Session by the Sea...

I have n't been ignoring you blog, its just been a bit busy, but that's for another post! So the second festival for the summer is looming and that is Sea Sessions held in beautiful Bundoran, Co. Donegal. Starting this Friday beside this sea it promises to be a stellar weekend of music. Fujiya & Miyagi are my number one must see for Friday along with Delorentoes, Kaiser Chiefs..If only I could clone myself now to see them all! Saturday Rev Run from Run DMC will play a DJ set, on the same stage The Coronas will perform earlier on in the night..With a host of top acts it promises to be a superb weekend of music all we need is the sun to take centre stage and all parties will be happy! As for the festival wardrobe,what to wear is proving difficult thanks to the Irish weather..So bye bye for now its off to plan the festival wardrobe and catch up on a few posts!

Handmade Cards

I recently set up a Facebook Business Page for my much loved hobby, Handmade Cards.. For me, its just a way of getting what I love doing out there into the open and should anyone like what they see, maybe purchase one , or order a personalised one, then that would be fantastic..

My head is bursting with ideas for personalised items from Hen Nights to Special Birthdays to babies and all things wonderful, it's applying myself and actually finding the time is the part I struggle with! When working on a computer from 8.30am to 6pm every day its sometimes hard sit down again and open it up for those precious few hours in the evening that you have left out of your day. But they say you never work a day, when you do something you love.! And hard work will get you where you want to be in life.. It doesn't come by sitting on your behind!

I enjoy making cards, laying all the items out and piecing them together creatively is always fun, sometimes overwhelming. I have yet to learn the tools of the trade such as decoupage etc.. I also dabbled in Jewellery making where I did an evening course, which again I thoroughly enjoyed and would loved to have keep up once I organise my time!

So whats, next for me..Well , I'd love to go back and do an art course, Illustration in particular, but one thing I need to do and rapidly is learn to sew. The best I can do is sew a button on, but I'm talking customising clothes, even making my own clothes, that would be the dream..I'm forever sketching away at different dresses etc (but that's a whole other post)... So if I could craft my days away then they would be happy days, but for now its looking like ill be doing this when I retire!! Only another 30 odd years away!!!!

Sales, Sales, Sales!

I LOVE THE SALES! There I've said it.. I'm a bargain addict..There is nothing like the thrill of bagging a bargain, getting that dress you have wanted but simply couldn't afford.. Thankfully my wardrobe is not full of pieces with tags still intact. of simply must-have bargain items! You know that sales syndrome, that affects alot of ladies..."Sure it was only a couple of €€€'s!", we say over and over to justify the lastest purchase...Only to get home and realise you have,  (a) Nothing to go with it, (b) It totally doesn't suit your shape/colour etc,  and (c) WHAT WERE YOU THINKING????

The SALES have landed but PAY DAY hasn't.. Again I have too much month at the end of my money, so I'm tyring to ignore the online sales, avoid town and pretend they are not happening! But one shop got through the net...I spied this Mela Black Lace Dress on www.awear.com and it was a case of not having money for lunch this week or buy the dress. The DRESS WON! I don't really wear black as a rule, but slowly its creeping into my wardrobe,  but I had to have this dress. Lace/Sleeves/Lenght/Syle ...it was ticking all the boxes and for €17 I had to buy it... So it landed on my desk at work today and its perfect!!! One thing I will be changing is the belt just to suit every outfit..Of course my mind went into overdrive, as to what would I wear with it and the above is the result, a relaxed Daytime/Evening look for my LBD..Mind you every item above is twice the price of the dress, but who knows they may all come down in the SALES!!!!

Skinny Leather Belt €9.00 OASIS | Suede Clutch Bag €40.00 OASIS | On the wing silk scarf by Beta £35.00 TOPSHOP | Quilted Panel Biker £58.00 TOPSHOP | AIDA Pinstud Chelsea Boots £75.00 TOPSHOP | Military Kite Drop Earrings £10.00 TOPSHOP | OPI Nail Laquer - Thanks a Windmillion €11.99 CARA PHARMACY

It's not one Giant Step.....

I toyed with starting my own blog for a long time! Should I, would I, would anyone be interested??? But pushing all those fears aside and stepping out of my comfort zone, I went for it! And not without the help from a friend who instilled the confidence in me to do it! When someone shows some faith in you and truly believes you can do it, that YOU have something to offer, then hell yeah, GO FOR IT!!

So when my amazing friend emailed me the above words today, it reassured me! 'Its not one Giant Step,  its the small steps' that get you moving in the direction of the life you always wanted.
Photo ~www.sxc.hu
Quote ~ Passed on by my great friend..

Black or White!

Making cards is a past-time I enjoy and adapting a positive way of life is another..So in combing the two  I came up with the above! In a recession filled society, a little injection of positivity goes a long way! I love receiving a card that has a message or lovely greeting that makes you smile...So as its been said, "It's your choice, It's black or white, not a shade of grey...so when you love someone, there is no such thing as half way!"

Father's Day

Today is the day we thank our Dad's, for just being our Dad's. I have to admit I am a Daddy's girl through and through and I'm not ashamed to say it! I have always been close to my Dad and told him everything and shared everything from all early age. With just one sister in my family, the two of us are Daddy's Girls, but with me being the youngest I still hold onto that, and sometimes still use it to my advantage!

I was almost like the boy in the family growing up, in that I played football,  in which Dad attended nearly every game, and would of always helped him around the house etc and got involved in watching Sporting games on the TV with him. He is like my personal mentor, personal mechanic, know's how to pick me up when I'm down, and annoy me too (lol!) , but he really is an all around AMAZING and  FANTASTIC DAD!

He is set in his ways, in that every night at 9'0'Clock he has to have his cup of tea and two cream crackers! So, after I moved home over a year ago, and observed himself and my mothers little ways and their little routines, I noticed that at nine every evening marked tea time, so to honour this little tradition I presented the cup above to him this morning.. a cup which I made for him..The laugh and smile on his face this morning when he opened the box was priceless! At least he saw the funny side..

Happy Father's Day!!!!

Fighting Irish...

We may have performed dismally tonight, but thanks to the supporters we went out on a high! Singing their hearts out as if we were the team that was 4 goals up, they lifted our spirits up like no others could! Ireland as a nation united in Support for many reasons! We needed something to be positive about, to look forward to..to get excited about and Euro 2012 was that!. With somewhat easier qualifiers , we got through to Poland, only to meet Croatia, Spain (European and World Champions) and Italy.. Two down and no where to go is the position we find ourselves in tonight!
But the stories and tales from our wonderful Irish fans on their journey in Poland will live on for much longer... If Carlsberg did fans the Irish would probably be the best fans in the world!

Trinkets and Treasures

Leave me in a Gift Shop, Stationary Shop, Craft Shop and obviously a Clothes Shops for hours on end, and I won't feel the hours pass..I could spend days in these places finding all the little trinkets and treasures to be had, thinking of how pretty they will look or the possibilities of what I could make... I recently purchased the above items in C2 by Cara in Cavan town where there was  host of vintage inspired little treasures for the house and home among other fabulous little finds... I had been looking for a vintage inspired memo board for quite a while and this one was perfect for what I was after.. Consisting of a chalk board and little pegs for notes, this beauty only cost €14.99. I couldn't resist the "Keep Calm and Keep Dancing" Mug with the bunting in lovely pastel colours which will make me smile every time I drink my tea ! What girl doesn't love dancing.. And for €5.99 a steal!!

I think my second favourite item after the memo board has to be the "Wishes" Box.. A beautiful rose painted vintage box which will hold 'some' of my jewellery and look beautiful..I will be able to see what lies inside with the clear top, which will save endless of time when looking for 'those' earrings..For only €10.50..another bargain!!!

And finally my "Good Times Here" cushion for only €3.50, speaks for itself, in that so many good times have been had in my family home..This will hang proudly in our house and for everyone of our close friends and family who visit, will always agree with that good times have and will be had here again!!!

Festival Fun

So, the festival has been and gone and what a weekend.. The weather let us down, but the music and fun didn't disappoint..I love this skiing hat which I borrowed from my friend for the day along with her lovely leather gloves....Unfortunately I wasn't prepared for the cold that fell on the Sunday...

I took loads of photos, which I haven't even got around to putting on Facebook never mind this...
So a quiet weekend is being had this weekend until the next festival Sea Sessions which happens in Beautiful Bundoran... A weekend not be missed....