Three Trees

Do you love a 'winter wonderland' kind of tree? 

or a 'traditional holiday' tree?

I love having a traditional  green tree just covered with baubles and trinkets. I hate tinsel and any other kind of hanging decorations. White lights only please. I like a beautiful, over stuffed, traditional, gorgeous tree just like this one.

Pretty Boy Friday

Time to get back to the Pretty Boys - Chace Crawford

Pretty Girl Friday

Adele is one of those women whose emotion is evident through her eyes. Always.  

 "Adele is simply too magical to compare her to anyone."

Pretty Boy Friday

Clive Owen - I have loved him ever since Sin City

Beautiful Bedroom

This attic closet is so gorgeous. 

And if this was the bedroom that it was attached to I would just be in heaven. I've always wanted a couch or huge armchair in my bedroom to curl up in and daydream.

For Fredrick

I thought you might appreciate this... you owe me tea and a chinwag

Comparison

Rihanna - We found love 

Vivian - Pretty Woman 

Hmmmm.... very coincidental 

Daylight Savings

Time to start saving your pennies for Christmas. 

I always panic when it comes to Christmas shopping . I worry if I've spent enough, or too much. The crowds annoy me. I leave everything until the last minute. I make endless lists in case I forget someone. I worry if they'll really like what I get them or will they just be polite and re-gift as soon as possible.

This year I'm going to try approaching Christmas shopping a little differently. This year I will be calm and collected. I will plan my shopping days carefully in order to maximise my efficiency. I will think through each purchase and not spend needlessly.

Ah... who am I kidding? Even I know that somethings never change.

How about you? How do you approach your Christmas shopping?

Monday Misery

I'm been having an off week.

Problems seem a little worse than they should be, the weather seems to be that little more miserable, money seems to be a little more scarce, friends seem to be a little further away. Ever get one of those weeks? I'm pretty sure we all get those weeks. I decided to try to get the jump on this one though and while I was in town running errands for my mum yesterday I made sure to bring my current book. And me and my book headed for the nice coffee shop in town that overlooks the river to see if a steaming hot mocha and some time to read could make me smile before a frown set in.

Unfortunately it hasn't seemed to work...

Have you any other solutions to recommend? I could really do with some help.

Pretty Girl Friday

Rachel Evan Wood

Pretty Boy Friday

Sting, more of a man than a boy

Things I Love Thursday

 

New Boots -  They fit, they fit, They FIT!!! I am one of those unfortunate ladies who is blessed with strong, powerful calves. Which would be great for running away from predators and so forth but are kinda crap when it comes to finding beautiful, affordable boots that fit. So finding a pair of flat, black, knee high boots that fit like a dream and look amazing are not only the high light of my week, but also of my month.

Old Friends - Lots of friends are back home from far flung places today and all are about Limerick for tea. Lots of time spent catching up on gossip and remembering in-jokes.

Honourable Mentions - toffee nut lattes at Starbucks, laughing with my girlfriends about the thoughts of stuffing a sports bra, contemplating getting myself a Bobble, red scarves and blue cardigans, Celebrations sweets, LMFAO, leopard print anything, giant jelly babies, hot scones with jam and whipped cream, steaming hot berry tea

Wednesday Wishes

I wish for a little Fairy Dust...

Fairy Dust

When I was a little girl I called Christmas lights 'Fairy Dust'. 

When I was a moody teenager I sat in the darkness with just the glow of 'Fairy Dust' to keep me company.

When I became an adult I tried to rationalise my fondness for white twinkling lights, and I began to lose the joy of 'Fairy Dust' through the analysis.

Today I remember my 'Fairy Dust' and how it made me feel safe and protected. I think it might be time to put some lights back up in my life.

What was your 'Fairy Dust' as a child? What made you feel safe?

Key Issues

My new favourite thing to admire is beautiful keys. I took part in a 24 hour Universal Design challenge last week... more on that a little later... and one thing I spent a lot of time looking at was keys. So gorgeous, so simple, so chic.

Pretty Girl Friday

Emily Browning first hit my radar in Lemony Snicket's A Series of Unfortunate Events. This year saw her on our screens for both Sleeping Beauty and Sucker Punch. Very pretty, and very versatile.

Make Or Break It

What are your deal makers, or indeed your deal breakers, when it comes to a relationship? What are the things that instantly let you know that you could never date this guy? And is there anything that a guy does that makes you attracted to him regardless of the rest of his perceived flaws?

For me the deal breakers are the easy ones to define...


if he has bad teeth or poor breath
if he is unkind to animals
if he disrespects his immediate family
if he suffers from an addiction
if he is stingy with money


These traits in a guy would make me wary about dating him in the long term. Some are a little selfish but I do not apologise for having them on my list. Unkindness to a helpless animal, to me, shows a possibility of being a poor father. I have enough trouble keeping my own life straight and I really don't have the mental or emotional ability to rehabilitate a recovering addict. A persons teeth always let me know how well they take care of themselves. I'm not dissing crooked teeth - my own aren't the straightest - but they have to clean and taken care of. I don't need a guy to spend a ton of money on me, and I definitely don't look to date rich guys but a man who insists on going 'dutch' for every date and imposes a budget on Christmas presents just screams 'tightwad' to me.

The deal maker is a much harder one to pin point. I ran through a number of different deal makers in my head but each of them were only applicable in some instances. 


For me... I have to be the most important thing in my man's life. I have to be a princess in his eyes. Importance is something that isn't immediately apparent when you start dating a guy. It's something that is realised over a period of time through words and gestures. He also has to have an amazing smile and smell great. A great natural smell is really important to me.


How this can be turned into a single deal maker.... beyond my knowledge. 

What are your deal breakers and makers? What turns off a guy instantly? And what wins your heart? 

Things I Love Thursday

Halloween - I am a Halloween fiend, or at least I used to be. In college we never, ever decorated the house for Christmas - ever! But we always decorated for Halloween - always! Our mid week party was a 'no costume, no entry' affair where mid-night costume changes were not unheard of. This year sees us with no house to decorate and all of the Glensiders scattered to the four winds. Halloween will never be the same.

Glitter nails - My toe's look like a Wizard of Oz extra. I love, love, love it - a little bit of sparkle in my otherwise boring day. It's amazing how a little bit of sparkle - in your makeup, your outfit or accessories can just lift your mood. I even ordered a lemon cupcake at Sweetie Pies last weekend that had glitter all over it. What's your favourite way to add a little sparkle to your day?

Chinese takeout - This Friday night will be spent in the company of great friends and wonderful food. We don't do takeaway at home, we never have. No Indian, Chinese, pizza, nothing - just wholesome home cooked meals. So I'm going to sneak over to S&C's for a little dim sum and noodles to celebrate both S and I getting through our vivas. My favourite takeout will always be Chinese or Thai. I just wish that we could get it in those gorgeous takeout cartons. What's your favourite? 

Honourable Mentions - long, dark nights in front of an open fire, Grey's Anatomy back on TV, mini marshmallows, lemon meringue pie milkshakes, poached eggs for breakfast, hash browns, hunting for a new perfume - I'm looking for something warm smelling but not too sweet, getting my winter stuff out of storage,warm blankets, sparkling lemonade