Friday Funday

I was up early and out to meet my mother in the city as I had no work today. We had a nice catch up over a cup of coffee - next time we meet we plan to go for brunch which should be lovely.

So if you recall I made a batch of soap a few weeks ago. I had to leave it for 4-6 weeks to cure.  So after the drying and curing process had taken place the soaps were ready to be wrapped. After I got back from town in the afternoon I got out the brown paper and ribbons that I had bought for the very purpose.

Here are the soaps wrapped and ready to go to new homes.  I wrapped them in singles and doubles and they are all "Lemon, Lime & Grapefruit flavour"

Super Saturday & Sunday

I had a super weekend. I got up to loads of great things. Both days started well with 10am Bikram which I cycled to. I had a great practise on both days and it felt good being back in the hit room after a break of a couple of days.

We had made a plan to go for wings on Saturday afternoon but beforehand we called in to Campbell Jewellers in The Designyard on South Frederick Street to discuss ring design with master jeweller Ronan Campbell as I am in the market for a new wedding ring (more to follow on this in a future blog). After meeting Ronan we then went on the hunt for wings. We ended up in Wishbone where we had some great wings!

 So after Sunday Bikram we went to the charity shop to drop off more cast offs (yes we are still working our way through the Marie Kondo programme) And then on for brunch in Pot Bellied Pig. I had been dreaming of Shakshuka during yoga!

And then after brunch I went and got my nails done. It was lovely and relaxing and I'm happy to have my nails done for the week ahead.

Dirty Dancing on the big screen!

I snapped up two tickets for a special showing of Dirty Dancing on the big screen in the Omniplex Rathmines. €20 per ticket got you the film, medium popcorn and a cocktail/beer in the lounge beforehand. Great value!

It was brilliant to see one of my favourite films in the cinema. I've seen it possibly 20 times but never on the big screen. It was so enjoyable and giving it my full focus I think I enjoyed it more than ever.

If you get the opportunity to go see classic films on the big screen, snap it up. You won't regret it!

Happy Valentine's Day 2019!

To me, St Valentine's is a celebration of love and life and should be for everyone to celebrate. It is a little unfair the way it has been hijacked as a holiday for couples. Everyone deserves to celebrate and receive gifts on Valentine's Day.

So I set up a little candy station for everyone in work today so that all could enjoy the day.

Then when I came home from work I was greeted by this lovely sight! 

Omg, look at how many roses there are!!  I had to put them in to two vases there were so many.  It is lovely to have them and they will bloom nicely over the next week.

I had planned on going to Bikram yoga but suggested going out for dinner instead. We went casual to Bunsen and it was great. We both enjoyed our burgers very much and had a nice chat and then a slow walk home.  It is remarkably mild here in Dublin for February so that added to the evening.

Lemon Lemsip

I've never been one for drinking Lemsip as I've tended not to like the flavours it comes in - blackcurrant is a definite no for me!

However my sinus have been giving me awful issues and the pharmacist recommended the lemon Lemsip to me. Have to say I'm enjoying it and it WORKS!

I especially like it in a nice Starbucks mug :-) 

I am on a late today in work so am just waiting for this medication to kick and I then I will head off on my bike (which I remembered to charge last night!).

Biking to Bikram

Monday and Tuesday brought me to Bikram Yoga after a long cycle from Dun Laoghaire to Harold's Cross.  

Monday was nearly a disaster after my battery died on the way in to work! I knew I wouldn't be able to cycle all the way to Harold's Cross on the way home so luckily my husband was able to bring my charger over to work and I powered up the battery and headed to Bikram afterwards.

I had a great class on Monday and was looking forward to Tuesday's class.  However, the mind is a funny thing. This evening as I cycled past the turn off to my house my mind nearly persuaded me to just turn in and park up the bike and not go to yoga!  But I quickly put it out of my head and cycled on and had another great class.

But honestly my face gets sooo red in class, like the reddest out of all the people.  What is that?!  

I hope as I practise more and get fitter and stronger my face won't get so red.

Super Sunday!

I headed to Bikram at 9.15am for the 10am class this morning. It was a lovely bright day but I made a mistake and didn't bring my gloves and even though it was bright it was ferociously cold. Brr.

I was glad to get in to the hot room and I had a much better class than on Friday and felt great.

After class, I cycled to Rathmines where I went the Swan Centre and bought some Magnesium supplements to prevent leg cramps at night time. I get potassium from the daily avocados that I eat and I add salt to my dinner but I felt that I was lacking in magnesium in my diet so hopefully this will help.

Then it was on to Insomnia cafe where I chilled over coffee (I remembered to bring my Keep Cup!) and read the Sunday papers and my book that I also remembered to bring - how prepared was I?!

So I whiled away a few hours and then cycled on home to pick up the dog and get out for a walk with Bones. We went in to Ranelagh Park which was busy with lots of children in the playground and dogs being walked.

Here's what I'm reading - "The rules do not apply" by Ariel Levy. I'm really enjoying it, it's a nice quick read which I only started yesterday evening and I'd say I will be finished it by this evening and back to the library tomorrow.

I hope you are having a nice Sunday - the teacher at yoga set some really good intentions for us all in the class and I think they really worked and helped me have a "Super Sunday"!

What I got up to today....

So today, I was in work. Last night there had been the most awful windy weather (Storm Erik) that had me awake at different times during the night and I awoke to find the bins all over the front garden. Anyway because of the stormy weather and also because in was Saturday and there is no traffic I drove to work instead of cycling. 

At lunch time I popped up to the main street and bought some workout gear. I needed something to wear to bikram yoga tomorrow as I had got rid of all my old gear during a Marie Kondo clear out. In fairness, my gear was all over 5 years ago so it was well ready to go and was certainly done sparking joy!

After work I stopped off for a burger in 5 Guys. It was just one of those days where I felt like I needed a treat.  I didn't eat the bun though because I'm eating keto these days.

 




Afterwards, I went for a little wander around the Frascatti Centre and I bought a pair of cuff links for Ciarán for Valentine's Day.

And later when I got home, I took the dog for a walk which was great as the weather was lovely and mild. He was glad of the walk after being cooped up all day and I was glad of it too!

Back at Bikram

I went back to Bikram this morning. I think I last practised 4 years ago, or so.

Today I signed up for a month in the Harolds Cross studio.  The last time I went to this studio was back in 2012 and this happened.

Luckily today I got through the class (barely!). I found the room to be very hot and it made me feel quite light headed at times - let's just say I lay down a lot. But I got through it and I will be back there on Sunday for some more stretching which my body badly needs.

Hopefully when I practise on Sunday I will find it less of a challenge.  I felt that my body didn't kick in to gear and start sweating. I was sweating a small bit but probably not enough to cool me down. Anyway, all I can do is get back in to the room and do my best. Sunday here I come!

Luna, Drury Street

Thursday night was date night in Dublin City. I had bought a voucher for Luna a few weeks ago and we had a lovely meal there last night along with a nice bottle of wine.

Ciaran started with Oxtail soup with parmesan ravioli, followed by his favourite spaghetti in cream and oil.

My starter was haddock and then I had beef cheeks with risotto for my main (delish!)

We both enjoyed the same dessert of a chocolate tart.

Luna is a great restaurant - it is very atmospheric and stylish and reminds me of a 1950's New York restaurant. The waiters wear wine velvet jackets which are designed by Louis Copeland - the jackets are gorgeous and they add to the atmosphere for sure!

Holiday souvenirs!

When I go away on holiday, I like to bring back souvenirs, something that I can use regularly to remind me of the great time I had on holiday.

On my recent sailing trip, I bought a natural stone turtle soap dish on the our second last night when we moored in Marigot in St Lucia.

I also bought two mini turtles for my two lady sailing companions. 

Today, I got a text with a picture showing where one of the little turtles ended up. It sure brought a smile to my face and was a nice reminder of the trip!

An electric bike is all fun and games.....until you forget to charge it up!!

I blogged about my electric bike when I got it back in 2017. 

I absolutely love my bike.........except when I forget to recharge it and it goes dead as I set off for home after work. I then have to cycle the full 11kms with no assistance!!

Aside from when the battery dies, I am loving the cycling to and from work. As we say here in Ireland, there's "a grand stretch" in the evening and it is beginning to get lighter on the cycle home. As I set off from Dun Laoghaire, I can see all the way out to the chimney stacks across Dublin Bay and I can even see the beautiful Aviva stadium. It's a glorious view for sure!

Ranelagh Gardens in Spring

After coffee in Butlers we took a stroll in Ranelagh Gardens.

Officially Spring began on Feb 1st here in Ireland.....but it still seems pretty Wintery to me. And of course we will have St Patrick's Day in March and then Easter of which both can be fairly cold.  Last year in particular, St Patricks Day was particularly cold. Amy and I were cycling in the parade and the weather was miserable as we waited to start off and then even as we cycled, we didn't really get warm.

Anyway, here's a few pics of Ranelagh Gardens in "springtime".

I spotted this as I first entered from the Luas tracks end. At first I thought it was a bird house, but on closer inspection, I think it might be a "Bee Hotel". Can any of my readers confirm?!

The playground was deserted. It normally is busy most of the day but there had just been a heavy rain shower so that probably cleared most of the families out.

The ducks were swimming around one end because the other end had frozen water.  Although, there are signs up saying not to feed the ducks bread, someone had dumped a load of mouldy bread on the frozen part. 

The trees at the other entrance to the park look bare and very grim. Roll on better weather and hopefully they will flourish.

Of course Bones doesn't care how the park looks, he just enjoys being in it!