The Ride to Conquer Cancer

When was the last time someone came to you and said ‘I need your help’?  It’s a nice feeling, isn’t it?  Even when it means someone close to you is in some kind of distress, it still feels good that you might be able to help a little and that your friend felt they could come to you and ask.  I think that at the heart of every person, we all want to feel needed, and we all want to help.

My friend Kevin asked for help recently.  He is doing a cycle in Australia called The Ride to Conquer Cancer and in the process, raising much-needed funds for the Queensland Institute of Medical Research.  Kevin’s brother, Brian, passed away in 1997 from non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma after battling it for over a year. Also, his Dad recently underwent surgery to remove Lymph Node Cancer and thankfully, is on the road to recovery after starting chemotherapy.

When you read Kevin’s story, I know you will be stuck by all the positive language not usually associated with the word cancer.  Even the cause, The Ride to Conquer Cancer, sounds victorious.  I love that Kevin has found a way to turn a difficult time in his life into an opportunity. Many people use their own battle to reach out to others in need and still others find a way to let others reach out to them.

Kevin is 90% of the way to reaching his fundraising target.  Help him the rest of the way by sponsoring him a few notes- no amount is too small and I know that even seeing the number of people backing him on this makes a huge difference.  You can click here to sponsor (then click on the green donate online now button).  Go on- Do something nice today.

Fun Pix Fridays #14

Black Pearl

On Monday, I walked into my Manager’s office and she said “Thelma, never wear black!”  Just like that.  As if it were a completely acceptable way to greet me.  This direction was given on one of the rare occasions I was not wearing black.  Apparently, I looked a lot better than usual.

I didn’t take too kindly to this thinly disguised insult and have resolved to dress head to toe in black for work until the day I leave (I may have a slight issue with authority).   So far, my newfound obsession with Chanel Black Pearl is fitting in quite nicely with this plan.

Dan and The Project: 366 Things

I want to introduce you to a friend of mine.  This is Dan.  Dan is not a friend in the traditional sense of the word, he is an internet friend.  Not a real friend then, you might think, but I feel like I know him quite well at this stage, I am more in touch with what’s going on in his life than a lot of other people I know and he makes me laugh almost every day.

The reason I’m only introducing him now is because this week marks the end of his project, and now that I won’t be hearing his goings on as much, I’ve realised how much I’ll miss it. 

Dan’s project is based on a very simple idea: doing one brand new thing (that you’ve never done before), every day for a year.  Lots of people might come up with this idea, but I don’t know of anyone else who would have the commitment it takes to carry it out. 

Here are some of my favourites reads (you should read them too, but make some time because this blog is very addictive and you will end up wanting to read it all…):

Thing 6: Walk a mile in someone else’s shoes (literally)

Thing 40: Fly a Plane

Thing 69: Meet a Porn Star

Thing 198: Free Hugs

Thing 268: Nap in a furniture shop

Thing 296: Dress as a woman

Thing 344: Sleep Rough

Thing 355: Walk a Cat

Thing 359: Walk on Fire

Thing 360: Swim in the Shannon

Congratulations Dan on finishing the project.  Some man.

Fun Pix Fridays

Source: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10.

According to weather.com, this weekend is supposed to see temperatures soar into the 20s in Ireland.  Those of you reading this in California may laugh, but this is a big deal here in July, let alone April.  I intend to celebrate.

Come 4.30pm today, the only evidence of my presence in work will be a Thelma-shaped hole in the wall from my hasty departure.  I cannot wait for a cool bottle of Miller and it would be nice to be in town early enough to drink it outside, whilst people watching from one of the bars on Shop Street.

On Saturday, we will be spending a lazy day at Roundstone beach in Connemara and eating take-away chips because I’ll be too lazy (read hungover) to pack a picnic and because they taste so much better in the salty air.

So, what are your plans?

Best of… March 11

This was easy.  March was a good month for fashion blogging.

 

Admittedly, this post should be entitled The Best of Fashion Toast… but there is more…

…like this very pretty way to wear stripes (Facehunter)

And these schoolgirl inspired looks, minus the pigtails, from Stockholm Streetstyle.

Finally, the lovely Angelika on The Sartorialist- I just purchased a very similar pair of boots in Topshop so I must be bang on trend :)

P.s. did you read the controversy that this post caused?- I think the lesson here is to choose our words very wisely when discussing women's’ body shapes

Pet Peeves

If you are a regular little-t reader, you will know about a monthly post I do on Things to be Happy About. If you haven’t been reading along, that’s okay, you can catch up on them all here… or not- whatever.

Anyway, I’m not doing one this month because I feel like having a bit of a rant instead. That’s okay too. Sometimes it makes you feel good to get this stuff off your chest.

So this month, here are some things that I am NOT very happy about:

Bad grammar; overfamiliarity of strangers; clampers; Irish “celebrities” such as Daithi O’Shea or Hector O’Heochagain; people who walk slowly in front of you in the street; cats; no parking signs; poor dental hygiene; misspelling in public places; people driving below the speed limit; invasion of personal space; people using the word specific when they have any kind of difficulty pronouncing it; fidgeting; weird toes; people who talk about their children non-stop; littering; whingey children; people who talk with their mouth full; know-it-alls; when strangers use you to discipline their children (the lady will get mad…); arrogant gardaí; people who use buggies as weapons; the acting in Fair City; the lack of scientific breakthroughs on inexpensive permanent hair removal solutions; people who describe themselves as models without any commercial evidence; awkward chit-chat in lifts; TV licence inspectors.