Starbucks Leeson Street, Dublin

When I first moved to Dublin 6 there were no Starbucks in close vicinity (the Ranelagh Starbucks had closed a few years previously).  About a year ago or more a Starbucks opened in Rathmines which at the time I thought was great.  However, it is a very loud open plan style Starbucks and not very conducive to relaxing.

Recently a Starbucks opened in a former restaurant premise on Leeson Street.  There is also another one on Waterloo Road which is fairly close to my house and then the one on Harcourt Street is not too far away either!

I timed my walk to the Leeson Street Starbucks (pictured below) this morning.  It took exactly 10 minutes.

A further 10 mins takes you to Stephen's Green where, guess what, there is another Starbucks.  I call this one the Vampire Starbucks as it is open 24 hrs.

We generally sit outside as we have the dog with us.  They have a great heater in the Leeson Street Starbucks where you can can switch it on for 15 minutes to keep you warm - it does the job and we didn't feel the cold on this cold December day this morning!  

Yankee Candle at Christmas

Throughout the year I like to burn a "Vanilla Lime" flavour Yankee Candle - it reminds me of holidays in Key West as it smells like Key Lime Pie!

At Christmas time, however, I like to burn lots of different flavours so I buy them in the votive size.

Icicles smells a bit like industrial cleaner!!  It came in a multi pack.  I liked the others - this one is a bit of a doozy!

"Christmas Eve" is my favourite.  It smells fruity with a little bit of a musk to it.  

"Angel Wings" smells like fresh and maybe a little like "Clean Cotton"

"Snow in Love" (great name!) is very spicy while "Apple & Pine Needle" has a very subtle pine flavour - I'm not quite getting the apple but perhaps I will when I burn it.

What's your favourite Yankee Candle?

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!

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!

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.

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.

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!!