Hello, hello and happy Sunday - hope you are well and been surviving through the beautiful but toasty summer we are having. There really is something pretty magical about summer in London and I have been enjoying every second of it.

This year I have saved all my annual leave for my wedding which means I have no summer plans. Despite dreaming daily about sitting poolside with an iced cocktail and an endless supply of books, it has been freeing to have so much time in London; hang out with friends, go to new places, enjoy the long and slow evenings.

This month kicked off with an unexpected visit from my daddy to London which was a real treat. I got myself a pair of Archie’s flip flops and they have low key changed my life. I spent time with friends mostly drinking wine in the sun, continued to run (but didn’t make it through the London Marathon ballot, womp), went to the office most days mostly for the aircon, dialled into my training and nutrition with an online coach, had one of my favourite www.bookclub meet ups to date where we all chatted all about Table for One (I would recommend), spent many evenings having dinner in the park, went to the lido, had a family reunion at the beautiful Carton House in Kildare, did a lot of wedding planning and decision making and seen Wolf Alice.

my (monthly) REPORT

Reading - after being in a painful reading rut for the past couple of months, Broken Country by Claire Leslie Hall brought me back. Such an emotional, twist-filled story that had me hooked from the very first page. Don’t just take my word for it, it has 681,651 ratings on goodreads

Eating - anything that requires minimal cooking actually. my flat has felt like a furnace in this heat so my recipes are basic and rarely requires use of the oven. a favourite has been a greek salad with a side of lemon-y prawns

Playing - with Pinterest boards and it is all wedding orientated, with a couple of motivational quotes and outfit inspo thrown in for good measure. how did people plan weddings before pinterest?

Obsessing - over an iced americano with a dash of oat milk. not revolutionary but very, very good.

Recommending - the new Replica scent from Maison Margiela, Chasing Sunsets. waow, it is amazing - it is my scent of the summer; a tropical sunset in a woody fruity fragrance.

Treating - myself to bits on Vinted! I have recently got some new Lululemon bits for half nothing, a cool vintage dress and a pair of capri’s (obviously!)

SUNDAY SCROLL

girls, we are in the thick of wedding season and I love to see it. It is rare for me to get dressed up these days but when it comes to wedding dressing, there is no other option, it is full glam. The perfect excuse to wear that dress you’ve had your eye on but what can make it difficult is knowing the vibe, is there a dress code? What colour are the bridesmaids wearing and are we allowed to wear black to a wedding?

Brown and blue as a colour combo is really appealing to me at the minute, if you can’t tell from the below! I think they works so well together. I seen the Nobody’s Child polka dot dress in store today and it is reallt beautiful, would love to have an excuse to wear it but alas, the next wedding I go to, I think I have to wear white…

Thanks for checking in and enjoy the scroll - look forward to catching up next time. Have a gorgeous week and always, wear what works for you.

Lots of love, Keels x

ASOS, £42

Topshop, £68

ASOS, £55

ASOS, £70

& Other Stories, £119

ASOS, £68

Nobody’s Child, £89

ASOS ARRANGE, £150

Rixo, £195

I first drafted this newsletter in March and now it’s June.

Something that has been on my mind a lot this year is the passing of time. I get married in November, so without meaning to, it has become a marker, and everything seems to be measured against that countdown.

It’s made me think about things differently: how I’ve planned my year, what I’ve prioritised, and how quickly time seems to be moving. Even now, as I think back to March, I know so much has happened. Life has been fun and busy, but I struggle to remember exactly how I spent my time without scrolling the photos album on my phone.

This could sound like I’m having a mental breakdown, but I promise you I’m not, so stick with me. Mid-panic last week, after realising the wedding is only five months away and I still don’t know what colour my bridesmaids are wearing, I started thinking about how to be more present and how to be where my feet are, instead of constantly looking ahead to the next thing. It did strike me that I hadn’t written Sunday Scroll in what felt like forever. Something I had done for years and forced me to relive my week and check in with myself when sitting down to write so, here we are.

How have you been? For me, it has been a classic case of not writing, telling myself I’ll write next week, never doing it and then feeling like it’s too far gone. Welcome to my brain :) I won’t attempt to catch you up in detail on the past five months. Life is good, I’m enjoying time in London, been back home, spent time in Scotland, had a girls trip to Berlin where we laughed from start to finish (good for the soul that is), had family visit, been running, working, trying to grow www.bookclub, plan a wedding, drink 3 litres of water everyday, sleep 8 hours a night, see friends etc etc. you know the score!

Anyway, the dress. If I’m honest, I had no excitement about wedding dress shopping. I didn’t like the idea of a big fuss being made, I didn’t know what I wanted and I am not ignorant to the fact that it also probably stems from not having my mammy around to do the things you grow up dreaming about mixed with the fear of how different it may feel compared to the illusion you created in your head. I decided I would scroll ASOS, something I’m good at, and find a white dress, job done. My sister didn’t share the vision and suggested a girls day in London with a couple of wedding dress appointments thrown in. I don’t believe in ‘when I put it on, I just knew it was the dress for me’ or rather, I didn’t believe it until that very cliche’d thing happened. I tried on the dress and basically said there and then it was my wedding dress! I think that has been one of my favourite days this year so far, we followed up with too much champagne, and cried and laughed on repeat. I have a lot of thoughts on weddings and grief that I’m not sure how to articulate right now but in time, I’ll try.

Anyway, the dress. If I’m honest, I had absolutely no excitement about wedding dress shopping. I didn’t like the idea of a big fuss being made, I had no idea what I wanted, and I’m not ignorant to the fact that some of it probably stemmed from not having my mammy around to do the things you grow up dreaming about. I decided I’d scroll ASOS — something I’m very good at — find a white dress and call it a day. My sister, however, didn’t share the vision and suggested a girls’ day in London, with a couple of wedding dress appointments thrown in.

I don’t believe in the whole “when I put it on, I just knew” thing. Or rather, I didn’t believe it until that very clichéd thing happened. I tried on the dress and pretty much announced there and then that it was my wedding dress. It ended up being one of my favourite days of the year so far. We followed it up with too much champagne and spent the rest of the day crying and laughing on repeat.

I have a lot of thoughts about weddings and grief that I’m not quite sure how to articulate right now, but maybe in time, I’ll try.

I’m glad to be back typing. As I write this, I’m on the Eurostar to France and getting very close to my stop, so I’ll leave it here for now.

I’ll be back next week with all my favourite finds. In the meantime, let me know what you would like to see?.Wedding guest dresses or summer pieces for a wardrobe refresh? Let me know.

my weekly R.E.P.O.R.T

reading - I’ve read a lot of books since I’ve last written, too many to list but the one that stands out to recommend is ‘The Truth About Ruby Cooper’. It is a page turner. Perfection was a very interesting read, more so a social observation than a story and a very realistic one at that.

eating - I have been eating this 15-minute cod curry on a weekly basis, granted it probably takes me the best part of 30 minutes to prepare and cook but it is worth it. so good

playing - it’s a throwback but I have been playing Kings of Leon - Only By The Night on repeat. Maybe one of my favourite albums ever.

obsessing - over my skin! after the jarring realising that I basically don’t have a skin barrier I have stripped my skin care right back to basics. It has been a journey.

recommending - a follow on from that, I am recommending everyone uses the La Roche-Posay Cicaplast Baume. (that link has it with 20% off!)

treating - myself to a few new bits for a trip to Lille this weekend. Mostly accessories to give new life to my existing summer wardrobe, an easy refresh!

Chat soon and until then, wear what works for you.

Lots of love, Caoilfhionn x

I spent two weeks at home in Derry over Christmas and New Year. It was perfect really; slower days, no rush, many cups of tea, family, friends, early nights (and late ones), fresh air, days on the beach, home cooked meals and a fire, every single night!

I didn’t do an awful lot of reflecting on the past year and that’s ok. One thing I want to bring back is a trend I loved from TikTok; the weekly weekly report and so here I am, bringing it back, embedded in the Sunday Scroll.

If you are not familiar, the weekly report gives a lovely opportunity to consider what you have been reading, eating, playing, obsessing, recommending and treating so, without further ado, let’s get into it.

Reading - this week I have been reading an advanced copy of Lost Lambs which is the second novel from Madeline Cash. The story follows the Flynn family and their dysfunctional way of living, I am 100 pages in and finding myself laughing out loud more often than is deemed ‘normal’ in public. It publishes on 5th February so one to keep an eye out for.

Eating - bone broth soup / ramen. Ok so this might sound interesting coming from a girl who was, not too long ago, vegan however, I seen on Emma-Louise Connelly’s story recently that she had ate the same soup 9 days in a row and that it was quick and easy to make - consider me sold. I followed her tutorial step by steps and I’m not ashamed to say I ate it on three separate occasions this week. Easy, clean, comforting and delish! When I’m not eating bone broth soup I am having ramen so maybe I am just wanting comfort… either way, both firmly on my menu!

Playing - Wolf Alice on repeat. Late to the party on this and that’s ok. ‘The Sofa’ is my current obsession song.

Obsessing - over The TRAITORS! What a show, what a series. Sorry if it makes me a bad person but I am rooting for the traitors oh and the dinner party episode had be sobbing… Patiently waiting for Wednesday night.

Recommending - every one in London to plan a trip to St Leonard for a day / weekend. After finding my dream Airbnb online, I hit book with no knowledge of what was happening there and to say I was pleasantly surprised is an understatement. A small, sleepy town right on the coastline with independent coffee shops, bars and restaurants. We went there last weekend for a couple of nights and it was the perfect place to check out and recharge. I have shared all my recommendations here if you fancy a trip - a 90 min train from London Bridge has you there and London, a distant memory.

Treating - myself to a blow-dry!!! I had dinner with Ryan on Wednesday and after a long office day I wasn’t feeling queen so had a quick scroll on Treatwell and found a salon close by my office doing a blow dry for £40 which, in London, is a bargain. I probably won’t be making a weekly habit of it (reminding myself I am saving for a wedding) but it is such a lovely way to feel good and take the hassle off yourself the odd time!

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Aside from scrolling through wedding dresses daily (no idea yet what I want to wear, if you’re wondering) I have also been scrolling ASOS for a change of scenery. At this time of year I am always reaching for a knit and in this have realised that my wardrobe is lacking ‘nice’ tops and other bits. I have picked a selection of my favourites. - just click on the image and it should take you straight there.

Wishing you a gorgeous week ahead - I have my first Bridal appointment in London this week so will let you know how it goes. As always, wear what works, for you.

Lots of love, Keels x

I decided on Saturday, just gone, that I should probably do something about that so I sat down with a trusty pen and notebook and began to brainstorm, stopping myself on more than one occasion from writing things I just wanted for myself so here we go… enjoy this list of things

1. every bedroom needs a candle

   at the end of most days, I take great pleasure in lighting a candle and getting into bed with a book. this ‘warmth’ candle from Marks and Spencer Apothecary range is a firm favourite.

   

2. underdays

   everyone needs good underwear and Underdays are it for the girls, no questions asked. Comfortable and unbelievably cute, I have my eye on the days of the week set [below]. The nostalgia!!

   

3. give the gift of subscriptions

   life is busy, we all know that so if I can have something that I use daily, on subscription, you best believe I do. Deodorant, razor heads and toothbrush heads fall through my letterbox month after month. Paying for such things doesn’t pain me because I appreciate the functionality but if someone else took the payment off me for say, 3-6 months, that is a gesture of love and friendship that would make my heart sing. Fussy (natural deodorant), Estrid (razor heads) and Suri (toothbrush heads) are all non-negotiables for me. You could even go down the route of a monthly magazine or recipe platform, the options are endless.

4. a spa experience

   in the comfort of your own home, everyday. After receiving as a gift last Christmas, this Sol De Janeiro shower oil is something I repurchase over and over again. It smells incredible, feels amazing and lasts a long time.

   

5. very good pyjamas

   it could be something to do with being in my 30’s but luxury sleep wear will always be famous to me and this pair from TBCo are perfect. They come with a matching scrunchy and you can add your initials to make things personal.

   

6. oh la la

   light, fresh and tres chic, L’eau Sezane is a beautiful fragrance and very affordable (£50), as far as perfumes are concerned. One of my favourites I wear year round.

   

7. Réalta

   everyone needs a pair of gold, everyday hoops that you can wear on repeat, no tarnish. Enter Réalta, female owned, Irish brand with the most beautiful Irish inspired pieces (they are currently running a 12 days of Christmas offer so act fast)

   

8. did someone say cocktail?

   everyone loves a cocktail but who actually wants to play mixologist? Not me. I’ve called on Coops Cocktails - pre-made, bottled perfection. With everything else going on during party season, the last thing anyone needs is to go about making sugar syrup at 10pm.

   

Hopefully that gives some inspiration to finish off what you have started or indeed get to thinking about possible gifts for friends, sisters, cousins, your brothers girlfriend, auntie or maybe you think you just deserve to treat yourself. I have a bit more online shopping left in me before I begin to panic I’ve missed the Christmas cut off.

Speak soon, lots of love - keels x

Maybe it’s the combination of spending time with the one person who knows you inside out (and vice versa), along with the fact that it was a perfectly balanced weekend: plenty of wine and walking, early nights, and wholesome activities. We’d planned the trip a couple of months ago, well, “planned” in the sense that we booked flights and found a hotel and decided it would make the perfect festive getaway. We arrived on Friday morning, and despite having seen each other only a couple of weeks earlier, the excitement of reconnecting somewhere we’d talked about visiting together was almost like one of those TikTok reunion videos where a daughter returns home from Australia after five years.

I visited Copenhagen once before, in 2023. I loved it then, but this time I think I’ve fallen completely head over heels. Seeing the city in winter gave it an entirely different personality: darkness settling in by early afternoon and a harsh, cold wind. Conditions that, in the UK, could only be described in small talk as “depressing” but the twinkly lights and the cosy, welcoming atmosphere of the many small coffee shops and wine bars we fell into made you forget the damp chill instantly.

In 2017, the word hygge was added to the Oxford Dictionary, defined as “a quality of cosiness and comfortable conviviality that engenders a feeling of contentment or well-being.” The warm atmosphere here wrapped around us like a blanket, dissolving any misery the weather tried to impose. Hygge, I learned, is really about slowing down and finding joy in ordinary moments, something we could all stand to practice a little more.

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Even though the city is incredibly well connected, we spent most of our time walking, wandering into pretty neighbourhoods and discovering little shops and cafes. I made a point of visiting the Ganni Postmodern store, which sells older-season pieces at reduced prices - I picked up a pink top I absolutely love and plan to wear to my work Christmas party next week. I’d packed my Keen Jasper Zionic shoes, which I originally bought for Glastonbury, and they ended up being perfect: comfortable, practical, and pretty gorge too.

In the city, there were so many places we wanted to try but there is only so many flat white’s one girl can have over the course of a weekend. I have shared all my favourite places here for you to save if you are planning a trip anytime soon.

Now, we are one week into advent. I won’t lie, I am jealous of the girls with the gorgeous skincare advent calendars, the very ones that I said I didn’t need upon release many months ago… note to self: buy the advent calendar next year! Alongside a Tony’s Chocolonely’s calendar my daddy surprised me with (yes, I am 31), I decided this year I would do something a little different and run everyday. Despite only being 7 days in, with 18 to go, in the words of Kylie Jenner, it has me realising things.

When you commit to doing one thing every day, it becomes the thing you have to prioritise and when that thing is running, you’re essentially prioritising yourself. It’s made me think differently about how I plan my day. If I have an event after work, I know I need to wake up earlier so I can run in the morning, which then means going to bed a bit earlier the night before. It’s a domino effect, but a positive one.

It’s also made me realise how often we tell ourselves that going for a run, walk, or workout is a huge inconvenience, that we need a full hour, a perfect window, the “right energy.” In reality, if you have half an hour to spare, it’s better to run or walk for twenty minutes than do nothing at all. The time will pass anyway.

I’d fallen into a bit of a rut with running, specifically. After training for and completing the London Marathon (yes, I’m still talking about it), I wanted to take the pressure off, which meant I ended up running only the occasional 5k. There’s nothing wrong with that, but I did start to miss it: the time to myself, the fresh air, and that gorgeous feeling of starting the day outside or decompressing after a long day in the office.

Committing to something for yourself every day is a real act of self-care and self-respect. When faced with a choice between doing something for ourselves or for someone else, most of us drop the thing meant for us first. Carving out time just for you, even a sliver of it, is a small but powerful reminder that you deserve to be prioritised too.

This weekend I got to chatting clothes with my sister, obviously, but more specifically what we plan to wear on Christmas Day. Are you a cosy and comfy girl on Christmas or a glitz and glam queen? Please let me know as I don’t think I fit into either, I get dressed up nice for sure but also want to be comfortable. I think a two piece works really well or a nice top / blazer with trousers. Next week I’m going to share a few pieces I think would be Christmas Day appropriate so if you have anything specific you would like me to search for, drop a comment and let me know.

I am just about to board my flight so I will drop off here. If I can give you anything to take into the new week it is this; slow down, prioritise yourself and try not to let the weather determine your mood (that is as much for myself as it is you!)

Have a gorgeous week, catch up soon and until then, wear what works, for you!

Love Keels x

This also explains why Sunday Scroll is landing with you on a Monday. A late flight home paired with an early bedtime - immediately after demolishing a Marks & Spencer “best ever” lasagne - left me with very little writing time.

The eternal weekend-trip dilemma - have a full final day and take the late flight, or call it and get home in time to reset for the week ahead? This time we chose the later flight, landing back in London just as the North London derby ended, along with the thousands of people spilling out of it. A warm welcome home…

Can you believe we’re already in the last week of November? The month has completely passed me by, and for one simple reason: I haven’t stopped. At some point earlier in the year I agreed to a handful of trips, and they all ended up happening one after another. It’s been fun and exciting, but I am very ready for a slow(ish) December… is that even possible? If not slow, then at least settled in London, leaning into the festivities.

Oddly, I’m not feeling festive at all yet, which is very unlike me. I’m usually the first to bop along to a Christmas song, grab a mulled wine, or declare that it is absolutely not too early to put up decorations. If you have any tips on how I can switch on the Christmas spirit, please send them my way - sincerely, a worried Christmas lover.

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This week I done a lot of scrolling to find the best waterproof jacket. After too many years of not owning one, I realise it is absolutely something I need. I asked my instagram girlies what they would recommended and complied all the responses here. I think the Sweaty Betty waterproof parka looks best to me and apparently you can sign up and get 50% off on your ‘birthday’… failing that Black Friday is coming up (if you’ve happened to miss the 556 emails about it, from brands you didn’t even know you subscribed to).

I will stop saying it at some point but because life has been full-on lately, I’ve barely cooked anything beyond my go-to basic dinner: salmon, rice, and asparagus with a drop of soy sauce. Today I signed up for my office Christmas bake-off, which means I now need to scroll TikTok for a cute recipe idea and also… learn to bake. Easy. Whatever I lack in taste, I’m confident I can make up for in appearance.

Since the London Marathon back in April I haven’t run much, aside from a weekly 5km, and I’m starting to miss the discipline of it. To get myself back into the routine, I’m considering a challenge over advent as a way of keeping myself accountable December and making time for me. It may involve a fair bit of running, but if you fancy joining in with some version of your own, I’ll share more next week. We can support each other, right?

I’ve also got my office Christmas party coming up. As a girl who’s not big on sequins, I always struggle with outfit options. So between now and next week I’ll be scrolling and share what I can find! Until then, have a gorgeous week and wear what works, for you.

Lots of love, Keels x

Hello! It feels strange to admit that I completely lost my rhythm with Sunday Scroll this year. I used to plan my week around it and then, not so much. I think a lot of that came down to time, or the lack of it. Since moving to London, life sped up. On office days, time runs at the speed of light; I leave work, head to the gym, get home, make dinner and by the time I’ve prepped for the next day, it’s suddenly 10 pm. At that stage all I’m doing is making a peppermint tea, grabbing my book and getting straight into bed. Before I know it, the weekend rolls around, I do my own little Sunday Scroll, and think, damn, I should have shared this… I’ll try again next week.

Now that I’ve been here three years (can you believe it’s been so long?!) I definitely have a better grasp of my routine but still, once you fall out of the rhythm of creating, it’s hard to pick it back up again. The voice in my head starts asking: Have I lost all momentum? Is anyone still out there? Is someone doing it better?

Lately, I’ve found myself caught in a spiral of comparison on social media; watching what everyone else is doing and wearing and what events they are attending. Did my invite get lost? I scroll aimlessly across every app, dreading what my screen time is some days. I’ve convinced myself that what I share is boring or pointless and ask myself daily, what is the point? With so much content out there, it can all feel a bit meh.

I think there is something up with the moon this week, or so I’m told, so forgive me for sounding so negative but here’s the thing: it’s not that deep. Overconsumption kills joy.

On one of my recent doom scrolls, I came across a creator who said, create more than you consume and it really is that simple. When I stopped to think about it, I wrote down all the things I love sharing online. At the very top of that list was this newsletter; a weekly check-in, a space to share what I’ve been doing, reading, cooking, listening to, and the fashion pieces that have caught my eye.

So here I am, starting again.

If you are a long time Sunday Scroll subscriber you might notice that this email looks a little different. I have taken the plunge away from the platform I was using for years (and knew inside out) to make the jump to Substack. I love to write but found there was little opportunity to engage with readers on the old platform whereas now you should be able to feel part of it. I’m pretty sure there is a chat function but I am still figuring that part out!

If you’re new here, please feel free to subscribe - I will be posting weekly and sharing everything I get up to as an Irish girl in her 30’s navigating life in London and all my favourite fashion pieces, books, podcasts and recipes!

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I have fun plans this week, a supper club and then a weekend of activity as my daddy is visiting! As a girl who rarely gets ‘dressed up’ I have come to realise that my wardrobe is missing nice tops so I have been scrolling and saved everything in one place. Just click here and it will take you through to all the individual links so you can come back as many times as you need!

I picked up this gorgeous black, velvet peplum jacket in H&M this weekend and I just know it is going to work so hard in my wardrobe. I am planning to wear it on Friday evening so I’ll share how I style it for her first outing.

Last week I read Frieda McFadden’s book The Boyfriend in less than 24 hrs. There is such a hype around her books and I think it’s down to how much they suck you in. I don’t necessarily like her style of writing but I do love a page turner. If you’re in a reading rut, any of McFaddens books will be sure to change that. If you’re looking for something with a bit more substance, Evenings and Weekends by Oisin Mc Kenna is fantastic.

As we are about to enter the Christmas craziness, this is my constant so I will speak to you next week and I’m already looking forward to it.Have a gorgeous week and until then, wear what works, for you!

Lots of love, Keels x

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