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

Scaredy Cat

What are you irrationally scared of? 

Being scared of things like war, poisonous animals that live near you or acts of nature are pretty valid things to be scared of. Those sort of things can cause major damage and ruin lives. It is never irrational to be scared of anything that has serious potential to harm you. What is irrational is those little things that you can't help but be scared of even though you know that they can't do anything to hurt you. 

I found out this week that two of the guys in the office are terrified of mice. Actually have to leave the room, shaking a little and getting upset kind of scared. And that was just when they heard that there was a dead mouse in a trap in the store room. Neither of the women in the office are afraid of mice I would like to add. 

What I am scared of though is 'things with wings'. If a butterfly or a moth comes into the room I'm in and starts fluttering about I will leave. Daddy Long Legs, small birds, pretty much anything small and fast moving will have me heading for the door. 

I was sharing a room up the country with some friends the weekend before last and one of them nearly fell off the bed laughing when a butterfly appeared into the room and I started ducking and weaving about the room to keep it away from me. Eventually he caught his breath, and the butterfly, and put it outside so that I could finally get some sleep.

Even when I'm outside I hate things with wings. Pigeons creep me out. I hate birds and I really hate that Hitchcock movie with a passion. I remember being over in London for a weekend break with a man friend and having a romantic breakfast of coffee and pastries in the park when we were besieged by a huge flock of pigeons looking for a bite. Terrified and shaking I left the park vowing to never eat outdoors in London again.

How about you? What irrational thing scares you?    

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 

Awards Season

Thank you Kate for tagging me with the Kreativ Blogger Award. You are such a sweetie, and have incredible painting talents, and such pretty hair too. You can find her work over at Kate's Irrelevant.

And thank you also My Third Cousin for the nomination. I feel kinda special to get two nominations in one day.

Rules Of The Award:

List 10 facts about yourself

Tag 10 other bloggers

Tell them about the award

Ten Little Known Facts About Me:

1. I absolutely adore the licorice allsort sweets with the pink and blue sprinkles on the outside (I think they're called jelly sprogs). 

2. I wear my glasses most of the time but completely hate wearing them - to me it feels like a mild disability to not be able to see.

3. I am terrified of public speaking but hide it behind a room-filling voice and a lot of bravado.

4. I own approximately 15 different blankets and throws, all of which are scattered around the house.

5. I have a scar on my lip from when I was coming down a slide on my tummy as a kid and smacked my face into my brothers knee.

6. I have just one brother and I am the youngest.

7. I really wanted to change my name when I was younger (it's Margaret) but when my mum told me that I was almost called Leanne I decided that I liked Margaret more.

8. I love company in the car with me most of the time but you can rarely beat an empty road and a very loud stereo.

9. I cannot physically fall asleep if my feet are cold.

10.I have never found a nail varnish that did not chip after one day so I have given up wearing nail varnish on my hands, I always have varnish on my toenails though.

Ten Wonderful Bloggers To Pass This On To:

1. Donna from Musically Inclined

2. Hermia from A Chick Named Hermia

3. Craig from Extrapolated Cynicism

4. Rhona from Rose Tinted Uncertainty

5. Carly from Smaggle

6. Elizabeth from Delightfully Tacky

7. Lili from Frocks & Frou Frou

8. Ana from Ripped Knees

9. Pearl from Pearls, Lace and Ruffles

10.Melissa from ISLY

 

Enjoy