Heartbeat Necklace

How beautiful is this heartbeat necklace?  Another find from Etsy!

Best of… December 2013

via Facehunter

via Fashion Toast

via Sorakeem

via Trop Rouge

via Coohuco

via Facehunter

via Where Did U Get That

Onism

Onism n. the frustration of being stuck in just one body, that inhabits only one place at a time, which is like standing in front of the departures screen at an airport, flickering over with strange place names like other people’s passwords, each representing one more thing you’ll never get to see before you die—and all because, as the arrow on the map helpfully points out, you are here.

- from the Dictionary of Obscure Sorrows

Best of… November 2013

So it looks like I have a bit of catching up to do.  Of course, I could just leave November in November, where it belongs… and stop trying to drag it into April (!) where it definitely does NOT belong, but I’ve had a ‘best of’ post for every month since I started the series (back in September 2010).  I’ll sleep better if we keep it that way.  We’re going back…

via Sincerely Jules

via Le Blog de Betty

via Fashion Toast

via Sincerely Jules

via Sorakeem

via Trop Rouge

via Where Did U Get That

Dear Sophia,

The lil’est member of our family, my niece Sophia, was born one month ago today.  More than ever before, I wish it were possible to hold time still.  It’s all going too fast.  The letter below, via I wrote this for you, is entitled The First Day on Earth, so I’m a little late (as always), but I reckon most of the advice still applies to little Sophia.

First, you need to relax. I know it's not as warm as it once was but you get used to the cold and warmth can be found in the people around you.

Secondly, do not get used to crying to get things. Some people never grow out of it. Avoid them. Spend time around people who smile in the face of despair. Learn from them all you can. Everyone is a lesson. A story. A unique and wondrous perspective on the chaos that is human existence. The more people you talk to, the more you understand it. But never speak if you have the opportunity to listen. Especially if you want someone to like you. There's nothing you can say that'll endear someone to you as much as really and truly listening to them.

You are on day one of a sometimes remarkable, sometimes terrible, sometimes beautiful, strange and always completely unknown journey. Be ok with this. Worrying about what happens next will ruin the surprise. You will meet strange people along the way, some good, some bad. This is a pattern that will more than likely repeat constantly as you grow up. Some things will be good, some things will be bad. Neither will ever last forever. Nothing will stay the same. Appreciate every moment of happiness and remember it when you despair. Hold them close. And when you are happy, remember the moments of despair and think to yourself, "I told you so."

Never let someone else define you. You are your own creation and only you decide how you feel, who you are and what you want. This can be scary at first but it is liberating to truly and utterly embrace your own identity. People who hate you for not being like them are not worth hating back. Please, let go of hate whenever you can. Accept love whenever it is given and give it out freely. It is the most powerful force on earth.

Enjoy your stay.

Rose Bakery (style) Muffins

I’m one of those annoying morning people.  My power hours come early – even after a late Saturday night and one too many Cuba Libres, chances are I’ll still be up at 8am making these muffins.  The muffins make up for the irritating chirpiness.  I think.

They’re called ‘Rose Bakery (style) Muffins’ because they were inspired by muffins that Fiona and I were (begrudgingly) served on our trip to The Rose Bakery Café in Paris.  I usually find myself disappointed with breakfast muffins being either overly sweet or dry and mealy; these were near-perfect.  Since the café staff definitely did not suffer from early-morning chirpiness, we dared not ask for the recipe. 

This is Fiona’s recreation.

What you’ll need:

Dry ingredients: 70g plain flour, 40g wholemeal flour, 20g brown sugar,  ⅛ teaspoon bicarbonate of soda, ½ teaspoon baking powder, ¼ teaspoon salt

Wet ingredients:  ½ banana (mashed), 30g melted butter, ¼ cup buttermilk, 1 egg,  ½ teaspoon vanilla extract

Fruit: 50g of your chosen fruit e.g blueberries, diced apple or pear, raspberries, strawberries (a mix of two types is good)

Here’s how:

Preheat the oven to 190°C and line a muffin tin with muffin cases.  Mix together the dry ingredients.  In a separate bowl, mix together the wet ingredients.  Add the dry ingredients to the wet and mix well.  Add fruit.  Divide the mixture between the muffins cases evenly and bake for 15 –18 minutes.

Moves Like Jagger

Mick Jagger in a shoulder stand.  Just cos’.

I went to see The Rolling Stones in Abu Dhabi a couple of weeks back and renewed my appreciation of how awesome this man is. 

(Thanks Diana, this brightened my Monday!)

Souvenirs

I’ve never been good at collecting souvenirs from my travels, but I would love these cushion covers from Airporttag to display at home as sweet reminders of the places I've been!

Deep Burgundy

My favourite shade for lips and nails right now.

Bicycle Lust

The two things I miss most about living in Abu Dhabi:

1. The weather

2. My bicycle

Fact of the Day

Accurate.

I don’t know who said this…

Sometimes you meet someone, and it’s so clear that the two of you, on some level belong together.  As lovers, or as friends, or as family, or as something entirely different.  You just work, whether you understand one another or you’re in love or you’re partners in crime.  You meet these people throughout your life, out of nowhere, under the strangest circumstances, and they help you feel alive.  I don’t know if that makes me believe in coincidence, or fate, or sheer blind luck, but it definitely makes me believe in something.

… but it rings so true to me.

New Year’s Resolutions

(in no particular order)

Be kinder

Eat more fruit and vegetables

Write letters

Find a way to be with that person I need to be with

Learn some Italian

Finish the Day Zero Project

Exercise

Be outdoors

Drink herbal tea

Relax

Keep my room tidy

Spend time with friends

Stay warm

Drive less

Read a ton of books

Get dressed up

Listen to people

Have a bedtime routine

Be thankful

Tell the people I love that I love them

Work harder

Wear bright lipstick

Take lots of photos

Breathe

Save money

Go to bed early

Hang out more with children and old people

Lose those few pounds

Compliment people (genuinely)

Spend time alone

Smile

Watch less T.V.

Nap

Make lots of lists and start crossing things off

Be brave

Stop gossiping

Dance

Read the Newspaper

Sleep-in at the weekend

Be gentle

Laugh

Cook more

Bake more

Get a massage

Be yourself

Survive another year

Thing #96: Make my own Christmas cards

Last year, I made a promise – a promise that if you sent me an email with your postal address, I would send you a card.  It was one of those situations where I had a whole lot of love inside me and I didn’t know what to do with it – so I resorted, as I often do, to expressing it through stationery.

I didn’t tell you I was going to make the cards.  That was the element of surprise.

I thought I would have a few extra cards to make and write… but it turned out that I got a lot of emails and what I imagined to be some leisurely Christmas crafting turned into a two-day factory-style card-making extravaganza.  There is zero complaint in that sentence.

I used regular acrylic paints to do the illustrations and blank cards and envelopes from Paperchase.  It was so much fun.  Thanks to anyone who took part, and for all the lovely cards I received back.

This year, Christmas is looking a little like Crazytown Central, so I didn’t make any promises (I still love you).

€5 has been donated to UNICEF Ireland for the completion of this ‘thing’.  Click here if you too would like to donate online.

How did it get so late so soon?

The wisdom of Dr. Seuss… anyone else feeling like this lately?