Order restored. I am home. Fiona, Richie and Niamh picked me up from the airport last week, dressed in coats and scarves. They had a massive sign that read 'Ms. Thelma'. I cried, but only a little. Also, this week, Fiona and Damien got engaged! I cried, a little more. It's all adding up to make this Christmas the best one yet! It's so great to be home. A very Merry Christmas to you and yours. xx 
Sunset at the Water Towers, Ruwais, Abu Dhabi. Photos by Donal (well, the good ones).
€5 has been donated to the Irish Red Cross for the completion of this ‘thing’. Click here if you too would like to donate online.
Driving home for Christmas, Noticeboards; finding something interesting to read; buying new pyjamas; feeling like a local; the people who run after you to return something you dropped in the street; Rodrigo y Gabriela; bank holiday Mondays; giving your ice-cream cone to your Dad in order for it to be ‘cleaned-up’; DVD nights in bed; ambitious resolutions; recalling first impressions; neighbours who water each other’s houseplants; talking to your car; rereading old letters; letting the waiter choose what you should order; having a bath in your hotel room; giving barbie a makeover; a basket of lemons and limes; Simpsons’ quotations.
I accidentally checked this off my list.
Actually, I accidently completed this thing many times over- if I had known, I would have made it into something special; ‘Don’t use my car for a month’ or ‘Don’t use my car for a year’ even? Except I’ll probably rent a car pretty soon and I think that would be cheating.
For those of you who don’t already know, I moved from Ireland to Ruwais, Abu Dhabi this year (Read back and catch up please!). The transition has been going pretty smoothly, except for the absence of a few home comforts- driving or any means of getting around independently being one of them.
On the plus side, I ticked this off my Day Zero List and I didn’t even have to try!
€5 has been donated to the Irish Red Cross for the completion of this ‘thing’. Click here if you too would like to donate online.
Recently, while procrastinating in the fitting rooms at Bloomingdales, over buying (yet another) plain black dress, I scolded myself for being so boring. Do I really need another black dress, I asked myself, the store assistant and my friends (whom I had dragged halfway across the mall to see this mundane ensemble)? Probably not. I bought it of course, under the pretence that I might bring it back if I changed my mind. Not a chance. I’m not really inclined to feel guilty après-purchase, but if I was looking for any justification for my impulse buy, it would come in the form of this little black dress:
Isn’t it perfect? If I seen it in Bloomys’ tomorrow, I would whip it up and stash it away greedily with the rest. This image (via Stockholm Streetstyle) reminded me of the appeal of simplicity in dressing- and so, November became the month to celebrate it:
via Facehunter
Perfect glossy black nails, and laid-back November chic (that’s what I’m calling it), via Zipped and Turn it Inside Out. I love that three of the ladies featured are wearing black ballet pumps- I wear mine to death.
I’m newly obsessed with these earrings (via Hey Pretty Thing). Added bonus: they are only €6 from Topshop. They should be in my ears right now, if I could only find them in-store.
Let’s keep it short and finish with the perfect winter outfit (via Zipped). Minus the snakeskin brogues. I’m not so sure about those. The colour makes me feel a little ill. But a snuggly cable-knit and leather? Yes, please.
_____________________________________________________
Something totally unrelated (hence the page-break): I will be starting the long journey home to Ireland in two more sleeps’ time. For three glorious weeks (three!). I cannot ever remember being this excited. What are your plans for Christmas?
I stumbled upon this the other day and couldn’t stop laughing:
Little confession: I was a bit of a nerd in school and memorised whole passages of Macbeth word-for-word. I’m quite feather-headed when it comes to any kind of useful information, but for some reason this has stuck with me and I still remember.
Also, some other brilliant insults by famous people throughout history (that my Dad will love):
I didn’t attend the funeral, but I sent a nice letter saying I approved of it - Mark Twain
I am enclosing two tickets to the first night of my new play. Bring a friend. If you have one. - George Bernard Shaw to Winston Churchill. (To which Churchill replied) Cannot possibly attend first night, will attend second… if there is one.
He has Van Gogh’s ear for music - Billy Wilder
He has delusions of adequacy - Walter Kerr
All the pretty ladies.
via Vanessa Jackman
via City Brewed
via Facehunter
via Hey Pretty Thing
via The Sartorialist
via Fashion Toast
Okay, if you were with me last year, you know how this goes: I make a list. You guys buy me the stuff on the list.
Obviously, I’m joking. Except some of you will be buying me some of the stuff on this list. It might sound kind of ‘I want, I want, I want…’ and yes, Róisín laughed for about half an hour when I told her about this Frayne family tradition, but once she stopped laughing, she thought it was a good idea.
The list is a nice idea because sometimes your loved ones need a little help in choosing what will get you the most excited. It’s nice to help people out. I’m being nice.
Anyway, here’s what I want:
You can’t really go wrong if you buy me nail polish, particularly Chanel nail polish. Pick a colour you like- I will like it too. I also love Essie and OPI.
New pyjamas for Christmas are the best and they are always on my list. This Bodas pair is perfect (available from Figleaves).
Watch, by French Connection in White or Black (I can’t choose), available here.
Parisian Chic: A Style Guide by Ines de la Fressange (available from Amazon, here).
Nomad Earrings, available from notonthehighstreet.com (here).
I usually go through phases with scents, but the Relaxing collection by L’Occitane has been steadfast on my list of favourite smells for years now. It is heady with lavender and geranium, but still very subtle and clean (almost soapy). On my list this year: (Any combination of) the scented candle, bath and shower gel, body lotion, essential oil and pillow mist.
Luxurious scented candles by Diptyque Paris in Menthe Verte and Patchouli. Shop online (or check for your nearest store) here.
In my last post, I mentioned my newfound obsession with NARS- pictured here is the Laguna Bronzer and the Night Series Eyeshadow Palette. Shop online/ check locations here.
You can’t put breakfast on your Christmas List! Except you can. My amazing sister, Fiona, once gave my brother a big jar of homemade Chocolate Granola, for no reason at all. I have no idea why said jar was not given to me. Did I eat two massive bowls of her personal stash, leaving her hungry and without so much as an apology note? No. I would never do that. I would have left a note. Maybe I will get a jar this year. Fiona, make it happen! No pressure. If you are not Fiona and you would still like to make me some Granola, knock yourself out. Fi’s recipe is an adaptation of this one.
Lego. For Thing #17 on my list: Build Something with Lego. And also because Lego rocks. (Fiona and Damo made this Lego House and Camper).
I recently discovered that COS basic t-shirts are the best. If money weren’t an issue, I’d have two in every colour. Pictured here in Forest Green and White. Available online here.
Before I left home for Abu Dhabi back in August, my leaving present from my Mam and Dad was also my first introduction to Jo Malone. Now I’m hooked and I don’t think I’ll ever wear any other fragrance. I have Pomegranate Noir Body & Hand Lotion and White Jasmine & Mint Cologne and I’m intoxicated by the unique combination. Every gift purchased includes an in-store hand and arm massage, which is when I got to sample the Vitamin E Body Treatment Scrub. It. is. heaven.
I’m a huge fan of photo-gifts. I reckon my friends and family are probably sick of getting framed pictures and albums as presents (?), but I will never tire of giving (or getting) them.
_____________________________________________________
If you’re making a Christmas Wishlist that you intend to publicise, the trick is to make it nice and long- you won’t get everything on the list, so your gifts will still be a surprise and what you do get will be awesome. Also, make sure your family and friends talk to each other so there’s no doubling up on gifts.
What’s on your list this year?
