All things nice...

Wedding Flowers .....

2012-01-29T18:52:00.000Z

I always said I wanted blue hydrangeas for my bridal bouquet but I can't get them this time of year, then I spotted lily of the valley, but the florist told me they are very expensive. So I settled for daisies and I loved them but alas I can't get them either. So I will have to settle for something else. Here's a few images I loved...

What I've been up to...

2012-01-27T20:17:00.001Z

Hello everyone, I got internet access at last! Hope you are all enjoying the new year, one month almost gone already- how time flies! Since I lasted blogged properly, I have got a new job which is going well. I have also moved to my new house hence the lack of blogging lately as I had no internet access. We are settled in now. I cant find my camera battery charger so have no photographs of the house for you yet. These days I am organising the wedding, one month to go. We got engaged in September and have been very busy planning. This weekend, I'm getting the bridesmaids dresses altered at the dressmakers and then going to look at flowers. I also have to finalise the text for the wedding booklet and next weekend hopefully get my wedding dress from the shop and buy shoes. We also have the tasting at the hotel next weekend.

I'm loving life at the new home and after work most evenings I go up to the farm, I don't do much but I like the fresh air and the baby calves are cute too :) I hope you have all been well and that you haven't given up hope on me blogging again.

I have lots of catching up to do on your blogs!

Missing you all

2012-01-22T15:00:00.000Z

Still waiting for internet connection at my new home so I haven't been around blogland lately. Very busy organising the wedding. Hope you are all keeping well and hopefully I'll be back in blogland soon :)

I miss catching up on all your blogs : (

Question- problem with blog?

2012-01-04T14:57:00.000Z

My blog doesn't seem to be working right, does anyone know how I can get my gadgets on the right hand side of the page to work? Does anyone know if I change to one of the new layouts will I loose my existing layout information i.e. my border, header, etc..

Some Shabby Chic Items....

2012-01-04T14:33:00.000Z

Cottage decor rustic love sign and wooden hearts shabby chic, Sconce cottage vase all from

Old New Again, Rustic wood shelf from Southern Wood.

Prettiness....

2011-12-23T11:12:00.000Z

Join me for a tea party by allthingsnice featuring mesh earrings

I'm spoiled...

2011-12-22T13:24:00.000Z

My good friends got me these lovely Cath Kidston mugs as an engagement present. I love them, I suppose you could say I love all things Cath Kidston but they are a treat for me, as I find they are on the expensive side. I did treat myself to the bluebell hand cream earlier in the week too!

Some winter clothes

2011-12-21T18:09:00.000Z

Here are some of my new winter clothes. I've starting moving at last, have all my kitchen ready now including dinnerware and glassware. Bedroom furniture arriving in the morning, lots of packing to do now! One of my friends called today with a big hamper full of goodies and new saucepan set. I was delighted with them. Also got my proof wedding invitations today which I am happy with. Christmas is almost here, hope you have all your presents wrapped.

All that glitters...

2011-12-20T17:55:00.000Z

Today I love...

Glittery high heel shoes, do you like them?

Have some wonderful weekends

2011-12-19T20:49:00.000Z

Here is a lovely book to have on your coffee table, just to pick up and take some inspiration from. It would make a great Christmas present too. I hope you are all near ready for Christmas. This day next week is Christmas Eve! How do you spend your Christmas Eve? Do you relax with family and friends? Or perhaps you always forget some presents or cards and need to run to the shops to do some last minute shopping? Do you prepare some of your Christmas dinner?

Made By Girl Inspiration...

2011-12-17T13:41:00.000Z

How adorable are these posters and prints, they are really vibrant and very stylish too. To check out more of this range visit Made by Girl. Made By Girl is owned by Jen Ramos and is a real inspiration to women. She does custom art, prints and greeting cards and also sells her original art via Cocoa and Hearts

{All items from Made By Girl}

Goodbye Suki...

2011-12-16T20:41:00.003Z

Our little cat Suki has been ill over the last week, we brought her to the vets and she was on antibiotics, but two days ago she went outside and has not returned. The weather was very cold last night with snow and Suki still has not returned, it is almost 48 hours since she left. I'm afraid that poor Suki has passed away. She wouldn't be able to survive the cold weather, we have checked everywhere for her but she is gone.

Goodbye my good friend, I will miss you loads.....

Pretty Christmas Posters

2011-12-13T11:56:00.000Z

Apologies everyone I don't have the source for these images, as I saved them last year, but if any of you know where I picked them up, please let me know and I'll source them. Thanks. Hope it's beginning to get festive where ever you are!

My spare bedroom...

2011-12-12T12:11:00.001Z

Some images of items you will find in my spare bedroom. I spent this afternoon cleaning floors, cleaning my new kitchen units, trying to order wedding invites and moving a few items to the new home. What have you been up to? I am finished with my job and starting my new job in January so that gives me a bit of time to start ticking items of my "to do" list. Tomorrow I want to try and move some furniture to the new house but it is so wet I may have to wait until the rain clears.

Net curtains, are they a thing of the past?

2011-12-10T13:02:00.001Z

I don't think so!!! I love them, check out these beautiful ones from IKEA. I think they are so delicate and pretty and really add to any window. They are not as cold and imposing as roller blinds and are easily washable.

{All images from IKEA}

Some retail therapy...

2011-12-09T20:27:00.001Z

Today I went to Ikea and picked up these items below which in total cost just over €20.00! Total bargains I think. The little hearts are Christmas decorations but could be hung in the home throughout the year. The coffee table was just over €8.00, for that money I couldn't leave it behind and I think it will look nice in the living room. Finally I bought the step stool as I am only 5'2 and need steps for the top presses in the utility. It's the weekend again and Christmas isn't far away now. I'm off to clean out the downstairs of my new home tomorrow. There is a Christmas market on at the weekend that I may also attend. Hope you all have a nice weekend :)

2011-12-09T20:18:00.001Z

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Curtain material....

2011-11-29T20:32:00.001Z

I have picked this material for my curtains in the snug. We have two windows and my aunt makes curtains so she will be making them for us :) They are traditional, both nice and bright too :)

Sorry I haven't blogged in soo long, I am really busy, almost ready to move house, I'm still organising our wedding and on top of that I had an interview and I have got a new job which I will be starting in the new year, so it is really busy. It will be a new chapter in my life-new house, new job and new husband in February :) Hope you will all continue to follow my blog and my adventures in my new home, new job, almost a new life....

Mirror mirror on the wall

2011-11-20T19:20:00.001Z

Today we stopped by Argos and bought this mirror for my downstairs toilet. I thought it was pretty. Hope you all had a nice weekend. It's great just to get some time off work and time to relax.

Some more country friends...

2011-11-19T13:33:00.001Z

Here are a few more of my new neighbours when I move house.

How cute....

2011-11-15T21:08:00.001Z

How cute are these wee owl book ends? I love them, they are from Laura Ashley. I cannot find the lead for my camera charger so I have no new photos to share with you. Hope you are all having a nice weekend :)

Almost ready to move....

2011-11-13T22:38:00.001Z

Some images of my new home below. We are still waiting to get the electricity connected but apart from that we can start to move in. We are really looking forward to it. I have been designing my wedding invitations tonight too :) I think they are looking nice too, if I must say so myself.

Canopy and tiles in the kitchen

New wood beam in place. I am picking wallpaper for the two side walls, rather than paint the walls different colours.

New stairs in place, there are men varnishing them this week, they are almost finished. We haven't decided if we are going to put carpet up the middle yet.

Doors varnished, the glass is ready to be installed this week.

Things are progressing so quick. I have so many things to do this week, the list is getting longer day by day.

Light up my new home...

2011-11-12T13:14:00.001Z

Hello all, hope you are having a nice weekend, the sun is shining here in Ireland which is great. Below are images of some of the new lighting in my new home, hope you like it :) I will have some new photographs on the progress for you soon, we are almost finished now. We have painters varnishing the stairs and doors today and then have two wooden floors to lay and once the electricity is connected, we are ready to move!!

Light for snug

Light for dining area

Light for over the kitchen island

Light for entrance hall

A nice smell hanging around....

2011-11-09T19:25:00.001Z

I bought this at the weekend along with my new dining table, it's a pretty cinnamon scented tassle. It smells lovely and it will hang in my new home with all my other treasures :)

Baby's Breath Bouquet...

2011-10-31T20:47:00.001Z

I recently came across these baby's breath bouquets and think they are beautiful! So delicate and pretty and cost effective too. I love them!

Inspiration...

2011-10-31T12:53:00.000Z

Today is a bank holiday here in Ireland. Happy Halloween to everyone, next stop Christmas. Here are a few images that I love... So pretty and full of colour....

Soon ready to get cooking....

2011-10-29T19:31:00.000+01:00

Some more images of my new kitchen and utility. The middle photograph is the utility and the other two are of my new kitchen. I am still awaiting the legs for my canopy and my washing machine. Hope you are all having a nice weekend. It's a bank holiday here in Ireland so I'm really pleased about that :)

Wallpapers....

2011-10-25T21:43:00.001+01:00

I am on the lookout for some nice wallpaper for my snug. I have a stove with a wooden beam over it and there are two small alcoves each side. The room is painted a cream colour and I was looking for wallpaper for the two walls each side of the chimney area. Check out all of the lovely wallpapers below which I like, all from Laura Ashley. Which one do you like most?

Bathroom basics...

2011-10-23T13:29:00.000+01:00

Items for my new bathroom, will soon be ready to be installed. I'm just waiting on the tiling to be finished. They are both from Ikea.

My kitchen update...

2011-10-15T14:14:00.000+01:00

Here is the double doors leading to the sun room and the snug from the dining area in the kitchen. My table will be positioned under the fisherman light fitting. At the minute the electrician has the light up high but when work finishes it will be lowered to go over the table. Sorry for the poor quality photographs.

Here is a photograph of my new cooker and canopy. I am awaiting the hob to go in yet and then it will be tiled at the back

Here is a view further down of the kitchen. This photograph is taken from an unusual angel but you can see it anyway. Again there will be tiled under the units and there is some bits of the walls still be touched up with paint.

Here is a photograph of my island, again the lighting needs to fixed to the right height.

Here is my dresser on the opposite wall, it will have glass shelves in it.

So that's a quick tour of my new kitchen. Once the hub is in and the tiling is done, there is just a bit of touching up on the paint and that's it complete.

My new dining table...

2011-10-14T18:40:00.001+01:00

Here is a photograph of a similar dining table and chairs that I have ordered. It is antique french cream with walnut top. The one in this photograph is white in colour. It should be in the shop within the next few weeks. I'm on the lookout for a nice table runner to go on it.

Cookery book...

2011-10-12T22:52:00.002+01:00

My mam picked up this nice book for me for my new home, you'd never have guessed- I'm not a cook cook/chef but I will improve in time :) Hope you are all having a nice week. I'm really enjoying my week off work and getting lots of house and wedding planning done :-)

Wedding venue booked, wedding dress bought!

2011-10-11T18:17:00.000+01:00

Hope you are all having a nice week. I took this week off work as I have a lot of planning to do. I bought my wedding dress today, it will be ready in January. My kitchen is almost installed now and all the interior doors are hung in the house. We bought all the tiles for the bathrooms yesterday. My wallet is getting a good bashing this week.

I also booked my wedding venue, it will be a traditional church wedding with a castle reception. I am having three bridesmaids- two close friends and one of my new sister in laws. Our Church is very small and is located on the lake shore. Have a look at the reception venue where we will have an arrival reception with canapes and drinks, then 5 course meal later in the evening, followed by a band, then evening buffet, then a dj to finish the night off at which stage I will be exhausted. That's the norm here in Ireland. I hope you like my venue. I think it's fit for a princess : ) The venue was expensive but I have cut back on many of the other items. I am not having a video, my friends will drive us, my wedding dress was a total bargain, I am trying to get a photographer for an hour or two and need to arrange invitations which I might do myself. I have looked at Wedding Chicks DIY invites and I like them. Tomorrow on my to do list, I have to go and suss out bridesmaid dresses and invitations. Hope you are all having a nice week and you have better weather than us- it has rained non stop all week!

Busy, busy, busy, work, wedding & new home....

2011-10-09T13:13:00.000+01:00

What have I been up to lately?? Well where do I start. I had to work from 9 in the morning until 10 at night three nights this week and work the 5 days. I am trying to organise the wedding, I have the hotel provisionally booked and the band booked. I am taking this week off work and have lots of things to do. I have to look at a wedding dress on Tuesday to decide if I'll buy it. The house is really coming together, the kitchen is fitted, just the counter tops and handles left to put on. The utility is ready too. So myself and my boyfriend have to buy tiles tomorrow for the bathroom walls.

At the minute I am trying to decide on wedding invitations. In Ireland we don't use Save the Date cards just the invitations. I am in two minds as to buy them or make them myself. Below are a few invitations from Special Day Direct and Wedding Paper Divas which I like, but I have also been looking at Wedding Chicks for their free DIY Invitations. Do you know of any other free DIY wedding invitations template I could take a look at, if so please let me know. I will update my blog with some photographs of the new house this week too so you can see the progress. Hope you are all having a nice weekend!

All things rural....

2011-10-02T12:40:00.000+01:00

At work last week I had to go to the National Ploughing Championships which is a showcase of Irish agricultural and rural industry. You can see all types of ploughing at it but some people go to it and never see any ploughing as they just visit all the stalls and exhibits. Last year around 180,000 people visited this three day event and it is now in its 80th year. It is one of Europe's largest outdoor exhibitions and agricultural trade shows with around 1,000 exhibitors. If your looking for anything agricultural related you'll see it there! I bought a few handmade items including one of these lovely handcrafted contemporary jugs by Thomas Diem in the food and craft village. It will look lovely on my new dresser!

Choosing the right wedding dress....

2011-09-30T18:46:00.001+01:00

I knew it would be difficult but I wish I could find a wedding dress I like that isn't almost €2,000. I have visited two bridal shops and picked three dresses I like the most expensive was €2,300 and the cheapest was €1,750. I cannot and will not justify spending that kind of money on a dress that I will wear once. As I am a UK size 8 and 5 foot 2 inches tall, weighing less than 8 stone, I am smallish. As a result I would like a figure hugging dress, not an A line or flowing dress. I have noticed that a lot of the dresses have folds of fabric across the front which I do not like. I also do not want a strapless dress as I would not be comfortable in it. So that limits me to a tight dress with some type of strap (not a tiny spaghetti strap though that looks like an after thought) and no sweetheart necklines. Fussy your thinking and you are probably right. So below are the three nicest dresses I have seen but they are all over my budget

The above dress is Mon Cheri Kali which is very detailed and has a very long train. It is quite heavy on too. I like the style though and also the neckline as it is not too low. I would have to get this dress taken up at the front though.

This is Novia d'Art Daniella, I love this lace dress, very figure hugging. It is the most expensive and the one that is way over my budget but it was the nicest on me. I loved it. The only thing I'd like to change would be the level the belt is at, I think it may be nicer higher up. The only way I could get this dress is if it was second hand and cheaper.

The final dress is totally difficult than the two dresses above. It is Ritva Westenius Beatrice. It is a classsic looking dress, very simple and elegant. The bridesmaids dresses would have to be very simple and I think it may be a little plain for me. I have shortish hair so perhaps I would look very plain in it.

I would love to see what you all think of the dresses above, as I said the three of them are over my budget but I think my budget is probably unrealistic. I have looked online at american websites selling imitation dresses but I would be afraid that they are different fabric and would not fit properly. Have you any feedback, suggestions or links to photographs of the above dresses or any other dresses you like or think are similiar.

Some presents I received ....

2011-09-25T22:20:00.001+01:00

Take a look at some of the beautiful engagement presents I have received which include Cath Kidston napkins, Cath Kidston double duvet set and pillow cases, farm tea pot, country cottage coasters, a whistling kettle, oven glove and set of towels. How lucky am I!! My plans are coming together, I have a provisional date booked at the hotel, need to check availability of bands, have my bridesmaids picked and have looked at some wedding dresses. Sorry for the lack of posting and blog visits to your blogs lately but I am very busy with work, the new house and the wedding plans.

I got engaged...

2011-09-13T13:04:00.001+01:00

Good news everyone, I was away for the weekend and I got engaged. I am waiting for my ring to be resized but will post a photograph of it when I get it. I have a lot of planning to do and hopefully we can get married in early 2012. So my shopping has been refocused from interiors to wedding dresses in the coming weeks... Sometimes I wish I had a little fairy that could wave a wand and do lots of things for me, but alas I am on my own with this one!! As you can see from my blog which started out as all things nice... it has now become more of a journey with me but of course it is still all things nice....
If you know of any nice wedding websites let me know, I have looked at wedding chicks and also at DIY downloadable wedding invitation templates. I would be grateful if you could let me know of any other nice wedding websites. Many thanks

Some more bargains....

2011-09-08T21:52:00.000+01:00

Ok before everyone says oh I love the fabric, my fabric is all cream/ gold but the frame is the exact same. I purchased a brand new two seater and two single chairs at the weekend for €400. I don't have the stool or the table.

I also got a set of these for my kitchen along with a biscuit jar, jug, egg cups and coasters for under €40

And a jar similiar to this one, without the lines on the glass for €2.00

I am off for a weekend break this weekend, so hope you all have a nice weekend and I'll be back Sunday :)

Shine some light....

2011-09-07T20:38:00.000+01:00

I went to a closing down sale at the weekend and got this light fitting for just over €50.00 which I think was a good bargain. I think I will put it either in the sitting room or in our bedroom. I also bought lots of other bits for the house and will show you some photographs of them soon. Hope you are all having a nice week!

2011-09-02T20:00:00.000+01:00

Take a peep through the hedge and look what you will find :)

Yes... My new home :)

I will update you with some photographs soon.

There are still items to be finished off including the doors which we are waiting on, the stairs and the light switches/light fittings

Tea Time...

2011-09-01T01:30:00.000+01:00

{Pink and Fluffy}

{Fields of Blue}

{Unknown}

{Tesco}

My word cloud...

2011-08-28T12:43:00.000+01:00

My friends sent me this cute word cloud of my blog. I'm going to print it off and put it in my new kitchen which is green :) Have you any word clouds?

Come for a stroll with me...

2011-08-23T20:19:00.000+01:00

This is just up the road from my new home, a short hop, skip and jump...

Along the lake shore, taking in all the scenery as you go...

the views, the tranquility...

along the gravel path...

and back home again...

and then to sit down and look at this out the back window...

Oh to live in the countryside and take it all in!!

Before and after images....

2011-08-22T20:08:00.000+01:00

Some before and after images, not quiet finished yet though!

1 and 2 are images of my main entrance hall which is double height, I have yet to get my stairs,as you can see from the images above we have moved the old wooden steps out and replaced with a ladder for a while. Number 3 is my study/library which is up in the eaves. It's my hidden room and all that is left is the light, skirting board and door. I used some laminate flooring my dad had left over from his house.

My porch has stone....

2011-08-18T21:00:00.000+01:00

The exterior of the house is progressing very slowly. We decided to put stone on the porch and here it is! It was too expensive to put it all over the front so I think the porch built in stone adds a bit of character to the house. Excuse the mess outside!

Some new friends....

2011-08-15T16:54:00.000+01:00

Just to cheer you all up on a Monday :)

Bedroom Furniture.....

2011-08-13T19:18:00.000+01:00

Today I went to look at some bedroom furniture and I saw this range which I think I will buy? What do you think of it? What type of furniture have you in your bedroom? I also got my floor tiles for downstairs delivered today :)

Transformation....

2011-08-09T20:31:00.000+01:00

Here is the transformation photographs of the old chair I found in the garage, what do you think? It's my first furniture make over and I love it! It took two undercoats and one gloss. I think it turned out well and my dad just told me there are another 3 in the garage attic. This one is going in my spare bedroom. Have you any furniture transformations to share with me. I want to put a nice baby blue or pink cushion on it. I have a cushion which would be nice but it is slightly too big, see below

Some Cute Cushions...

2011-08-07T11:43:00.000+01:00

How pretty are these cushions all under €20.00 from Heatons, my favourite is the the one on the top left- so delicate and sweet isn't it? I hope you are all having a lovely weekend where ever you are!

Hello everyone...

2011-08-04T20:23:00.000+01:00

Hello all, hope you are all well. The weather is miserable in Ireland, very clammy but with heavy showers. I hope you are all having a better Summer. The weekend arrives again tomorrow and I am taking Monday off work so I get another nice long weekend. I came across this lovely inspiration from Cath Kidston's website which I love, but I doubt my budget will stretch that far, I'll be lucky to have one or two pieces from her range.

I have more exciting plans up my sleeve which I will share with you all at a later stage.

Kitchen style...

2011-08-01T19:37:00.000+01:00

Some photographs of the interiors of my kitchen. The tiles featured above are the ones I am going with, they are atrium brillo paisley I think! I have painted oak units and a wood effect worktop. I hope to paint the walls a green colour and the floor is Denver Porcelain tiles like those above. In the other half of the kitchen we will have wood effect and the dining table will go there. Let me know what you think? And be honest, I won't take it personally :)

My new bathroom...

2011-08-01T12:57:00.000+01:00

Hello everyone! We have a long weekend here in Ireland and I took Friday off work too, It is great to just get some time to do some work of my own. Yesterday we went to Ikea and I picked up the above cabinets from the Flaren range- well at least I think that's what it's called. I also picked out floor covering and possibly the tiles above to go along with white tiles. My bathroom is painted nordic breeze which turned out blue so I have to work around that now. It is nice enough though. What have you all been up to?

Some kitchen inspiration....

2011-07-17T22:03:00.000+01:00

Hope you are all having a nice weekend. Above are a few inspiration images for my new kitchen. I have picked a solid oak painted almond kitchen with wooden worktops, similiar to the images above. My cooker canopy will be similiar to the one above as well. I was going to put Dulux Duck egg on the walls but when I put the tester on, it was very blue so I'm thinking of going for the Dulux Renaissance colour above. I also hope to get a nice oilcloth like the floral one above and lots of nice accesories :)

Painting old chairs...

2011-07-12T20:43:00.000+01:00

Sanded old chair

One undercoat finished yesterday. I also gave it another undercoat today so hopefully tomorrow I will put the top coat on. This chair is a set of 4 old chairs that was hiding away in the shed. I hope to put a nice cushion on it and it should look nice in one of my new bedrooms.

A little bit of reading to relax...

2011-07-11T15:05:00.000+01:00

Hello everyone. I took today off work and have been very busy cleaning out the rooms in my new home. I'm also sanding the window boards and door jams. Hope you are all having a nice Monday. The weather is nice enough here in Ireland. This weekend I have been reading a book from Dublin Author Maeve Binchy, I'm flying through it and will have it finished by mid week. It's an easy read. I also have two other nice books that I'll share with you once I finish this one. That's my quick update, I'm off now to do more sanding and cleaning.

Some shopping....

2011-07-09T13:08:00.001+01:00

Yesterday I took the day off work and spent the day with my mother. We decided to take a look around the shops and above are some of my purchases, both from Monsoon and both half price :) One loves a bargain! :) Hope you are all having a nice weekend. Good news- I also took Monday off work too so I have an extra long weekend :)

Progress with the new home... painting has commenced...

2011-06-28T20:45:00.000+01:00

Here are a few update photographs on progres with our new home. I took the photographs looking towards the radiators which will be located to the side of the beds. I have to buy flooring and more paint this weekend.

Master Bedroom in blue.

Bathroom which was meant to be Nordic Breeze a grey colour but when put on wall is more a shade of blue. I will get part of the bathroom tiled around the bath, shower and wash hand basin.

Spare Bedroom this room is painted all white but looks a little cream in this photograph. My boyfriend says he'd need to wear sunglasses going into this room but I assure him I will make it look nice.

Part of walk in wardrobe. I hope to have rails on this end and the opposite end and dressing table along the middle of the wall.

Spare bedroom 2. We painted this room Magnolia, again the bedwill room down along the front of the radiator.

Spare bedroom 3 again another bedroom painted cream.

This is my wee Study/ Library where I will keep all my books, papers and craft materials. This will be my hideaway.

Sunroom with high ceiling. This ceiling will be covered in wood and I would like one of the large IKEA light fittings for in here.

Garage

Stove in Snug. Sorry about the untidiness. We are buying a wooden beam for over the stove.

Utility area for sink, washing machine, microwave and storage leading to garage.

Dining area looking into sunroom.

Kitchen area. The sink will be along the window on the left hand side and the hob and cooker between the two windows.

Another view of kitchen. In the right corner I will have units and to the left of the door I will have a dresser unit and an island in the middle with seating.

Sitting Room which I have no yet decided what colour to paint.

So that's the update for you all, sorry it looks very disorganised. I have no photographs of the hallway entrance or landing area, storage room/hot press or down stairs toilet.

The Watermill

2011-06-27T21:46:00.000+01:00

On Sunday we went for a drive and went here to take a look at the lovely Watermill Restaurant which we hope to go to soon. It has French Irish cuisine. It is beautiful, isn't it? Look at the thatch and the lovely landscaping.

To find out more visit the Watermill homepage

Creating a home...

2011-06-25T13:31:00.001+01:00

Hello everyone. I have been really busy with work and the new home. Last weekend I had a wedding and party to attend. We are still painting away in the new home, looks like it is never ending. The good news is, I now have the wood burning stove installed and have yet to see it though. I will take a trip up there today and take some photographs to share with you. I have been thinking about my kitchen which is ordered now and I really want some oilcloth for the kitchen table. So here are a few of Cath Kidston oilcloths which I love

{All images from Cath Kidston}

Handles...

2011-06-19T19:51:00.000+01:00

I haven't had much time for blogging lately. I was at a wedding yesterday and a party today and during the week after work I'm busy making decisions on the house. I bought my internal doors this week, knotty pine cottage doors with the above handles for a modern twist. Painting is almost finished upstairs so I need to pick flooring next weekend. I'm thinking wooden floors for all the rooms upstairs apart from the bathroom. I hope you are all keeping well and apologies if I haven't stopped by your blogs in awhile but I will catch up soon :)

Today I love Wilson Grapics Etsy Shop- Wall Decor

2011-06-13T20:50:00.000+01:00

I came across these amazing etsy shop while looking around at wall decor online. As you all know I am currently trying to get my new home painted, and then look what I found- these delightful wall decals. They would really brighten up some of the rooms in my new home- particularly the bedrooms and study. They are also very reasonably priced. Check out Wilsongraphics (on Etsy). It is a family run business which has been featured in Better Homes and Gardens, Romantic Country and many more home decor publications.They have a wide selection of designs and styles to suit everyones taste and for every room. From cute sweet animals to delicate floral and funny designs. For the travellers out there, check out the portholes. My favourites are the star bunting, the chandeliers and Alice in Wonderland themes!

Right now they are offering a discount to first time customers. Use coupon WELCOME20 to save 20% off your entire order.

{All images from Wilson Graphics}

Shopping for my new home..

2011-06-11T20:00:00.000+01:00

Evening all, hope you are all having a nice weekend. Today I went and ordered the doors for my new home. Here are the ones I settled on below. They are knotty pine and hopefully will look nice

And I'm thinking of handles along these lines

And I went looking at furniture today as there is a sale on. Four rooms nearly fully painted and flooring next :) So tomorrow I'm bringing boyfriend to look at 2 nice suites of furniture for the snug and the sitting room. I also saw a beautiful dressing table that I love.. What have you all been up to??

Some views from home...

2011-06-09T19:34:00.001+01:00

Here are a few views I took while on my way home from Sligo last weekend. As I always say "the best part about going away is coming home" :)

If you love Ireland and Art, check out this online shop......

2011-06-07T20:53:00.001+01:00

iLoveMayo is a showcase for artists, photographershttp and craftspeople living and working in County Mayo in the west of Ireland. Their art ranges from paintings and prints to photographs and crafts. They are all so creative and unique. Here are two of my favourites from their online shop

{Papercut map of Ireland from iLoveMayo}

{Aw go on! Time for tea poster from iLoveMayo}

A Poet, Church & Tearooms...

2011-06-06T14:28:00.000+01:00

We visited the grave of well known Irish poet W. B Yeats who is buried in Drumcliffe County Sligo. I took some photographs to share with you all. It is a lovely wee church. There is also a gift shop and tearooms next to the church which was full of tourists. The church was once part of a monastic site and you can see some of the ruins of the monastery and the high crosses in my photographs.

I love the photograph above but the street light really ruins it on me :( If only I could delete it!

Here is a view of the interior of the church which was restored in 1999. It is a Church of Ireland Church.

Some detail from the walls of the church.

An exeterior view of the church. Yeat's grave is to the left hand side of the church entrance.

Interior painting over the alter of the church.

And finally some ruins of the monastery.

A few photographs I took on my night away....

2011-06-05T13:50:00.000+01:00

Hello everyone, you must of all thought I had disappeared, my blog wasn't working correctly for a few days. I have been busy with work and the new house. The plastering is finished, my kitchen is ordered and I'm ready for the internal doors and skirting. I have some rooms painted too. I went to my parents holiday home for a night and here are a few scenic photographs of the area...

What are you all up to this weekend. Sorry I haven't commented on many blogs lately as my blog wasn't working correctly but I'm back in action now :)

More progress on my new home & life in general....

2011-05-28T19:29:00.000+01:00

Sorry for the lack of posting lately. I'm very busy with work and planning the new house. I'm still painting the new house, I have most of the ceilings upstairs painted and today I went to the local hardware store to pick paints. I saw this lovely Nordic Breeze paint and thought oh yes that would look lovely in my bathroom ...

I thought it was a nice grey colour as per the inspiration booklet but it's much more blue than it first looked so I am going to pick a different paint for the bathroom, perhaps a greyer colour. I picked Little Blue for our bedroom as shown below. I like this shade of blue for the room along with the white ceilings as it is very calming. One of the other bedrooms is all white and I'm thinking Magnolia for some of the others. The study, walk in wardrobe and the storage room will be white also. I ordered my kitchen this week too :) Got the granite for under my wood burning stove as well. Almost all walls inside are now plastered.

I'm picking paint from Dulux so if any of you have any recommendations along with images of your rooms in those colours I would love to see them as I don't really know what to use and also they look alot different on the walls than in the booklet.

This is how my stove surround should look when completed- I'm hoping anyway!

Next I have to buy all internal doors.

I also bought a new car earlier this month as I do so much travelling for work and petrol was getting so expensive, I bought a diesel one, I'll get better expenses now too.

As you can imagine I am trying to save every penny/ cent I have now. Hope you are all having a lovely weekend. The weather is dull enough here in Ireland. What are you all up to for this weekend?

Tea Pot Lane...

2011-05-22T13:27:00.000+01:00

This Summer why not escape to Tea Pot Lane Luxury Campsite in rural Ireland. It looks so pretty :)

{All images from Tea Pot Lane Luxury Camping}

Some Impressive Properties in Ireland

2011-05-20T20:02:00.001+01:00

{All images from Former Glory}

A look at the greenhouse...

2011-05-20T18:42:00.000+01:00

Some strawberries, almost ripe, I don't eat them too, they are too sweet for me

A mix of cabbage

And lots of lecture leaves

And finally some flower power which will be going out front of my brother's house soon

Kitchen decisions...

2011-05-17T20:48:00.000+01:00

I have a plan got for my kitchen and having googled images on the internet I came across these images below that are very like my proposed kitchen. The cooker hood will be almost the same except I will have an oven underneath and spice drawers at the side of it. My island will be straight not curved as my budget won't stretch that far. I will also have a built in fridge and some presses at the end wall rather than the full presses here.

The plasterers are finishing off inside the house these days, we put an undercoat of PVA sealer on the walls, so it's time for painting at the weekend :) Yes, progress at last....

A new addition on the farm...

2011-05-15T19:23:00.000+01:00

Here is the newest arrival on the farm, he is hidden in a wee burrow in the straw, that's his mother's ears in the front of the photograph. He kept hiding on me when I was trying to get a photo. We have named him Tommy!

Red Brick homes...

2011-05-14T16:31:00.000+01:00

Do you live in a red brick home? These homes are in Dublin, I didn't ask the owners permission to take photographs but I was just walking up the street. The area I live in has very few red brick houses they are not traditional to our area, however some of the older railway buildings are built of brick. There are alot of brick buildings in Dublin City and also Northern Ireland but in rural Ireland the traditional buildings are mostly stone. Some modern houses are made of brick but I don't think they look as well as the more traditional red brick.

Kitchen Inspiration: White with A Pop of Colour

2011-05-13T19:12:00.001+01:00

The kitchen is one the most important spaces in a home. Apart from indulging in all your epicurean fantasies, it is the place where one can enjoy some family camaraderie and have sit-down dinners with loved ones. Despite being a core factor in a home, the quintessential kitchen is often neglected in terms of design and tends to be more utilitarian than stylish. Give your kitchen a makeover without any hardcore remodeling and assuage the monotonous by injecting splashes of colour in your décor. Demonstrate a progressive sensibility by purchasing colourful dishware, going for accent walls or opting for trendy kitchen island lights.

Paint The Wall

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The quickest way to inject color in a kitchen is to paint it in a bright shade. No need to paint the entire kitchen in vivid hues, as focusing on an accent wall achieves the same result. You can also paint the wood cabinets or the furniture in bright colours and opt for a sedate white for the walls. Or try the opposite, by opting for white lacquered kitchen accessories like a dining table, pendant lighting and flooring, and contrasting it with a brightly colored accent wall.

Colourful Backsplashes

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Be it a traditional styled kitchen or something more mid-century modern, chances are, it has been done predominately in white. For that added dose of vibrancy and color, splurge on a kitchen backsplash in shades of chartreuse, champagne, and turquoise, as it will contrast wonderfully with white.

Purchase Signature Lighting Fixtures

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Another nifty way to augment the kitchen décor is to purchase an avant-garde light fixture. Binge on a retro styled pendant light or opt for unconventional kitchen island lights. A little pop of color can insert vibrancy even in the most minimalistic kitchen.

Don’t Underestimate The Power Of Home Appliances

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These days home appliances are the perfect mesh of form and function. Utilitarian purpose is no longer the key factor when designing appliances, as the market is flooded with colourful and funky home appliances. To introduce stunning splashes of colour in your kitchen, shop for appliances in pulsating colors.

Have A Seat

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Upholster the kitchen chairs in any shade that catches your fancy. Don’t mind going on a shopping spree? Then select kitchen stools and chairs in vibrant hues like green, red and yellow, and place them next to a white countertop. Make sure to add colorful pendant lights into the mix. The contrasting colors will highlight a more harmonized design approach.

Kitchen Utensils

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The cheapest way to add some hue in the kitchen is to flaunt brightly colored kitchen utensils. The utensils can range from pots and pans, to teapots, to bowls, to even oven mittens. But, just ensure they are displayed in plain sight.

Experiment With Cabinets

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No kitchen is complete without cabinets or a shelving system. Update both and ditch the clichéd wooden tones and finishes. Instead, paint them in a bright hue or opt for a color-tinted stain, to make them juxtapose with the monochromatic colour scheme of the walls or the floor.

Content provided by Arcadian Lighting, a site that specializes in top quality lighting fixtures at extremely affordable prices. Come visit us today!

School time...

2011-05-09T20:15:00.000+01:00

While on our drive on Sunday, we stopped by the entrance to this school, some of my boyfriend's cousins went here as boarders. As I am interested in architecture I really like it. It also reminds me of the books I read as a youngster Malory Towers. Did you like school? Were you a boarder. I was a day pupil, I loved primary school but secondary school I didn't like as much. I didn't study that much but got enough points to go on to University- 3 in total. I studied for over 18 years, am I mad.... I was an eternal study for awhile. But I learned alot and about so many subjects but I also know that alot of people who are very academic minded are not necessarily streetwise or personally well developed, some almost lack social skills. That's my thought for today, and we never stop learning do we?

Shabby Chic Couture from Rachel Ashwell

2011-05-08T21:15:00.000+01:00

Today I stumbled upon Rachel Ashwell's Shabby Chic which was founded in 1989. Her philosophy is beauty, comfort, and function. You have to check out her website and blog for yourself to see it all- so girly, so pretty, so shabby chic!

An Irish Lighthouse...

2011-05-07T19:17:00.000+01:00

Would you like to stay in an Irish Lighthouse? Well with the Irish Landmark Trust you can, check out their lovely properties on their website from cottages, gatelodges to schoolhouses and towers, take your pick!

A view of the land...

2011-05-06T20:44:00.000+01:00

Last weekend we went for a walk around my boyfriend's land, here are some views of it across the lake shore.

A weekend on the east coast...

2011-05-03T19:52:00.000+01:00

At the weekend I met up with some friends and visited the east coast of Ireland, here are a few photographs, hope you enjoy.

Here is an architecturally designed house we spotted along our walk. It is almost hidden in the landscape. I'm more of a old world girl so modern architecturally designed houses aren't always my thing

Some Wedding Dresses fit for a princess

2011-05-02T18:52:00.000+01:00

Well we all saw the Royal Wedding Dress which was beautiful, but which one of the above would you choose?

Bright Blues

2011-05-01T22:45:00.000+01:00

Blue hues for your home, all from Dulux paints

Today I love Border Oak

2011-04-26T13:19:00.000+01:00

From Country Cottages, Barns and Farmhouses to Manor Houses, Border Oaks have the most amazing homes. Pity I haven't more money and didn't know about them sooner. We are building our house as we go along and my dad is helping out alot but if I had more money I would most certainly be getting a Border Oak Home. Take a look at the beautiful homes on their website, every single one is designed, planned and fitted out just the way I would want a home. The character is so charming and the overall finish looks amazing. As a former planner and a heritage officer these home are just perfect for me :)

All images above are from Border Oak and you must visit their website.

Kitchen lighting....

2011-04-25T12:19:00.000+01:00

Yes I will soon be at the stage that I will need to pick light fittings. There is such a large choice and I really get confused but I was thinking of some of the above lights for over the island in the kitchen. As our ceiling is 16 foot in the hallway I need a large light and here is the one I am thinking of.

What I've been up to...

2011-04-23T13:38:00.000+01:00

Sorry for the lack of blogging lately, I have a few days off work and I'm really enjoying the good weather. I went to my parents holiday home last weekend and while there I visited a car boot sale and picked this up!

I have it out in the garage, all sanded and the handles off cleaning them. I'm going to paint it white. I am also sanding a chair to paint white too for the new house. The house is progressing well, all the bedrooms are plastered and now they are starting to plaster the entrance hallway. The door surrounds are in downstairs so it will soon be time for painting :) I'm enjoying the lovely weather and here are a few photographs of my walk in the woods yesterday, enjoy! Oh and Happy Easter to everyone :)

Relaxing in the country...

2011-04-19T21:03:00.000+01:00

Dear blogger friends, sorry for the lack of blog posts lately, I'm working hard and also out and about enjoying the good weather. I have some days off work this week and next so hopefully I can chill out like this cow I spotted at the weekend

Next stop America....

2011-04-17T20:20:00.001+01:00

Here are a few photographs of my weekend. The weather was nice here in Ireland. I hope you enjoy my photographs of the Atlantic Ocean...

Come away with me...

2011-04-14T20:58:00.000+01:00

Blue Room...

2011-04-11T19:48:00.000+01:00

Isn't this room very pretty, my current bedroom is baby blue and I am thinking of going blue in my new bedroom too :) It is very calming and relaxing. I love this room below as the white looks lovely against the blue tones.

{All images from House to Home}

Adding some wood to your room...

2011-04-10T12:16:00.000+01:00

Yesterday I was away looking at wood beams for over our stove in the snug, I have picked a pine one out so once the chimney and fire surround is completed we will be installing the beam. I hope it looks as good as the beams below :)

A Wonderful Walk in the Woods...

2011-04-09T17:39:00.000+01:00

Today I went for a lovely walk in the woods with my mother, everywhere looks so nice when the weather is good. The bluebells are almost ready to bloom and the birdsong was amazing. Take a look at my photographs below and you can explore this lovely woodland with me.

Country Wallpapers....

2011-04-08T20:01:00.000+01:00

Irish Country Cottages....

2011-04-06T20:32:00.000+01:00

Today I love....

Why not knit your own Royal Family with Fiona Goble

2011-04-05T19:21:00.001+01:00

Are you all set for the Royal Wedding? I spotted this beautiful book over at Country Living by author Fiona Goble- Knit Your Own Royal Wedding- How cute is this!!! Kate, William, the Queen and the Corgis :)

{All images from Fiona Goble, Knit Your Own Royal Family Book}

Former Glory...

2011-04-04T18:42:00.000+01:00

I came across this amazing website today while searching for some old cottages, I love it, how did I not come across it before or hear of it. It is called Former Glory and it depicts the wonderful architecture of historic properties in Ireland. As you already know I love photographing ruins and old historical buildings, here are a few of my images below.

{All images my own}

Lola and Laura...

2011-04-03T12:19:00.001+01:00

Came across these Lola and Laura duvet sets in Dunnes Stores and thought they were really pretty and reasonably priced too :) Very girly indeed!

Kirstie's Meadowgate

2011-04-01T20:35:00.000+01:00

Don't you just love Kirstie's Home Made Home and Meadowgate Cottage. Why not visit Kirstie's webpage or Meadowgate Cottage.

Our neighbourhood :-)

2011-03-29T19:26:00.001+01:00

As I walked through the farm land on Sunday, I began thinking about my new neighbours and I even stopped by their homes, have a look around, unfortunately I couldn't explore the interiors, unless I was Alice in Wonderland :-)

I took some photographs which you can look at below. They are wee animal burrows I came across, rabbits or hares I think, I also spotted a badger's home and below from across the fields there are some views of our new home. A road goes by the house and that telephone poll is the opposite side of the road. The stone has to go on the porch yet and the roof of the porch needs to be finished.

One of my neighbours homes

Another home

And another home

And below our new home.

The plastering inside is starting this week :)

Come for a walk through the farm...

2011-03-28T19:07:00.000+01:00

As most of you are aware myself and my boyfriend are building a new home together. He is a full time farmer. I love the countryside and I have lived in the countryside all my life, however I have never lived on a farm. Our new home will be opposite the older farmhouse. Below are just a few photographs of the land and some nice views around the farm. As you can see there are lakes everywhere and it is so tranquil- I love it. There are many laneways through the farm so when I go for a walk there is just me and all the wildlife around me. Below I have one photograph of one of the newest arrivals on the farm too :)

All things nice...

Wedding Flowers .....

What I've been up to...

Missing you all

Question- problem with blog?

Some Shabby Chic Items....

Old New Again, Rustic wood shelf from Southern Wood.

Prettiness....

I'm spoiled...

Some winter clothes

All that glitters...

Have some wonderful weekends

Made By Girl Inspiration...

Goodbye Suki...

Pretty Christmas Posters

My spare bedroom...

Net curtains, are they a thing of the past?

Some retail therapy...

Curtain material....

Mirror mirror on the wall

Some more country friends...

How cute....

Almost ready to move....

Light up my new home...

A nice smell hanging around....

Baby's Breath Bouquet...

Inspiration...

Soon ready to get cooking....

Wallpapers....

Bathroom basics...

My kitchen update...

My new dining table...

Cookery book...

Wedding venue booked, wedding dress bought!

Busy, busy, busy, work, wedding & new home....

All things rural....

Choosing the right wedding dress....

Some presents I received ....

I got engaged...

Some more bargains....

Shine some light....

Tea Time...

My word cloud...

Come for a stroll with me...

Before and after images....

My porch has stone....

Some new friends....

Bedroom Furniture.....

Transformation....

Some Cute Cushions...

Hello everyone...

Kitchen style...

My new bathroom...

More reading...

Some kitchen inspiration....

Painting old chairs...

A little bit of reading to relax...

Some shopping....

Progress with the new home... painting has commenced...

The Watermill

Creating a home...

Handles...

Today I love Wilson Grapics Etsy Shop- Wall Decor

Shopping for my new home..

Some views from home...

If you love Ireland and Art, check out this online shop......

A Poet, Church & Tearooms...

A few photographs I took on my night away....

More progress on my new home & life in general....

Tea Pot Lane...

Some Impressive Properties in Ireland

A look at the greenhouse...

Kitchen decisions...

A new addition on the farm...

Red Brick homes...

Kitchen Inspiration: White with A Pop of Colour

School time...

Shabby Chic Couture from Rachel Ashwell

An Irish Lighthouse...

A view of the land...