Bones my dog on a glass stairs

Sharing this video that I put up on YouTube awhile ago.  It's Bones coming down the stairs from our studio at the top of the house.

Searching for Jelly Rolls

Called in to the Craft Hub in Donabate before work today.  I'm looking to get some "Jelly Rolls" for quilting.

They did have one Jelly Roll but it wasn't quite the pattern that I was looking for.  I know Jelly Rolls can be commonly got in USA along with Fat Quarters.  However, in Ireland, Fat Quarters have only recently begun to be sold and Jelly Rolls are slowly coming on stream too.  

It seems that a sewing supplies shop in Rathmines sells Jelly Rolls so I will call in on Friday to see what they have!

I have to say I enjoyed my visit to the Craft Hub - they have an incredible range of fabrics.

Here's what the jelly rolls look like.....I wish I had bought some when I was in Key West recently :-(

Caitlin Moran - Feminist or.....?

A good few weeks ago my cousin had let me know that Caitlin Moran was doing a show in Dublin.  My twin sister, cousin and I were all interested in attending as we had enjoyed hearing her speak at a Literary Festival a little while back. You can read about how much my sister enjoyed it here on her blog.

The way things played out it ended up with just Kasey and I attending.  We met for a drink in the Brazen Head beforehand (good choice Kasey!) got a great little spot at the bar.  We then left at about 7pm thinking the show was on at 7.30pm and having to pick the tickets up at the box office.  On entering the venue we remarked that there was very few people there and then realized that the show wasn't starting til 8.30pm!!  Aaagh!  

Not that we minded much as there was a bar in the venue that we were able to retire to but we were a little sad that we had left our lovely little spot in the men filled(!) Brazen Head to sit in the practically empty Vicar Street bar that was soon to fill up with A LOT of women (many wearing check shirts). 

When we got in to the auditorium we found we had good seats in the Balcony to the left of the stage.  At this point we could see most of the audience and could practically count the low number of men in attendance (poor guys - did they know what they were in for???)

And so Caitlin Moran appears on stage to promote her new book "How to build a girl", wearing the same denim hot pants and doc martin boots that she wore on her last appearance.  Seriously lady??!!  These clothes are not flattering.  I wonder does she wear these clothes out in public in regular life or are they just her stage wardrobe.  Either way if she is going to insist on wearing denim cut off hot pants she should cut the pockets out that she has left hanging down - or if she really needs pockets she could sew them to half their size so that they are not revealing themselves when she is wearing her shorts.  Also is she aware that these pants cut her legs off at the chunkiest part of her leg and possible make her legs look thicker than they are?  Just because you are a feminist does not mean you can't dress well and hide your worst assets and highlight your best assets - for yourself of course to feel your best by looking your best!

So on to the talk itself.  Caitlin got straight down to it.  Personally I think there are certain things including bodily functions that do not need to be talked about in public.  I'm no prude but seriously somethings are just left unsaid or said in private to your doctor.  It was just too much - with talk of "Mooncup Misadventures" having everyone cringing in their seats!!

At one point I turned to Kasey and said "Please tell me she said she will be discussing topics not Tampax after the break"!!  Kasey groaned and said "I don't know".......   Yes it was that type of talk.

Also what is with the salty language peppered with the F Word.  Unnecessary in my opinion and purely thrown in for shock value.

And so after attending this event I have to wonder am I feminist or am I just a STRONG WOMAN?  
I also have to wonder is Caitlin Moran a feminist or just beginning to turn in to a creepy lady - like that inappropriate aunt that you meet at family events?

Key West eats!

Santiago's Bodega in the Bahama Village - my favourite Key West restaurant.

Flaming Buoy on Packer Street

Kelly's on Whitehead Street (Home of Pan Am)

Alonzo's on Front Street

Key West Oddities

Outside the Green Parrot Bar in Key West we found their little free library.  You can take a book and leave a book.  This was a really sweet little collection of books in a very charming little housing unit.  Make sure to visit it if you are in Key West!

On Caroline Street we met this man and his bird.  He even let the bird perch on my shoulder!

In the East Martello tower I met Robert the Doll.  He didn't seem so evil in the flesh!

But I did ask his permission to take this selfie and I thanked him after!!!

And the best Key West oddity of all is the airport beach bar where you can stick your feet in the sand and enjoy your last drink in KW before you board your flight.

You can also sit on this giant chair and look like you lost a pile of weight while on holidays!

Chickens and Roosters are EVERYWHERE in Key West.  This boldie hopped off a police car roof on to this car.

Next to the house we were staying in was a vacant lot.  There was a family of iguanas living in one of the trees.  This was one of the mid-size iguanas.  Look at the strut on him!!

Shopping haul - Florida Trip

Sorry for the long delay in posting - I was on my holidays in the Southernmost City of Key West in Florida.

I had an amazing time and will do a few blog posts about what I got up to in Key West.

One of the things I did was shop! During the middle of the day it got so hot that it was great to go to the cool stores and shop til I dropped.  The prices of clothes was so much better value than in Ireland so I love shopping in the States.  During our first week there was 30% off clearance in Banana Republic - this then went to 50% off in the second week.  On our first purchase we were given a survey code which once we did we then got an additional 15% off everything.  How awesome is that!  We made big savings.

Here are some of the items I got:

A batch of tops and jumpers from Banana Republic and also Ross.

Calvin Klein Shift Dress

BCBG Dress

Banana Republic top and jeans

Selection of shoes - Bob's by Skechers, Nine West and Calvin Klein

Tropical print cropped trousers from Banana Republic and the most awesome fur lined Ugg Runners 

Cute Eliza J Dress - looks great on!

Banana Republic Jacket

A small coach over the body purse

Calvin Klein top

And then I got these two Brooks Brothers shirts in Atlanta Airport - again 50% off!!

You may think this is a lot of clothes but in reality I barely shop in Ireland during the year so I really needed to top my wardrobe up.  It is also the perfect excuse to clear out my closet and drop off all my old clothes to the local charity shop (Thrift store).  I should also add how reasonably priced everything is in Florida in comparison to back at home in Ireland.

Island Swim - 12.5 miles around Key West

On Friday the 13th, I left Dublin to travel to Key West.  Given the date I should have expected my travel plans to not work out quite as expected.  

And so after missing my connection in Atlanta, getting rerouted to Miami and spending a night there (where I got 4 hours sleep in a crappy hotel) and after 33 hours of travel I landed at 8.30am and went straight to the beach to start the 12.5 mile swim around Key West at 9am!!!

We were in the 4 man relay event - our 4 team mates were made up of 2 sets of twins.  Myself and my twin and our younger twin sisters also.

This is my twin sister Amy swimming through the main KW shipping channel!

We finished in a very decent 6.5 hours!  What an achievement!

The day after the race we couldn't move our arms above our shoulders but as a friend of my sister said: 
"Pain is temporary, pride lasts forever"