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 

Juicy

Yesterday was my first time trying out carrot juice. It was... interesting. 

I was on a little shopping trip with a friend to celebrate the Bank Holiday, and we both found ourselves completely parched at the end of the day. So we decided to grab a juice instead of a coffee... being all healthy and such. Raymy plumped for her usual strawberry and orange mix but I was feeling a little more adventurous and opted for an apple, pear and carrot blend. 

First thing to note... juice should be ice cold... never room temperature. Shame on you Fruit Boost! The fact that I had to ask for ice for my juice is pretty poor. Except for that initial downer the juice was pretty good. Wholesome, and the pear kept it sweet and mild. I can't honestly say that carrot will be my number one choice of juice but I could see myself ordering it again (pineapple is, and will always be, my number one). 

How about you? Whats your favourite juice? Have you any recommendations for me to try?

Things I Love Today

Birthday-licious - It's birthday central here in Limerick right now. Loving it... what a great reason to get all dressed up, head out, have cake and cocktails, dance the night away and recover over brunch the next morning. The birthdays have been a little on the young side though with a plethora of 21st's, what a way to make a girl feel old! Nothing that a sassy dress, some gorgeous heels, a hand full of jelly sweets and a little glitter can't cure though. As the girls here say... you're only as old as the boy you kiss!

Appropriately Warm - The past few weeks have been unseasonably changeable here in Ireland with temperatures stretching from freezing to the 20's, highly unusual for March. To bridge the sudden gap in my wardrobe I fell to pairing my usual skirt and tights combo with lovely big, open knit jumpers. Warm enough in the chilly morning air, light enough to brave the cloudless skies at lunchtime and perfect for heading home in the dwindling light in the evenings.

Power Perfume - I decided today to treat myself to a new scent. Perfume is such an intimate thing for me to buy. I'm incredibly aware that I only want someone to be able to smell it when they are closer to me than any regular person should be, and I want my perfume to smell womanly but not girly. No bursts of sweetness or floral tones for me. I finally decided on a bottle of Fan di Fendi - warm, subtle, to me it smells of closeness. I'll keep you updated as to how it wears when on.

Honourable Mentions - Gala's list of 33 Movies To Watch When You're Sad, Glum or Bummed Out, edible glitter, Instagram and Pixlr-o-matic apps for android, pear flavoured still water, ice lollies, mens watches with HUGE faces like this, this, this and this, 8tracks.com - totally in love with this site, I could listen to it all day, fresh strawberries, glitter toe nails, open toe shoes in bright, bright colours, spring sunshine, takeaway coffees while sitting on the lawn, bright blue skinny jeans, shared brownies

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?

Bar Boot Sale

Seemingly the newest and chicest way to sell your items is through a Bar Boot Sale. 

Get yourself down to Sarsfield St. this Saturday to snap up a bargain or two, have a little bit of a boogie and totter around the stalls with a drink in hand.

For more information about the event you can find them HERE on FaceBook.

A Fashion Classic #1

I do believe that this year is going to be the year that I finally treat myself to a pair of real sunglasses. 

Not just a €2.50 pair from Pennys (not that I don't love my €2.50 shades too, I never get very upset when I loose or break them) but a real, honest to god, proper pair of grown up shades...

... and you can't really get any more grown up and classic than a pair of Ray Bans. Even though the Wayfarer seems to be the pair of choice for the average celeb I am loving the simple lines of both the Cockpit and Large Metal Aviators the most. 

Things I Love Thursday

Stacks - and stacks of books to read piling up on my bedside table. All just waiting for a lazy, rainy day to be cracked open and devoured. I'm a binge reader - I can go for weeks without reading a book but then I could read a whole book in a day, every day, for a week. I can't wait to get into this, this, this and this. I have little pilesof books scattered throughout every room in every house that I live in. I'm sure I drive my family and housemates crazy but I can rarely bear to part with my books. What books are tickling your brain lately? Any good reads to recommend?  

Obsession - I will be the first to admit that I love, love, love Greys Anatomy. All of it, every season, every character. I'm sad... I admit it. If they brought out a perfume I would buy it. I am that obsessed.

Dinner - One of my wonderful, lovely, amazing housemates has offered to cook dinner for the house tonight and I am deeply thankful to her. I am not the worlds best cook, not from a lack of ability but more from a lack of interest. I would be perfectly happy with a bowl of cereal or some scrambled egg if it was left up to me but Ash has promised us something yum when we get home from the gym tonight. Can't wait!

Honourable Mentions - a cafe who offers a free chocolate with every hot drink (Melt Cafe, if you're wondering), high pony tails and messy buns, realising that there are few things as satisfying as shopping for new lingerie, finding a perfectly beautiful pair of wide leg black trousers reduced from €95 to €10, surprise sugar related presents, losing a dress size from increased exercise and not from dieting, mint hot chocolate, an unexpected round of drinks from a friend at the other end of the bar, short skirts and warm tights, weekends to go home and visit family, when things go right for other people  

Does A Shoe Say Something About You?

Black high platform shoes

Cream metallic cuff stud heels

Black studded sandals

All shoes from Dorothy Perkins

Along with heading to the market this weekend, the girlies and I went on a a little shoe hunt. Who can resist the lure of the summer sales? The three shoes above were all on sale at Dorothy Perkins - we almost set up camp in the shop for the night - so many pretty clothes!

Can you match the shoe with the girl?
I'll even give you a little insight into all of our personalities...

Raymy - she loves all things smart, simple and nautical. She believes you can never have too many pairs of ballet flats, or hairbands. I have never seen anyone to layer clothes as perfectly as she can, she is a jersey queen.

Sonya - she believes that form should follow function. She loves her car more than her wardrobe, and her fiance more than her car. She rocks the most amazing bangs but has taken to pinning them back for the last few months. Bring back the bangs S! Oh... she owns more pairs of jeans than you could possible imagine.

And then me - I love big earrings and even bigger rings. I can't go a day without coffee. I buy more shoes than I could ever possible wear and feel happy to just put them on display and look at them. I also own more handbags then the other two girls put together. I have finally embraced wearing dresses.

Only one of us actually bought the shoes we loved. For a bonus point can you guess which shoe was bought?

Things I Love Thursday

source

Summer Blossoms - I love when the blossoms are out on the trees. Everything looks so so pretty and fresh and new. It turns the college very 'Memoirs of a Geisha' for a few days and makes me want to put my hair up into a pretty 'do' and wear something ornamental in it.

source

That Sense of Achievement - You know the one! The one you get when you finally get through a bout of work - you sit back, take a look at what you have just achieved, give yourself a proverbial pat on the back and congratulate yourself for getting through it all. S got a new job, Raymy finished her PhD transfer thesis and I am one step closer to completing my research. Things are looking good today ladies.

source

Surprise Shopping - Monday I went to the shops with the girls, yesterday I went to the shops with the guys and tonight I am going to the shops with S. Now I don't go to buy something every time, most of the time my shopping trips aren't even planned - someone just decides to 'go to the shops' but lately I have been finding some really great, inexpensive buys. Yea!

Honourable Mentions - too much coffee (just like Lady Smaggle), my new cuffed sandals, winning beautiful make-up, floral patterns on a black background, The Vampire Diaries, real coke - not diet

Sale Sale Sale

source

Ohhhh I got the most beautiful dress today. Very Mad Men indeed. A photo will follow I promise.

My haul from the sales went as follows:

1 very beautiful, timeless, emerald green Phase Eight dress (reduced from 131 to 65 euro)
1 gorgeous black fine knit Coast top (reduced from 85 to 25 euro)
2 fabulous pairs of suede and patent high heeled shoes, so fabulous I bought them on both black and purple (only 19 euro each)
1 fine knit black slouchy cardigan - the one that can be tied in many different ways (14 euro)
1 pair of sparkly grey flats (reduced from 24 to 9 euro)
many pairs of tights and undies
some pretty hair accessories too

How is your sale shopping going? Did you get anything amazing?

Things I Love Thursday

source

Torrential Rain - but only when I don't have to go out in it. I can just curl up inside the window with a mug of something hot and watch it for hours and hours.

Tropical Sugar-free MiWadi - It is the best tasting cordial in the world. I go through more than a bottle of it each week and it's the only thing that I've found to entice me to drink more water.

Thursday Shopping - For the last few weeks myself and Raymy, and sometimes Sonya, have been sneaking off to the local shopping center on a Thursday night and wander around with ice-cream or coffee, looking at everything but buying very little. It's great girlie time.

Going Home - I haven't been home in weeks and weeks but I'm really looking forward to heading home this weekend and saying hi to the folks and cuddling up with the dog and catching up with some friends.

What is putting a twinkle in your eye this week?

Fill Me With Your Wisdom

source

Good day to you all.

I had to duck into town this morning and find myself a double air mattress.

Because... Friday is PICNIC DAY! Roll on Eleccie Piccie! I can't wait, I've never camped before, I've never even been in a tent, I've never been to a festival before. I know - it's so sad that I'm 26 and have never been to a festival. I have no idea how to put up a tent, and Mr T won't be arriving until Friday evening so I am forced to bribe some friends to do it for me. I will claim naive girliness and get the big strong menfolk to do all the work. It will be a step backwards for feminism but a giant leap forward for 'Magatha-campinism'.

I have the baby wipes bought, a pair of pretty wellies and a rain jacket. I will remember to bring enough money and spare camera batteries. I promise to bring back lots of photos and hopefully no swine flu.

Please please please fill me with your festival wisdom before I go.

And if anyone else is going let me know and we'll meet up for a beer and a photo op!

I Went Shopping

I was in town yesterday afternoon and decided to check out the summer sale in New Look.

I found a gorgeous cream flower ring and a dragonfly necklace but look at these sandals - gorgeous and so comfy.

Ring - reduced to 3 euro
Necklace - reduced to 1.25 euro
Sandals - reduced to 12 euro from 34 EURO

D.I.Y. Speakers - Urban Outfitters

source

I am loving these eco-speakers from Urban Outfitters. They are made from recycled materials, come flat packed and include 6 colouring pencils for you to customise them any way you want!

And only £16.

I sense a possible credit card borrowing here.
(I don't trust myself with a credit card, so I use Sonya's and she is my conscience)