Me, Elsewhere: Dublin in The Simple Things

March 12, 2013

simple things

With all the writing I do around the internet, it’s really lovely to see some of my words in print! And even better to be writing about my wonderful adopted city in a magazine I really respect.

simple things inside

The Simple Things is a new magazine from the lovely people who created Mollie Makes, a sweet crafty magazine on this side of the ocean. It’s all about enjoying the simple things in life. For example, there’s a little snippet in this issue about the importance of lullabies that I’ve been remembering fondly all week.

I had the chance to share a little about my life in Dublin in a different way than a usual city guide. They were curious about things like what the light was like and what’s the best meal to eat out in Dublin. It was lovely to answer those kinds of questions and share some of the loveliest bits of my adopted city. It was also incredibly exciting to have my name alongside some of my favorite bloggers who have written beautiful stories for The Simple Things lately.

simple things close

You can find The Simple Things in bookstores in America as well as Dublin and the UK. In fact, I got a message from a reader who found it in Australia last week! You can also download The Simple Things app for your iPad or iPhone.

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Home Office / All in a Day

March 11, 2013

home office all in a day Welcome back to our little Home Office mini series! I think it’s so fun to talk

about working from home on Mondays – it certainly helps me ease into the week. (Here’s the first post, so you can catch up!)

Today, I thought it would be fun to share a little slice of my own routine. As I mentioned in last week’s post, I try to have a few days each week where I’m out meeting people or running errands, and then I try to preserve a few days just for working at my computer. There’s something about the idea of having a whole 8 hours (or 12, as the case may be) ahead of me to plow through my to-do list.

So this is my routine on days I stay home and make good friends with my computer.

7:15am / Wake up. Michael usually gets up to go coach early morning training with some of his school kids, so when his honking alarm goes off, I’m usually awake for the day. This is a whole lot easier now that the sun is up before 8! I let myself wake up slowly, checking social media or email on my phone before getting out of bed.

8am / Get dressed, make the bed, wash whatever dishes are in the sink, put away clothes and shoes, switch out the laundry. The key here, for me, is getting dressed in real clothes, and making the bed. If I don’t do either of those, it doesn’t make for a productive day. I’m not the kind of person who can stay in pajamas or yoga pants to work all day. Given, if I’m staying home and not seeing anyone, I just wear jeans and sneakers and a cosy sweater, but it’s still clothes!

8:30am / Make breakfast and a pot of coffee. I go through phases where I’ll eat the same thing for breakfast for weeks. At the moment, I’m hooked on those very trendy 2-ingredient pancakes, so I might make up a batch of those while doing the dishes or tidying the recycling.

8:45am / Eat breakfast and catch up on my favorite blogs or answer Twitter, Facebook or blog comments. During the day, I don’t leave any of those open on my computer. I’m a multi-tab girl, but those tabs just suck me in! So I only check in on Twitter or Facebook if I’m sharing a blog post or I hear an alert on my phone.

9am / Tackle the inbox. I try to keep my inbox with fewer than 50 emails in it at all times. If I have more than 50, I lose them to a second page and there’s very little chance I’ll ever get to them. I use Gmail and have about a billion folders. I’m paranoid about deleting emails, so I file everything I might need to reference later, and I don’t file anything until it’s been dealt with. I start by answering the short emails, and add longer emails to my to-do list.

11am / Start in on the to-do list. I am a list-making addict. I use inexpensive spiral bound notebooks from the grocery store, because I can’t bring myself to mess up pretty notebooks, and because they’re light for toting around everywhere. Each evening, I make a list for the next day (and usually add to it throughout the day), and in the morning I start going through it.

1pm / Lunch break. I’ll usually have either a smoothie and some nuts, or a potato with whatever vegetables are in the fridge. I also take a break from “work” and read something in the Irish Times or one of my favorite blogs. Around this time, I usually hear from my Dad on Gchat. It’s morning in Maine and we catch up before he starts his day.

1:30pm / Back to work. By this point, I’ve usually knocked the faster things off my to-do list and I’m starting to dig in to the things that take more time and undivided attention, like this blog post! By now, here’s some of what I’ve knocked off my to-do list:

  • emailed class descriptions for a new set of wedding DIY classes I’m teaching
  • blogged about my newest DIY classes, and did all the necessary linking on social media
  • wrote up and emailed ideas for a shoot I’m working on to the company’s PR department
  • scheduled a few interviews for a freelance piece I’m working on

And here’s some of what I have left for this afternoon:

  • set up the rest of the interviews for the freelance piece, and send on some preliminary questions to the interviewees
  • edit tomorrow’s Creative Lives podcast
  • brainstorm some wedding DIY posts for One Fab Day
  • finish my latest Marriage Snapshot for Snippet & Ink
  • finish this post to share with all of you!

2:30pm / Michael sometimes gets a lunch break in the middle of the afternoon, so I take a break and hear how his day is going.

3pm / Keep plugging away. I try to knock most of the big things off my to-do list or at least move them to tomorrow’s to-do list!

5:30pm / Get dinner going. I make dinner about three times during the week. Luckily Michael doesn’t mind leftovers on the other nights. During basketball season, he might be gone until after 9pm, so I’m in charge of dinner. During the summer, when we’re usually grilling, he’s in charge.  I eat when I’m hungry, Michael eats when he gets home.

7pm / Go for a run. Some days I go running first thing in the morning – like days when it’s sunny or not windy and I want to take advantage of the weather. But most days I wait until the evening. One of the great things about my neighborhood is there’s a long running/cycling path that stretches along the seafront from the city. It’s great for running and it’s lit by street lamps at night time.

8pm / Shower, do more dishes (I long for a dishwasher), do more laundry, check emails. Since I work with Americans as well as Irish businesses, I don’t feel I can really shut off when they’re still working. I try to keep an eye on my inbox and check in with Twitter or Instagram or Facebook.

9pm / Read, watch, relax. By 9, I’m usually winding down. I have an ever-growing stack of newspapers and magazines I’m anxious to get through, so I flip through one of those. The only thing I can ever find to watch on our TV is the Food Network, so I turn that on until Michael gets home and inevitably turns the channel to something sporty. I also make sure I have the next day’s to-do list ready to go for the morning. I find it a lot easier to get to sleep if I know I’m not forgetting what tomorrow’s important tasks will be.

11pm / Bedtime. We put the cat out for the night and switch off the heat, then I usually read for a few minutes, chat with Michael about what we’re doing the next day, and fall asleep.

So that’s my general routine when I don’t have meetings or appointments or errands to run. It varies, of course, but usually looks basically like that. It took a few weeks to really find this routine and I’m sure it will change a little in the coming weeks and months.

So now I’m really curious, what does your day look like when you’re working from home? Do you have a routine? Things that have to get done before you can start work? I’d love to hear what works for you and what doesn’t!

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Dream Home DIY Workshops in Dublin

March 11, 2013

Good morning, friends! We woke up to snow and howling winds today. I don’t think the universe has gotten the memo that we are totally over winter. My daffodils in the back garden look especially perturbed this morning, which echoes exactly how I feel. Let’s get to spring already!

dream home classes

To distract us from the never-ending winter, I’ve got a fun announcement to share this morning. If you follow me on Twitter, you may have already seen this news because it was in the Sunday Times yesterday! I’m excited to announce that I’ll be teaching a new set of DIY classes in Dublin city centre starting April 3rd.

The classes are part of a new Dream Home series offered at a local interior design firm, called Optimise Design. We’ll be taking over their board room on Thursday evenings, having a glass of wine and a few treats, and crafting the night away!

If you’re a regular From China Village reader, you’ll know I’m passionate about projects that can add a lot of pizzazz to your home without requiring a huge investment of time or supplies. So that’s exactly what we’ll be focusing on in these classes! I’ll be teaching techniques that anyone can adapt for their own home, and that will apply to a range of different projects. And of course, it will just be a lovely night out making lovely things!

For more information, you can email me or check out Optimise Design’s website. And check out the list of classes here! Each class is limited to just 10 people, so you’ll want to sign up quickly!

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Styled in Ireland / A Subtle and Festive St. Patrick's Day

March 7, 2013

paddy's day title Today I’m back with another Styled in Ireland post for you – just in time for St. Patrick’s Day!

We all know St. Patrick’s Day is Ireland’s time to shine. It’s the day the whole world thinks about Ireland, people pull out every item of green clothing they own, and some monuments around the world even get turned green for the day! It is a big day for this little country.

St. Patrick’s Day is a national holiday in Ireland, which means there’s no school or work. If it falls on a weekend, we get the following Monday off! Locals usually enjoy an extra few hours to sleep in, and then spend

the day with friends or family, often over a few pints at the local pub. Whether in Dublin or out in the country, there’s a parade to be watched. Most locals I know don’t bother with the Dublin parade, but I know local parades in smaller towns can be a fun annual tradition for some folks.

emily paddy's day2
{Those girls in front of me were decked out in tiny little leprechaun hats, a full month before Paddy’s Day! It gave me such a chuckle, as you can tell!}

Tips for Travellers

If you’re visiting Dublin on St. Patrick’s Day, you’ll probably want to see the parade. I understand, you’re in Dublin after all! Just keep in mind that in order to be able to see any of it, you’ll want to stake out a spot early. And you’ll want to wear comfortable shoes for standing, and lots of layers. St. Patrick’s Day in Dublin usually isn’t very warm, maybe low 50’s.

Now, the trick with wearing so many layers to stay warm while watching the parade is that you’ll want to be able to strip some of them off when you head to the pub after the parade. And if you’re anything like me, you’ll want to wear something that’s comfortable and doesn’t feel too ridiculous six hours later when you’re still hopping from pub to pub.

Which brings me to my last tip: keep your green subtle. When I was little, I absolutely got decked out in every item of green clothing I owned. And you’re welcome to do that if you’d like. But I prefer my green to be a little more subtle and stylish these days. These green pants are incredibly comfortable and a really beautiful shade of green – which means I’ll wear this whole outfit even when it’s not St. Patrick’s Day!

emily st. patrick's day 4 Highlight // Irish Designer

See that beautiful little cashmere scarf? Made by the incredibly talented Eilis Boyle, and just perfect for keeping you warm on a chilly Paddy’s Day. Eilis makes the most decadent cashmere snoods and scarves in warm, neutral colors. They are just the coziest.  emily st. patrick's day 1 Eilis is also one of the co-owners of Bow in Powerscourt Townhouse, a sweet boutique carrying a great selection of Irish jewellery, clothing and accessories. You can find her cashmere accessories there as well!

emily st. patrick's day 3

Sponsored by Avoca Malahide

Avoca Malahide is the newest of the Avoca shops and cafes in Ireland and it’s happily right around the corner from our house on the grounds of the Malahide Castle. It’s an absolute treat to head up there for a coffee and a cake, wander around their shop, and then take a walk around the Malahide Castle grounds.

Avoca Malahide is working to create a community space as well as a retail outlet, and I’m working with them on a few projects – the latest project is a lifestyle blogger meetup on April 3rd. If you’re a lifestyle blogger in the greater Dublin area, send me an email and I’d love to get you involved!

Missed the previous Styled in Ireland posts? Check them out here! Summer / Match Day / Afternoon Tea / Picnic / Chilly Weather / Wedding Guest / Date Night

Lace top: Avoca / Sweater: similar / Trousers: Avoca / Boots: Clarks / Scarf : Eilis Boyle / Hair and makeup: Kristin Labanauskas / Photography: Julie Matkin, Half a Dream Away / Styling: Emily Westbrooks

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Paddy, Not Patty

March 6, 2013

Paddy, Not Patty

With St. Patrick’s Day right around the corner, I feel it’s important that we have a teaching moment. When I celebrated my first St. Patrick’s Day in Dublin, Michael’s friends made sure I learned this one, very important rule.

It’s Paddy, not Patty. Ever.

And even the pronunciation, in addition to the spelling, matters a great deal. I was made to practice several times before they approved and handed over my half pint of Guinness! I’m sure I made the mistake every year for twenty-four years until I moved to Dublin – it’s an easy mistake to make when you’re living in America. But now it’s time to pass on the knowledge to you.

This ever-helpful website devoted to the cause explains, “Paddy is derived from the Irish, Pádraig, hence those mysterious, emerald double-Ds. Patty is the diminutive of Patricia, or a burger, and just not something you call a fella.”

And for good measure, a little helpful info on shamrocks and sobering facts about real Irish car bombs.

Now you’re all ready to celebrate our lovely holiday!

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New Podcast Series / Creative Lives

March 5, 2013

I’m so excited to finally share with you something I’ve been working on for a few weeks now – a new podcast series called Creative Lives. Each week, I’ll be interviewing someone who has a creative career to find out more about their inspiration, motivation and day to day life. For now, most of the interviews will take place with people here in Ireland, but where I go, Creative Lives will go, which I think will be so much fun!

This week, I’m chatting with Bianca Divito, a stained glass expert who is currently spending many of her days up on scaffolding, conserving the windows of St. Patrick’s Cathedral here in Dublin. In this week’s episode you’ll hear all about her fascinating, creative life.

I’d love if you would spread the word about Creative Lives to your friends and family. The series will soon be available on iTunes, but for now you can find it here or over on SoundCloud. You can download the SoundCloud app for free on your iPhone or iPad and listen to Creative Lives while you commute or while you work.

Keep in mind, I’m not a podcasting expert (yet!), so bear with me as I hone my skills! And yes, I know that the little player up there is too wide for my website but I fidgeted and poked at it and just couldn’t figure out how to make it smaller. But when you press play, it still sounds just as good!

I hope you enjoy getting a behind-the-scenes look at some very creative people living very Creative Lives! Thanks for listening!

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Home Office / Challenges

March 4, 2013

home office challenges Ever since I first started writing posts on From China Village, when my only goal was to reassure my parents that I was safe and sound and surviving over here, I’ve found the writing and editing to be incredibly therapeutic. I like processing challenges and new situations by writing about them. So, what better way to help myself adjust to this new working-from-home life than to write about it and have a discussion with you all about it!

I thought it would be fun to do a little March mini-series. I’m calling it Home Office. We’re starting this week talking about the challenges that arise when working from home, and we’ll cover resources, tips, and what a typical day looks like over the next month. I’m no expert – heck, I only started a few months ago! – so I’m really interested in hearing your thoughts, suggestions, and advice about what works for you if you’ve ever been in the same position. I’m looking forward to your help!

So we’ll dive right in. Here are a few of the challenges I’ve encountered over the last few months.

Space

At this very moment, I am sitting at my dining room table at my computer. I am surrounded by papers and notebooks and there is a cat snoring on the chair next to me. We have another little room in the house with a desk, but the internet won’t reach that far! By day, I work from the dining room table, and when we need to eat dinner, I try to squish my things down at the other end of the table.

I’m also learning quite quickly that I need my space to be tidy in order to get to work. Since I can see about a third of our apartment from my table, there’s always some picking up or straightening up to do before I work or even throughout the day. And there are always, always big pairs of basketball sneakers that need putting away at least once a day.  This, of course, can get out of hand – most days I try not to clean up until I’ve been sitting for a few hours and need a stretch. That’s a perfect time to vacuum or do some dishes!

Solitude

One of my favorite things about working from home is that I actually get to see my darling husband a little more often. But that’s also proving a little difficult with my new set up. If I’m writing, I usually take a break to make him a coffee or chat about the day. But if I’m in the middle of an interview or have a deadline, sometimes I wish I could just shut the door to my office for a little peace!

On the other hand, when Michael is gone for twelve hours straight or I have a stretch of days without meetings, it can get quite lonely. Poor Michael often walks through the door to an ambush of questions about his day and the outside world. Luckily, the cat keeps me company between his naps!

Time

I mentioned this last week. Some days, there just aren’t enough hours to get through the to-do list! Some of what I’m doing currently involves sitting at the computer and writing, and some projects necessitate meetings in the city centre. And sometimes you just need to meet a friend for coffee to catch up! I usually try to break my week into days I have to leave the house and days I don’t. Each week, I protect at least a few days just for staying at home and writing or creating.

Social media is such a big part of my job, from promoting blog posts to researching or contacting people for collaborations or projects, but it can be a huge time suck. I still haven’t quite figured out how to avoid getting sucked into the internet rabbit hole, but one of my latest tricks is to only access social media on my phone. That way I’m not tempted to click into those tabs on my computer every five minutes!

So there youhave three big challenges I’ve found over the last few months. Of course, they’re not challenges to complain about (after all, I know how lucky I am to do what I’m doing!), but challenges to conquer. Any thoughts? Tips? Lessons learned the hard way? I’d love to learn from you!

I came across this article about working from home in the Irish Times over the weekend. It gave me a chuckle!

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Friday Finds

March 1, 2013

Tree Blossoms Happy Friday! How was your week? Mine was downright productive. I’m ending the week feeling like I’m finally on top of my to-do list. What an awesome feeling! This week, I interviewed two great creative folks for my new podcast series which should be hitting the airwaves next week! I have a cupcake date with my sister-in-law between meetings this afternoon, a basketball game to watch, and a house to clean this weekend. How’s that for excitement?!

I also did a little world tour of posts in other places this week:

England / Dublin Ceilings and Floors for The Simple Things

California / Snapshot of a Marriage: Elisabeth and Adam

Canada / Dispatch from Dublin: The Fumbally

Now for a few lovely links for your weekend enjoyment.

Loving Brittany’s moss shamrock wreath!

Behind the scenes at an Ikea catalog shoot.

A pretty, stripey photobooth backdrop.

Encyclopedia of an Ordinary Life will give you a giggle.

Happy weekend!

 

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