Thankful Thursday | Tea, Downton Abbey & Donegal!

Bonjour peeps,

This will be my final 'Thankful Thursday' post before heading back to the UK.

Currently watching some 'Zoella' on You Tube and having some hot cocoa.

My Thankful Thursday

Having the yummiest latté this week (the cafe sadly isn't franchised)

The smell of freshly cut grass

Hearing Dad talking to the sheep (funny & cute)

Obsessed with 'Once Upon a Time' (waiting for the new season to start next week), watching 'Dr. Who' & 'Finding Neverland'

Season 5 of 'Downton Abbey' is back - Sundays are amazing again!!! The next time I'll watch it with my Dad and brother will be at Christmas. A little sad. I love how we all laugh at Maggie Smith's lines!

New clothes - jeans (vera moda), jump suit (Primark) & other bits and bobs

Having bacon & cabbage dinner outside

Bought some lovely 'Heath & Heather' Lemon & Ginger tea from 'Holland & Barrett's'

Being greeted by some very friendly bus drivers - I feel happy with their cheery hellos. I was glad to know that they were having a good day

Last farewell to Edel in Letterkenny (Co. Donegal) - bought sweeties, Season 2 of 'Once Upon a Time', watched some movies/tv shows and saw 'Lucy' in the cinema

Seeing that my bank account is healthy and surprisingly not used as much as I had expected - #FeelingGrateful

I do hope that you're week is going well. If you're finding that you're becoming stressed or anxious, remind yourself to take some me-time. I've had the whole summer for me-time, so it's only fair I return back to busy London and work my butt off and to roll in the cash!

Thankful Thursday | Taking Photos at the Beach & Having Wonderful Friends!

Can you believe that it's almost the end of September! Summer is gone and the leaves are beginning to change colour. I'm happy that I'll be returning to England by the end of the month, even with the complications of family and such. But there's far more to do over there. Most of the week was spent being ill and staying at home. I mean everyone loves to have evenings in, watching X-factor, Corrie or whatever, but having too much free time we begin to take it for granted.

So next week will be my last week here in Ireland and I'll be back to work in the land of sterling.

I have learned one thing from being back home for the duration of this summer (due to my nursing program), that I won't be spending a summer ever like this again. This time next year I'll be nursing and well, the holidays aren't as long, heehee.

Even my Dad has noticed how bored I am being back here (liking the English ways)

Sunday, my parents and I made a last trip to Strandhill (before I head back on the plane.) Obviously we made a stop by the town in Sligo for a bit of shopping and food. I got one of my favourite dishes, Irish beef stew.

Afterwards, we headed out to the beach. I brought my Grandads camera and took a few shots. The day was beautiful for such formidable pictures of the sea.

Mother dearest and I shared an utmost favourite of mine, carrot cake with the sweetest icing, oh and an iced tea.

My Thankful Thursday

Heading out with Dad for breakfast

Meeting the neighbours at Church

Sunday dinner and desert with the view of the sea

Hot cocoa, waffles & tea-lighted candles (random, I know!)

Twilight marathon! Yes the movies aren't great! But they bring good memories of reading the books, back in secondary school

Watching 'Star Trek' with Dad

Ella Henderson & Lana Del Rey

Dr. Who & Once Upon a Time

Seeing pictures of graduations in the University I'll be going to - 'The Dream!'

Receiving the most sweetest, unexpected messages from friends in England -

some are starting new jobs, some are starting University, in the September intake (how I want time to go faster!) I'm so happy that life is being so good to them, they most definitely deserve it!

The west of Ireland had a surprising round of sunshine for most of the week -

Taking naps with the sun on my face... utter pleasure!

We were lucky to have come late in the evening, so that we could get a window seat. Mum always smiles at the camera, heehee!

What did your week consist of? Anything fun? What were you most grateful for? Are you looking forward to going back to work, College, University? New beginnings?

Thanks for reading,

Sit Down Saturday | My Pre-blogging Life

I don't exactly stick to my posts routine as much as I should but I if I don't feel like writing anything, well I shouldn't feel pushed to do so.

I was thinking how before I started this blog, my life was a little different. There are both pros and cons to it. But overall I'm sticking to it. I feel happy to blog. And I feel happy meeting friendly, uplifting bloggers.

Cons on my pre-blogging life

I didn't travel to as many places and write about them - And when I did travel, I had nothing like a photo album to remember it by. I had my diaries but I find I get more emotions from a photo.

I didn't have the blogging friends I have today - I've met such amazing people with similar and different interests and hobbies. It's amazing how we can all help each other and give one another advice. If I want advice on fashion, I'll know who to go to. If I want help or advice on mental health and life, I'll know who to go to. If I want inspiration, I'll know who to go to. I don't have to be afraid to ask for help. The blogging community is there for us to connect and to be happy. I feel so happy when I press the 'publish' button. I feel relieved that I actually pushed my a** to do it!! And to not be afraid whether people will like it or not.

Pros on my pre-blogging life

I spent more time reading books - The blurb at the back of the book can only give you a fair idea of what the story entails, but you may spend days reading and becoming disappointed with its conclusion. However, with a blog, it takes minutes to read and the title along with its main picture is its blurb. I do enjoy to read in bed at night just for a hour or two (I usually fall to sleep from reading). So it usually takes me a few days to complete it. I'm far too busy to be reading books during the day. There's always someone needing me to do something.

Less time on the laptop - I didn't have to research on the laptop on fashion styles, or waste minutes of my life, catching up on my twitter and instagram, in doing so staying in contact with my followers. Most of the time why I go on these social medias is to get ideas on my blog and to catch up on my favourites. Instead of trying to be like everyone else, I find amazing women out there that are original in their own creative way, and that is what I idolise about them.

Are you happy with blogging? Is there anything that you miss about your pre-blogging life?

I do hope you all had a pleasant Saturday xx

Thankful Thursday | Farm Animals Escaping & Happy Treats

Hello all,

This week we've been blessed with the unbelievable weather, here in Ireland. It's so strange, that just last week I was talking about SAD (Seasonal affective disorder) and for me it really is hard. I find that the dreariest day can really tire me out and have me left a little depressed. What helps, is waking up in the AM, from 6:00-9:00 and also exercising outside, even if it's raining. I've noticed that when I come in from the rain I feel so glad to be back in the warmth, a little gratitude to having a home.

I'm heading back to England at the end of the month and wanted to take a few pictures of my home. As you can see we have plenty of farm animals surrounding us. The bulls across the road aren't at all dangerous, bit weird at times, like the Mona Lisa, where their eyes follow you when you go out for a brisk walk. And the only sad news I have of this week was that we had to give away 3 of our sheep (Nooooooooo!) due to there not being enough grass for all of them. So we are left now with Johnny (left) and CoCo (right). I woke up this morning to finding that their gate was open. So I'm running like a maniac worrying about where they went. Nope! They were fine. On the lawn, eating Dads new plants.

Most people have pet dogs or cats, and I have sheep, heehee.

My Thankful Thursday

Laughing at Louis Walsh on X-Factor - our family annual tradition

Watching 'The Road to El Dorado' and Jimmy Fallon clips on You Tube with my brother - favourite was 'Downton Sixbey', since we are Downtons biggest fans

Waking up before 6am and finishing series 2 of  'Arrow', all before 10am - pretty happy that I stuck with it and finished it before heading back to the UK

'Xposé', 'Dr. Phil' and an absolute favourite of mine 'Sense & Sensibility'

Having a super moon outside my bedroom window

Seeing some adorable puppies, heading off to a new home

Argan oil hair masks, Wagon Wheels and a tub of Häagen-Dazs Strawberry & Cream ice-cream

Eating possibly one of my last summer cones with Mum, looking at the boats on the Shannon river

Painting the garden walls and feeling happy that Dad is happy

Wishing my little cousin Happy 8th Birthday (sob) Oh I remember her first few words, her first time in the pool, the first time I held her and fed her.... Oh god why is she growing up so damn fast!!!

I hope all of you had a happy week, I know I did x

Sit Down Saturday | Catching up with Old Friends

A bit of a catch up for ye guys. Today is the first Saturday that I've actually stayed at home, since being back for the summer. So instead I've decided to post some recent pictures of my meetup with some of my old school friends, Shauna, Edel (you've heard of many times) & Lisa.

I chatted with Shauna over hair, makeup, life and family over a pot of tea. We then went shopping (well let's call it window shopping, we're students after all) I myself bought a Wolverine t-shirt from 'Primark' (Pennies), huge fan of x-men. And waiting (impatiently for Shauna, heehee) for the Pizza place to open.

We bought some delicious ice-creams and took a brisk walk to the park. The heat was brilliant!

Then as a little tradition we saw 'If I Stay' in the cinema. The film was good. I'd describe it as a movie for music, teenager romance fans. I mostly enjoyed talking to Shauna through the yawning parts. For those who haven't seen it, the ending was not what Shauna was expecting, which had me laughing.
The girls haven't changed much for their personality part, which made it feel as if nothing has ever changed. Of course our lives have changed, but nothing too extreme about ourselves.

Also, a little warning, the pictures I took were from my phone, I stupidly left my camera at home, but ah well, better than nothing!

I saw this Zebra in the shop and thought of my friend Peachy. I like the idea of letting her know that her friendship is not forgotten, that it's very much valued.

I got a wee photo of Shauna in the cinema...

and Lisa.

I don't see them that often, so it was necessary to get pictures.

We wanted to get a picture of all of us in the same row, as we did a few years back. Oh we thought we were so smart, Haa!

You might think nothing has changed. That we look the same as we did years back, but personally speaking I can see the changes. It's lovely to have these pictures to look back on.