Dreaming of Spring...

Dreams of a better, finer day

Wishing for warmth on my limbs 

A spring in my step

Little canvas runners

Floaty tops

Smile on my lips

Music in my ears

Like sunshine after the deluge

waiting for the puddles to dry

the path to be clear again

Pick myself up

Dust of the sun glasses

Get in the car and 

Drive

Wind in my hair

Watching the dappled light of the trees

Head towards the water

Breathe the clean salt air

Just breathe

Close my eyes

Everything is fine.

This song is springy pop in 4 minutes! enjoy...

I need these shiny beauties...

A-wear always good for floaty dresses

Comfy flats (with elastic!) for running around town 

H&M do fab comfy dresses

Love the print!

From top:
Clarks shoes in 'bodkin bay' gold leather, Awear orange frill dress, Divided H&M beige flats and 2 more items from H&M current collection.

take care,

A*

Rain, Rain Go away...

photo via here

The January rain & sleet is here and the last few days have been dull and wintry in Dublin. This weekend has been a time of reflection, reminiscing about our teenage silliness and our new friendships and relationships as we've grown older. My group of friends have said goodbye (again) to another close friend heading away to New Zealand. The pull of a new life, better standard of living, an amazing job opportunity and much sunnier climes means that I don't so much envy those friends who have left this Island but salute their sense of adventure & bravery to head to new places. It is of course sad that they are thousand of mile away, however the consolation is as one friend put it: with the Internet, facebook, Skype and email , really the world is a smaller place! I do know that they will return at some point in 2013 for a wedding so in essence the goodbye is only for now...until next year! 

So to cheer ourselves up, myself and 2 of the ladies headed for brunch, chats and a little wander around the shops. I've been gazing at websites and console myself that even though I'm a poor student at the moment, I'll have plenty of time to work, earn money, travel etc when I finish this Masters course. 

For your perusal and weekend fashion fix - here are some of the pretty items I've been missing from my wardrobe: 

Pennys/Primark Floral dress - pretty!

Lovely Spring H&M finds:

And how about a few beautiful bits from Topshop:

So hurry up Spring and get here so the frocks & frills can return...to replace wool coats, hats and many layers.


Have a good week ahead,


A*




Music for a rainy Sunday night:


Snow Patrol 'This isn't everything you are'

Warpaint 'Undertow'

Red Hot Chili Peppers 'Scar Tissue' Live at Slane Castle

Don't make me laugh, it hurts!

Wow-what's with all the prolific updates of the blog this week:

It can only be 1 of 2 things really:

A - I have fallen back in love with blogging and have decided to give it an honest go for 2012.

or

B - I have project work due soonish and I'm deciding to dedicate my precious time on said blog!

In truth - it's a little from both, it's true I do have to get back on the M.A. bandwagon and do some project work but I've also fallen back in love with blogging, reading blogs and generally trying to expand my mind through the creativity & wonder of others on the web.

I read through 2 of my favourite things today...even though I didn't have a baking plan, reading these two gorgeous books soothed my mind. I've been very apathetic lately...ok so I need to take it easy after the surgery but still I need to do more than wander the house in my pj's! Sophie Dahl's recipes in both these books are simple, but hearty. Appealing but not so out of your league that you would need to head to Donnybrook Fair to get the ingredients! She writes in an inviting way that's interspersed with anecdotes about where some of her family recipes come from as well as her long and wonderful love affair with all things foodie. I love her books most of all due to her frank and realistic approach to health & diet. She stresses the importance of eating better and balance is important. It's a touching personal collection of tasty delights and both books I'd highly recommend. Her banana bread has been a winner here as is the Bircher Muesli in the summer. Seasonality is a main theme in both and it's lovely to search for a light soup/salad or go for a heavier stew depending on which of the 4 seasons you may find yourself in.

 Images taken from here and here.

I went for a lovely walk earlier too before it got dark - to the local park with a great friend and after, we walked to her apartment for a good old chat with tea & chocie biscuits :) Moving is good, low seats not so much.Chicken pasta and peppermint organic white - win!  Laughter is good, internal stitches not so much :( 

My mother thought me saying , ' Don't make me laugh, it hurts' is a good play title...hum who knows!

A*

Earl Grey, Strictly Ballroom and some mind time...

Twinings Tea  - it's soothing loveliness in a cup :)

Via here!

Over the weekend-with some lovely ladies we giggled our way through this classic. Tea, cake, chatter, Skittles, Popcorn and other fun nibbles were had. It was a great cure for me being fed up with this stupid healing process...I was in quite a bit of pain again and it makes you realise how lucky you are when in the full of your health. Anyway I'm taking it easy again - I think that I have overdone it in the past few weeks when I should have been not so active. Bending...damn you! It's still eluding me, as is many bending related tasks. 

I got to have a weekend of peace & quiet, to drive to the city on Sunday. Eat in one of my favourite new places - fresh fruit, maple syrup & buttermilk pancakes! Just delicious accompanied by a lovely pot of earl grey tea. Simple pleasures.

Some Mind Time - to plan, write, read, create.

2,000 Suspended Dandelions by Regine Ramseier

via This Colossal

Rainbow Toy Car Installation Made from 2,500 Cars

via This Colossal

- Happy Monday -

A*

Another beginning...

and another ending...

Christmas is cosy
Wrapped up in warmth
Knits and rosy glows
Spices and warm wine
We laugh
I clutch my sides
It's so good to be free
From stress and strain
Just to be around candles
Chatting about our plans.


Family, family, family
We tired of ourselves so quickly
Behaviours no one really has the time
To understand
Or the patience to cope with
Yet I still smile to see you all here.


No drink for me this festive season
I'm healing
It's been an odd run up to the Holidays
Hospital  trip, operation
Falling over and being pushed about
Embarrassed by my youthfulness in a
Wheelchair
Drips, physiotherapist, stitches
Bandaged up, and after 5 days
HOME


My bed - I cried with relief to be back.


I've work to do, plans to make
People to watch and things to see.

2012...better than last year for making plans...I hope!

Something I discovered on this FAB website and below I'm going to try and start doing 'The Photo A Day' for 2012 Challenge...we're on day Five so lets see...

 
Day 5: Something I wore...was my black butterfly sequinned H&M top...on such a dull grey day you need some SPARKLE! terrible photo...but it's late and I couldn't be super bothered ;) 


Here's some music tracks I've been listening to lately quite non stop:


Florence & The Machine - Never Let Me Go and Take Care (Drake/Rihanna cover) from BBC Live Lounge.


Bon Iver - Wash. and Holocene


Warpaint - Burgundy, Stars, Krimson...


Rihanna/Calvin Harris - We found love


Jay Z / Kanye/ Beyoncé - Lift Off (Watch The Throne album) 


Gemma Hayes - Oliver, Don't Let Them Cut your hair & There's only love.


So let's end on a happy note for first post of 2012, here's lovely Gemma to sing us out! 


A*

** The photos in this post are uncredited as I can't remember where they came from - apologies for that.**

Dear Universe,

I'm writing this to ask a few things...


OK here's the deal - I would love a theatre-related part-time job please (Dublin based :-D )


I would like the Autumn/Winter to be Productive, Surprising, Active & full of fun.


I would very much like family Harmony this coming Christmas season...for various reasons and that my lil' sis who is now residing in Spain will have an amazing life experience over there.


I wish for health for my family & friends-when the weather turns, being ill is the most unpleasant thing to cope with.

Let me be more appreciative of all those around me and grateful for the many opportunities seen/unseen that present themselves.


Thanks,


A*


Music of the moment:


Lisa, Lana, Jarle... you're all so amazing in your unique ways!

So long Summer- Hello Autumn...

 Sunset today over Dublin from Killiney Hill

 I forget how great the coastal area is!

 View from the Guinness Store House

 Music nights out...

 My amazing Nana who turned 80!

 Festivals in the city

Two dear friends who have recently relocated to NZ and got engaged!

So much change this Autumn
I'm leaving work to pursue a Masters in Theatre...
Scary and Exciting of course!
Looking forward to having more time free to do & explore other things, events, jobs...


1 more day at work to go - and then... who knows!


A*


Music of the moment:
Bon Iver - Wash, & Michicant - Both Live and amazing!

Not afraid to admit...

...that I haven't much of a clue about life...where I'm drifting to next...I do know that I'm taking better care of myself...feeling better about things - I have worries but they come & go.

I look like you

Feel like you

But I'm different

On the inside - my head flies, swarms with thought

Not better, good or more interesting

Only to me unique

Feeling more

Opening up again

After a sleepy phase

Two years...really it's been that long

NOW

Off again...to the country, to the city

New people - I hope that we click...

Autumn approaches-back to study

Finally I can give up the 'day job'

Get out of the bad atmosphere

Get on with living for me

Doing what I love anyway

Whatever it may come to be

I'm forward looking

Heart is aware again

It's been a long road back to finding myself

It's been tough

Alone and yet

Friends and family always

Swirl

There & back

In focus at points

I know there's a net 

To catch

I've made friend's become - closer

Some more so than others

I just have to go with the tide

Missing some of them

Now

More than before

Some are no longer within arms reach

Technology keeps us close

I drive along

Window down

I sing and I like the feeling of

Moving again

The air in the evening catches me

It's getting darker

But I don't mind

Moving to the music

I'm happy

Songs of the moment:

Warpaint Burgundy, Beetles, Stars

Bon Ivor Perth, Holocene

Gemma Hayes Keep running, To be beside you, Ruin