Learn to Know When To Rest

Sometimes a person needs a swift kick up the behind to realise that they are burning the candle at both ends. 

I got mine this weekend when what I thought was an insignificant cough resulted in a near hospital visit, parental intervention (kinda mortifying when you're not a teenager anymore), a bag full of medication and a warning that if I didn't slow down a little, and eat a lot better, that I would end up in a little pile on the floor. Thankfully several days bed rest, some antibiotics and other meds, and good quality, home cooked food have done wonders for me and it looks like I'm on a slow, but progressive road to recovery. 

This weekend brought it home to me that sometimes a person really needs to put aside time in every week for a little rest and recovery. There are lots of ways you can show yourself that you care enough to make a little effort for yourself...

- A long hot shower, or bath, with your favourite products can do wonders for reviving the body. All those lovely smells and bubbles just washing away all the troubles of the week. Mid week I love all things citrusy to brighten up my days but at the weekend it's all coconut or almond to help me unwind and calm down.

- A date with yourself where you take a few hours to go sit in your favourite cafe or bar and sip a coffee, tea or glass of wine and enjoy your own company. Make it special by dressing up for no one but yourself. I like to treat myself with a trashy magazine while I sip my coffee, and pretend that I am an incognito celebrity with my huge sunglasses and oversized scarf. 

- Take an evening to go buy some beautiful fresh produce and cook yourself a beautiful meal. Set the table properly, put out a cloth napkin and some nice glass wear. Maybe a small flower in a bud vase. If you're feeling up to company invite your best friend around to share it. I like to keep it simple with either chicken or fish and a crisp green salad, just to make sure that there is still room for a little ice cream afterwards.

-  I feel naked without a fresh coat of polish on my toes so I get a tremendous amount of joy out of having a quiet night in to take off the old polish, soak my feet in something nice, put on lots of thick moisturiser, and re-paint my toes. Just remember to leave lots of drying time before sliding your beautiful feet under your duvet. 

- My absolute favourite way to taking some time off though is to seek out a puppy... a friends, a family members, I'm not picky really... and just roll about on the floor, the couch, the garden with it. There is no way that you can stay stressed with a small, excitable, lickable, lovable ball of fluff is trying to chew on your ears cause they love you that much.

Wednesday Wishes

What are we wishing for this week my lovelies?

I know that my wishes are revolving around getting on top of this unfortunate head cold, and feeling healthy again.

Time to bring out the big guns - swapping the coffee in my travel mug for honey and lemon in hot water, vitamin C in the drawer at work, warm scarf permanently around my throat, not going outside without a jacket, making sure to eat something wholesome and nutritious at lunchtime and keep my evening meals to a minimum so that I can sleep a little easier, lots of soup, cuddling a hot water bottle while I watch tv at night.

What are your tips for keeping ahead of the spring sniffles? I'd love to add some more to my list.

Things I Love Thursday

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Writing - I write so rarely that today it was an incredible novelty to write up a quick article covering all the amazing events of the past two weeks for our archery club. Nine days, four competitions, 19 medals, 12 Personal Best scores, another National Champion for UL Archery, and a fundraiser. I feel very proud to be part of such a great bunch of people.

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Feeling Better - Having been plagued with sinus and chest infections since Christmas I am finally on the mend. I have taken 2 weeks off and am getting enough sleep, good food, no stress, antibiotics and plenty of vitamins. I hope to be back to full Magatha Mode by next week and will start taking on the world again.

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Treating Yourself - This week, just to make myself smile, I bought a small bunch of orange roses for my bedroom. I really didn't think that something so small and insignificant could make me feel so good. Every time I walked into my room I caught sight of them, all cheerful and pretty, when I walked up the stairs I could get the smell. I don't know if I would buy flowers every week - but treating myself might just become a more regular occurrence.

Honourable Mentions - soup (there really is nothing better when you're feeling unwell), the buzz that comes with Students' Union Elections on campus - all week long we've had flyers, guys in very bright t shirts, buskers, a sky dive on campus and even a candy floss machine, sleeping in with no alarm set, finding new ways to tie my scarf - courtesy of Dawn

Things I Love Thursday

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Coffee Loyalty - Our local coffee shop in college, Javas, have finally issued loyalty cards. I got mine on Tuesday and it was already filled by yesterday afternoon. The great thing about the Java card? You only need to get 5 stamps to get a free hot drink and not the usual 10. Yea!

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Photo Shoots - Sonya and Colin's engagement shoot took place a few weekends ago and I finally got a chance to see some of the photos from the event - they are so gorgeous. I can't wait to show you all. Watch this space in the coming week for a special engagement post.

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Spelling - I finally got an appointment with a dermatologist this week and my skin condition was diagnosed. Now I'm not particularly happy that I have problems with my skin but I completely love the fact that I was able to spell what was wrong with me on my first try. I have a non-contagious but non-treatable thing called pityriasis rosea and to be honest I don't really mind it too much as it supposed to clear up after a few months without any medication.

Honourable Mentions - the fact that it is still a little bright a 6pm, hot ribena to sooth a sore throat, heading to the GMIT InterVarsities and the Irish Nationals this weekend to cheer on my team mates, late night shopping on a Thursday, white chocolate chip cookies a la Cian

Things I Love Thursday

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High Heels - I love the fact that I have managed to wear heels every day this week without my feet suffering. Yea!

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Wearing Sunglasses Indoors - In January. I got many, many funny looks today already for wearing them but when a migrane is threatening drastic actions are sometimes needed. I am wearing them with a bright floral top and a sunny yellow cardi to keep the summer theme throughout my whole outfit.

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30 Seconds To Mars - Isn't Jared Leto pretty? He's definitely prettier than me, but I'll let him away with that for now just because I love his music so much.

Honorable Mentions - My new pink stapler that makes me smile every time I look down at my desk and see it. Wearing big, dangly earrings that I can feel swishing when I walk. When a training session goes well and you fix all the probelms that you had last week.

Realisation When Awake

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So last Tuesday I was sick. Really sick, the kind of projectile vomiting sick (I didn't think you'd like to see that in a photo so I put up a pretty photo instead) and I got really upset by the whole thing.

For the first time in a long time I had no one to call or text for sympathy, and I realised that I was now on my own. This thought scared me more than actually being sick.

What also scared the hell out of me was that I had no clue as to why I was sick. I hate not knowing what's going on and not being able to figure it out. I went through what I had eaten for the previous few days, where I had gone, who I had spent time with, whether it was caused by stress, everything. And I still had no clue.

Until today. Today I got up, got dressed and, because I was running late, grabbed my supplements (Pharmaton, multivitamins and echinacea) and ran out the door. And by the time I had gotten into the car park in college I could feel the familiar waves of nausea building up.

So here is my tip for today;

NEVER TAKE PHARMATON ON AN EMPTY STOMACH