Blueberry Fingerprints

Long Distance Relationship = Miss Your Boyfriend Lots

2012-01-23T13:56:00.000-08:00

It's very rare I see John during the week. Seeing him only on the weekends means there is a big exchange of yearning text messages all throughout the week, as we're both counting down until we can see each other again. It's a bit funny to think I'm in a long distance relationship, but we are an hour apart and can't easily see each other whenever we so wish to. It can at times be very frustrating that I'm so restricted in when I can and can't see him, but whenever I find myself thinking along those lines, I remind myself of couples in long distance relationships where there might be oceans or countries between them.

Tonight I'm excited because John is coming over. He is taking the last bus and should be here soon. Not only does it feel like a treat to be able to see him (otherwise I would have had to anxiously await Friday) but I will also be able to fall asleep with his arm around me and wake up with him next to me as I groggily stumble out of bed in the ungodly early hours of the morning. He has a work related course he has to attend tomorrow and I'm thrilled I'll be spoiled with his presence tonight as well s tomorrow.

<3.

...A Kittttiiiieeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!!!

2012-01-17T04:29:00.000-08:00

I have a special bond with animals as most animals make me feel warm at heart and make me excitedly squeal in a cutesy voice, almost as if to announce the presence of the cute creature, in case others hadn't noticed. I guess this high pitched compulsive habit of mine falls under the querky cathegory of small things that makes people like me as they find it endearing.

At least I hope so, I can see how those "Looooooooooooooooooooooook, a kittttttiieeeeeee"s could get rather annoying.

I took these images in a petshop in Drogheda over the weekend. Sadly there weren't that many animals in the shop, and unfortunately they were closing down just as I walked in with John. I could only have a very brief squeal as I had a quick look around the room and didn't have time to snap any pictures of the fish before they turned off the lights.

Do not worry my beloved animal friends. I shall find Ye again and be with Ye soon!

Purple, Hand Knitted and Warm

2012-01-15T07:31:00.000-08:00

While I have recently mentioned that I met John's mother, I can show you what she gave me. She knitted this purple woolly hat and brought it along and gave it to me as a present. It's very warm and purple is my favourite colour, but it felt strange to drape something over my head as I don't usually wear hats. I think I look very innocent in this picture and almost like a little, old lady. What do you guys think?

I want to go to Vegas some Day, but not to get Married

2012-01-15T06:57:00.000-08:00

It felt like the week would never end. I've been struggling with a flue for most of the week but instead of showing signs of recovery it seems to only have gotten worse. I was too weak to go into work on Friday and instead I dressed in warm clothes and met up with John at the bus stop. He was working Thursday night, so he was getting off his shift Friday morning. We went up to his place in Drogheda and he has been taking care of me. While apparently I have been trying to break some sort of world record in how many times it is humanly possible to need to blow your nose, John has been handing me cups of hot tea. There has been a lot of cuddling up in the couch watching a lot of of sitcoms and movies. What you can see paused on the TV here is C.S.I. Las Vegas.

Let's, Let's, Let us go to the Museum!

2012-01-12T06:46:00.000-08:00

Here are some of the pictures I took during my spure of the moment embrace of culture. I have to admit that I'm not very good at reading the information on the posters and signs whenever I visit a museum. Simply put: Don't ask me to recite long paragraphs of information about the subjects in the pictures I took. Nontheless I am able to share that most of the items on display in the museum are to do with Irish history.

Anyway, let's have a look!

There was a big sign close to the entry, that exclaimed in colourful text all that could be experienced inside.

I saw this old uniform jacket and was fascinated by the absolutely stunning metal flowers that are attached to the collar.

Pow! Guns may kill people, but vintage guns look less intimidating. Romantical death weapons, eh!

Fortunately I had brought my camera out with me and was able to take pictures throughout the day, and I was walking around the museum with it hanging around my neck. Just before we left, John pointed out this sign to me which states that photography is not allowed. I took pictures in front of a few employees but nobody said anything to me.

I love the dramatic effect of these drawings, along with the lights and the red wall behind it all.

There was a room dedicated to the history of duels. It was very interesting to read how many duels had taken place in the Ireland of the 1800s and early 1900s and for which reasons.

Another very detailed uniform! I wore my sailor jacket and you can see me in the reflection.

It was dark by the time we left. Here is John - an old friend of Nuala, Nuala and finally John.

Old things Fascinate me, even Buildings and Architecture

2012-01-09T16:49:00.000-08:00

It's already the 9th of December. Where did the Christmas go and the beginning of the new year? I've been up to lots of things but I'm still behind with posting, as always. I'm too keen on taking pictures and end up with a large number of pictures that I have to edit before I'm able to blog. I'll try to get busy, I like sharing! It's always the same excuses from me, I guess I should try and make more of an effort to change this year.

The other week when I met John's mother, we went on a spontaneous trip to the National Irish Museum in Dublin. The façade is very impressing and I was fascinated by how large the estate was. It is built in the form of a square with a large yard in the middle. I tried to estimate how many rooms the place had, and tried to imagine what it would be like to live in a place that has 200 rooms.

There were dark corridors running all along the long walls of the building. With the way that the ceiling was cut and with the lamps placed where they were, there were interesting shadows cast all along the ceiling.

We arrived rather late, and the museum was almost closing. We did however get a good bit of time to walk around but we left a lot of the museum unexplored. As the museum was closing, we were gently yet sternly directed to the exit by the staff. The place looked even lovelier in the dark! I love the contrast of the mysterious architecture, dark blue sky and the lights above the windows.

Coffee in a Hotel on a Wednesday

2011-12-31T10:27:00.000-08:00

On Wednesday I went into town with John and met up with his mother. I was a bit nervous at first, as I hadn't met her before. We went to the Wynn's Hotel and had coffee and something to eat.

I thought that the place was very nice and even though it had a sophisticated feel to it as well as there being classical piano music playing in the background, it did not feel too fancy for an afternoon coffee in casual clothes.

John <3.

John got a card from his mother as his birthday was coming up and both he and his mother wrote birthday cards for John's niece. John also got this card for his sister as her birthday is coming up in early January. I guess half his family has a winter birthday!

I don't really drink coffee but now and then I will have a cuppa. I appreciate good coffee, but would prefer a mocha or a cappuccino.

John's mother Nuala and me.

Musical Notation, Glitter and Coloured Paper makes for a Great Surprise

2011-12-31T07:47:00.000-08:00

Here are a few glimpses of the Christmas present I'm making for John. I have dropped hints to him about his present for a few months and driving him crazy with it as he has been left hanging for such a long time over what it could be. Unfortunately I haven't had a chance to finish it yet, as not only has it turned out to be a lot more time consuming than what I expected due to the amount of details on it, but John has also been staying with me for the last two weeks, and I have found it difficult to find time to spend on finishing it.

I don't know if you can see what I'm making for him. I will post pictures of it as soon as it's finished!

Staying in touch

2011-12-25T17:01:00.000-08:00

I was up very late yesterday even though there wasn't much on TV during the early hours. Sometimes I find it difficult to go to bed and it has been a bit of a tradition for me to stay up late during Christmas. I was woken up this afternoon by my phone ringing. I groggily answered and it was my mother, calling to have a chat and to wish me Merry Christmas. There was a lot of exchange of gossip and my mother also wanted to check that I'm fine. I have to admit that I'm a bit (ok... very) bad in replying to emails, so at times I am sure she feels a bit left out of my life. I should probably make this a thing to improve for next year!

The picture is of my mother's cat. She took it in when it was only a few weeks old, as it's mother had abandoned it. She cared for it and fed it, and now has a bubbly little cat running around the house. It apparently loves water and has even been in the ocean.

Shadows and Lights in the Dark of the Night

2011-12-24T20:29:00.000-08:00

Here are a few pictures I will leave you with as I am retiring to bed.

Nobody has Ever made me Expressive Art out of Mashed Potatoes before

2011-12-24T20:25:00.000-08:00

John is unfortunately working today and tomorrow. I'll have him all to myself after then though and he is not in at work until next year, which neither am I. He had to leave tonight and I won't see him again until he's knocking at my door in the early morning. I hate having to see him go, and he is not happy doing it either. He quite adorably made this sad face after his dinner tonight, and told me that this is how how feels when he has to leave me. You may not see it, but the mashed potato work of art he made also has tears coming out of the eyes of the sad square of mashed potatoes.

A Special Time of the Year...

2011-12-24T20:18:00.000-08:00

I woke up this morning quite excited about it being Christmas. I had to drag John out of bed though as he was not enthusiastic over getting up nor the fact that it was Christmas Eve. We had a quick breakfast after getting up.

I put on some Christmas music and as you can see it was old songs by the likes of Dean Martin, who I absolutely love! Oldies like this make me very nostalgic as they make me think of all the Christmases growing up.

It felt very sweet and cozy for me and John to be having our first Christmas together. We prepared Christmas dinner together, with John putting his special expertise down on the preparing of the ham and the mashed potatoes, while I put my special touch on the gravy and the dessert.

I hope your Christmas Eve has been as nice as mine! Merry Christmas!!

Baroque Frilled Shirt, Dotted Stockings and Glittery Ballerinas

2011-12-24T19:27:00.000-08:00

I've looked a lot like an Anime character today! I've had this H&M frilly shirt for a while but I haven't worn it until now as I didn't have anything to pair it with, as I'm not big on pants. I was thrilled it went great with a black skater skirt I recently got and my polka dot tights and green cardigan completed the outfit.

A bit later in the day I went to the store with John and I put on my Topshop sailor coat. I felt like a big doll: how lovely!

Lights and Tinsel in the Dark with a Curious Santa

2011-12-23T20:57:00.000-08:00

I took down my bag of Christmas decorations and some decorations were put up. Earlier today I bought a Christmas tree in town and John set it up in the living room, but it hasn't been decorated yet as my flatmate Raul's girlfriend Mel wanted to help me. The tinsel in the window as well as the lights all around it did plenty as far as coziness and John got in a festive mood by putting on a Santa hat when having a smoke outside.

What about Now? ... Now? No?

2011-12-23T20:34:00.000-08:00

John has been very eager in trying to get me to break the rules.

He has excitedly urged me to open my Christmas presents early as he wants to see my reaction when opening it and to find out whether I like it. He has also asked me whether I want my Christmas card from him.

He has managed to get me to open one small present early but after this I have been strict and told him firmly that I will most certainly not break any rules of Christmas and do any further acts of early celebrating.

Now that it's after midnight and the both of us are still up, he has again eagerly enquired whether I wanted to open my presents/receive and read my Christmas card, but I had to again inform him that it's not permitted as it's against the rules.

I know that it's officially the 24th, but you can only get presents and cards after waking up after a good night's sleep!

My card from him is waiting for me on the mantle piece in my room. It may be silly, but as he is my boyfriend I don't want to get my card from him until Christmas Eve. Cards from others can be received at anytime.

The little adorable card keeping John's card company was sent to me by ICO Anni.

It's Never too Late, or too Random to Post Pictures of Fluffy/Cute Animals

2011-12-20T20:08:00.000-08:00

I think it's time I went to bed, it's now 04.03 AM. I will leave you with the adorableness that is a big eyed kitten looking very bewildered. (Random, I know. But really cute, right?)

Stay-ups, unlike their Stupid Name, Never Stay Up

2011-12-20T19:48:00.000-08:00

I got these stay-ups a few days ago. It's a bit random to share this with you at nearly four in the morning, I know... They are however very cute, and they are the very first pair of stay-ups I have tried on/owned that actually... stay up!

He is not a Bad Guy, even though he Wakes me up Early in the Morning

2011-12-20T19:43:00.000-08:00

It's currently after three in the morning, but as the night owl I am, Im still up. I should be going to bed as John will be over in the morning. He works nightshifts and during the weekend he is able to come up to me after work. He calls me very early when he's outside my house and I groggily stumble downstairs to let him in. I rush back into my warm bed that's waiting for me and in turn wait for him to follow. It means that we get to spend the morning cuddled up against each other, and the remainder of the day together. During the week when I'm in work, he goes over to his sister's place and sleeps on her couch, as he lives about an hour away from Dublin and it would be too much of a commute to travel daily.

The pictures were taken in John's apartment.

I Simply Cannot Wait...

2011-12-14T16:52:00.000-08:00

I have been keeping a sheet of a printed out calendar of 2011 by my desk the last two months. I have patiently and certainly very dreamily been crossing off each day on the sheet of paper with a purple marker. I have been counting down to the last two weeks of December, as this is when I will be far, far away from work!

I have the last two weeks of December booked off as holidays, as I wound up having a lot of days left by the end of the year that I had not yet used. I'm not going anywhere special, I will continue to keep Dublin with my presence, but I could not be more excited.

I am working tomorrow, have Friday booked off, and Monday will be my last day to work this year.

An excellent opportunity to spend a lot of time with John, my boyfriend, as he lives about an hour away from me and also unfortunately works nights, meaning I am not spoiled with seeing him as much as I would like.

Isn't he adorable?

I saw him for a few hours today but I still miss him, as I know I will not be able to see him until Friday morning again.

Does Christmas turn Most People into Children?

2011-12-14T16:35:00.000-08:00

There's a little over a week left until Christmas and I'm starting to feel myself getting increasingly excited with each passing day. I have a very warm relationship with Christmas, as it has been a very special time of the year for me, ever since I have been little. Seeing as I will be in Ireland it will most likely be a grey and rainy Christmas, but I will have my Christmas tree that will be glaring with bright lights as well as glittery and shiny baubles. This should bring plenty of enchantment for my holiday. I just can't help but to turn into a big child when it comes to anything Christmas-y, especially the decorations...

I haven't put up any decorations in my room yet. I probably won't put up a Christmas tree until the 23rd, as in my family it has been a tradition to put up the Christmas tree the day before Christmas and I will most likely carry this tradition with me.

*Sigh* Is it just me or is Christmas truly wonderful?

A long Wait is Sometimes worth it

2011-11-30T14:41:00.000-08:00

Remember how I said a lot of my pictures were corrupted? Me stating I didn't know how I would be able to carry on without them? The dread and the despair?

Well... in a dramatic yet welcome turn of events, the pictures are now all working. The solution? There was none. They just started working again. I don't know and I might not care what happened: I'm thrilled!

Speaking of long waits: I will be seeing my boyfriend on Friday after not seeing him for nearly two weeks. YAY!!

I like Mint Green and I like Mint Ice Cream

2011-11-30T14:06:00.000-08:00

I should be getting stuff packed for tomorrow, as I'll be moving in to my new place tomorrow. I'll only be able to bring some of my things with me and will have to wait until the weekend before I can get all of it moved over, so I need to make sure I bring essentials.

I'm facing a huge dilemma though: to buy or to not buy ice cream?

Who said it was all that Fun to be a Backpacker anyways?

2011-11-29T16:36:00.000-08:00

In my previous post I mentioned that I have been homeless for the past month.

While I haven't been left to helplessly fend for myself on the streets, I have not had a place which I could call my home and for the past month I have been staying in spare rooms and living out of suitcases.

I had been living in a place for a few months but felt uncomfortable and as if I was not wanted in the house, so I decided it was time to pack up my things and leave.

At the moment you will find all of my belongings scattered in the homes of three other people and I'm quite certain it will prove to be quite a challenge to locate a clean pair of underwear in the morning. I'm not even pretending to put effort into what I put on, as I have no idea where anything is anyways. This means that I have reverted to wearing pants *gasp*. I tend to only wear dresses and skirts, so for me to be seen in pants is a strange experience, which I also am constantly being told at work.

Thursday will see me being able to move into my new place and I couldn't be more excited!

Say whaaaat?!

2011-11-28T17:38:00.000-08:00

It's nearing to the end of the month and into the beginning of the next. I'm quite excited as I have been homeless for a month and cannot wait to get my own square feet to claim (rented) ownership of.

Curious? Well. I'm tired.

I'll share tomorrow.

The pictures were taken this weekend.

It's not Dawn yet, but it's getting there

2011-11-28T17:14:00.000-08:00

I find that novels may sometimes romanticize depression: handsome men and beautiful women battling with dramatical turn of events, most often resulting in somebody dramatically flinging a hand to their head in despair.

I would like to state that it is less intriguing when occurring outside a fictional realm. In reality bouts of depression involve turning into a hopelessly negative introvert with a pinch of puffy eyes to go along with it.

I have been such a hopelessly negative mess for the last few weeks and have only found my moods lifting lately. It may come as a surprise - and I feel I shouldn't get into too great detail, after all, it isn't very interesting - but I have been battling with depression for a few years now. It tends to come and go and while in my low moods I find it difficult to concentrate and spend time on such things as this blog. I am drained of all my energy.

The worst of it seems to have passed for now and I am looking forward to feeling a bit more like myself.

Mirrored Pieces and a Girl in an Urban Environment

2011-11-27T04:24:00.000-08:00

One of the main reasons for my absence is my external hard drive corrupting most of the pictures I have taken the last few months. Karl has been kind enough to try and restore them but has not had any luck yet. He's been at it for a few weeks and I have been waiting (like a nervous wreck) to see if he will be able to perform some miracle with any of the restoration programs he has been using. I know I might never get them back but I am holding on to a small piece of hope that I will...

It's only pictures...but I'm grieving them as lost friends. A lot of wonderful images have been lost, and it means among other things that I'm unfortunately not able to bring you on the promised tour of the huge house I was living in before, as I had promised. Sorry!

I have a number of pictures that I never wound up using, uploaded to the image gallery for my blog. (If only I would have done this with all of my pictures.) These ones, for instance, are from when I went to celebrate Anni turning another year wiser.

Shadows can get very Frightening, Especially during the Night

2011-11-27T04:19:00.000-08:00

I know I must make a terribly frustrating blog to follow as of lately I have been keeping myself hidden away in dark, lurking shadows, only to make sporadic appearances, raising hope of a permanent return but instead retiring into the shadows again.

I haven't lost any of my enthusiasm over taking and sharing pictures and putting together small (hopefully enjoyable) pieces of text. I actually find myself thinking of my blog on a daily basis. There has unfortunately been a few things that have required me to focus all of my energy elsewhere though.

You Make me Smile, I make you Smile, and you Bought me a Teddy Bear Wearing a Shirt that says "You Make Me Smile"

2011-10-14T21:31:00.000-07:00

How Many Leaves does an Average Tree have? A Lot.

2011-10-09T11:04:00.000-07:00

I have been living in the city for a few months now and I have to say that I love it. While I don't live in city center, it only takes a short bus ride to get into the center and it is a manageable walk.

It is so much easier to see my friends, go to the shop...to do just about everything!

The one thing I do miss is being able to take wonderful pictures of the scenery. Living in such a rural area can also have a calming effect on you. I grew up on the countryside though, so I've had my fare share of leafy therapy and am at the moment happy with the buzz of the city around me.

I took these pictures a few months ago when I went outside to take a picture of my outfit. I ran into some cows and while they were startled by me, I was able to get a few snaps of them, where I was balancing on uneven ground in the bushes.

I've had the pictures saved as a draft for ever, but I never got around to posting them. I thought it was about time I did so, before Christmas arrives and it would be strange to post green images when much of the world is covered in snow.

You can Never go Wrong with Purple Lipstick

2011-10-05T13:59:00.000-07:00

Wow... Has it really been two months since my last posting?

After the breakup and after I moved into my new place it felt nice being able to have some space, being able to be alone and gather my thoughts. I felt that I needed a break from blogging. I didn't quite mean to stay away this long though!

I'm peekaboo-ing in to state I am still alive!

The pictures are from a few weeks ago when I was bored on a Sunday evening and decided to play around with a lipstick, dark eye makeup and my camera!

Summer Summer Summer!!

2011-07-24T15:42:00.000-07:00

I haven't been updating much as of late as I have been busy with the move and getting settled in. I have so many lovely pictures I need to show, so I will try to get some time to update!

In the meantime, here are some recent summery pictures. We have been enjoying some warm and wonderful days lately and I even donned a bikini and sunbathed on the yard. Now I just need to try and fit in swimming in the sea before the summer goes away.

Such a Little Thing

2011-07-08T13:17:00.000-07:00

Isn't it funny how something very small can make you feel nostalgic? The other day I found this larva on the lawn and I was instantly catapulted back into the summers of my youth. We had a shed that had a lot of stinging nettles growing behind it and there used to be lots and lots of these stuck to the nettles. Me and my brothers would pick them up and look at them, and they would do exactly what they did when I found this little one: roll into a ball. I haven't seen one of these for years!

Sexy Heels, Stupid Gravel

2011-07-03T13:01:00.000-07:00

I wore this apple green Brodeire Anglaise dress for the very first time the other day. Not only is it terribly cute but also one of the few dresses I have in green! The shoes that got the honours for this outfit were a pair of chunky black wedge heels.

I have worn them once before and know that I am fully capable of walking in them, even though they are one of the highest heels I own. Unfortunately and embarrassingly enough I managed to do something that I have never done before though: I fell while walking in these heels! Fortunately there was nobody to witness my embarrassing incident, other than Karl, and I had thankfully not broken or sprained anything in my fall. I did scrape my knee though and ripped my tights... The ones on the knees would not have been so bad, but I felt embarrassed about the big gaping hole from which my toes were poking out! I firmly blame the gravel I was walking on though and not the shoes. The shoes are sexy and cannot be blamed!

I am a bit in love with the cardigan as it not only features cherries but also a tiny and adorable polka dot pattern in green. The only bad thing about the cardigan is that it has such short sleeves and sometimes in the heavily air conditioned office I will feel chilly.

I can't get over how cute this necklace is! The tiny little flowers look so delicate.

As you can see it was very windy when these pictures were taken!

When Can I Move and When Can I see My Friends Again?

2011-07-02T08:37:00.000-07:00

It is only a few days until payday and I hope to be able to move into a new place during next weekend. I haven't been able to go and view any places yet, as money has been very tight at the end of this month, so I am slightly scared of not being able to find anything nice quickly enough.

Right now it feels as there are a lot of loose ends surrounding the move: I'm not able to view any places yet, so I don't know if the places I may be interested in will still be available when I can, it is too early to start packing any of my stuff, but then again I have so much packing to do that I don't know when I should start packing. Ah!

What keeps me not going crazy is the idea of being able to see my friends a lot more frequently and without the hassle of a 45 minute bus journey into the town in order to do so.

These pictures are from when I went to see Pilvi in town not too long ago and we went to a Tea Garden (more like a neon carpeted dungeon). I generally am not into tea at all, but the fruity variety we ordered - called Grandmother's Garden - was incredibly tasty!

The Closest Thing I got to Feeling like a Princess in a Castle

2011-06-26T05:55:00.000-07:00

I never posted any pictures of the new place I call a home after the move. As me and Karl have broken up we will shortly be moving out though. I have been thinking of moving closer to the city as I'm tired of living so far away from city center and getting in and back out can be quite a hassle.

As the house I live in right now is actually very nice and will be missed by both me and Karl, I thought I would post some pictures of it. I never got around to taking any pictures from the inside, so I will have to make it a priority to do so sometime during the coming week and post them.

As for now I can only give a sneak peek of what the place looks like.

Letting Go is Always Difficult, Especially when it comes to Kittens

2011-06-25T09:43:00.000-07:00

The kittens are now six weeks and they continue to melt my heart as they grow older and more mischievous. They're like little monkeys of joy! We have started looking for new homes for them but the idea of parting with them is killing me. The other day Buzzer cuddled up into a ball on my shoulder and I thought I was going to start crying.

It May not be Sunny but I am Warm at Heart

2011-06-25T09:06:00.000-07:00

It's really nice weather today and I have the biggest urge to go swimming! The sun keeps peeking out now and then but it is very warm and there is just the slightest hint of a breeze. A drive down to a beach would be nice but me and Karl are a bit short on money in these last weeks before payday

Oh and by the way, the pictures were not taken today, thankfully it is not that dark even though the sun is hiding. I took these last week when I went for a jog. The sun was setting and the sky was very beautiful and on my way back I had to run inside the house and get my camera and I took a few shots of the nature around me as well. Don't ask me which kind of flowers they are because I don't know anything about flowers. All I know is that they were by the side of the road!

Slumber-Party-BBQ, Canoeing and Absinthe makes for a Deadly Weekend Part II

2011-06-16T15:53:00.000-07:00

The next day we sat in the havoc that was the scene of yesterday's drunken mess of a party - most of the cans having had been cleared away by some early risers - and continued to enjoy the sun.

We continued to stuff our faces with food, but less frantically due to now being hungover instead of drunk. Somebody decided it was a great day for canoeing and I was asked to join them. Two canoes were stuffed into a big white van and we drove to a nearby park.

I have never canoed before and gladly accepted the offer. I think I impressed Darren by actually wanting to get into the waters and continued to surprise myself by not capsizing once as I went down the quickly gushing river.

I felt a bit stupid canoeing in pantyhose/sweatpants/borrowed over-sized male runners and I got completely soaked but I absolutely loved it! I can't believe how much I had!!

P.S. I tried absinthe for the first time as one of the girls at the party had a small bottle of the green liquid. Everybody else seemed to be of the impression that it burned going down their throats, but I don't know what they were talking about!

Slumber-Party-BBQ, Canoeing and Absinthe makes for a Deadly Weekend

2011-06-16T15:34:00.000-07:00

I am sure that you have been able to see from a few of my recent postings that I am yearning for sun. As the Irish summer can be a bit of a let down, I have not been holding my breath for any fantastic summer weather.

All the moaning (not only from me but also by fellow country men and women) seems to have paid off as the last two weeks have been truly wonderful. The weekend before last was the first few days to feature a brightly burning sun and everybody went crazy buying lots of alcohol that the stores were churning out to the masses at discounted prices, and planning barbecues.

Darren is a friend I made at my last workplace and while we get on and gossip about things left, right and center, we have not seen each other for well over a year. Said friend decided that as I had broken up with my boyfriend and been stuck in a large remote house on my own with said ex, I was in serious need of getting out and having a lot of fun!

There were talks of a roadtrip and camping, but the final verdict was that I was going to get dragged to a barbecue at his friend's house.

Along came Friday and Darren picked me up from work. We drove to his friend's house and settled down around the neon coloured paddling pool which had been purchased in honor of the lovely weather. We sat in the warm sun drinking cold drinks and reluctantly started putting on layers of clothing as the sun retired into the horizon.

There were a few rounds of hamburgers and different types of meat, but I enjoyed the drunken batch the most, as it was past midnight and we were all crouching over the table, in the dark, clawing at the food and stuffing our faces like hamsters.

We lit a fire as it got late and sat around the welcoming warmth as we continued talking. I think I was put under a sailor spell as I can't recall ever telling that many dirty jokes/stories in one evening. Most of us staid up until around four in the morning but people retired to bed one by one and eventually so did I.

P.S. Deadly is Irish slang and means "cool".

Cotton Candy Coloured Clouds Make me Feel like a Child Inside

2011-06-14T12:20:00.000-07:00

Here's for a fun and a bit random question:

If the world was made of candy and you could chose which kind of candy it was made of, which type would you go for? I think I would have to say chocolate!

Everybody Thought we would Last

2011-06-13T16:18:00.000-07:00

I have been a bit absent from my blog as of late and I mentioned earlier that there has been a lot going on in my life. The main thing that has kept me distracted is the fact that unfortunately me and Karl broke up after over two years of dating.

I don't really know what to say about the whole thing other than this:

Splitting up with a person that has been a part of your life for such a long period of time is never an easy thing to do. Knowing it is the right decision does not make it any easier to deal with.

When I Buy a Home I want Roses Bushes growing in My Yard

2011-06-03T04:13:00.000-07:00

I took these really nice pictures of my outfit that I wore earlier this week, but I haven't really had time to post them until now. The cardigan and bag are both new and are quickly turning into dear favourites!

All the pictures were taken in the same evening, but it was getting late so I ran out of sunlight in the matter of minutes!

Red, Green, Yellow, Blue...

2011-06-02T15:12:00.000-07:00

I saw this beautiful church the other day when Karl was picking his son up for the weekend and he told me his parents had gotten married in it. I fell in love with the big, beautiful windows and returned a couple of days later in order to take pictures of the church. Unfortunately it had gotten a bit dark so the full effect of the colourful glass window was not seen, but I still got a few nice pictures.

I Want to Go Away

2011-05-28T05:31:00.000-07:00

I always have the strangest most bizarre dreams you could ever imagine. The one I woke up from tonight was not too strange: I dreamt that I was going on holiday to a warm and sunny place, but the person I was travelling with had lost their ticket so we were not able to board the plane. That would be an absolutely horrible thing to happen!

It's usually around this time of the year when the weather starts to become somewhat sunny, that you start feeling chained to your computer inside a dark office, and yearn for a holiday. It's the same thing every year and I'm currently experiencing this yearning for sun and palmtrees.

Let's yearn together:

Wilted Flowers Break my Heart

2011-05-28T05:18:00.000-07:00

You may have noticed already that I have a thing for bright colours. I'm not a big flower person though. I.e. if I receive flowers I appreciate the gesture but would have preferred chocolates: hands up all those that agree!

I don't mind taking pictures of flowers though as I'm a snapshot enthusiast. I saw these tiny but cute purple flowers that were already half wilted at Karl's dad's house last weekend.

There's something sad about seeing wilted flowers, isn't there?

The Big Twenty-Three

2011-05-26T12:40:00.000-07:00

It was my birthday yesterday! I wanted to make an actual posting on my actual birthday, as I have a tendency to never post about things on the same day they happen but I didn't... I did other naughty things as well, like eating too much cake, but I think that is allowed on your birthday.

During the day there was hugging, a few cheek kisses and a surprise desert given to me at lunch. ICO Anni got me the quaintest little card, people both sang and hummed happy birthday and Karl baked me a cake.

Anni X 3 on Anni's 22nd

2011-05-26T11:39:00.000-07:00

The hostel party that Anni hosted in honor of her birthday did not quite turn out as I had expected. I had thought that it would be kept in a bare room with bunk beds and that we would all be sneaking in, with the large risk of getting thrown out at any part of the evening looming over our heads at all times.

It turned out to be kept in the lobby of the hostel though, and there was no sneaking around. What a laid back and nice hostel, to allow the guests to bring friends that are loud and carry wine with them!

In case you were wondering what kind of awesomeness was written into Anni's beautiful birthday card, then you can have a read above!

Agent Anni was there. I have only recently gotten to know her but she is fun! ICO Anni took this picture, as she was also present!

Pilvi was there and we played paparazzi.

Birthday girl Anni was camera shy and didn't want pictures taken of her. She looked pretty either way though.

Everybody brought a bottle of wine and so we sat around in the lounge talking and drinking red wine. Talking + red wine = Never Fails.

Unfortunately I had to be boring and leave early and there were a lot of sad faces and hugging going around as we tried to tear ourselves apart from each other.

It was a lot of fun to be out with both Pilvi, Anni, Anni and... Anni. I wonder if we would have even more fun if me and Pilvi changed our names to Anni?!

Taking Pictures in the Dark when You're Drunk Can be a Challenge

2011-05-26T11:34:00.000-07:00

I have lived in Ireland for almost three years but am not as familiar with City Center (cc for short) as I should be. I tend to get lost and confuse certain familiar streets with others I thought I was familiar with. It's funny when you think about it, but I have always lived outside the city and never in the immediate heart of it. When I have gone into the city it has mostly been to my favourite pubs and bars. If I tag along with friends to dark and unknown places in the late hours of the evening, then you tend to be too caught up in talking/laughing to notice which street you are on.

Is it strange to be so unfamiliar with a place that seems so familiar?

The pictures were taken in town on Friday when I went in to celebrate Anni into her 22nd year. More postings are to follow up soon!

Great Friends and Mischief

2011-05-25T14:24:00.000-07:00

Pilvi was the first friend I made when I moved to Ireland almost three years ago. We used to live together in a house owned and occupied by a lovely Irish police detective called Jonathan.

We worked in the same company, but after my one year contract ended I decided to move to Spain and she went travelling to far away countries for a year. We've both been back in Ireland for quite some time now, but it's only recently we've found ourselves both working in the same company again.

We have a lot of catching up to do and a lot of undone mischief to make up for. Great adventures are ahead of us!

Flowers, Glitter and a Bow

2011-05-21T12:25:00.000-07:00

There used to be three people on my desk called Anni. One is still working as an agent, one was promoted to ICO and is now working alongside me, and the third Anni moved to Finland.

The third Anni didn't feel that she could stay away too long, as she is back in Ireland again and working in the same company. She has however been transferred to a different desk and is working in a different part of the building.

Yesterday was her birthday and she invited a few of the people from the desk to the hostel she was staying in for a hostel. I had images of us getting too happy, loud and drunk on wine and getting thrown out, but I have never been to a hostel party before and thought it sounded awesome.

When I went to buy her a birthday card I found this one and I swear that it is the most beautiful card I have ever seen.

Current Events turn Personal

2011-05-21T11:44:00.000-07:00

If you have been following the news lately, there might have been a mention of something which has been a very hot topic in Ireland: Queen Elizabeth II has been visiting Ireland for a number of days. I haven't really been following the whole ordeal in the media, but as far as I'm aware it is her first visit to Ireland. Due to politics and the troubled past between England and Ireland she has not set foot in this country until now, and not all people have been happy that she decided to do so.

There has been a lot of hassle for the people living in City Center, as there has been delays and changes in the train and bus schedules. There has also been parking bans and people have been urged to only travel in to the city by public transport. There were a few squeals from Anni as she learned that the Queen would visit Croke Park Stadium and was worried about encountering agressive people with bombs on her way home, as she lives a stone's throw from the Stadium.

As I left work yesterday I saw five massive monster helicopters chopping through the air. I doubt the Queen travels via Army Helicopter, but they must have been a part of the security measures that the country took in order to ensure the Queen would be safe.

It's certainly not every day that you see helicopters like this!

Roses covered in Dust

2011-05-19T14:00:00.000-07:00

The first bouquet of flowers I ever received from a boy is stored in the upstairs hallway of my family home in Finland. They are kept out for display and can be seen just as you climb up the the last few steps. They were covered in dust the last time I saw them. They were looking a bit battered as the petals seem to have fallen off one or two of the stems.

While the person that gave them to me did a lot of harm in my life, I still felt I couldn't throw the flowers away, as they were not the ones that had betrayed me.

The memories are long forgotten but it still feels reassuring that those roses are still in that white vase. Even though they are covered in dust and the petals are missing on one or two of the whitered stems.

Is the Irish Summer Over Already?

2011-05-18T16:07:00.000-07:00

The downside of living in Ireland is that the summer unfortunately only lasts about three days. The rest of the season is spent in envy of others and their sunshine as we go about our summer days in showers of rain.

Irish weather can be quite fascinating though, as it can change from sunshine to rain, to chilly winds, to rain, and this multiple times within a couple of hours. You never know what to expect but what you can be sure of though, is that you will most likely need your umbrella if you're going out.

Looking for Bundles of Energy

2011-05-18T15:07:00.000-07:00

Sometimes I find myself wishing I was preppy. That kind of person that most others find annoying simply for the fact that they have copious amounts of energy and bounce around tirelessly making us mere mortals feel inadequate. The kind of hyperactive person that Reese Witherspoon portrays in movies.

It hits me in the mornings when I press the "Snooze" button for the eleventh time, when I feel like spending my lunch break napping instead of eating and when I get home from a tiring day at work and the most productive thing I do all evening is to fall asleep and wake up close to midnight, only to retire back to bed: this time dressed in pajamas.

Does it sound familiar or am I the only one?

I will see you again some day

2011-05-17T15:19:00.000-07:00

I'm the kind of person that feels incomplete leaving the house with a teeny tiny clutch, as I'm the type that has an overwhelming need to carry everything I own with me at all times.

The last couple of days I have however done something out of character and sported a little pouch flung over my shoulder instead of the usual medium sized bag. The fact that I have carried a shopper bag with me to hold my lunch, book and water bottle has been of help as there is no way my cutesy little pouch would be able to hold these items. At least I have not started hyperventilating at the idea of not being able to carry trash, old receipt and two different types of deodorant with me though.

I've had this cute little bag for quite some time now, but due to it's size it has not yet been seen outside the immediate area that is surrounding my wardrobe. When I saw it I felt I had to buy it, as it featured a bow, was in lovely rust colour and was made of suede.

It appears I made a wise decision in purchasing it, as it has been with me the last couple of days and surely will for many more. The little sweetheart holds my brush, ample make up supply, iPod, phone, chewing gum and a small perfume bottle. What else would a girl need at work?

Ink and Needles

2011-05-16T15:06:00.000-07:00

I don't have any tattoos as I haven't felt strongly enough about any image that I would consider permanently etching it into my skin with ink. I don't mind other people having tattoos and a lot of them can be quite beautiful though.

I was with Karl when he got his second tattoo. He knew that he wanted a Celtic cross and I helped him to pick it out. The Celtic design meant a lot to him as he is Irish, and he was quite happy with the way the cross turned out.

Do you have any tattoos?

Little Furry Creatures that Melt your Heart

2011-05-15T14:43:00.000-07:00

Kitty has been looking a bit rounder as of lately and me and Karl were starting to wonder if she was pregnant. We debated back and forth on whether she was or not, but I guess that we can come agree that she was, as she gave birth to four little kittens this week.

Are they not cute????

Everybody Needs to Learn Something

2011-05-15T13:52:00.000-07:00

There has been no sign of me around these pages for quite some time now, (almost a month, eeek!) but there has been a lot going on in my life. I will let you in on more on that soon enough.

In the meantime, I can tell you what I did yesterday: I went to a photography course! When I bought my camera I got a voucher that entitled me to a free training course on how to use my camera. I booked myself a seat for the introductory course and as it was held yesterday, I headed into city center.

It was a three hour course held in a hotel conference room. It felt like a got a lot out of it, even though I know there is still a lot that I need to learn. As I'm sure you can tell by my blog (mostly pictures and not so much text), I am really interested in taking photographs and once the finances allow it, I would like to start a longer photography course.

Neon Lights, Balloons and Little Children

2011-04-25T03:02:00.000-07:00

I haven't done anything noteworthy this Easter other than watching movie marathons in bed and drinking cider.

Let's liven up the mood by looking at some pictures I took a couple of weeks ago at a Christening party.

Corina looked pretty in a 60's style dress.

The ceiling was colourful and very fun to look at!

Karl and his cousin Jessica.

The Christening was for Mark (Karl's brother) and Karen's baby Leah, and the pub in which the party was held had made a very sweet Cocktail Menu which included their names in the names of the drinks.

Jessica was a bundle of joy and a treat to watch on the dancefloor. She is so adorable!

Paul lights up the room.

Tony and Karl were trying to outshine each other in the art of wearing a hat.

Reliving Crazy Fearless Monkeys on a Wednesday

2011-04-20T15:56:00.000-07:00

I stayed home from work today because I wasn't feeling well. It left me with a lot of idle time on my hands and some of it was spent trying to clean up my computer a little bit.

I found a lot of pictures I had forgotten I had taken. Amongst the forgotten treasures are these images of some crazy monkeys that I snapped in Gibraltar.

Can you believe that this monkey is sleeping God knows how many meters above the sea, at the end of a pillar which overlooks the sea?!

Black is my Favourite

2011-04-17T13:18:00.000-07:00

You may remember from an earlier post that I wasn't able to decide what I wanted to do with my hair. I was so unable to decide in fact, that I haven't done anything since the posting of this specific entry in late January.

With my roots being over an inch, I thought it was time to do something, and as I still wasn't sure if I should take the step over to red or continue being a black haired girl, I opted for being boring and sticking to black.

I will leave the fiery red to Rihanna and her likes for the moment.

Let's Go for a Walk

2011-04-17T13:16:00.000-07:00

I went on a walk yesterday and took my camera with me. If you were wondering what you might see around you if you were to take a stroll through the Irish countryside, then this is some of what you might see.

Are You a Sleeping Beauty?

2011-04-17T10:49:00.000-07:00

I'm really terrible when it comes to sleeping late on weekends. While on working days I get up around 5 or 6 in the morning, I tend to get up around noon or later on the weekend!

There is nothing as seductive on a Saturday and Sunday morning as a cozy duvet and a cold pillow (you have to keep turning it).

Mustard, Bows and an iPod

2011-04-15T04:34:00.000-07:00

You can see my outfit peeking through in my earlier posts. While I did wear it on the weekend (I know, ages ago) it thought it was cute, so here are a few pictures. Oh and the iPod stuffed into my bra/dress seems to be a permanent feature these days.

Is the cardigan not too cute? Mustard and has big buttons and bows!

Someone Like You

2011-04-14T16:03:00.001-07:00

This song is simply beautiful, and so is Adele's voice. Pure Bliss.

The Drive Home

2011-04-14T16:03:00.000-07:00

As it was Sunday people had to head back home early, and we all drove off. Everybody else were going home and we were dropping Karl's son off to his mother.

Moose Meat and Babies

2011-04-14T16:02:00.000-07:00

Karl's family came over for dinner in our new house on Sunday.

We ate the moose meat which my dad had bought for me when I was in Finland. It has been in Karl's dad's freezer ever since we returned from the trip and I have been dying to try it as I had never tried moose meat before but heard wonderful things about it. The rumours were true as the meat was wonderful.

Milkshake

2011-04-14T06:01:00.000-07:00

It was incredibly warm this weekend. The sun was out and very warm and brought out all my summery happy thoughts. While the rest of the week has turned out to be grey and rainy, I can let these yummy pictures from last weekend warm me up. I just hope I don't have to wait too long for the next burst of summer!

By the way, the jeans that I'm wearing are my boyfriend's. Is it strange that we both have the same waist and chest measurement?

An Outfit: FRIDAY

2011-04-12T11:33:00.000-07:00

I wore my new heels on Friday and strutted around the office looking like this.

You will probably recognize my cardigan as it is my favourite and gets worn quite a lot!

Nom nom nom

2011-04-12T10:58:00.000-07:00

I played chef this weekend and did something which was a new experience for me: peeled and prepared prawns. I got inspired by a food magazine which I bought and prepared the above concoction:

Spicy garlic and chilli prawns with cherry tomatoes and mushrooms in a buttery sauce along with rice. I also made prawn toast.

It felt quite interesting and thrilling to prepare the prawn toast, as it is something that I love to eat but have only ever bought from takeaway restaurants.

Itsy Bitsy Spider...

2011-04-12T07:44:00.000-07:00

I'm not the type of girl to be squeamish over things that might make other more faint hearted girls fall over unconscious: growing up as a tomboy has that effect on a girl. I have to admit that I am not very fond of spiders though and find it very handy to have an eager cat that will take care of the creepy crawlies in our house.

Especially when you find huge spiders like this on your bathroom floor when you wake up!

Once you go Platform, you Never go Back

2011-04-11T04:30:00.000-07:00

To the disgruntled sounds of a boyfriend that knows his girlfriend has too many pairs of shoes, I bought a pair of grey lace up heels last week. While I usually don't like open toed shoes, I somehow fell in love with these.

They are grey and have lacing in the front, and have a platform in the front to make the high heel manageable to walk in. While they are one of my top three highest heels, they are the easiest to walk in. I tower above everbody else in these, but I don't wobble!

Dreamy Shades and Splashes of Bright

2011-04-04T04:21:00.000-07:00

Here are a few photographs which I took over the weekend and earlier in the week:

What do You do with all the Things that Cannot be Thrown Out?

2011-04-04T03:41:00.000-07:00

We still have no internet at home and while we would have had all the time in the world to continue unpacking this weekend: we did not.

The battery for my camera needs to be charged but the charger is of course lost in the sea of unpacked boxes that is waiting for our attention. There is not too much left to unpack, but a fair bit.

When unpacking, I have tried to arrange things logically and neatly. That is why one of the rooms downstairs that will act as a spare bedroom for future guests is currently under attack by leads ands cords of all kinds, and other technolgy which is not important enough to be needed, but not unuseful enough to be thrown out.

All this attention to being organized and I am still not able to find the charger for my camera battery though....

Dark Colours and Bright Shoes

2011-03-30T02:55:00.000-07:00

Sometimes it can be fun to mix patterns that seem to go together, even though they shouldn't. Yesterday I braved the morning fog and dressed in this short swallow print dress with my favourite cardigan and wore my mustard heels for the first time.

I think it's a sure tell tale sign that summer is approaching when it's possible to wear open toe strappy sandals and not suffer from toes falling off.

Away, Away to the New Place we Go

2011-03-30T00:41:00.000-07:00

I haven't been able to post in what feels like a decade. While I have felt frustrated not beeing able to post anything, I simply have not had the time. I think the pictures below will quite clearly show what I have been up to.

I have been busy moving! I have been very excited about the move but didn't mention anything about it before, as I thought the new place seemed too good to be true, and didn't want to be excited until I had actually moved in. As you can see from the last picture, even our cats were excited and voluntarily packed themselves into boxes.

Now that I have marked my territory with my multitude of junk, I will have to give you a tour of the place as soon as I can. As it usually goes, I will be stuck without internet in the new place for what I am sure will feel like millenniums, so posting will be somewhat limited. In the meantime I will be sneaking in entries at work.

The Emerald Isle

2011-03-17T16:51:00.000-07:00

It's Saint Patrick's Day and most of the Irish population have gone down in flocks to the pub to have a few.

I was working late today and the most interesting thing me and Karl did was to go into three of our local pubs after work, only to see that they were all too crowded and head back home.

In the lack of any interesting St. Paddy's celebrations, we can have a look at some pictures of Ireland instead.

There was Beer, Laughter and Dancing

2011-03-13T06:27:00.000-07:00

As promised, here are the rest of the pictures from our night out on Friday.

I was editing all of the pictures on Saturday and as I always give descriptive names to my pictures before I upload them, I for some reason seemed to have forgotten it was on Friday we went out so half of them say Saturday and the other half say Friday.

We all went to the pub after finishing at work, so some arrived there before others. Karl went over with Anna Karin and Hanna. We all had a few drinks and some people had a bite to eat.

Karl only stayed for a few hours. He had to leave for his Team Night Out which was in City Center. We all agreed that we would follow him in a bit later in the evening, but for some reason we just wound up staying where we were.

Anni with Tuomas in the background. The two of them along with me are the ICOs on our Desk. We're all Finnish so the Desk I work on has a Finnish ICO Team!

Anni, Anna Karin and Ossi. Ossi is from Finland and will be in Ireland for three months and help out on the Finnish Desk.

I'm not even going to explain what this is more than saying that it is The Travelling Lama!

Hanna was either really drunk or likes to pose for pictures because I took an endless amount of pictures of her.

A lot of the pictures which I took later on when it became dark became blurry, as I still need to learn how to use my camera properly. The effect of it was nice in some pictures though, like this one.

I like this picture of Anna Karin but I can't really explain why.

I don't know why we don't go out more often from work. We definately should because it was a lot of fun.

We stayed out until about one o'clock while some people left a bit earlier for various reasons. Sampsa only arrived later in the evening but everybody loved him. I was dancing along with him and Anna Karin in front of the band for a good while, and the singer kept taking pictures of us. I can only imagine what those will look like.

When We all Went to the Irish Pub on Friday

2011-03-12T10:29:00.000-08:00

Most of the Scandinavian people from my Desk at work went out yesterday. We met up after work at a pub which I had been to once before. While I thought we would only stay for a few drinks, most of us wound up staying the whole night.

While these are only a few pictures and there will be more tomorrow, my official excuse is that I'm heading out into City Center for Natacha's Birthday Party. The real reason is that all of these were taken with a flash, while the others were not, and I simply couldn't arrange for them to appear in a segment that allowed me to keep the atmosphere that I wanted.

So, here is a preview on how much fun we had, and you can see the rest tomorrow!

Anna Karin is kissing... what appears to be me, on the cheek.

Tomi and Tuula in the background with me and Hanna in one of the million pictures we took together.

Anni had a beautiful set of freshly coloured locks.

Anna Karin got a bit frisky and molested some of us during the night. I like her cheeky grin in this picture.

Sampsa joined us at the end of the night. I don't really know him that much as he is quite new on our Desk, but he is a lot of fun to be around and seems to have an endless amount of energy.

You can Never get Enough Bows in your Life

2011-03-10T14:52:00.000-08:00

I came home today to find that I had received this adorable ring in the post. Purchased from eBay, it is amazingly cute and I think it will be adoring my fingers quite a lot in the future.

While I love the bow part of the ring, it is a bit disappointing that it is in a gold colour as I prefer jewelery in silver. It is a bow though and I really could not have enough of bows!

Surrounded by a Million Snowflakes

2011-03-10T11:51:00.000-08:00

Here are a few more pictures I took in Finland close to where I went to school.

A Trip to Finland without Playing in the Snow is not a Real Trip

2011-03-09T13:58:00.000-08:00

Candy as Sweet as Candy

2011-03-07T15:49:00.000-08:00

Karl saw these candy bars in the store today. He used to eat them when he was a kid and hadn't seen them in the shops for a long time and had to buy them. I find them incredibly cute with their retro and colourful design.

Maybe they should make more candy that's as cute as this?

Shadows on the Walls

2011-03-07T15:29:00.000-08:00

While I am incredibly happy to have a new upgraded camera and find a lot of the features incredibly handy, it can be a bit frustrating as I sometimes am not technical enough to know how to use it. I already know what my birthday present will be though, as I have been promised a photography course by Karl. As my birthday is in May, it is not too long of a wait.

In the meantime, I still need to learn how to take pictures in the dark without the flash.