A thrill at breakfast

Yesterday evening we decided we would have breakfast at home this morning.  While I started in making breakfast Ciaran went to get coffee and the newspaper.

As we ate breakfast and read, Ciaran turned a page in the supplement to reveal a picture of our house. What a thrill!

The Irish Architecture awards are on this Thursday so the Sunday Times were doing a feature on some of the short listed projects.

What a great start to the day to see a picture of where you were sitting in one of the major national newspapers.  Quite surreal!

Busy weekend

We've had a full weekend catching up on lots of chores that we needed to do after our holiday.

Yesterday we cleaned the house from top to bottom and then filled the hot tub.

Today Ciaran had to bleed the hot tub as there was an air lock in it.  Once he did this is started heating up nicely.  Nearly hot enough for a dip as I write.

Today I took my car for the NCT retest. Handed over €28 to get a 1 minute cursory glance at the lights and then get my cert printed off.  My car is officially back roadworthy. Phew! ;-)

After the test we went to TK Maxx for a quick browse before we went to Maplins.  I had picked up some cute cocktail napkins but when I went to pay I saw the queue was waaay too long so I left them back.

We then went to Maplin for an aerial to hook up the new TV in our bedroom.  When we got home Ciaran climbed into the attic to see if he could set up the aerial there.  We got no reception so I connected it to the back of the TV - still no reception.  I called the TV helpline number in the UK.  They gave me a few tips and helped me troubleshoot.  At one point I had Ciaran on a stepladder hanging out the window with the aerial.  We got it sorted and we are now hooked up to the digital service offered by the Irish government - all 9 channels (without having to position Ciaran with his arm out the window!).  Downstairs we are connected to UPC and we have about 100 channels, including the newly added TLC which we discovered when we returned from our holidays.

In the afternoon we popped in to Cinnamon for a carafe of Malbec - me likey! Later I heated up lasagne for dinner which was enjoyed by both of us.

Now we are relaxing watching the box set of The House of Cards starring Kevin Spacey which is excellent!

In good news, as we left Cinnamon we saw a sign in Coffee Society.  Looks like they are reopening. Wonderful!

Pig & Heifer

Pig & Heifer New York Delicatessan - a taste of America

We split a "Hot Colin" sandwich for lunch.  It was so good!!! We both said it tasted like America!

It was my first time here and I loved it!! 

Bretzel Bakery

While we were in Key West, we cycled to the Eaton Bakery for breakfast most mornings.  Their freshly pastries were delicious, the coffee was good and they also had freshly squeezed orange juice.

Now that we are home in Ireland I wanted to recreate that lovely start to the day.  So this morning after dropping a pair of Ciaran's shoes to the cobbler and calling in to the vet with Bones, we walked to the Bretzel Bakery in Portobello.  It is a bakery that has been around since 1870 and it's in the Jewish Quarter of Dublin and is also a kosher bakery.

I was impressed when I saw the place and when I first entered the shop.  However I quickly became disappointed. They had no apple Danish and they didn't do coffee.  

I got a pain au chocolate and Ciaran got an almond croissant.  We then walked to Nick's for coffee where we sat outside and ate the pastries. Omg, further disappointment.  The pastries were doughy and tasteless. They should have been light and buttery but they were not one but.  It was not like KW at all.  :-(

But it means that I get to choose another bakery next weekend!!

Bones sitting patiently outside

Look at the size of the pain au chocolates!! (That is about the only positive thing I can say about them)

Tayto Chocolate

Tayto is a famous brand of Irish made potato chips or as the Irish say "crisps".

A few months ago Tayto came out with a limited edition Crisp Chocolate bar.  I've been searching to buy one for ages for a colleague in work who loves Tayto.  It has been selling out instantly when it arrives in shops.

This morning when I was in the petrol station I saw it so I instantly bought a bar to take in to work to give my friend.  I wonder what it tastes like!!!

By the way, have you ever eaten a crisp sandwich? 2 slices of white bread, butter and a packet if Tayto crisps.  Not my thing but plenty of Irish people (particularly students) love it.

Gal pal meet up

Met up with my two besties this evening. We had a great chat and catch up.  There was a lot of holiday talk with Amy and I just back and Alice heading off to Fuerteventura in 2 weeks.  

I had wanted to take a nice pic of us in Starbucks but I forgot so these were snapped in the car park. Lol!

Walking in Dublin

It's a gorgeous bright day in Dublin - getting up to 20!

I set off for a walk with my iPhone playing Lady Gaga and my Starbucks card (the much coveted, no longer available Dublin Starbucks card) in my hand. Within 15 mins I was sitting in Harcourt Street sipping coffee and reading the paper. Bliss!

When I go home I'll have a quick shower, unload the dishwasher & washing machine and then set off for work.  Speaking of housework, with the two of us both working full time we find it hard to keep on top of it all. My husband wants us to hire a cleaner while I think that's a cop out and we should just watch less TV (or switch off the Internet) in the evening and do more cleaning. Readers, any thoughts?  Or even better any tips on how to keep the housework at bay!

As the saying goes, a clean house means a boring life......

5:2 Diet

I picked up this book in the library today.  Basically the concept of the 5:2 Diet is to eat well for 5 days then fast for 2 days by eating a low cal diet.  I may give it a go - seems doable!

On the 5 days of eating well there is no snacking on sweets, chocolate, crisps and no beer allowed.  I think a glass of wine is allowable though!

Boost me up baby!

When Bones travels in my Smart car he hops on to the dashboard.  Obviously this is extremely dangerous.  When we were over in the States we got this great booster seat for him.  It's so safe.  He gets strapped in and can see out while we drive along - he loves it!

Street Party

On Sunday 23rd of June street parties were held all over Ireland as part of Street Feast 2013 (see www.streetfeast.ie)

Oh my gosh my neighbours put on some really great spreads. Some BBQ'd, some had cakes, some served champagne and one lady made gorgeous afternoon tea sandwiches with the crusts cut off. How posh!

It was such a fun afternoon and the rain held off until 6.30pm when we got washed out of it and ran for cover!

Back to work

Well my holiday is well and truly over, I'm back in work thus morning.  

I think if I get stressed I need to bring my mind back to yoga on the beach last Friday at 8am and how content I felt or I could think of how we sat in the Key West Airport Beach Bar on Saturday, waiting for the plane with a drink in hand & feet in the sand, already missing Key West.

Utility Room

Here's a before and after of our utility press after we got shelving and organized it.

I got this Eco friendly in the Hopsack Health Store in Rathmines.  We were in buying Coconut Water to hydrate after our flights.

Have a google of eco soap nuts - it's very interesting!

Key West Lighthouse

On our last day in Key West we visited the Lighthouse.  It's 88 steps to the top and what a view when you get there!!

So peaceful and quiet at the top and great seeing all the local landmarks from this vantage point.

World of Beers

World of Beers in Key West has over 500 types of beer with over 50 available on draught.

I don't drink beer but I sampled a sweet raspberry sample - I think I had tasted this one before in Belgium.  I then had a small glass of cider.

Ciaran had a glass of beer from Wisconsin - chosen by the bar tender after he asked for something light and summery.

Airport Beach Bar

Key West Airport - possibly the only airport in the world that has a beach area!!!

What a nice way to spend my last hour in  Key West Florida!

Back in Dublin

Our plane has just landed in Dublin.  It's 7am and grey grey.  

This is the weather we left in Key West, Florida

Some difference!

Dogs with jobs

This dog has an important job to do - he picks up his owners lunch in the Old Town Bakery and carries it back to the house!

This dog sits on his owners moped as he makes sandwich deliveries all over the island of Key West.

Flaming Buoy Fillet Co. - Again!!

We love this place!

It's got such a great atmosphere - so Key West.  We ate here on our first night in KW and it was the first restaurant that we chose to eat a second time on this trip.  

On this occasion we chose from the Sumner Sampler/tapas menu.

We chose a salad, 3 taster plates and a dessert and a nice bottle of merlot.  

Check out the delicious food that we ate tonight 

The lobster Mac & cheese is probably their signature meal - it is so good - the pasta is cooked al dente, the lobster is sweet and tasty and it is smothered in good strong cheese.  Worth visiting this restaurant for it!!

Then it was on to dessert!

If you visit be sure and say hello to owners Fred & Scott.  Tell 'em the Irish sent you!!

Mani-Pedi time

We went for a manicure & pedicure this morning in Maricel Salon (formerly on White Street).  Ciaran also got his eyebrows done.  

I got a French manicure on my fingernails and a funky pale blue varnish on my nails.  Very relaxing and chilled out morning!