Siobhan Lawless
More by Siobhan Lawless
 Superstitions Demystified3/13/2013 |
My best friend, who came up to stay with me this weekend, spurred me on to write this article. We were sitting down, I had just served up our dinner and I raised my wine glass to make a toast. She did the same, then almost instantaneously snapped back her glass and screeched wide-eyed with horror “You can’t toast with water, it’s bad luck!” She revealed to me that in Vietnam this is a highly popular belief. This got me thinking about all the different kinds of superstitions; where on earth did they stem from? Would we consider our ingrained superstitions so rational if we learnt their origins? Let’s see... Toasting with water brings bad luck In Greek Mythology, the dead were supposed to drink water from the River Lethe in the Underworld, to forget their past lives. This is where the superstition arose and those who toasted water were believed to be toasting to their own watery grave. By someone making a toast, they were making a wish to the Gods and their drink was perceived as an offering to them. However, as water was low-quality and bland in comparison to wine, it was seen as a rude gesture which would offend the Gods and bring ill fortune on them. Breaking a mirror causes seven years bad luck |
 Something out of the ordinary2/14/2013 |
When 2012 glided up to 2013, I decided that I would refrain from making New Year Resolutions as A) They are always overly ambitious B) Due to A) they make me consequently feel like a failure when I don’t succeed C) I make even more ambitious resolutions the following year and B) occurs once again, and the vicious cycle repeats. I put my foot down to anymore preposterous pledges. Such as always being on time for lectures, (which officially start at five past, so surely a few minutes after won’t hurt...) Or spending X amount of money every night out, (I’m bringing out plastic, so there goes that resolution up in flames...) I decided to adopt a more laid back approach. I allowed myself a month to settle into the New Year, an adjustment period. This would allow my bulbous Christmas stomach to deflate. Equally, after second semester giving me heart palpitations from kicking off so quickly, I felt that I needed recovery time from this. After both I felt I could think with a lucid mind. I decided to embrace 2013 by doing all the activities which I never got round to last year; new experiences for a new year. So here I shall produce my list of aims. “Aims” sound far more relaxed than “Resolutions”, a word which seems to exude pressure. Enjoy this list and get inspired! A walk in the Dales |
 Shortcuts to looking like a celeb12/8/2012 |
If you saw Rita Ora performing on X-factor or have seen Ashley Greene on the cover of GQ, you’ll realise that the world is full of great injustice. Is there any hope for us ordinary people, who don’t have a team of stylish assistants on stand-by? Can £30 rather than £3000 get us looking like a Hollywood starlet? I decided to explore the answers to these questions. Firstly by beginning with the obvious, what trademarks make a celebrity look as blessed as the glamorous lives they lead? No words... Source: http://globalgrind.com/style/ashley-greene-british-gq-cover-interview-photos That Smile The NHS advises you to brush your teeth twice a day, for two minutes at least. One brush for me would usually last a minute. Could this be L.A’s best kept secret, a measly extra minute per brush? I decided to try it out, amongst other things: I knew that I would also have to sacrifice fizzy drinks, wine and sugary treats for a dazzling smile. I would have to consume more calcium, which restores teeth’s natural whiteness. Also, floss every day to reduce the staining trapped between teeth. I would chuck out my old toothbrush head as according to NHS there is a three month lifespan (mine was long overdue.) I would carry this out for two weeks, envisioning the Hollywood sign as I did. |
 Tricks and Treats11/7/2012 |
A crisp chill creeps into the air. Tombstones turn a darker shade of grey. Bags of teeth-rotting sweets infest the kitchens. Changing rooms become plagued with black. Coloured contacts soar off the shelves. Howls echo throughout the night. This all amounts to one conclusion; Halloween is upon us. Whilst Halloween is fresh in our memory and the photos of us all dressed up are still coming up on our Facebook news feeds, Siobhan Lawless reflects on her Halloweens growing up and how they've changed over the years. Origins All Hallows Eve falls on the evening before All Saints Day. This day which honoured Christian saints and martyrs, was created by Christians in a sneaky attempt to convert pagans. All Hallows Eve festivities can be traced back to the Celtic holiday Samhain. This holiday fell on October 31st; it celebrated the end of harvest season and the beginning of winter. The Celts believed on this night, that the souls of the dead wandered the streets. Thus, gifts were left out to pacify the evil spirits and guarantee another good harvest. Our modern day trick-or-treating, evolved from the Celtic practice called “souling.” Prayers were offered at each door in exchange for “soul cakes” and other delicacies. Maybe if we all bake a soul cake and say a prayer there is salvation for us all? |
 Leeds: Why I Love My Second Home4/18/2012 |
The Easter break sneaked up on us as stealthily as the Easter bunny herself. The last couple of weeks of term flew by like a whirlwind, when deadlines dominated my life and I became nocturnal like a hamster. Arguably, less fortunate, averaging on four hours of sleep and having four-dimensional bags under my eyes as a result. I was guilty of driving myself to an early grave; in short, I couldn’t wait to go home. I looked forward to enjoying serenity and home luxuries.
|
 Good Old-Fashioned Entertainment3/2/2012 |
Are you constantly getting restless cooped up at home or in your halls? My flatmates and I are guilty as charged. Our domestic confinement is usually due to being strapped for cash, impending deadlines or in a bad week, both. From this point onwards the boredom blooms. We twiddle our fingers as staying in and watching a film has become almost a mundane routine, but what else can we do? Well, Her Campus may have the answer to your boredom woes. We need to take some inspiration from the 40s and 50s; the golden era of good old-fashioned home entertainment. The notion of being amused without leaving your home is even more appealing given the recent vicious wind outside. So here is a list of cheap, cheerful and not overly time-consuming activities to participate in and kill that boredom. 1) Poker- If you thought the poker scene in Casino Royale was intense, jeez, wait until you play yourself. The best thing about poker is it is very social and appealing for both girls and boys. When you get going the rules and bluffing become second nature. Playing in a big group and each putting a little bit of money in can mean considerable winnings for the champ. Don’t worry if you think you’ve misplaced your competitive streak, you will definitely find it again after one game! Finally ladies, we will all be able to do a poker face as convincing as Lady Gaga’s. (Alternative game: Monopoly)
|
