Plans

June 16, 2011

We found a great deal for to stay in an apartment while we’re in Spain. Well, to be fair, I didn’t have anything to do with it. Since we got married, Michael has booked all the flights, arranged hotels, and found all the good tourist spots everywhere we’ve gone.

It’s the strangest thing, especially since I used to travel so much on my own before I got married. But when I get to the airport now, I shut off. It is awesome. And all I have to do is be in charge of snacks!

Theoretically, this would give me loads of time to look extra chic when I travel. Theoretically I look just like these chic ladies when I arrive at the airport.

{image from here}
{image from here}
{image from here}

Since that is really not the case, that means I have exactly four days to perfect the airport chic look. Stunning flats, statement bag, no big deal.

How do you travel? Do you make the plans or do you bring the snacks? Do you wear sweats or heels?

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Counting

June 15, 2011

I can feel this week running away from me. No real post for today but just me counting down the days the break next week with this pretty picture.

{image from here}

Doesn’t that look heavenly? Five more days.

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Pops

June 14, 2011

I was prowling through the new summer edition of Sweet Paul Magazine last week and saw these pretty pops. Aren’t they the sweetest?

They’re also the sneakiest – they’re made of soap! Wouldn’t they be such a cute gift?

{Pops from here.}

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Vacating

June 13, 2011

A week from today Michael and I are heading to Spain for a wedding and a few extra days of sun. I have wrangled some of my best blog buddies to keep you entertained all week while I sit in the sun. I’ve gotten a sneak peek at some of them already and they are so fun. Almost too fun – hopefully you’ll still want me back! Ha!

This week happens to be a crazy week at work – so many meetings, a whole lotta babies, and a quick day trip across the country just to top it off! So I’m keeping myself going with all things vacation. Brace yourself, it might get a little beachy around here!

First up: A pretty pair of bathing suits. My uncle and his kiddos always call them babe-ing suits. Isn’t that great? It’s like confirmation that you’re a babe no matter how long it’s been since your body has seen the sun!

Demure Suits

One piece halter bathing suit, $242
Seafolly one piece swimwear, $152
Haider Ackermann suede sandals, 450 EUR
Paul & Joe fringe sandals, 215 GBP
Juicy Couture oversized sunglasses, $98
H&m sunglasses, 4.99 GBP

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Friday Finds

June 10, 2011
{succulent succulents from here!}

Happy Friday, everyone!

How was your week? I survived my first week of full time, and I have to say it was pretty great!

Tonight, we’re heading to a party for my sister-in-law. Next week she’s heading off to Africa for the year! She’ll be working with this awesome organisation on a year-long project funded by this organisation.  We’re so thrilled for her that we might even visit!

What about you, darling readers? Any fun plans for the weekend? If you’re in Dublin and looking for some fun browsing, I’ve heard you should head this fun pop-up shop! Hopefully I’ll make a trip out next week, so don’t buy up all the fun stuff!

In other news, aren’t these sand dollar cookies adorable?

There is no way I would have the patience to do this, but isn’t it awesome?! And a tutorial in case you’re more patient than me!

I was ogling these awesome tree slab platters the other day. Does anyone know someone who makes them in Ireland? If only I had a chain saw and a big ol’ tree…

I am always keeping my eye out for pretty jewelery storage ideas. Here’s another neat one using burlap!

And if I’m talking jewelery storage, I might as well do a little jewelry browsing! I’ve been eying pretty pieces like this, this and this.

With that, I’ll wish you a lovely, pretty, happy and peaceful weekend. See you Monday!

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Pretty Prints

June 9, 2011

I’ve got a little decorating project percolating. I can’t divulge all the details yet, but it’s been constantly on my brain the last few weeks so I want to share a few little fun ideas I’m trying to incorporate. And then hopefully all will be revealed later in the summer!

The project involves a bit of decorating, probably with food-related pretty bits. I am so smitten with these beautiful prints of recipes – in French! The artist, Lucile, creates from her kitchen in Paris, of course. I have to admit, I think she sounds just lovely too!

Lucile’s pretty shop has prints of lots of sweet things, but also some fun savoury ones like pesto and oven-dried tomatoes.

Wouldn’t it be neat to do something like with an Irish recipe and the ingredients in Irish?

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Pergola-tory

June 8, 2011

My darling husband has gotten it into his head that at our new (as yet imaginary) house, we should put a pergola out in the back yard. But with our imaginary house a distant idea, not an impending reality, I’m picking my battles.

I haven’t had the heart (or the energy) to tell him I can’t see how pergolas make any sense in Ireland. There’s not enough sun that you’d ever want a shady spot, and a pergola won’t even keep you from getting soaked if it’s raining.

Then I came up with a clever compromise. What if we put his pergola out in the very back of the imaginary garden at the imaginary house. We can call it pergola-tory and I can send him and our (still imaginary) kids there when they bug me. Ha!

But in the spirit of true compromise I did manage to find some really pretty pergolas that would be perfect if we ever move to a hotter, sunnier climate!

{pretty landscaped pergola from here}
{cozy, warm pergola from here}
{wouldn’t you love to come to a party here? image from here}
{and a little greek flavour from here}

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Bets

June 7, 2011

At the wedding we attended this weekend, each reception table had a Wedding Speech Sweepstakes Kit card. Hilarious, right?!

Our table chose to bet on the length of the best man’s speech (you could also choose to bet on the length of all the speeches together), and we took it quite seriously. We even nixed the form in favor of a secret ballot to keep everyone honest. And by everyone, I mean my husband. He takes these things extra seriously.

In the end, his serious-ness did him no good. We all picked times that were too short – turns out the best man was a talker! Even the winning bet was 10 minutes under!

Have you ever seen one of these at a wedding? Tacky? Clever? What do you think?

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Wedding Weekend

June 6, 2011

I’m back! And I missed you on Friday. I bit off a little more than I could chew with the wedding and just didn’t have enough time to finish my Friday post.

But to apologize for leaving you all high and dry, I’ve got a tiny flavor of my weekend for you!

{couples!}

There was sun. Serious, serious sun. And would you check out that view? Serious. That’s what our apartment looked out on!

{bride & groom!}

And a seriously beautiful couple! Congratulations, John and Marie Therese!

{cake!}

And cake! I can’t take any credit for the decorating – the bride had a friend a little closer to the venue who offered to decorate. But it was very yummy and I will certainly take credit for that!

{and then we got the party started!}

I will not show you a photo of my lovely new Irish sunburn. I am now a slightly different pink color. It’s sore and a slightly touchy subject, literally and figuratively. But it won’t happen again…until next year at least! We’ll see how well and truly Irish I’ve become!

We’re recovering today and back to work (full time!) tomorrow, but I’ll be back with some of the fun links I found for you last week!

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Sheesh

June 2, 2011

{i need this notebook from here!}

Sheesh. Not the most eloquent post title I”ve ever come up with, but it”s all I”ve got at the moment. This week (and last week, and the week before) have been packed at work and at home. Between wedding cakes, website re-designs, branding meetings, and trying to squeeze in some fun, I”m wiped.

I got a bit of news last week. I”ve been asked to work full time, moving from 27 hours to 37 hours. It”s more responsibility, more opportunity, and a big fat blessing.

It”s also going to mean more time management, better scheduling, more focus.

And the question I keep asking myself is can I do it all?

Luckily, there are certain perks. Working more means I”m working with an ever-so-slightly different budget, which means there”s a much-needed computer upgrade in my future, so I can really start using my camera without worrying about the spinning wheel of death ending my poor Mac”s life!

And I”ll be able to take a little more time to travel around Europe and back to America a little more often. I was already planning my Thanksgiving trip to Maine and another trip to Houston and Salt Lake City in January when my husband reminded me we could also visit his sister in South Africa caca-niqueis over Christmas. See what I mean? Sheesh.

I still have lots of fun projects planned for the blog and lots of sprucing projects for around the house. I”ve even wrangled myself a coffee shop make-over project in July – which will mean lots of scavenging bits and pieces and stocking up on some pretty fabrics during our trip to America. Too fun!

This weekend I”m get a little reprieve as we head out to west Cork for a weekend wedding. Brothers and sisters-in-law galore, margaritas, and a few days to just breath.

So there”s my news, friends! I”ll be back tomorrow with the fun things I”ve found around the web this week and to wish you a very happy weekend!

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