Things I Love Today

Puppy Perfection - I currently rent a room in a house with a live-in landlord. He's pretty cool, the same age as me, and not crazy precious about everything in the house so it's not awkward to share the space with him. And last week he brought home two new additions to the house. We now have two pug puppies in the house, Molly and Bella. They are tiny (10 weeks old this week), and crazy (I was told that pugs sleep 14 hours a day... not these two), and so so excited to be part of a new family (they are both attention seekers in a big way). They are ridiculously entertaining to watch as they play in the back garden, and they absolutely kill each other. They have horribly sharp little teeth though, and I found out last night that they are the perfect size to fit around my big toe, ouch! 

Dear Diary - In the fast paced digital world we line in now there is something so incredibly beautiful about the written word. The idea of taking time to put pen to paper and let your thoughts and ideas flow out onto a page. Whether in a daily diary, or a memory journal, a doodle pad or a wish book... it is so calming to just get the contents of your mind down onto a clean white page. I really love journals with leather covers, all sorts of sensory pleasure all mixed into one... the smell of the rich leather, the smooth touch, watching the words. Try it... a beautiful notebook, a new pen, a few hours in your favourite place, see what happens. 

Eat Smart - Ok, I know that this one is a no-brainer for most of you but for me I need a gentle reminder every now and then to eat, not just better but smarter. My diet isn't bad by any stretch and is already full of natural and greek yogurt, fruit and eggs, but sometimes (ok, pretty often) I just forget about the whole vegetable and meaty protein part. I ended up fighting three back to back infections over the last month and I can pretty much attest my terrible immune system to not getting enough good quality food. Multi-vitamin and iron supplements were recommended for me by sympathetic friends, but ended up sickening my stomach so bad that I was almost confined to the sofa most evenings. When I mentioned this to my doctor while I was having a check up she told me that I should be able to get all that I need from what I eat and to stop taking them. So instead I went to the grocery store and began shopping for good quality produce. Lots of vegetables that taste as good raw as cooked, small portions of organic chicken (there was no nice looking steak on display that day so I went for white meat only this week), plenty of quick to grab and satisfying yogurt and a cheeky block of tasty cheese. 

Honourable Mentions - a steaming bowl of couscous with a softly fried egg and a squeeze of lemon juice, barbecued salmon, green tea shower gel, plain and simple matt silver rings, drinking lots and lots of water, bright mornings and windy afternoons, orange blossom scented hand cream, snail mail, stir fried broccoli, wearing trainers to work mid-week, maxi skirts and sweatshirts, reuniting with old college friends, going on puppy dates  with friends, warm chicken salad, nude nail polish with subtle sparkles

Movie Hug

What are your Go-To Movies? 

The ones that you put on when you want the cinema equivalent of a hug from a friend? The ones that you know every character, every piece of music, every quip? The ones that may not be cool to watch but always hold a special place in your heart. 

My Top Ten Movie Hugs, in no particular order and for many varied reasons, are

- Zoolander -

- Edward Scissorhands -

- Leon -

- Beetlejuice -

- Chocolat -

- Pretty Woman -

- Some Like It Hot -

- 10 Things I Hate About You -

- Moulin Rouge -

- Fight Club -

Valentines

Now I know that for a lot of people Valentines Day is a lusty, passionate, sex soaked occasion filled with champagne, rose petals and chocolate covered strawberries. I have never been able to see it in that light. To me Valentines Day is all about sweetness and cuteness and love. 

It's a day for watching young kids being adorable, old people being amazing, and letting all of the people in your life know that they are loved. A day filled with candy hearts, fuzzy red and pink things and lots and lots of giggles 

My most memorable gifts have always been hand made, my favourite date was an indoor picnic, and to me the best way to spend the day is curled up on a snuggly couch with my very best friends drinking sparkling rose, eating heart shaped sugar cookies and watching some of the finest rom com's that money can buy. 

How about you? What is your favourite way to spend Valentines? Are you a die hard romantic? Are you a set in stone skeptic? Are you actually going to go see Die Hard in the cinema tonight (if so you have/are the coolest girlfriend ever)?

Things I Love Today

Glitter Tip - I love simple nails. My fingers are almost always nude or a pale pink - I save the brights for my toes. Lately though I have been craving a little more when I look down at my hands on the keyboard. A little hint of sparkle seems to be bringing a smile to my lips. Have you tried this out yet? Does it work well with coloured glitter? I've only tried it with gold so far. 

Shoot - I moved house last week. This one has nicer housemates, a bigger room, a clean kitchen and a landlord who doesn't mind me setting up a training target in the house. Anyone who has followed Magatha May for a while will know that archery is my sport, and will probably know that I have been unlucky with injuries for the past few years. Right now I'm working on a training program that is slowly building up strength and stability but this really needs more than the once a week training that I can get from my local club and an understanding landlord is a god send. The fact that I have a downstairs room and no one can hear me shoot late at night is a bonus.  

This Image - All I want to do is print it out and frame it.

Honourable Mentions - salted caramel mochas, days bright enough to wear sunglasses again, Greek yogurt with lemon, sudden snow showers, my first TRX class - and I loved it, remembering a great hug, warm blankets and skype chats, new houses which are closer to work means 15 minutes more sleep every morning, rediscovering Adele's 21 album, THIS song from Passenger, reading and reading and reading for hours on a Sunday afternoon, fresh haircuts, the smell of warm, clean laundry, some dried mango with my mid afternoon coffee, looking forward to a few days in London with Raymy next week

Things I Love Today

Fresh Sheets - There are few things to rival the feel of crisp, clean, cotton sheets on your bed but I can guarantee that for anyone living outside of the tropics the feel of cozy, new, flannel sheets will top it. Winter has finally kicked in here in Ireland and there are even rumors of snow afoot so last night I broke out a brand new set of cream flannel sheets for my bed. I am already known for being a bit of a princess about my sleep place... already a combination of feather duvets, numerous pillows, random throws and several cushions... but add in a set of cozy sheets and I become a creature of hibernation.     

Salad Fruit - Still feeling bad about the excess of the holiday season has me reaching for something green and fresh most evenings but it gets boring after a while. This week I've been livening up my rabbit food with either some warm steamed chicken or a poached egg, and hiding underneath are a few slices of crunchy apple or sweet pear to keep it interesting. Try it. It tastes so good... fresh... sweet... bright. 

Slow and Steady - Tortoiseshell is a classic. Like the white shirt, black pencil skirt and Breton stripes it will endure season after season remaining chic and understated. Right now I'm absolutely craving a stack of tortoiseshell bangles on my wrist and have just got my hands on a pair of beautiful tortoiseshell heeled pumps.  

Honourable Mentions - dark chocolate Lindt truffles, pairing mustard and grey together, sparkling manicures, being constantly surprised and delighted by friends and family, tarte au citron, dark tights, short skirts and high boots, jelly beans, smooth legs, almond shower cream, 'no alarm clock' Saturday mornings, devouring an entire series of books day by day, clean carpets and washed floors, strawberry yogurt rice cakes, puppy love 

Midweek Indulgence

Wednesdays call for a little indulgence to make the week go faster. So today I ask you to do something nice... give yourself a treat... make yourself smile.

I started my morning with a warm scone and some raspberry jam for breakfast. My evening will definitely have a home pedicure in it and my night will most certainly see me curled up in a nest of blankets, possibly with a nutella hot chocolate cradled in my hands, watching this.  

What is your midweek treat?

Things I Love Today

Winter Spice - My biggest sensory response has always been to smell. As a child growing up in a bakery the smell of Christmas started in our house sometime around September. Coming home from school on a miserable wet autumn day to be greeted by an intoxicating fug of sugary, spicy goodness is one of my fondest memories. At the moment I am trying to recapture it with a collection on cinnamon, vanilla and citrus candles dotted about my room.  

Keeping Cozy - This year I'm wearing my scarves very thick, very soft and knitted. High around my neck with no trailing ends. Cozy and warm, and as a huge accessory to my outfit. Those of you who know me personally will already know that my love of over sized scarves is even greater than my love of over sized sunglasses and I am slowly, but steadily accumulating a huge collection of winter favourites. 

Honourable Mentions - the happy feeling of writing on the first page of a new notebook, very hot, very sugary coffee on a cold night, waking up with perfect bed head, glogg scented shower gel, tiny hard drives full of tv shows, hot port and good company, lemon curd yogurt, Revlon Lip Butter in Peach Parfait - the PERFECT nude for my lips, early season mince pies, competing again for the first time in two years... and winning my category, surprise visits on a Sunday afternoon, wearing high heels everyday to work  

Things I Love Today

Freckles - Are just natures sprinkles. And everything is better with some sprinkles... right? There's nothing like a smattering of freckles to make everything feel a little more summery.  

Pretty Kitties - My mum and dad seem to have acquired a family of cats recently. First a mammy cat, shortly followed by her four kittens. Panic ensued at home... we're not a cat household at all and even though strays are always welcome we weren't too sure how this would all go down with our resident mutt. Well the kitties are now well settled and happy yard cats and Scruffy is a self important house dog... so far so good. We were getting each kittie fixed as soon as we could catch them but unfortunately our momma cat got hit on by a tom before we could get her to the vet and sported a rather large belly. To our delight and relief she finally brought her kittens back to us a few weeks ago and now hours can go by watching the two little balls of fur giving it socks around the yard in the mornings. Yea for strays. 

Just Standing There - Those last two minutes in the shower... you know the ones I'm talking about. When you are all squeaky clean, hair rinsed, legs shaved and you just stand there in the steam. Hot water just washing away the last of the crap that was part of your day. Bliss.

Honourable Mentions - licorice sprogs, elephant print anything, the first spoonful of cereal out of a fresh box, sheer vests, winning raffles and supporting charities, chocolate and hazlenut gelato, lazy Sunday walks by the riverside, clean floors and bare feet, summer showers, finally finishing the last of the tooth paste and getting to throw away the squished up tube 

Things I Love Today

Pretty Pastels - Now that we're in the throes of SpringSummer fashion, I have finally embraced the pastel trend that is sweeping across the nation. This weekend my mum treated me to a gorgeous new outfit on the basis that it couldn't have any black or grey in it. So sitting in my room... just waiting to be worn is an amazing pair of peach skinny jeans, a cream cami and a dark cream open knit slouchy jumper. Are you the type of person who has to wear a new outfit right away or do you like to hold on to it for the perfect occasion to debut? I love holding onto my new duds for just the right occasion.

 

Text Buddies - Having someone who answers your texts. It's a great feeling. I love those day long conversations that you can only have via text messages. I text... an hour later you reply... you ask a question... I send an answer... I text when I get a coffee... you reply over dinner... no rush... no panic... just conversation.

Men in Hats - Now not just any hats... this doesn't apply to baseball caps or beanies - unless it's a gorgeous slouchy grey beanie. Lately I've been noticing more than a few guys around our fair campus looking very debonair in an array of hats. Fedoras, stingy brims, panamas, you name it. I love how they finish off a mans look. I say bring back the hat for SpringSummer2012.

Honourable Mentions - MAN CANS, gold glitter manicures, raising my BodyPump weights twice in one week, side ponytails, THIS manicure - so simple I think that even I could do it,watch THIS then read THIS and then form your own opinion about Joseph Kony, floral underwear sets, coconut mochas, yoghurt covered banana chips - my new favourite snack, the thoughts of strawberries coming into season