Times they are a changing....

Starbucks Blanchardstown was given a makeover.  The majority of the comfortable couches are gone - replaced by high bench style seating.  It's a lot darker and it is covered in mock wood.

 

 

This stencilling on the wall looks pretty cool!

 

Changes are also taking place on Charlemont Street where the old flats are being knocked.  Read about the stalled regeneration here.

Here it is a few days later

The historic Ffrench Mullen House block of flats is also being knocked.  They were designed by architect Michael Scott who also designed Busaras.

I took these photos when I stopped on Charlemont Street to call in to the laundrette to pick up my laundry. 

Edit:

Here is the above block of flats on the 1st of March.  It's now partially knocked.

Oil Pulling

Have you heard of Oil Pulling?

It involves swooshing oil around your mouth for 20 minutes every morning.  It purports to leave your mouth fresh and toxin free.  You can read more about it here

I plan on starting it tomorrow morning using Coconut Oil.  Common advice is to do Oil Pulling on an empty stomach as there is a high risk of vomiting (eek!)

I wonder can it really whiten teeth?

A tale of two pâtés

I had a hankering for pate today so I bought 2 different types in Dunnes.

 

This one was the cheaper of the two.  It is very artificial tasting.

 

It is also a strange pink colour!

The other pate I bought is from the Blue Haven Food Co in Kinsale, Co Cork.

 

It is fresh and home made tasting and deliciously smooth.

It is also a fairly normal colour!

As an aside, what colour are your eggs?

 

Here in Ireland, there seems to be only brown eggs on sale.  I am always amused to see white eggs in America when I visit.  I used to think they bleached them but now I know that certain varieties of hens produce white eggs while other varieties produce brown!

A little LCHF snack I made for my husband.

Blueberries in cream

Avocado with lime & oil dressing

Italian ham wrapped cheese (with a smear of butter)

Nuts for Coconuts

So I just ate a big spoonful of coconut oil!

 

It tastes more coconutty than it smells. 

 

 

I ate it in order to attempt to increase my fat intake.  I need to be eating 75% fat to 25% protein in order to become leaner.

 

Yesterday I started back swimming.  It was tough.....but awesome!  Rathmines pool is great - very new and very modern.  The pool temp was perfect and I had an enjoyable sauna and steam after my swim.

New togs!

I picked up a new Maru Swimsuit (or togs  as we Irish call them!) this morning - am planning to get back swimming seriously.  I swam competitively up to my teens but haven't done much as an adult except for a 1500 km swim as part of a triathlon relay.  The triathlon was in Chicago and it was probably about 8 yrs ago.

The race itself was great but the training was tough.  I even swam in the river Shannon in preparation!

LCHF Shopping and eating

Our Low Carb High Fat food shop for the week.  I didn't need to buy eggs as we have a dozen left over from last week. Note that we are now using double cream for in our coffee.

 

 

I made Avocado salad.

Oil, lime juice and pepper mixed to make a dressing.

 

Steak and garlic butter for Ciaran.  Steak and pepper sauce for me!

For more info about the health benefits of eating fat click here

I should also note that that the last time I ate a piece of chocolate was on December 31st.  Eating fat kills my cravings for sugar!

Big Art!

Our new artwork has been installed.  It's a huge piece!!

 

It's a self portrait by my husband.......I'm still deciding whether I like it......only joking, I love it!!

I opened the door to show the size of our 50" TV against the painting.

 

 

We finally found a sideboard after searching for probably close on a year!  It's a G Plan "Fresco" Sideboard from the 1960's. It is made from a mix of Teak and Afromosia (poor man's rosewood at the time of construction but now desirable........but extinct!)