Sunday 30 November 2014

The Fitzgerald Family Christmas

At this time of the year I love to watch Christmas films.  To be honest there isn't a great selection on Netflix but I did find this one.

It's "The Fitzgerald Family Christmas" starring Ed Burns and Connie Britton (love her!)


'Tis a tad schmaltzy, sentimental and very "oirish" but actually a very bittersweet movie with lots of different stories running alongside each other.  

Knowing lots of big Irish families (my mam was one of 13 brothers and sisters!) and having 4 sisters myself, I think this film is very authentic and very familiar (sometimes uncomfortably so).  It's a very watchable movie and if you have Netflix you should download it - I thought it was perfect for a Sunday evening.

If you watch it let me know what you think!

Saturday 29 November 2014

Christmas Tree is up!

I put my tree up while watching the LLS Toy Show.

I've been collecting tree decorations for years - I have so many that I have to hang some 2 or 3 deep on each branch!


There are a lot of bears on the tree....

And you'll also find a few Elvis ornaments.


I love a big mix of ornaments on my tree - I wouldn't say it has an overall theme but you can certainly notice trends.
As I point out the new decorations to Ciaran he asks why I don't get rid of some of the older ones!!!  I don't think so!


The little house below didn't photograph well but is says "New Home 2012" - my mother gave it to me to mark when we moved house.  I do love the ones with dates on them!




I got the tourist shirt ornaments in Key West - love them!

You may spot a dog or two.....or three!

Why what's this?! 
Only a reindeer in a blue raincoat - given to me by my twin sister!


And then there is all my favourite beverages!








Friday 28 November 2014

Holiday Traditions - It's the Late Late Toy Show!

I hope all my readers in the USA had a lovely Thanksgiving yesterday and are getting in to their "Black Friday" shopping today (We don't have Black Friday - and I can't say that I would like it to come to Ireland!)

Here in Ireland we know that Christmas is coming soon when The Late Late Toy Show is screened.  I've written about The Late Late Show before so you all know that it is possibly the longest running show in the world.  About 4/5 weeks before Christmas a special toy show is screened.  It involves children performing, celebrities performing or mucking about, toys being demonstrated and the host wearing an obnoxious Christmas Jumper!  

If you are based outside of Ireland you can still be part of the fun and watch The Late Late Toy Show on the RTE Player here.

Here in Ireland it is a tradition for all the family the watch the show (the little ones tend to fall asleep half way through so it is shown again on Sunday afternoon!)

I intend to watch while putting up on my tree (pics to follow) with a Bailey's in hand!

Hope you enjoy the lead up to Christmas - I intend to delight in all that is Christmassy in order to extend the season as much as possible rather than making it all about one day.


Wednesday 26 November 2014

Train time.....choo choo!!

My car was getting a new clutch so I had to get the train to work.  I cycled to the train station (took about 20 mins) and then was on the train for about a half hour.

This was the view near Malahide.  Stunning!

Here's my destination - Donabate.





Tuesday 25 November 2014

Shopping Savings!

Last week when I shopped in Marks & Spencers (I was buying a few Christmas presents) I was given a voucher when I paid at the til.

The voucher gave me €5 off an over €25 spend on groceries.

The expiry date was today so I went in to pick up a few items this evening.

I love getting discounts on already discounted items - "Stacking" I call it (stacking discount on top of discount).


If I had to pay full price my total would have been €36.21.  However most of the items I chose were 3 for the price of 2.  This brought my total down by €10.05.  

I then handed over my €5 off voucher and my total came to €21.16.

As you can see from my receipt I saved a grand total of €15.05

Vouchers/coupons are not widely circulated in Ireland - so I felt like I was on a mini episode of Extreme Couponing!!  

Saturday 22 November 2014

Trip to the vet - chocolate eating dog

So Thursday night was eventful!

On our return from Tribeca we discovered that Bones had sniffed out a bar of dark chocolate that was in my handbag and had eaten the whole lot!!

I went on the Internet to investigate how poisonous chocolate is for dogs.  It seemed that the darker the chocolate the more toxic it is - unfortunately it was an 85% bar of chocolate.

I rang the emergency vet in UCD and they asked me what weight the dog was and how much he ate.  They then asked how soon could we get in to them.  I told them we would be there in less than 30 minutes.

When we arrived at the hospital, Bones was immediately weighed and then taken in to have vomiting induced.  The poor little guy!

It all took about a half an hour and we then were given him back to take home.  He was in a right state - a little quivering mess.
Here he is all wrapped up in a towel trying to go asleep.

He had a little bit of an unsettled night and got up at 3.30am for a huge drink of water.  Then the next day we went to his vet to get a check up.  All was fine - but the vet did warn me that they regularly get repeat offenders and that it wouldn't cure him of his desire for chocolate!!

When I visited our regular vet he expressed how dangerous it would have been if we hadn't brought Bones in to get treatment - it was potentially fatal!!
And here he is - full of beans and can't wait to get out of the clinic!

What a little boldie!  But in fairness it could have been a whole lot worse.......it doesn't bear thinking about what could have transpired if we didn't get to the vets in a speedy manner.






Thursday 20 November 2014

Ennio Morricone concert rescheduled

Forgot to bring my phone with me to work yesterday.  I came home to find a text and email letting me know that a concert we were due to attend shortly has been rescheduled.

After looking on the Internet I discovered that the performer has had a back operation.  

Get well soon Mr Morricone!

Sunday 16 November 2014

Wednesday 12 November 2014

Movember

This year Ciaran is joining in with Movember.

Do you know about Movember?  It is when November is given over to men's health.  Men grow moustaches to generate conversation about men's health as well as to raise funds for men's health programs.  It is a global initiative that has raised a large amount of money worldwide. 

Here is his profile page if you wish to make a donation to this great cause.......or you could even join his team!



This is his moustache after a few days........I'm already counting down the days til the end of Movember when he will get rid of it!!


This is what it looks like today.  Bleugh!  
All for a good cause I guess.....   :-(


Sunday 9 November 2014

Nespresso Maragogype Special Reserve

I visited the new Nespresso Store in Duke Street (it's very impressive!) the other day to buy coffee.

After listening to the sales attendant talk to me about the Maragogype special reserve coffee I bought a few packs. However,  I got a shock when he totaled up my purchases and at this point I enquired how much the Maragogype were (he had casually said they were a "little" more expensive than the other limited edition coffees).

Turns out each pack was €12 each!  Hardly a "little" more expensive than most of the other coffee which sells at about €4 a pack.

Look at this precious coffee - each of these little capsules is worth €1.20 each!!

I made a coffee at my coffee bar to see what this reserve coffee is like.



It did make a tasty coffee with a more generous crema than normal.


The marketing blurb describes this coffee as "a grand cru with a rare and exquisite taste"

Perhaps my palate isn't so refined - I thought it was a good coffee but I don't know if it quite lived up to the marketing blurb.  Or maybe it needs to be drank out of the special Riedel glass (created in partnership with Nespresso) in order to enhance the tasting experience.  Who knows?! 

For me coffee is coffee.......on the other hand a good vodka is a good vodka that is to be savored and appreciated!!! 




Wednesday 5 November 2014

IDA Ireland CEO Martin Shanahan at CNBC Squawk Box: Investors See Green ...





This is worth the watch - skip forward to about 7 minutes and see the anchorman have serious confusion over what currency Ireland has!

Tuesday 4 November 2014

New Hair!

This was my hair a few days ago.  It had got so long!


And this is it now!!


I went for the big chop.  I'm really happy with it.  Feels in great condition and is easy to style.  I don't think I'll ever grow my hair as long again.

Monday 3 November 2014

Nana's 85th Birthday Party - Cake by Candylane Cupcakes

This is the incredible cake my cousin Anne of Candylane Cupcakes made for my grandmother's 85th birthday celebrations.

I think the cake is sensational looking - the colours are so funky!

Inside the filling was sponge with vanilla buttercream and raspberry jam.  Yum!

Saturday 1 November 2014

Halloween in Dublin - Zombie Alert!

Amy and I met for a Zombie Cycle on Halloween Night. I dressed as a Zombie Doctor while Amy was a Zombie Cop.







Bones wore his life jacket.  He was dressed as an Old Sea Dog.