Throwback to my trip to Malaga.... I spent a day in Malaga last year while visiting Costa del Sol and forgot to post some photographs. I loved the new port area with its trendy shops, restaurants and cafes. We spent a few hours just strolling around and taking in all the sunshine. Look at those blue skies. This was October last year. My Dad wanted to go on holidays after being diagnosed with cancer. He had such a positive outlook on life and enjoyed the simple things in life. While I enjoy the simple things I'd love to be so positive. We booked this last minute trip to Spain for him. We all thoroughly enjoyed the few days together and he was in great form. He then had a major operation at the end of the year and was recovering very well but unfortunately it wasn't meant to be. This trip to Spain was our last holiday together. From now on, he will be with us in spirit. So these photos and that last trip to Spain together will always hold a special place in my heart.

This year has been difficult for me but I suppose life isn't always rosy is it? This month I lost my Dad, he was much more than just a father figure he was one of my best friends. As a family we had such fun times together. He loved to travel and explore new places and was always so positive and cheerful. The photographs below are from our last trip around County Cavan, these photos were taken in June, little did we know that one month later he would be gone. I do hope that his soul is gone to heaven and that he is looking down on us everyday. Forever in our memories Dad........

Hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas. We have been busy this festive season with a family wedding the week before Christmas. We had some guests stay over, then a few nights out followed by Christmas dinner for seven this year. Overall it was really enjoyable but went very fast. I have a few more friends to meet up with and then time to ring in the New Year.

Happy New Year everyone.... I am trying to get back into a routine after a nice long Christmas break. I had a wonderful Christmas with so many friends and family visiting. I received lots of thoughtful gifts.  I haven't really made an New Years resolutions, I'm just trying to eat healthy and become more organised-the same as most people. I also want toy try and exercise some more. I haven't got out much over the Christmas for my walks so hopefully now that the weekend is almost here I will get out and about. Tomorrow I will take the Christmas decorations down as it is Little Christmas or Women's Christmas (Nollaig na mBan). Apparently the idea is that on this day the tradition was for the women to get together and enjoy their Christmas while the men folk stay at home and handle all the housework. However I  don't think this really happens! If you have a man in your life, see if it works for you and do let me know how you get on. I have some family visiting tomorrow night and then I plan to do lots of house work over the weekend. I have no major plans for 2017, we are very busy at work and I have to work three late nights next week. 

Hope everyone had a wonderful weekend. We had an extra long weekend for Easter with a bank holiday today. I also took Thursday off work so really enjoyed the time off. I spent time with family and pottering about. Had a look around the shops and done some housework. What did you get up to? Hope you didn't overindulge on the Easter eats....

Wishing you and yours lots of peace, joy and happiness this Christmas.... Hope everyone is enjoying the evening with family and friends.... I'm keeping cosy at the fire with lots of good music and food....

Precious Memories

May this holiday season

leave you with precious memories:

A Christmas filled with love and light,

 perfect gifts, delicious foods,

 love and joy all around.

A New Year with continuing blessings—

friends, family, good work, great fun,

 and delightful surprises.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

By Joanna Fuchs

Easter is upon us already. It is a great time to catch up with family and friends and take a break from work after the long winter months. Our weather here in Ireland is forecast to improve which is great as we have had miserable weather. I have finished my flower arranging course now so will miss it. Below are some images of the flowers I have in my home at the moment. I have lots as they last so long when I keep them in my entrance hallway as it is much cooler than the kitchen, dining or living room. I loved the flower arranging course and perhaps I might even enroll on another one. I am longing for some sunshine to get out and about and do work in my garden. First thing I need to do is paint the garden fence. I also want to set flowers but it is still a little early for that as the nights are quite cold. Have you any nice plans for Easter?

Happy Christmas Everyone. Hope you all had a wonderful day yesterday with family and friends. I went to my parents for dinner after Church and then visited my inlaws and wrapped up the day watching TV with husband. It was a lovely relaxing day. It even snowed here in Ireland this morning to add to the festive feel. Hope you are having a lovely time and relaxing.

Autumn has really set in here in Ireland. I had to turn the heating on this evening as it has got so cold. This year it seems to have got very cold very quickly. I am relaxing now with a big mug of tea after a lovely weekend with friends and family. I will miss the longer days of Summer and the sunny mornings, however I must say I like the Autumn time too. The countryside is so pretty with all the autumn leaves on the trees. I love being snug at the wood burning stove with the glow of the fire, drinking lots of hot cups of tea and reading a good book. I change the accessories around in my house too with more autumnal colours to create a more cosy warm feel. I love all the autumn inspired interiors which are now in the shops and with such a variety of online shops there is so much to choose from. This week I  spotted the Hurdal Range from IKEA and I absolutely love it- it has a real country cottage feel and looks so cosy with all the natural wood and green colours too. I am usually not one for too much natural wood in a room but I love this range. What do you think of it?

    {Images: HURDAL Range from IKEA}

Do you get lost browsing for interiors online- I certainly do. Next has a lovely range of autumn interiors and I just love this Mr. Fox bed set which I spotted online. I also think that Mr. Fox  would work very well with the Hurdal Range from IKEA.

    {Images: Mr. Fox from Next} 

Hello everyone! The weeks are flying by, everyone seems to be extra busy these days. From looking at my blog, you will notice I haven't been blogging much this week. I took a few days off work and spent it with my parents. What have you been up to lately? I have been painting and doing gardening. I'm glad it's the weekend again!

Happy Easter Everyone, hope you all have nice plans for the weekend. The weather is fabulous today in Ireland. I spent the morning washing windows and pottering about doing some cleaning around the house. I am looking forward to the few days off work. Don't eat too much Easter eggs!

The image below is pretty and is just one of a range of  Easter images from 5 Thirteen Designs

I hope you all got over Christmas ok and enjoyed the festive season. It is all over now as we embark on the New Year. Have you any New Year Resolutions? Below are just a few of the many lovely gifts I got this Christmas. Hope Santa was good to you too.

Wishing each and everyone of you a very Merry Christmas. I hope you have a wonderful Christmas and good wishes for the festive season.

 

This weekend I didn't go anywhere.. I did lots of spring cleaning yesterday, washed all the windows and cleaned the garage. I walked to the village for some groceries and also spent time on the farm walking along the lake shore. Today I relaxed, read some magazines and had family visit. It is soon time to feed the calves. What did you get up to this weekend? Sometimes it is nice to just relax and spend time at home...

For Christmas, my husband bought me a surprise. I wondered for a long time as to what it might be... I knew it wouldn't be clothes as he isn't into picking out clothes for me. My mind was racing wondering what could it be... He mentioned that he bought my present online and that it was being delivered by courier, but I still didn't know what it was... Then Christmas morning I got up and opened my big surprise- Yes... Hunter Wellingtons! I was admiring them all year when I saw them in magazines and was always complaining about cold feed in my cheap €10.00 wellies. So now I have all the comfort coupled with the style for practical use on the farm. The cows are calving again now for the Spring so I will be busy in the evenings when I return from my day job... So now at least I will look trendy on the farm and one thing is for sure my husband will spot me in the dark, I won't need to hear a hi vis vest now with the my neon pink hunters!

Hope everyone is well. Last week was my 30th birthday and my husband had a party for me. We had 25 people over for food and drinks. It was really nice to celebrate it with close family and friends. I received some lovely gifts, here are just a few below, I couldnt get photos of them all

 

Mono boat face cloth to match my blue and white bathroom

{Cath Kidston}

 

Mono Boat bath towels to match my blue and white bathroom

{Cath Kidston}

Forget me not Tumbler Glass Candle- my home will smell beautiful

{Rachel Allen}

I'll be smelling beautiful too :)

{Ralph Lauren}

Afternoon Tea at one of Ireland's Great Castles

{Castle Leslie}

Happy Weekend Everyone! The sun is shining today and it is nice and warm too :) Hope you enjoy your day. Have you any nice plans?

Hope you all had a lovely Easter and enjoyed the time off. I am lucky as I also get today off work :) I had a nice weekend, went to my friends wedding party which was really good and great to see two good friends begin their married life together. I had another friend visit Sunday night and then I went to the city yesterday to catch up with more friends that I went to university with. I also had dinner with my inlaws on Easter Sunday which was lovely. So all in all, I had a lovely Easter with family and friends.

What did you get up to over Easter?

The images above are all from Cath Kidston and I adore them, really bright and cheerful, just the way we like it :)