Things I Love Thursday

Fantastic Fakeness - I had two fake firsts on my life last week... nails and spray tan... and I think I'm a convert. Both turned out amazing, both lasted ages, both were fairly comfortable... well as comfortable as you can be in someone else's house and being told you can't wear a bra until tomorrow. My main reason for the tan was because I was wearing a strapless dress to S&C's wedding last week and my nails were to match the rest of the bridesmaids shellac manicures. Even though a girl should rarely fake anything this is highly, highly recommended.   

Braids - Overly long hair that I cannot style by myself equals a lot of bun and braid wearing just to keep it off my face. I had been growing my hair for the wedding and it's probably at its longest in my memory - about a third of the way down my back - and that's very long for a girl who used to get a blade four trim all over in the summer months. Thank god that braids are still in style - simple, easy and so pretty to look at... and a great way to hide two day old hair.

Old Favourites - I've been spending a lot of my time over at S's, am keeping an eye on her cats cause I'm a great friend. I might have also pilfered her bookshelves a little, pulling out books that I've read years ago and almost forgotten about. Delightful. 

Honourable Mentions - strapless dresses, apple crumble, Room by Emma Donoghue - it's haunting, road trips, Micheal Buble, photos from Vegas, yoghurt with muesli, lie-ins, the first run after a week off, the guilty pleasure that is Teen Wolf, writing in pencil instead of pen for a whole day, band aids with cartoons printed on them - makes me feel like a kid again, crunchy green apples, bare legs - even when it's raining 

Things I Love Thursday

Turning The Last Page - I love the feeling of accomplishment that I get from finishing a really good book. I've just finished reading The Help by Katheryne Stockett. I thought it was a wonderfully well written book that transported me to the southern States with ease. Some of the rest of the books on my nightstand are The Bloody Chamber, The Dice Man, The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo and a few more. Are there any reads that you'd love to share with me? I'd love to add some more titles to my night time stack of reading.

Convict Stripes - For the past few weeks I've been having a secret love affair with all things in black and white stripes. The fat girl in me is screaming 'no' at the mention of striped clothing though and is constantly warning me not to succumb to the lure of the mono-stripe... but then I saw THIS outfit on Kyla and I'm starting to waver - I already have a mustard cardigan, and I have a striped tube skirt, and some black boots. Hmmmm 

A Little Bit Of Candy - Just cause sometimes, on a dreary Thursday morning you need something nice to look at. So to all my lady readers - enjoy, and to all my guy readers - we're not comparing.   

Honourable Mentions - fizzy cola bottles, clearing some of the clothes that don't fit anymore out of my wardrobe, wearing a high, soft bun on the top of my head, raspberry and vanilla jam, opening a new tub of Ben & Jerry's and only wanting a few spoons before putting it back into the freezer, a freshly made bed, hearing loose change at the bottom of your bag and realising that it's mostly made up of €2 coins, bondage tights, remembering how much I loved glitter make up when I was 18, short skirts, spicy noodle soup - I must have had this at least 4 times in the last week

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  

 Doesn't this look like one of the best ways to spend a rainy evening? I just love the thoughts of a warm fire, some hot tea and a new book to get through while the rain is hopping of the window pane and I know that I have no where else to be. 

How do you like to spend your down time?

Things I Loved Yesterday

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Christmas Sweets - The box of Quality Street has been broken out. Christmas has officially arrived.

White Fairy Lights - The cutest, sweetest way to make everything look festive.

New Books - I treated myself to some of the series that inspired True Blood. I can't wait to find a quiet evening, a comfy armchair and a huge mug of tea to curl up and enjoy them. Windy stormy night outside the window optional.

How are your loves progressing this week?

Blood And TV

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I don't know about everyone else but I love to read when I'm away on holiday. Well not just reading but devouring books like there's no tomorrow. At home I get to snatch half an hour before I head for bed and I feel bad for being so self-indulgent but I never feel guilty about reading when I'm away.

When I got home from holidays I was still in reading mode though so I decided to re-read Twilight, and now that I'm in vampire mode I thought that I might get my hands on True Blood and see what the hype is all about. Season 1 is on it's way and I hope to spend a lazy weekend immersed in it soon.

Have any of you watched it? What do you think? Do you feel guilty about reading?

Things I Love Thursday

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Cookie Jars - I picked up a gorgeous mason jar for keeping communal cookies in for our lovely, new, homely house. It is filled with penguin bars, mini kitkats and chocolate chip cookies. Yum yum.

New Books - The bible of Persona Design has finally come into the University library. Let the learning commence. It's brand new, the spine isn't even cracked yet. It has that new book smell too. My masters might be possible now.

Fish - Sonya has dependents now. One big goldfish called Paul, and three little fish called Ronan, Stringer and Warrick. The names are from the Munster Rugby Team, an Irish, and Limerick, institution.

What puts a smile on your face today?

Things I Love Thursday

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HP6 - I'm going to go to see it late this afternoon with Sonya and her 10 year old nephew. Can't wait. Loved the books, liked most of the films so far, looking forward to re-reading the books again once all the films have been released. Might even treat myself to some popcorn.

Re-reads - Finding a great book that you read years ago and curling up with a mug of tea to dive back in to it again. Found 'The Beach' by Alex Garland and am thoroughly enjoying it.

Budda Bags - A 2 person Budda bag now occupies half our sitting room floor and it is the best place to curl up with that tea that I mentioned and your re-read book. So soft, so comfortable, snugglable.

Blog of the Week

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I know that it has been ages since I posted a Blog of the Week but I just had to share Slices of Beauty... with you all. She has so many gorgeous photos and images throughout her blog.

It was through this blog post that I found out about The Happiest Book In The World.

In 2006 Alex Ostrowski found out that researchers at The University of Leicester concluded that Denmark is the happiest country in the world. In March 2008 he made the decision to visit happiness, and embarked upon a pilgrimage to find it. His are presented in this book, but only one copy exists.

A Wonderful Gift

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I got a present in the post!

The wonderful and talented Melissa Esplin of IS.LY sent me a gorgeous hand stitched notebook and a great magnetic bookmark from her Earth Day Giveaway.

Thank you so much, your gift brightened up a very sad week for me.

I'm afraid to write in the notebook though as it is so pretty, and I can't think of anything that I could write in it that would do it justice. Do you ever feel like that about pretty stationary? Melissa hoped that it would help me in my mission to keep everything organised.

I have pictures of the packaging and, Melissa, you have the most gorgeous hand writing!

Blog of the Week

I haven't put up one of these in ages but...
I stopped by Terry's blog Bent Objects and I thought it was amazing.

So creative... and it is now in book form.

You can purchase Bent Objects: The Secret Life of Everyday Things from HERE soon.

Pocket Posh

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I spotted a post over at Black*Eiffel about these beautiful puzzle books. They are gorgeous, small enough to pop into your handbag and stylish enough to pull out whenever you have a few moments to fill.

And even though Brain Training and the Nintendo DS are all the rage at the moment I much rather have a paper product in my hands.

These books are created by the Puzzle Society and can be bought here. They would be a really great gift for anyone.

Hint hint!

Books to Read

images courtesy of www.amazon.co.uk

I called in to see a friend last night and she told me to help myself to some books from her heaving book shelves. I love a good book to curl up with before falling asleep so I decided to stick with something light-hearted and chose 'Marley & Me' and 'Calendar Girls'. I have a real soft spot for books that become movies and I can't wait to dive into them tonight.

Have any of you read either of these books? What did you think?