Blogmas - Day 10 - Candlelit Christmas Carol Service

I may have skipped two days but alas I had nothing new to add to any of those days anyway. Sure none of ye probably hadn't noticed.... up until now that is! Crap!

The first day for not publishing, I was doing it very last minute and the website was down. Then yesterday I was exhausted. Coming in the door from placement, I ate then napped for 3 hours, was awake for 2, then fell asleep for another 6 hours. I was all over the place with my sleeping pattern.

I just wanted to tell you all about the Candlelit Christmas Carol Service that was on in Canterbury Cathedral. I sang along with the gospel choir and the amplified sounds of our harmonies bouncing off all of the walls of the cathedral was amazing. There were other choirs there singing beautiful carols such as In the Bleak Midwinter, a favourite of mine and O Come All Ye Faithful. There was a little orchestra and contemporary ballet dancers, with the candles glow reflecting off their white costumes. They were almost like angels dancing to the crowd of 1100 people.

Even though I got candle was all over me, I still had a wonderful, peaceful time.

After getting our pictures taken with our conductor lying out in the front of us, we all made our way to the Uni canteen to get free mince pies and elderflower.

Source: WeHeartIt

I LOVE candles!! And everyone knows this about me. They know I love soft light. I love to have fairy lights, candles and lamps. Even my room here in Canterbury has fairy lights and church pillar candles at the fireplace. In my home in Ireland we always have candles. My family goes nuts for it. Seriously, even my dad!

I even got my mum to buy a huge candle lantern for outside our house, for Christmas.

And the reason why we've always had candles is, is that my mum is a freak for electricity, and she bloody well is right! Whenever we have had power cuts it makes no difference with getting around, we still can see where we're going. Plus you don't really need them if it's your home! You should know your own house off by heart.

So each Christmas we always have a tonne of lights!! I even got my dad to buy me these pretty lights one Christmas and put them on my ceiling in the shape of a tree!!

I can't wait to see my glowing house when I get back!!

Just one week guys... 1 WEEK!

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 | 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

30 Day Snap #30 | June Photo Challenge Conclusion!

Final day of the 30 Day Snap Challenge.

The day was long with saying goodbye to my family in Scotland, then listening to music with mum on the plane, having a delicious roasted butternut squash & thyme soup with a Cornetto afterwards, looking at all the lovely presents I got from family & friends, seeing the new lambs and plants at my house with the sunset over the hills, followed by a night of watching 'Little Dorrit'... Pheww!

I kind of joined the 1st of July with my final day. It was a pleasant day spent with Mum. I've missed my shopping days with her. She treated me to a ecotool makeup brush set and a new No. 7 Stay Perfect foundation. I got my colour tone tested and it seems I'm a 'cool ivory'... hmm, never knew! I've always been either too pale or dark.

I loved opening up the gifts my grandmother gave me. An angel statue which she's always carried with her from travelling. She bought it in Florence which is also meaningful to me, as it's a place I'd love to see one day. The crystal box is beautiful for holding my rings, so that too will not come to waste.

Edel bought me this china tea cup, knowing I am a lover of tea and all old things. As well as, this Elizabeth Arden mascara. Both are perfect!

Before going to Edinburgh my Mum presented me with my gifts. First off, a Jo Malone bag... YES... very exciting! And thankfully a fragrance I actually love, Nectarine Blossom & Honey. She also gave me a lovely gold, ruby ring.

An egg? Hey! I was in Mauritius for Easter, so I didn't get to celebrate. And I am a choclaholic. Mum kept this huge one for me. So I sat myself down with finishing 'Little Dorrit' with a few cadbury (all of them) creme eggs.

June was a hard month for this challenge. With finishing up at College, packing and repacking, seeing family and friends, working.

But I think I preferred this month to last year. I enjoyed it a little more :)

Do any of you think you'll be interested in taking part of this challenge next year?

It is worth it in the end and plus having the photos are very special to have. I love going back on last years challenge. I wonder what next years challenge will be like.

Thank you for coming along on this journey xx

30 Day Snap #22 | Cinema, Hugs & Kisses :)

Hello everyone,

sorry about the lateness, I'm usually not like this. But yesterday we were getting a new router installed, waiting for the delivery guy, and we didn't set it up until last night.

On Sunday, I went to the cinema with my cousin. She was meeting all her school friends, so yes I was sitting with a bunch of kids, talking through the whole movie. We went to see 'Maleficent'. I loved it. And much preferred the ending compared to the original version.

It was quite dark for a kids movie, so yes, some of the kids were crying, so there was comedy added as a bonus for me.

Afterwards, I got a McChicken Meal, then got all ready for my last day at work. It was a lovely feeling knowing it was my last. I got hugs and kisses from all my favourite chefs. I will miss them so much. One of the guys can speak fluent French, so he was hilarious to listen to, with telling me not to go. So funny!

At home Edel told me my Dad had a few pictures on facebook, of my house all done up in Ireland. He planted a few trees at the weekend.

Hope you're all enjoying the wonderful weather we're having.

Sit Down Saturday | Being Away From Home

Hey guys,

I found out this evening that I didn't have to work. Great news!

Today's choice of hot drink: Hot chocolate

I took this picture two years ago, while going for a walk with Edel. I just love the flowers we have back home.

For people like myself who are living away from home for the first time will know how hard it is. Living here for the first few months was fine. It was exciting being able to do things for myself and getting to meet new people. I had a new job, new friends and had started a new course, so everything was exciting.

I would advise to people though that to enjoy life over here you need money. Back home it's the same, but then I have mum and dad paying for holiday breaks and things. There are certain things to consider over here, that my friends may be working, have families of their own and that they affordability may be a problem. So wanting to go to new adventurous places may be problematic. I have had lots of independent time to think for myself this year. I've focused a lot on myself. Trying to change certain things that I'm not happy about myself. Change for the better.

Deciding on where I hope to be living was perhaps one of the most worrying issues I've ever had to face. I'm a very indecisive person, everyone knows that about me. But I grew up with a mother where, what you pay for, you need to be absolutely sure it wasn't a waste. So I decided with accepting my offer from Canterbury Christ Church University. Hopefully everything goes well anyway.

The things I miss most about home are:

- The comfort of my own house and of the local towns.

- Waking up without an alarm. Instead I have sheep outside my window telling me to wake up.

- My family, close friends, Edel, my neighbours and the local shopkeepers and bartenders. Just seeing people from the local shops and pubs makes me feel as though I'm home.

- Days in the house when Mum & Dad are working, and me and my brother have the music full blast in the house. I miss spending time with my brother, watching movies, playing the PS3. Even when we're bored with the pubs with our families, we'll just talk in the car outside.

- Eating wherever I want around the house. Here in England, living with my aunt & uncle, they're serious about eating at the table and to be there at the exact time to eat. Back home we're really not that serious. We're relaxed and don't really care where we sit and eat. Also everyone but me in the family eats with their mouths open, so that's a little irritating to be around, heehee.

- Spending time with Edel, I miss her humour, her smiles and our DMC's where we'll stay up will 6am talking about our ambitions and fantasies... sleepovers are the best!

I am more excited about returning home than I was for Christmas or when I was going to Mauritius. As well as, I'll be having my birthday meal and seeing my house all done up on the outside.

Thanks for reading sheepys,