Weekend Question

I'm flying out to Amsterdam  
tomorrow for a quick break and a catch up with some friends who will be in the city for the weekend.

What do you recommend that I do while I'm over there? 

So far I've been told that I shouldn't pass up the opportunity to see the Sex Museum or to just walk around the Red Light District and see what all the fuss is about. That I should walk around the '9 streets' to soak up the pretty atmosphere and that I shouldn't miss the Dappermarkt.

Personally I'm just looking forward to seeing all of the beautiful Dutch people, marveling at strange looking items in the grocery stores and enjoying some great coffee with great friends. Oh and I'll be watching them all compete at the 2012 Face2Face archery tournament too. 

Here Is A Challenge

I challenge you to duel.

I will...

...impart wisdom onto a room full of students

...meet friends for lunch

...enjoy an ice cream

...bask in the sunshine

...get my gym face on

...see friends from far flung places

...get coffee and cake

...sleep happy

What will you do to make today amazing?

Wednesday Wishes

What is your one true wish today? What would make you smile? What would fill you with that glow of joy?

My wish for today is a basic one but not easily obtainable. My wish is for companionship. Even though I am far from being a social butterfly I love having good company around me. I love the hug that your soul feels when you stop and realise that you are happy. The company is good, the conversation is flowing, the smiles are honest and the joy is clearly seen.

Wednesday Wishes

How are we wishing today my sweet readers? Right now... close your eyes, take a deep breath and wish for something frivolous.

Go on... no... actually close your eyes.

Now wish!

Did you wish? I did. This week I'm wishing for a picnic with friends. A warm afternoon, a quiet place, a blanket big enough for us all to fit on, some naughty but nice treats and fruity drinks. 

One Handed Entertainment

Very recently a good friend of mine broke her arm in a fall. I haven't been able to call to see her cause she's in another city but from our online chats, and texts I can tell that she is already super bored of sitting still. Just before Christmas my brother was also in an accident and ended up getting in cast on his arm too. He was equally frustrated with sitting around and waiting to heal. So I thought that I would list a couple of things that you can do one handed that would keep you a little entertained. Most of these suggestions are gender neutral but some will be more for the ladies...

Try out a new nail polish. Prettify your toes. When you are feeling kinda yuck and icky because it's a pain in the ass to take a shower without getting your cast wet at least you can look down and smile at your pretty toes. I recommend good quality cling film to keep your cast dry or one of these shower sleeves if you don't have someone to put on the cling film for you.

Make a personal cookbook out of all your favourite recipes.  You know all  of those great sounding recipes that you have been bookmarking for ages? And those family favourites that you keep meaning to write down and put somewhere safe? Well now is the time to get through it all. Make a scrapbook style book, or type them out and print out your own cook book.

Write letters to far flung friends. We all have friends who have emigrated. Spend a little time writing them a thoughtful letter. There's nothing quite like a hand written letter to make someone feel special. The content is a little irrelevant... it's the significance of sending something that you took time out of your day to created that counts.

Pick out your favourite TV show and re-watch those box sets. I remember visiting Mr. T when he lived in the wilds of Connemara, without any TV or internet connection. While he was at work all day I entertained myself by watching all six seasons of Sex and the City. Sure... you might get fed up of hearing the theme tune after the first 15 episodes but you get to live in the shoes of your favourite characters for a little while again. 

Start a new book series. Buy them online and feel excited when the postman arrives. I love getting a parcel from the postman and knowing that I can't get stuck into a new book until I get home from work drives me crazy... You're off work... you can get stuck in right now. I recommend The Book Depository for their free shipping policy and the fact that they send each book out separately so that you don't have to wait for any order that is currently out of stock.

Start a tumblr or pinterest boards of all your favourite images. All of those pictures that you love to look at and that inspire you... will probably inspire others. Imagine how cute you'll feel after spending a whole afternoon looking at pictures of puppies and kittens, and other cute and wonderful things. Create a collection of images to inspire your next holiday, once you get all healed... or your ideal house interior... or your favourite pieces of artwork.

Catch up on your blog reading... or start a blog. I lived without internet connection for the Christmas season and when I got back online in the New Year I found over 2,000 blog posts to catch up on. Whew... I've only managed to clear them in the past week or so. While you're off work you can browse through all your favourite blogs, leaving comments and checking out links to your hearts content. 

Most of all remember that your friends are there for you. You are not a burden. If you need help with something... however mundane... just ask. Don't fill your day by eating junk food or drinking soft drinks... you will not heal quickly unless you feed your body good, clean food. Get a little fresh air every day. Ask the people who bring you a lovely bunch of flowers to put them into a vase and onto a table so that you can enjoy looking at them. Get plenty of sleep. Try to keep a good routine... you will have to go back to work at some stage and you don't want to have to reset your body clock from spending countless nights online and watching TV. Let people know that you appreciate the nice things that they are doing for you. Don't moan to the people who visit you about how crap your life is... there will always be someone worse off than you. But don't feel like you can't talk honestly to your friends about feeling down about your situation. Do your physical therapy exercises. 

Hope you feel better soon!

21 Things

I was staying over with my lady friends around the holiday time and I got to catch up on all the blog posts that had amassed on my Google reader while I was ignoring the internet and getting on with writing up my thesis. I was reading out Sarah Von's list of '15 things that every woman should own' and we got to chatting about whether or not that the list actually applied to 'every' woman or just 'most' women. So we decided to create a more specific list...  

So I give to you the 

'21 Things That An Irish Woman Who Is No Longer A Teenager Should Have' 

1. A good quality, portable umbrella – this is Ireland after all
2. An album that you love no matter what – that you never get sick of listening to
3. Great shampoo and conditioner that suits your hair
4. The perfect pair of neutral flats that work with everything
5. YOUR perfume – brings back memories always
6. A beautiful photo frame that holds a special and memorable photo from your life
7. A perfect pair of jeans
8. Your fall back outfit that always works, when you haven’t a clue what to wear
9. A good quality, reliable sports bra
10. A teddy to love
11. Failsafe dessert recipe
12. A pet, or a very close friend who has a pet that you can borrow
13. A beautiful set of bed linen
14. Several sets of gorgeous matching underwear
15. A sister that you get to choose for yourself - I'm lucky enough to have more than one
16. A pair of high and fabulously comfortable shoes to dance the night away in
17. That cute but scruffy t shirt that you'll love forever
18. Jewellery that has been passed down through the family
19. A quick fix make up kit that you can apply in under two minutes
20. That best friend that you can tell anything to
21. Your favourite mug

Things I Love Thursday

Help - I love that I have the kind of friends that when a cry for help is sent out they reply. I'm part of a pretty big project over the next few weeks that I really shouldn't have taken on and the support that everyone is giving is overwhelming to say the least. Thanks guys, I heart you all.

Comfort - When times get a little tough for me I always retreat to all things comfort related. My cozy slipper socks, lots of body lotion and curling up in bed. Steaming mugs of tea and long chats on the phone with people I love. My favourite worn jumper and a huge scarf. Everything and anything soft and warm and snuggly. The only thing I was missing was lots of hugs and cuddles to make my comfort-athon complete.

Honourable Mentions - red tunnel scarves (on my must find list for autumn), the bounce of a fresh blow dry, sunny afternoons with my shades on, fresh linen on my bed, wearing orange, the Benetton sales (pity I can't afford to bring any of the treasures home though), long sleeves and short shorts, my beautiful new turquoise day clutch, wanting these wedges and these shoes from ASOS, coffee and a book while still in bed, sorely missed friends on semi surprise visits, Very Berry Barry's tea, hugging a hot water bottle on a cold night, this beautiful bracelet, new cartoon themed panties

Classical Beauty

One of my favourite pieces of music is Gabriel's Oboe. I first heard this piece while watching The Mission and quickly became besotted with it. My preference is for it to be played on the flute though. 

It reminds me of a great night with some friends, sitting around a fire pit, cajoling and threatening in order to get one of the girls to bring out her flute and play something. Finally she relented and agreed to play just one song... I requested Gabriel's Oboe, and it was beautiful. Staring into the firelight, hearing nothing but those beautiful notes, not another sound around us, my arms covered with goosebumps that had nothing to do with the cool night air. Perfect.

Is there a piece of music that gives you chills? Something that you instantly fell in love with?

Things I Love Thursday

Bare Toes - nothing say summer more to me than bare toes and a flash of bright colour.  Whats your go to colour for the summer months? This summer I think I'm going for coral and pale gold tones.

Crazy Complements -  I know that all girls are taught to say 'thank you' when someone pays them a complement. Easier said than done though. How many of us have been told our dress is lovely only to reply with 'this old thing? I got it for €4 in Pennys' or 'really? I always think it makes my ass look fat'. When a guy tells you that you're amazing you look to the ground, blushing, and think 'he obviously doesn't know the real me'. We all have the same issues with accepting, and believing, complements. Recently someone told me some nice things about me... and this time I chose to say thank you and to ask them why they thought that, so that I could learn a little more about how some people see me. Try it next time, let me know how you get on. 

Beautiful Mirrors - You can't but feel gorgeous and pretty as you study your reflection in a fabulously ornate mirror. So spoil yourself and get an amazing mirror for you bedroom, dressing room, bathroom or to look in just before you step out your front door.  

Honourable Mentions - this blanket, stripes, hot water with lemon and honey, strawberry licorice, bow shaped rings and other pretty jewellery, ruched blue dresses and fabulous hair pieces, new shoes, knowing that someone smiles when they get a text from me, this gorgeous dress from Free People, new mugs, sheer cream kimono jackets, I want this right now, pink carnations - thank you very much Carrie Bradshaw, slouchy cardigans - just like this one, knowing that I fit into every pair of jeans in my wardrobe 

Things I Love Thursday

Hello 80's - I've been reminiscing with movies from my childhood lately. Were you a 'Lost Boys' (1987) and 'Heathers' (1988) kinda person, all dark and tortured, too much backcombing and eyeliner or were you 'The Breakfast Club' (1985) and 'Ferris Buellers Day Off' (1986) - troublesome but lovable, denim jacket and scrunched up socks? I was a Ghostbusters, Princess Bride, Indiana Jones, Beetlejuice, Spaceballs, Coming to America kinda girl, just a little bit of everything, and still am. 

Things on Toast - Everything automatically tastes better when you put it on toast. Scrambled eggs, baked beans, melted cheese, grilled bacon, honey and banana, even humble old butter and jam. I remember being a kid and jam sandwiches just seemed mean and tasteless, but jam on toast - warm melting butter, sticky jam, all yummy and comforting. What a great plan!

A Harsh Reality - Being single has it's perks - not having to share that last piece of cake, no one telling you to hurry up when getting ready, the whole bed to yourself, but it has some huge drawbacks too. I miss being touched... get your head out of the gutter now... just the general he walks past you and brushes his hand across your lower back kinda touching, the you're sitting on the couch and he picks up your feet and puts them on his lap kinda touching. I suppose it's really called intimacy, and I miss it. 

Honourable Mentions - surprise visits, spotted teapots and Very Berry herbal tea, up styles, messy buns, smokey eyes and emerald green toe nails, finding any reason to inject glamour into the day - hats at noon, patent shoes and costume jewellery, waking up to two new followers this morning (edging ever closer to 100 - a giveaway is promised), striped jumpers and knee high socks, reading an entire series of books and loving them   

Things I Love Thursday

Black Tie Baby - This weekend I have my first ever black tie wedding to attend. Awfully excited about it all. I have it narrowed down to two outfits - a strapless black linen and knit, ruched, full length dress or a black halterneck, wide leg jumpsuit. Both have the same shoes, bag and jewellery so I really can wait until the last minute to decide. Oh and I have the most amazing head piece to wear. A friend of my mums custom made it to match my accessories - it is the most amazing piece I have ever seen. I promise to have some photos next week.

Growing Up Time - I had this discussion with some friends over the past few weeks... We are finally adults - up until very recently I have never received an invitation to a whole wedding, with the exception of one friend from my college days in Cork (D & MC, I had a fab day). Now a whole wedding to me means that you have friends who are adult enough to get married hence you are also a grown up to even know them. A few years ago I went to a rash of weddings but they were all connected with Mr T and his friends and family. This year it is my turn. Two months, three weddings, two 'plus one's' and a bridesmaids dress. This might just mean that I'm not a kid anymore.

Summer Season - Two words 'True blood', back on our screens for season 4 in just a few short days. Can't wait.

Honourable Mentions - sand between my toes, and in my shoes, and in the car, windswept hair, strawberry syrup on my 99, unexpected messages late at night, using crystal hi-ball glasses as pen holders, turquoise sweat pants and learning to enjoy running, persuading my little dog that running is good for him too, glitter nail polish, almond and coconut scones, Zumba

Things I Love Thursday

Health - If you don't have it then you don't have anything. Early this week saw my mum take a bad turn and I had to rush home for a few days It's slow going but she is getting back on her feet and is starting to look a little more like herself. Those few days really showed me how tough my mum really is and how much love and respect I have for her. This week's post is dedicated to her.

Spring Fashion - This year, for me, it's going to be all about; loose maxi skirts, grey cardigans, brightly coloured wrist purses, nude pumps, tan platforms and navy wedges, skirts as dresses and pale coloured, v necked sweaters worn back to front with a messy ponytail trailing down my spine, hooped earrings and ultra long pendants, a beautiful blue straw trilby that I've been saving up for a perfect occasion to wear, mismatched but coordinating underwear and a flick of plum coloured eyeliner.

Home Baking - This week I have managed to bake; brown soda bread, fresh fruit flan, eclairs, rhubarb tart, cupcakes with mocha Baileys frosting, apple tart, pavlova, welsh cheesecakes - with both jam and apple fillings, fruit soda bread. I almost feel domestic. You can see a close up of my cupcakes here!

Honourable Mentions - cuddling with my parents dog, re-reading a favourite novel that I found in the bottom of a press (The Magic Flute), sudden rainstorms and brightly coloured umbrellas,  coming home to find the house spotless and shining (thanks to my two girlies xx), maxi skirts and white vests, hotdogs, coral varnish on my toes this week - so summery when I look down, getting to watch Heroes for the first time, Mocha Baileys frosting,