Dodgy Dating

What is it with 'dating' (or as the kids are at nowadays, shifting/meeting)? It seems in this day and age, in Sligo, or just among my age group, it just doesn't exist. 

I seem to be stuck at that awkward age where anyone my age or just below/above is too young (mentally) and anyone 23+ is 'too old' and seems to think I'm a child. I also think where I live is a big problem - I've been informed by my mother there's 1 male to every 4 females in Sligo town. Oh, to have been born a lesbian or have an interest in joining the Convent! ;-)

A combination of being one of the only singletons among my friends, boredom and curiosity led me to download Tinder. For about a month or so it lay unopened on my app list, the red flame a glaring reminder of my single status. 

One fateful day I decided to have a peek at Tinder and see what all the fuss was about. I mostly swiped left because I was too shy/afraid to talk to an actual human but after a while I dipped my toes in and actually swiped right to a few people. Now, don't get me wrong, there are some nice lads on Tinder (who mostly haven't replied to me so maybe I just need a face/personality transplant) but there are also some odd characters. As follows, here are some of my main gripes about Tinder:

1. Group profile pictures.

But which one are you? I wouldn't consider myself a very shallow person but I do like to put a face to a name. For all I know you could be the 80 year old man in the picture. Or the baby. 

2. Boring descriptions.

'Snapchat imjohnnysligo add me'. I can barely contain my excitement. 

3. Accidentally swiping past someone attractive and/or interesting.
Then imagining everything that could've been. Ain't nobody gonna pay €7.38 per month to go back.

4. Attractive and/or interesting guys who live 105040 miles away.
CRY.

Saying all this, I will still continue to swipe away. Curiousity won't kill the cat in this instance, but the cat may end up screaming at its phone and wishing it swiped right.

Have you ever had any dodgy Tinder experiences?

Life's Sweet @ Sweet Beat

If you live in Sligo you may know that an exciting new café has entered the scene. Sweet Beat is a vegan café serving healthy, fresh food. It's refreshing to see something like this in Sligo - although there isn't a massive vegan crowd in Sligo the café thrives and already has quite the following. I'm not a vegan or a vegetarian myself so from this review you'll see you don't need to be to enjoy what Sweet Beat has to offer.

I was greeted by Carolanne, the owner of Sweet Beat, and her sister Denise who was more than happy to show me around and explain the menu. If you frequent Strandhill People's Market you may know Carolanne under her pseudonym Green Warrior.

After a quick tour of the café and a study of the menu it wasn't hard to decide what I wanted to get. I did plan to get one of the super salads as the weather has been nice lately but when I went in yesterday it was a dull day so I went for the vegan lasagne, their Daily Warmer. They also do brunch - avocado toast (which has caused quite the stir, I hear), hummus toast and their own homemade beans on toast. I treated mum to lunch and she chose the hummus toast which she enjoyed but said it was a little too spicy for her taste, which I did agree with. 

As well as all those yummy offerings they also serve raw vegan brownies, chocolate and homemade smoothies and juices. I went for a Rocket Cow smoothie (I assume this is a play on 'raw cacao' - I like it!) made with almond milk, nut butter, banana and cacao powder. 

The service was very quick considering it was the lunchtime rush and they were rushed off their feet. Mine looked and smelled great so after taking a few snaps I dug in. I'm not gonna lie, I wasn't sure how a vegan lasagne was gonna work but it was delicious - so full of flavour. It did taste like a normal lasagne but 'cleaner' and obviously without the mince. It was served with 2 super salads - chickpea and green bean salad and carrot salad, both yummy.

The Rocket Cow smoothie also didn't disappoint - I make this kind of smoothie quite a lot at home anyway so I knew what to expect. It's like a healthy chocolate-peanut-butter smoothie and it was surprisingly filling. So smooth and creamy considering it's totally dairy free. Among the other smoothie offerings was a turmeric smoothie (not sure how I'd feel about that), iced coffee, wheatgrass shot, ginger shot and a beetroot, sweet potato and ginger juice - as well as the usual tea and coffee. 

I was extremely tempted by the tempting brownies on the counter but I decided to be good and I was extremely full up - my lunch kept me going for the whole day.

You can find Sweet Beat on Bridge Street (where Chapters used to be, sob) or check them out on Facebook here. I give it my (non-vegan) approval!

Thanks a million to Carolanne for inviting me along and for the yummy lunch.

Donkeys & Getting Dolled Up

Random title with 2 main subjects that are miles away from each other, I know, but you never know what you'll get with me! You'll be pleased to know no donkeys were dolled up in the making of this blog post.

In February, for her birthday, my mum got invited by the lovely people at Cromleach Lodge to try out their spa for a pamper afternoon. They also told me I could come along so I was delighted I could feature it in my blog. I've never been to Cromleach Lodge before but I've only heard good things about it so I was eagerly anticipating the afternoon. As I didn't have the best end to the week it came at an opportune time - there's nothing like a spa day to take your mind off things!

We had a little bit of time to kill before our appointments so we headed to the Sathya Sai donkey sanctuary, bags of carrots and gingernuts in tow. Sue, the lady who runs the sanctuary, told us all about the donkeys. It's a bit like a retirement home for donkeys who have been abused, injured or who are just getting on a bit. She has 53 donkeys in total - I don't know how she remembers all their names, I can barely even remember mine some days! We gave the donkeys plenty of carrots and gingernuts and then headed on our way to Cromleach Lodge, a short drive from the sanctuary. 

This Shetland pony has better hair than I do.

As we drove up I was in awe. We could see the hotel from the road (as well as some stunning scenery) and it looked absolutely beautiful, especially as the sun came out in full force that day. After a quick snoop around the hotel we headed to the Ciunas (which means 'quiet' in Irish) spa to robe up. We were led to a gorgeous relaxation room to have a quick bite to eat before our treatments as we were starving and the half a KitKat each we'd had on the drive over didn't suffice. We admired the mountain views as we sipped our teas (I've become quite partial to green tea, even though it does taste a bit like the ground) and nibbled at homemade biscuits. I chose a tomato and mozzarella ciabatta and mum went for a ham, cheese and onion toastie. The sandwiches were very tasty and came with a small side salad that had the most delicious dressing - I must find out what it was! 

When we were fed and watered we were shown the steam room, sauna, and - the most exciting bit - the outdoor hot tub. Of course we headed straight for the hot tub! It was so relaxing sitting outside savouring the amazing scenery and soaking up the sunshine. The only thing was because of the breeze I did get quite chilly but I am a naturally cold person! There was also no step inside the hot tub so I nearly went flying in, graceful as ever. Apologies to the other people in the hot tub, they probably got an eyeful and were probably blinded by my milk bottle legs glinting in the sunshine.

After sampling the steam room (with added colour changing fairy lights) and sauna it was time for our treatments. I chose the mini makeover (not the facial for once!) and mum decided on the hydrotherapy bath as she loves that sort of thing. We parted ways and my lovely makeup artist started to work her magic. I believe her name was Natasha (I could be wrong, you know how bad I am with names) and she was lovely and friendly. Kudos to her for putting up with me squirming when she did my eyeliner - you don't know fear until someone else is poking at your eye! I was also delighted with how natural the makeup looked, I was a bit worried they wouldn't be able to match a foundation to me but she was very thorough and talented and I actually looked half human at the end ;-)

The finished look! P.S my best friend Bethany did the ombré in my hair. She's a trainee hairdresser and she's brilliant! If you live in Sligo check out the MSLETB training centre in Ballytivnan, where she trains, and you can get your hair done there without the hefty salon prices.

I was so relaxed by the time we'd finished I nearly fell asleep on the way home! Unfortunately then it was back to reality and dinner needed to be cooked but I was so relaxed I didn't mind so much. Next time I go I'll have to try a seaweed bath. They overlook all the views you can see from the hot tub.

If you're after a pampering day, a weekend away or just a bite to eat - I hear their restaurant is incredible - definitely pay a visit to Cromleach Lodge. Just don't drive afterwards or you may fall asleep!

Thanks a million to all at Cromleach Lodge for a fabulous day. Have a look at their website here for more information.

Too Much Wisdom Is A Dangerous Thing

I should get a slap on the wrist for being a bad blogger. In my defense though, I was couped up in bed with tonsillitis (just before Easter break, natch). To add insult to injury - and to explain the title - I have an impacted wisdom tooth that is making my life a misery. Because our healthcare system in Ireland is so wonderful (!) I'm being refused help for the time being and am having to put up with the usual 'Ah sure we'll prescribe you painkillers, be grand'. I'm tempted to give someone a bread knife and a pliers and do the job DIY style. I may end up looking like the Joker but at least I wouldn't be in agony anymore!

In more exciting news, if you live in Sligo you may have seen me on the front page of the Sligo Weekender (no, I didn't kill anyone). I always thought my media debut would be headlined 'Face Transplants: Before & After' or something like that, but thankfully this was for something exciting. I absolutely love cooking - if you followed my Instagram before I revamped it you may have seen my foodie posts. I was so excited when a talented chef, Liam, gave me the opportunity to feature some of my recipes on his up-and-coming food website, BiaMaith. The website is great if you want to find out how to cook quick, easy meals on a budget so definitely check it out!

I hope you all had a lovely Easter and didn't feel too guilty about inhaling Easter eggs (if you had them). Personally, I never want to see chocolate again for as long as I live. (This is a lie, I literally just ate some chocolate mini eggs and they were amazing). Over the Easter break I  mainly relaxed, got my hair balayaged (ooh get me) by my best friend Bethany - blog to follow, probably - and went to Strandhill a couple of times as the weather was actually pretty nice. Of course, it has now gone back to being baltic, but that's okay because I'm back to work. Thanks, weather gods. 

We also adopted another rescue dog so now we have 2 smelly dogs in the house. He appears to be a cross between a pug and a terrier and he's so ugly it's adorable. I loves him. Even when he does fart and it smells so bad it could knock you out.

So that was just a quick update to redeem myself after not posting for so long. I have a few exciting things coming up so expect more regular posting from now on! *slap on the wrist*

Did you do anything exciting over Easter? Let me know!

Eye of The Tiger

If you live in Sligo you may know that Danish store Tiger recently joined the (small) posse of shops around the town. If you aren't familiar with the store, they stock unusual decorative goods, toys, craft supplies...everything really. I love Tiger because unlike your typical 'Euro store' the products are quality and very stylish. The most expensive thing in store at the moment is €30 so everything is really cheap.

Mum got invited to the opening (because she is a Sligo A-lister) and managed to sneak me a goodie bag too which I was delighted with. I now have giant paperclips and bunting for those decorative emergencies. Joking aside, it was a lovely goodie bag!

Going into Tiger makes you realise you really do need decorative fluffy sheep, gorilla shaped erasers and rabbit shaped watering cans. Because...just because! I've already seen about 20 things I need (want) for no particular reason. I was also very excited to see Tiger stock a range of jewellery (really nice jewellery!) and makeup, which I'm eager to try out. They had an eyeshadow palette for something like €3 which is just amazeballs.

Tiger also sell food items such as really nice pretzels, spices and sweets for a fraction of the usual prices. I can't wait to give their spice range a go for my cooking! P.S in case you missed it I'm now writing some recipes for BiaMaith, a new and exciting food website by a very talented chef for people on a budget. Give it a wee gawk!

I'm looking forward to trying out some of their office supplies as I'm an office intern, I definitely need one of their really unique notebooks. Definitely.

So in conclusion, Tiger has graced Sligo with its presence. And it's grrrrreat. I'm sorry, I had to. Thanks to mum for letting me steal her photos!

Sunny Days & Seaside Markets

I'm beginning to sound like a broken record, but I love markets. They're such a nice day out and a wonderful way to find unusual trinkets and gifts - not to mention the great atmosphere.

I've been to Strandhill People's Market quite a few times in the past but haven't been in a while. As I've spent all weekend bumming around the house in my pyjamas (standard) my mum dragged me out of the house and took me along with her. I didn't plan on buying anything but ended up buying too much...oops.

As well as the usual suspects (we had great banter with the ladies from Trimilawn Farm and Talentui Organics - they reassured me I wouldn't have to send off an application for a nunnery just yet) there were some faces I hadn't seen before such as Clo's Chocolates from Le Fournil bakery in Sligo and The Blue Room, who sell quirky signs and home décor - very seaside chic.

After I stole my mum's camera (sorry mum) and snapped away we got down to the nitty gritty and had a proper look. If I had a hefty bank balance and no self restraint you can bet I'd buy something from every stall! I managed to control myself quite well. I was very pleased I found a birthday present for my best friend Bethany - her birthday isn't until May but I'd like to think I'm well prepared now. 

I've heard a lot of good things about bee pollen as a superfood so I was delighted to see a stall selling jars of it, as well as every type of honey you could think of. I also stopped by the Trimilawn Farm stall and asked Ellie what she would recommend to make a chickpea curry. She suggested their Rogan Josh spice mix so I'm looking forward to giving that a go. I love Trimilawn Farm because not only do they have a huge selection of herbs and spices, they are also more than happy to recommend seasonings based on your needs. Mum got some potatoes to plant as she has a bit of a green finger (when she feels like it and doesn't forget plants need nurturing) so we'll see how that goes. Last time we tried to grow potatoes they came out the size of peas.

I also bought a cookie the size of my head from Clo's Chocolates stand which is very naughty of me but I gave half to my brother so I think it's justifiable. I was tempted by all the cakes, paella and the yummy sushi from the Sushi Sisters but I managed to resist!

That was just about everything I bought - as I said, I behaved myself for once. I was extremely tempted by these beautiful cake stands (below) and the elephant mug - elephants are my favourite animal, in case you didn't know this supah interesting fact.

The market has such a buzz about it every time - the sun was shining, the conversation was flowing, stalls were wafting delicious food smells all around and local singers were there to set the mood for the day.

When (if!) I ever get married I want to get one of these lovely wedding prints by Dreaming on a Star. Also, how cute are those badges?! I love their range of personalised prints and kitsch stationery. The unusual necklaces also caught my eye, I love the idea of the key necklace. Very Zoey 101 (remember that show? It was my childhood. I had a key necklace just like hers and I thought I was the bomb).

After inhaling a nacho tray from Streetcart - I smelled very onion-y and sexy all day after that - we headed home and said goodbye to the beauty and the buzz of the market.

If you haven't been to Strandhill People's Market yet - what are you waiting for?!

Still Smiling

If you've read my blog before or even know me in person, you'll know I have an extreme phobia of going to the dentist. Everything about it - from the smell to the sounds to the waiting area - gives me the chills thinking about it and I'm not sure I'll ever fully get out of that mentality.

So, when I made an appointment to visit David and the crew at David McConville Orthodontics in Quayside, Sligo, I spent most of the day unable to concentrate at work. Of course, David McConville is an extremely popular orthodontist and I'd heard rave reviews about them, but I still couldn't quite relax. Until I went there.

The first thing I noticed (after realising how unfit I am from walking up the stairs) was the fact it didn't look like a dentist. By the front door, a wall was covered in pictures of photogenic people with perfectly straight smiles - all patients of David McConville. The waiting area had the appearance of a beauty salon or a posh hotel reception. It was bright and airy with glossy black tiles and velvety grey sofas. Now, I may be shallow, but I do base businesses on their appearances first off, and this definitely didn't disappoint. I actually feel more relaxed if I walk into a place and it has nice décor. I sank into the plush sofa while I waited and read a leaflet about Invisalign to weigh my options up.

No real teeth were harmed in the making of these models.

Ever since I can remember, I've had a fixation on how my teeth look. I sucked my thumb excessively as a child and this led to bad overcrowding and misalignment of my teeth. I never smile with my teeth, if I laugh or yawn I cover my mouth, and I feel self conscious about them in general. I envy all my friends who have nice straight teeth and can smile without giving it a second thought and it was getting me down - so I decided now was the time to do something about it.

Although my stomach lurched when my name was called, I took a deep breath and walked into the treatment room. I was immediately greeted by David and he invited me to sit on the black leather dentist chair. I was pleasantly surprised when I did - not only was it the comfiest dentist chair I've ever sat in, it also massaged my back. Dentistry had never felt this comfortable before! Bonus points for the fact Ellie Goulding was playing in the background - basically my dream dentist experience (all that was missing was Jamie Dornan feeding me strawberries but I'll let them off for that one). I know those may be little things to most of you, but if you have dental fear you'll know it's so important to feel comfortable and I think the right setting is vital for this.

By this point I'd relaxed considerably and David started to examine my teeth. He got me to bite and open my mouth a few times to determine how my teeth were aligned. He gave me a mirror so I could see what he was doing which I appreciated a lot as I felt more in control with the whole experience - usually when you're in the dentist chair you feel a loss of control, this was not the case here. After a quick look he told me my teeth were misaligned - the bottom ones jut out under the top when I bite down, which isn't right. Apparently this is a problem with how my jaw is shaped and would have to be corrected with surgery if I needed it done (thankfully he said it wouldn't be too big of a problem). I knew something was wrong with my face all this time, thanks mum.

He explained that because of the overcrowding on top I'd need to have 2 teeth taken out, which I was surprisingly ok with. He showed me the three choices I had - steel brackets, ceramic brackets or Invisalign. As is the same with everything, there are pros and cons to each. The brackets are quicker but cosmetically they don't look as good as the Invisalign which is barely noticeable. Invisalign takes slightly longer to work but you can take them on and off to eat and brush your teeth, which is a big plus as I was worried about having difficulty brushing with braces. To be perfectly honest, cosmetically it wouldn't make a huge difference to me if I got train tracks or Invisalign as either way my teeth would be hugely improved.

Having a poke around!

We talked a bit more about the differences between the choices and how I'd need to have any dental work done before I get the braces - otherwise, as he said, it'd be like putting the cart before the donkey, and as I said, it'd be like putting the roof on before building the house! So that's the next step before I can continue on my journey to being able to smile and think nothing of it.

I entered the orthodontist wondering if I could just make a homemade brace myself out of a rubber band and some superglue and left feeling relaxed and optimistic. And for me to be comfortable with something like this is a big achievement.

I'll be sure to keep you updated on the whole braces progress and fingers (and teeth) crossed it goes well - but with David McConville on the case I have no doubt it will.

David McConville are on Facebook here.

Luxurious Locks | The Blow Dry Bar, Sligo

There's nothing better than getting your hair done after a long week. Even better when it's not for a particular event other than feeling like treating yourself and getting a bit of a pampering. 

Today after work I headed along to the recently opened Blow Dry Bar in the Wine Street car park, Sligo. The lovely Elaine invited me along so I could see what I thought and take a few photos in the process. I also got a chance to see their new beauty salon which is opening upstairs with a tanning room, massage room, and nail bar - so you can get your hair and beauty done all in the same place.

The Blow Dry Bar is a unique addition to Sligo. We have lots of great hairdressers, but none that specifically offer blowdrying and styles only. I was also very impressed to see they advertised braids as I haven't seen anywhere else in town do this and braids are really in lately.

The 'menu' offers anything from 12 week blowdries to fishtail braids. There's something for everyone - from the trendsetter to the girl on the go.

Anyone who sees me on a daily basis knows I usually just have my hair styled naturally as I'm too lazy and clueless to style it, thus meaning it mostly just lies flat and lifeless especially now I'm growing it out. 

I was greeted by Elaine and my stylist, Aoife, and I told them my hair woes. They suggested a curly blowdry with pin curls to give my hair a bit of life and volume which I happily agreed to. 

After a lovely relaxing shampoo and scalp massage at the padded (!) basin - no achey necks here, my friends - I was led over to the 'bar' and seated in one of the chic white leather seats. I love the décor in the salon - black and white - and the Kilner jars used to hold hair accessories and fairy lights as a unique touch. 

Aoife got started with my blowdry and we had a lovely chat. It's actually rare for me to feel that comfortable getting my hair done, I usually feel a bit intimidated like I'm going to the dentist or something - anyone else get this?! It was nice to have a truly relaxing hair experience. I also didn't have to ask her once to turn down the temperature on the hairdryer. Usually I find it far too hot and the head would be burnt off you by the end, but at the Blow Dry Bar there was none of this.

In no time my hair was transformed. I entered the salon Katie Hopkins and when I left I was more Katie Price. There's nothing like a glamorous blowdry to make you feel fabulous all day! When the clips were taken out I could immediately feel the bounce and spring in my hair. After copious amounts of hairspray and a lot of hair-swishing I was ready to set off and proceed to swan about flicking my hair for the rest of the day to the tune of 'Glamorous' by Fergie in my head. Apologies to anyone who had to witness this.

Voila! Look at that swishiness in all its glory.

The curl lasted surprisingly well considering it was windy outside and my hair loses a curl at the slightest movement. When I got home I got my personal photographer (my mum) to take a few pictures of me so you could see my hair from the front. So here we have it, my face. Sorry if I frighten any small children.

So there's my Blow Dry Bar experience. If you're around Sligo definitely pop in for a bit of pampering. The Blow Dry Bar also cater to weddings, nights out, parties, the lot. I'd definitely go back if I wanted my hair done for an event - next time I'll try out the braids!

Find the Blow Dry Bar on Facebook or give them a call on 071 917 0629 - you won't be disappointed. They are also hosting a hair and beauty tutorial event on the 9th March, check it out here if you want to learn how to salon style your hair at home and apply your makeup like the professionals.

Thanks a million to Elaine and Aoife at The Blow Dry Bar.

Check out my mum's blog on her experience too for a great before and after!

Hagelslag & Sandwich Willy: My Holland Holiday

You may be scratching your head at the title. Fear not, dear reader, this is not 50 Shades of Dutch. Hagelslag are Dutch sprinkles of some sort that you put on toast and apparently they taste like magic and rainbows and Sandwich Willy is a very popular lunchroom in Eindhoven. I'm actually 12 years old and had a good old titter at the name. Thankfully they just served regular sandwiches, nothing of the rudey sort.

As I mentioned in my last blog, I was off to Holland with my mum and brother. I spent 3 days in Eindhoven, a fairly small city located about 2 hours from Amsterdam. Unfortunately we didn't have enough time to check out 'the Dam' as they say but we had a great time staying around central Eindhoven.

Things easy to find in Eindhoven:
Attractive blonde haired blue eyed fellows with good bone structure.
Bicycles.
Inappropriate shop names.
Sausages.

Things hard to find in Eindhoven:
Supermarkets.
Clogs.
Someone who doesn't own a bicycle.

When we arrived we flew into Eindhoven airport (after I nearly killed a Dutch guy with my suitcase obv) so our hotel was supposedly only a 15 minute bus trip away. Unfortunately we (*cough* mum) neglected to research directions properly and ended up wandering around lost for eons. At least 2 friendly Dutchians told us 'I think that address is in Amsterdam', causing us to act mildly hysterical wondering if we'd booked a hotel 2 hours away by accident. In the end we gave up and got a taxi to the hotel which, as it turns out, was literally around the corner. Oh dear.

When we arrived to the hotel (after a lot of oohing and aahhing at the decor) we headed straight for the free drinks machine - after another titter at a beverage called Wiener Melange. As I said, I'm 12. 

Fourteen hot chocolates later - if you'd have cut me I'd have bled hot chocolate - we decided to head out and have a sneaky look at the four storey (!!!) Primark. I made a mental list of what I wanted - not much, just half the store - and decided the next day would be the designated shopping day of the trip.

After a fitful sleep listening to mum snoring in my ear it was time to hit the shops. As we walked down the cobblestoned streets a few strange/wonderful things happened. Number one, I nearly got ran over by a bike. Multiple times. Number two, I nearly got ran over by some sort of vehicle that housed an array of dancing/singing puppet things. It played the Macarena. I don't really know either. I assume this is a totally normal thing that happens on a daily basis because no one batted an eyelid. Me and mum stood and watched, entranced like when Donkey and Shrek watch that puppet show in Doolock.

After the street show it was time for breakfast. We popped into a bakery and tried to make sense of some of the pastries for sale but in the end gave up. Thankfully everyone we met in Eindhoven spoke English so we ended up with something edible and didn't have to face a lucky dip while ordering! Although I did scratch my head at the hot food vending machines that served burgers, sausages and something which was essentially a Findus Crispy Pancake...

We perused some of the shops - I found the shopping great in Eindhoven - and I tried to be good as I knew I'd see a lot in Primark I wanted to buy. After reading some of the interesting shop names (Lingerie Dump, Scamm, Dubledikk to name a few) we decided to face Primark. As it was a Saturday afternoon of course it was jammed. But I am a strong independent woman so I rolled my sleeves up and devised a plan of action with my mum as my handy sidekick. I nearly rolled across the floor like a Bond girl at one point in the shoe section but managed to control myself.

After each section was covered I yelled 'MOVE ON TEAM' and charged on to the next area. An hour and a half and a lighter purse later, we headed back to the hotel to refuel before heading back out to explore again. I managed to refrain from buying too much in other shops as I was conscious of my tiny pitiful cabin luggage (curse you, Ryanair) but I got a few nice bits which I will do a haul post on.

That night we went for a nice meal in an Italian place (yeah, go to Holland, eat Italian. Standard) called Happy Italy. We didn't realise quite how popular the place was, however, and proceeded to wait 30 minutes in a very long queue. In the end, it was so worth it. Mum got a pizza twice the size of her head for €6.25 and I got a huge bowl of pasta for €6.75. Us being fatties we also had to try the Nutella pizza - so wrong yet so right ;-)

The next day, after nearly having a heart attack at the price of the train, we headed on our merry way to a safari park about an hour away. When we arrived we queued to get on the safari bus and just about managed to get the last two seats. The bus drove through some of the enclosures so the animals were coming up to the bus. Unfortunately I could only take phone pictures so I didn't get any good shots. The girl driving the bus made an attempt to translate everything to English but sort of gave up halfway through so I guess I'll never know the interesting facts she was reciting about camels. But alas, I shan't get the hump over it. *ba dum tiss*

For the rest of the park we walked through. I think we may have missed some of the animals as I didn't see any giraffes or elephants (apart from myself in the mirror after that Nutella pizza). As we had to catch a bus - and the bus only came every hour - we ran to the exit and actually ended up on the side of the motorway by accident. Luckily we made it to the bus stop in time. Actually, we made it to the bus stop so early I thought we'd be stranded at the side of a barren road in Holland and have to attempt to thumb a lift in Dutch!

We were going to head out for a few drinks but we were so shattered at the end of the day we decided to buy some goodies and a bottle of wine and have a picnic in our hotel room. We made the fatal error of buying potato salad but forgot to get cutlery. Luckily hotel reception gave us some and I didn't have to use my nose as a spoon! 

Sadly the next day it was time to travel home. After frantically mounting my suitcase in an attempt to fit everything in (and putting on about 14 outfits to save space - I did wonder if I could wear a pair of shoes on my hands) we caught the bus back to the airport and hung around. I successfully ordered a Starbucks (no mean feat even in Ireland) and to my delight found out they do peanut butter stack - not the healthiest breakfast but I was on me holidays ;-)

After very attractively falling asleep with my mouth open on the plane we touched back down in Dublin and began our 3 hour train trip back home. I absolutely loved my Holland trip but would've liked to be there for longer so we could do more. The people were so friendly, I'd actually say it's the friendliest country I've been to beside Spain. I also thought the prices and shopping were great and loved the infrastructure and design of Eindhoven.

Holland, hopefully I will see you again!

Are you going on holiday anywhere this year? Let me know!

Theatres & Travels

I know, I've been quiet lately. There are a couple of reasons (excuses) for this. Number one: I've been sick. Someone has given me their lurgy. To kind of quote Liam Neeson, "I will find you, and I will...not be happy with you".

Number two: I've been travelling about the place. On Tuesday I headed up to Dublin with my mum and brother. Last year I begrudgingly went along to Sligo Fun Company's version of the Andrew Lloyd Webber stage show, Jesus Christ Superstar, and thought it was fantastic. With this in mind I got a ticket for the Dublin show, the 'real deal' so to speak.

Before the show we checked out the apartment we booked for the night. I'm not joking when I say I got emotionally attached to it. It was my dream place - I now aspire to decorate my future home like it. If anyone wants to donate to that fund hit me up ;-)

After a long night (I was in bed by 9:30) we went for brunch at Bóbó's Burgers - simply for the fact I won some vouchers for there and they'd expire soon. I've also heard good things about it so I had high hopes. Unfortunately it wasn't all it was cracked up to be. For €9 - €13 you can get a burger that sits looking a bit miserably on a plate with no chips or salad included. Quite a hefty price considering the quality of the burgers. I got a chicken burger with pesto, buffalo mozzarella and rocket. Sounded lovely on the menu, in reality it was an unflavourful chicken fillet on a soggy bun with a whole garden full of rocket on top. Shocking as it is, a McDonald's would have been more flavourful! Sometimes you don't get what you pay for.

Now on to the show. Considering some of the actors had been on Broadway I found it very underwhelming. I did think a few of the cast were a credit - Judas, Rhydian as Puncheous Pilot and a few others - but dare I say it, Sligo Fun Company stole the show! The sound was also very quiet and the audience was full of people who didn't know what the show was about. There were several giggles from twelve year olds when Judas kissed Jesus (not in a Brokeback Mountain way). If you're not easily offended I highly recommend you check out the Andrew Lloyd Webber stage show on DVD. I'd imagine the previous tours with Mel C et al were far better. I was nearly tempted to get up and sing a bit but I don't think I could pull off nipple tassels as well as one of the cast members. Don't ask...

Alas, before this post goes too negative, I'll end it by telling you as I type this I'm on the train up to Dublin (yes, again) - but to the airport this time! I'm off to Eindhoven in the Netherlands for a few days. In a way it's an early celebration for mum's birthday but really it's just nice to get away for a bit. Stereotypical as it is I imagine Holland to have people in clogs cycling down cobblestone streets while sniffing tulips. Although now I say it it doesn't sound very feasible...

I'll be sure to try and take a few snaps on my holiday and of course you can expect a blog post - and maybe I'll even buy some clogs ;-)

Getting To Know You

I now have that shite song stuck in my head. Thanks, brain.

While uuhming and aahing about what blog post to do next - and while browsing other blogs for inspiration - I thought to myself, 'Hey, I am quite strange. Surely I have a few facts about me other people may find interesting?'

So voila. A list of 11 facts about me. Hopefully some of you read this list without yawning once or going 'Dis bitch boring' and clicking out of it.

P.S. I know I'm strange.

P.P.S Please don't judge me.

1. Technically, I've had plastic surgery. No, not a nose job or a boob job or anything scandalous like that (though God knows I could do with them) but when I was around 14 I had my ears pinned back. For as long as I can remember, I got bullied in school for having slightly large super sticky-out ears. The nickname of choice was 'Dumbo' which was horrific at the time but now I think of it, Dumbo is awesome and really cute. So are sticky-out ears. 

2. I pushed my brother onto our marble fireplace when I was 2. He cracked his head open, I got put to bed in my slippers (the ultimate punishment when your brother is bleeding all over the place, apparently) and my mum nearly got arrested for child abuse. 17 years later all is forgiven (though I still get blackmailed with this sometimes) and I seem to actually recall doing it.

3. I dropped a glass on my big toe and I have a scar that looks slightly lightning bolt shaped. I guess you could call me Harry Pottoe. (That was bad I'm sorry).

4. I bit my bottom lip so hard my tooth went through it. Also have a scar under my lip. Why are so many of these facts about injuries? Weird.

5. My teeth are probably one of my biggest insecurities. They're extremely overcrowded and crooked so I avoid laughing/smiling/anything to do with my mouth - leave it - as much as possible. I also have very weak enamel and dental phobia so that's fun!

6. I left school when I was 16, just after I finished my Junior Cert. And I don't regret it one tiny bit - in fact I'd say it was a great decision. Now I'm not saying it'll be the same for everyone, but for me this was pivotal in bringing out my self confidence. I did a course at Sligo Community Training Centre, went on to do a course in Sligo College of Further Education and I'm now doing an internship - who knows what's next. I may not have a Leaving Cert but I am happy.

7. I used to have a snail collection when I was about 7. I hoarded all these random snails from the garden and kept them in a lunchbox. My two favourites were called Major and Champ and I used to race them against each other. Yes, it was possible. They also lived in my dolls' house and I drove them around in my Barbie car.

8. I also had pet stick insects. I was a stick insect breeder. They bred like rabbits so I gave some away to people at school and sold them to my teacher for a fiver each. #entrepreneur

9. My first words were 'Spice Girls'. I really loved the Spice Girls.

10. I make up little dances spur of the moment and perform them in the kitchen. Saying that, I haven't done one in ages. I've always thought to myself, 'I wonder if I'll ever find anyone who will dance in the kitchen with me?'

11. I used to have 2 pet chickens called Paxo and Stuffing (horrible I know) and I used to put them down the slide and dance with them. Pretty sure I have a video somewhere of me doing that. Those poor chickens. I always thought the fox caught them but now that I think of what I put them through they probably ran to the fox and begged him to take them away from it all.

I hope some of these facts were interesting. Do feel free to share or comment - it makes my day! If you have any weird facts I'd love to hear them.

All Good Things Come To An End...

As the Eminem song goes, snap back to reality. And as the Nelly Furtado song goes, why do all good things come to an end? Before I start to sound like a whimsical reading of the UK Top 40, I'll get into the meaning behind this title...

As you all know, the Christmas holidays are well and truly over at this point. I have tried to use the excuse 'Christmas is only just over!' to validate still eating 40 chocolates for breakfast but everyone sees past this façade now. I returned to work on the 5th of January, partly dismayed and partly relieved. I get bored so easily and I was beginning to get cabin fever so I was thankful to get back to some sense of normality and routine. Somehow I think the 3am bedtimes and 2pm breakfasts weren't doing me an awful lot of good! 

Whenever I'd go back to work/college/school after the holidays it would always take me a while to get settled. The things I find the hardest to adjust to are:

Getting up early in the mornings. I value my sleep a lot, as anyone who has tried to wake me up early knows. I live for those extra 5 minutes in bed, so much so that recently I've decided to sacrifice looking socially acceptable for extra sleep. I may resemble a baked potato going into work now, but at least I'm slightly more refreshed!

Eating at weird times. I say weird; they're actually perfectly normal times to eat. Whereas before I'd have breakfast any time from 12 p.m. to 3 p.m. now I have to actually eat my breakfast IN THE MORNING. The indecency of it all. If I'm going to work I get up at 8:30 a.m. and have something quick like a piece of fruit or a smoothie before I head out the door and then have something more substantial at our 10 a.m. tea break, but I find myself getting starving soon after as I'm used to eating whenever, wherever (who am I, Shakira?) and I now have to adjust to having lunch at 12:30 p.m. During the holidays I would've barely been awake then. Oops.

Writing and using the phone. Bit of a random one but you know when you were in school and after the summer holidays you'd come back and forget to write? Yeah, this is me. In fact, I forget to function in society like a normal human being. On my first day back it took every ounce of willpower to avoid answering the phone with 'What up?!' and I can't even explain the amount of times I wrote words in some mumbo jumbo backward kind of way.

Writing 2015 instead of 2014. We all have this problem. I don't even know what day it is anymore to be honest. I judge the days by how motivated people seem. If it's a Monday, everyone seems a little less enthusiastic and if it's a Friday there's a spring in everyone's step and you can practically smell the weekend in the air (the sweet smell of vodka and regret, mainly).

My heart is this cold.

Another thing I quickly wanted to address, mainly because my blog is like my diary and I like to get things off my chest, is that unfortunately the romance is no more. I did a blog in October-ish about my new relationship and I've had a few people ask how it's going so I just thought I'd briefly clear things up on here. I'm not looking for sympathy or attention - it was a clean break and it was simply because of distance, timing and some other issues that seemed unfixable. Thankfully there's no hard feelings (I hope) so I'm thankful it ended on a somewhat okay-ish note and I'm certain it's for the best. 

I do wonder sometimes if I'll ever be capable of maintaining a relationship but I have to remind myself I'm only 19. I'm so young and I have at least another 15 or so years before I'll lose hope and reside to a life of 40 cats and watching The Late Late Show in my dressing gown. Mind you, doesn't sound all that different to what I'm doing now...

Out With The Old, In With The New

Firstly, I'd like to wish all my readers (all 2 of you, heh) a very happy New Year. Thank you so much for reading and sharing my posts. It's quite comforting knowing people care about the shite I ramble on about!

I was inspired by my mum's post to write a post about how my 2014 was. I feel like the majority of people didn't seem to have a good 2014 but for me it was, on the whole, a year full of experiences. Most were good, some were bad, but it's all a learning curve for a youngster like me.

 

Highlights:

Started driving. I would have liked to have been able to put 'learnt to drive' but alas, I'm not quite there yet. It's not that I find it extremely difficult, it's more that 50% of people on the road are fecking eejits and I can't trust their motives. Still, I have 7 lessons done and I haven't killed anyone yet so in my eyes that's a great start.

Finished a college course and got my qualification. I now have a FETAC level 5 in Business Administration which is what I want to do (until I change my mind and decide I actually want to do neuroscience or something completely random, because that's a me thing to do).

Went to London. For a proper, touristy holiday. Spent time with great people, ate some great food and nearly lost a limb trying to maneouvre my way around the tube stations, but it was an experience.

Went to Spain. My best friend Bethany and I had a blissful few days in Torremolinos, Spain, tanning it up (she tanned, I came back looking even whiter than I was before I left Ireland), checking out the nightlife and drinking far too many cocktails. I'd love to get to do this again in 2015.

Started an internship. I know some people think Jobbridge is a slave trade but I'm grateful for the experience and connections I'll get. I also get awful cabin fever and I love having something to get me up and out every day.

Started the blog. For ages I'd been going on about wanting to start a blog and in 2014 I finally bit the bullet. I love having a place to essentially store my memories, vent or just share my interests. I've only had this blog for about 7 months or so but I'm absolutely delighted with how it's going.

So those are just a few highlights of 2014, not to mention spending quality time bonding with my older brother and being able to always cheer each other up through hard times, with my dad who never fails to make me laugh and always looks out for me, and sharing every experience and good time with my mum who is always there for me to tell me when I'm being a muppet and keep me grounded. My family are my rock and I'm so fortunate we're so tight-knit. I love you guys. *sniff*

So before I get too emosh I'd just like to say thanks to my friends and family for making it a great year and to everyone who has read my blog. Hope you all have a great 2015!