In my attempt to take more photos this year, I’ve been lusting over some fun camera accessories. Here are five I love :)
I love my Diana Mini camera, but it’s got a little glitch at the moment that needs fixing and using film all the time makes experimenting a little expensive. This Diana lens is genius. How fun!
This is a really clever and inexpensive option for converting your lens into a telephoto lens. I really want to try it.
Loove this olive green and white chevron handmade camera strap.
A spacious and beautiful camera bag is on my wishlist. This one would do perfectly! I love the bright blue lining against the chocolate brown.
And I am always lusting after one of these vintage polaroids. One day!
Since I’m back to college for my last semester, I thought I’d give you a little peek at my current college room. We were pretty lucky with the house we got this year. It’s really new, spacious and in a nice quiet area. My room doesn’t usually look as tidy as these pictures show it to be, though. I’m always rushing in the mornings so clothes and things get thrown around in the madness. Since classes haven’t really started properly yet, its neat and tidy, for now…
(I don’t know the couple in that white photo frame, but at this stage I feel like I do! I haven’t managed to get a photo to fill that frame despite having it since September. Oops!)
What kind of little touches do you add to places (where you are limited because its a rental), to make it your own? I like little details like my alarm clock that I customised, fairy lights, photographs and cute bows. XO
I have to say, yesterday’s Monday Morning Blues post was probably the bluest of all the Monday mornings because I was seriously dreading starting back to college. I’ve just started my very final semester and while that in itself brings a whole pile of emotions I won’t even begin to describe to you for fear you might run away and never return (quarter-life-crisis-ahoy!), I was just not ready to say goodbye to the ‘Christmas’ holidays yet. I say Christmas, even though that’s a pretty distant memory now, because my real holiday didn’t begin until after exams finished on the 11th of January. Since then, I spent a lot of time with the boy, just chilling out, catching up on relaxing time and having fun.
I thought I’d share some of these photo’s of a trip we took to West Cork last week. We went for a walk on the beach, took photos, brought a packed lunch, drank tea in De Barra’s Clonakilty, saw My Week With Marilyn at the cinema (so good!) and finished a perfect day with a traditional Irish music session in De Barra’s. It was luffly.
Turns out being back to college isn’t all that bad so far. That’s considering we haven’t really had any classes yet, but I’m about to have a pancake night with my housemate and you can’t complain when there’s pancakes can you!? :) XO
Let me introduce a new feature on the blog: Sunday Style. Each week there will be a different theme. This week it’s all things teal, since the boy has been making fun of me for having a bit of an obsession with the colour this week. Isn’t it pretty, though?
Those who say forts are just for kids have clearly never experienced the miraculous effect of hiding from your adult troubles under the sheets (preferably with fairly lights to boot). Honestly, there is nothing better. I’m thinking of even making a permanent one in my bedroom for such emergencies as overload of college stress and embarrassing situations. Forts can cure all. Here are some I’m in love with.
Rachel’s fort is most definitely my favourite ever. Vintage sheets, pretty patterns, soft colours, fairy lights, handmade stars…honestly, what could possibly be wrong with the world when you’re in there?
This magical fairytale of a fort is so elegant and beautiful. How could you not love it?
A teepee with vintage sheets and crochet blankets. And a record player. For the boho fort lover.
If you like your forts to make you feel like a princess, this is the one.
Or a cosy, warm and glowing hideaway like this one.
I haven’t built enough forts lately and its actually on my 2012 goals list, so expect some fort blogging in the near future! Have a great weekend xo
Last year, I blogged a fairly long list of goals that I wanted to achieve in 2011. I thought it would be fun to look back at them and see which ones came to fruition. Since I’m a list-aholic, I categorised them, according to the type of goal I wanted to achieve. Because I’m a bit OCD when it comes to lists. Ha.
For a quick refresh of my goals, have a peep at this little video I made last year…
New Years Resolutions: The Get-Fit Part
My get-fit resolutions included boxing, swimming, horseriding and running. I was a bit ambitious. I ended up working two jobs, on top of running my crafty business and submitting college placement assignments before then returning to do my final year of college, so time was not quite on my hands. I did, however, manage to do boxing classes quite regularly and really enjoyed it. I started to feel more fit and would have loved to keep it going except that I ended up being in college all day every day from September. I’m hoping to get back to it when I have more time again though.
New Years Resolutions: The Have-Fun Part
My major resolution was to try to do 5 things…I never would have done before. This was an attempt to push me out of my comfort zone and it worked. I managed to do three and I’m going to blog about this challenge in a separate post. I still want to complete the five things though, suggestions welcome! :)
My other have-fun resolutions included taking more photographs, playingmusic, having regularteadates and traveling. While I only managed to travel around Ireland and as far as Portugal, I did take more photographs (even if most of them were via Instagram) and I did start playing music again, a little. A lot of tea dates were had, though. Tea is what gets me through college!
New Years Resolutions: The Blogging Part
I wanted to make a regular blogging schedule and stick to it. While I feel I could definitely have been a better blogger, I am happy with my attempt this year. The Irish Blog Awards nomination in March was a lovely compliment and I am constantly striving to make the blog better.
New Years Resolutions: The Crafty Part
As regards crafting, I wanted to finally dust off my sewing machine and learn to use it – which I did. I made cushion covers and a lot of bows. I didn’t, however, make my own clothes and I didn’t update Etsy as regularly as I’d hoped.
New Years Resolutions: The Beautify-Me Part
I have to admit, I failed to create a suitable skin routine and stick to it… I’m not nearly good enough to my skin as I should be. Beauty bloggers – help!
New Years Resolutions: The Media-Project Part
My major media goal this year was to make a good impression on placement. I was doing my twelve week college placement at Red FM and I am proud to say that I think I did make a good impression. I ended up continuing to work there throughout the summer. While I started out just being the work experience girl, helping out here and there, I ended up being an on-air news broadcaster. I had a wonderful time working there and enjoyed every minute of it. It was one of the stand-out parts of my year most definitely and I am so thankful to everyone in Red FM for helping me.
Aside from this, I wanted to make a cute stop-motion and make a show-reel. Both of these I never found the time to do, unfortunately. There just aren’t enough hours in the day!
Though I achieved some of my goals and didn’t achieve others, overall, it was a wonderful year. I did things I never thought I would do, got a real taster of working in live radio, did really well with my craft business, had loads of fun with the boy, was shortlisted as a finalist in the Irish blog awards, got the opportunity to do a video for RTE’s website, met some lovely people, had some amazing experiences and worked really hard.
Following on from yesterday’s post featuring Part 1, here’s Part 2 of my 2012 Goals list.
Visit Pabs: My brother lives in London. Hopefully I get to visit this year, sooner rather than later.
Have mother/daughter dates: I love lunch dates with my mom.
Build lots of forts: There has been a severe lack of that so far this college year. To be rectified this semester.
Fun girly nights: Movies, wine, giggles, sing songs..
Don’t stress: I’m a major stress-er.
Learn to just let life happen: rather than worrying about how ever little detail is going to pan out. I’m an obsessive list-maker and so when I can’t plan things, I get a little panicky.
Buy a Canon DSLR (video): One of the things I’ll be saving for when I go to Nantucket.
Make lots of videos: Related to the above…obviously.
Make a stop-motion: This was one of last years goals that never happened, but is still on my to-do list.
Go to gigs: One of my favourite things to do and I used to go to so many, yet I never get around to it these days.
Embrace my new life: I’m about to graduate and enter the scary ‘real world’. Rather than dreading it, I’m trying to remind myself to simply embrace it.
Try a new food: Just a fun little challenge!
Shop local: I believe strongly in supporting local businesses.
Discover new music: There hasn’t been anything musically lately that’s made me go ‘wow’. I would like that to happen.
Horse ride: I used to horse ride almost every day and I miss it loads. Hopefully my new life lets me have the time to do this.
Try a new sport: For fun!
Fight in a boxing match: I realise this one sticks out like a sore thumb. What can I say except that its one of the things I really, really want to do. More on that some day…
Make a dress: Hehe…below the above, this one looks funny. But yes, I want to make a dress and fight in a boxing match.
Bring lunch to college: I’m terrible at remembering to eat during the day. I want to start bringing healthy packed lunches.
Play gigs: This should hopefully be happening this summer. I’ve missed singing live.
Here’s hoping I achieve at least some of these in 2012. I’m pretty goal-oriented so these kinds of lists keep me on track and pushing myself out of my comfort zone. I think it’s helpful to have goals, from simple, fun goals to bigger more challenging goals, in order to help keep life interesting and fulfilling. I hope your 2012 has been great so far and long may it continue XO
This is a little late in the year, but better late then never, eh? I love new year because it means an excuse to make goals. I usually make a lot of goals and not all of them will be seen through but it’s still a good method to get yourself working towards certain things you want out of life. I’m going to do a post soon reflecting on last years goals and which ones I succeeded with (and which one’s I didn’t), but first, here’s my list for 2012. It’s a long list, so today is Part 1 and tomorrow I’ll post Part 2.
Surf in the Sun: One of last years goals was to try surfing and I did a few times, so this year, I want to do it without freezing my toes off and feel the warmth of the sun on my skin.
Write a song: I used to write songs a lot. Even though many of them never went further than my bedroom, I’d like to start again.
Play more music: Kind of related to the last one. Somewhere along the line I stopped playing music, even though it’s one of my favourite things.
Get a degree: This one will (hopefully) be out of the way by May and I graduate in October.
Go thrifting: Just one for fun to remind me to make time for little enjoyables like this.
Make a scrapbook of gigs: I recently found a lot of old gig tickets and setlists, photographs etc from a special time in my life. I want to make a scrapbook with them all to remember the fun times.
Travel: I hoped to do some of this last year but only made it as far as Portugal and a few trips around Ireland. I’m going to Nantucket, MA. in May and hope to make a few trips around the States while I’m there.
Craft for me: I’m cutting back on my LolaDee Handmade work for a few months while I finish my degree, so I want to do some crafts just for me. I rarely ever get to do that.
Do an international blog project: I have a few ideas up my sleeve for this…watch this space?!
Celebrate Halloween: Halloween is my favourite and I haven’t celebrated it for two years. This year will have to see that cycle broken.
Do an exhibition (blog): This one might only make sense to me for a while…explanation when I get around to it.
Do the Wardrobe Window blog project: This one is coming soon… :)
Meet new friends: I love to meet new friends and like every year, I hope 2012 will bring a little of that.
Lots of dates with old friends: Because so often we get caught up in our busy lives and forget the important things.
Go on a roadtrip: I’ve wanted to do this for years but never I get around to it. Hopefully this will be my year.
Keep a travel journal: To remember all the fun memories that are made along the way.
Do lots of ‘how to’ posts: There’s a new blog schedule on the way, which includes lots of DIYS’s. Let’s hope college allows it to happen!
Have me time: My whole life I’ve always had loads of projects on the go, which is great fun, but leaves little time to just chill. This is important and I aim to make time for it this year.
Smile :) …sometimes we all need reminding!
Go on adventures: However small they may be!
Take lots of photographs: I love taking photo’s, but lately I’ve become really lazy. This will change!
Get a tattoo: The concept and design have been there for a long time, now all I need is the money.
New blog design: Thats one thing checked off so far! What do you think? I’m still tweaking bits, but I’m happy with it so far. This place was really overdue a new look.
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