat (Godmother), Jayne (Cousin), Elaine (Sister), Lola (niece), Me, Mother, Holly (Cousin)

Lola (niece) & I 

fiancés

My little loves.
Left to Right: Stephen, Michael (Godson), A.J (Nephew) and Lola (Niece)

The Bestie

Eimear! I'd be lost without her. Everyone needs an Eimear in their lives.

Elaine & A.J

Gacks

We decided that Primrose on The Strand was an ideal location as its French interior blended majestically with the Cherry Blossom theme of the party. We basically booked out Primrose's weekly 'Fizzy Friday' night of food, cocktails and music for our party. We had the freedom of decorating the area as well as having power over the contents of the menu and signature cocktail, which came in little teacups and saucers.

My good friend and photographer of 'Inspired', Andrejs

Myself and soon to be married couple, Andrejs & Jennifer

Myself and Mustafa

Team Bride

Mother & Daughter, Elaine and Lola

My incredible parents

My second set of parents, my God Parents.

Stephen and his parents

Good friend Rosemarie & I

Redheads unite. Gorgeous Marese & I

The best guys

Little A.J

"EAT IT WOULD YE?!"

When I take it for myself...

Stephen and his friends
Left to Right: Gerard, Conan, Stephen, Paul & Ciaran

Our number 3.

So it begins...

I'm beyond grateful and blessed to be surrounded by such loving people. I feel very lucky to be able to call these people family and friends and I'm honoured that I'll have them around me as I embark on my life with Stephen.

If you've any questions please get in touch: reddutchess22@gmail.com

Making Waves

2017 was the most fulfilling year of my life. Period. 

I didn't earn any huge sums of money, I didn't invest in property and I didn't buy Bitcoin. 

My year was quite the opposite of the superficial meaning of 'success', actually.

For the first time in my 28 years on this planet I felt part of something. Here's why:

January 2018 will mark 1 year since I created Replenish: Acting on Mental Health,  my Mental Health organisation
I launched Replenish as a response to the lack of ground level and non-clinical mental health support and care that I experienced whilst growing up. The concept of Replenish was my way of creating just that exact kind of support. Replenish is a refuge for those enduring the crippling isolation that our mental health can bestow upon us, making us feel like we're in the barren wilderness.

I started as myself, just me, as it has always been.
Today, I have a team of professionals who work with Replenish to provide their care, advice and support. These are people who share the vision of Replenish. They help and facilitate people to 'act on their mental health'.

To illustrate how Replenish has grown exponentially, and exceeded all my expectations, let us go back to October 10th, World Mental Health Day.

For World Mental Health Day on October 2016 I created a documentary with the help of University of Ulster students looking at how mental health was perceived and understood in the city of Derry.
(Watch Here)

So for 2017 I knew I had to move up the scale and do something a bit bigger and a lot more effective.  And that we did.

We developed an output of speakers, advice and activities in a way that demonstrated how good mental health wellbeing and recovery isn't down to one solution, but many small accumulative actions. Oh, and we also made a short film, 'Unfiltered Water' (Watch Here)

We demonstrated action planning with an Occupational Therapist, a Yoga Session, Nutritional advice, Pharmaceutical information, Complementary Therapies, discussions and panels surrounding workplace mental health and maternal mental health, and the benefits from massage. We proved  how inclusive, uplifting and empowering acting on your mental health can actually be.

Yasmin, Occupational Therapist

Sophie Dechant of Pole Infinity Derry

Michele Jones of Shipquay Townhouse & Spa

Michele explaining her role as a Heartmath Practitioner. 

Michelle Harkin of MacCaffery's Pharmacy

George Hutton, Personal Trainer 

Riadh, The Feel Good Nutritionist

George, Emer and Myself. 'Unfiltered Water'

Megan Robinson of Pearl Healing Corner

Incredible Women, Emma & Natasha 

The Team 

What's your One Word?

Replenish 'Snapchat' Filter

You will see that it doesn't just take one person to make a change, it takes a lot of selfless people to contribute to making big changes and creating a revolution in mental health awareness and culture.

Since World Mental Health Day, October 10th 2017, I was able to take my existing 6 week Workshops and enhance them by incorporating the work of the professionals that you've just seen. They are now an integral part of Replenish and reason why we've been able to make waves, even in our infancy. We've been to Letterkenny, Buncrana, 5 times in Derry, Limavady, Sligo and in 2018 we're going further afield.

2017 saw Replenish deliver workshops in Workplaces and Schools and we are already booked for 2018, and we want you to get involved. Whether it's volunteering, sharing your professional expertise or simply being part of the Replenish movement, we would love to have you.

Speaking at The Villa Rose launch of 'V SPA'

Seasonal Affective Disorder article in The Belfast Telegraph 

The Derry Journal

Launching World Mental Health Day on the Radio

Speaking in Antrim at the Health & Safety Executive of Northern Ireland's 'Build | Health' conference. 

Speaking with the Youth at the Donegal Youth Service for the 'Shape of You' Body and Image Initiative. 

Derry Post

Speaking for the Endometriosis Association of Ireland in Dublin 

Speaking at St Mary's College

So you can imagine the excitement for Replenish 2018.

For now, we want you to know that we are developing a 6 Week 'Steps to Self-Care' programme that is specific to developing a plan that empowers an individual to act on their mental health with accessible, non-clinical and compassionate professionals.

To book the upcoming 'Steps to Self-Care' Workshops beginning in January please go to the  Replenish Wesbite or message me on Replenishyourmind@gmail.com


Thank you for supporting, taking part in, believing in and helping us in making waves in mental health.

To be part of the Replenish Tribes, which are support groups that are continued after the 6 week workshops, you can join here HERE